Pro-Active RIT

RIT is one of the most important jobs on the fire-ground. I know most people don’t like getting assigned RIT, but think about it, RIT is there to save a brother. The best thing a RIT team can do is be pro-active, not sit around and wait for the mayday. Pro-active RIT should be standard fire-ground practice.

As we’ve said before, we don’t know what happened before or after this picture… But I sure as hell wouldn’t be passing up a hand-line. How about a ladder? As soon as crews went to the 2nd (above the fire, if not sooner) I believe a ladder should have been placed (maybe even two, side A, side C) and announced on the radio. In all fairness It looks like a ladder is coming off the engine, but it could have been too late (fortunately it wasn’t.) One firefighter ended up jumping and the others made it down the late placed ground ladder. This photo and the sequence of other photos can be found on www.torontofirepics.com -Jimm-

4 thoughts on “Pro-Active RIT

  1. Kevin O says:

    For training purposes only.
    I’m assuming this is a second floor bedroom. How about closing the door!
    Make the window a door. Take the window styles, not just the glass.

  2. the rook says:

    Demonstrates the need for detailed sop’s. Well written sop’s along with propper manning would call for ladders to be thrown before a situation like this occurred.

  3. Jimm says:

    I agree with both of you!

    Get in there and close that door. Look at http://www.torontofirepics.com and watch the progression of photos. It’s the first one under firegound photos (I think.) You can watch the conditions deteriorate. In addition you can see that some of the brothers were having some difficulty getting out of that window. If that window was made into a door, they would have gotten out much quicker.

    SOP’s should certainly support the proactive RIT concept. If a crew goes to the second floor (announced on the radio) the next priority should be to establish that second means of egress with multiple ladders in different locations (also announced on the radio.) Ladders do us no good if they are still on the rigs. -Jimm-

  4. jimm says:

    After doing some research we have a little bit more of the story behind this fire.

    The homeowner was driving home and smelt something burning on the car. Called 911 and parked car in garage because it was cold outside. The logical thing to do if you suspect your car is on fire…The first engine gets called for a car fire (single engine response.)Upon arrival, the first engine finds working car fire in garage and fills out the assignment for a structure fire. They almost knock the fire down with tank water… Look at the temperature outside, the first (and second) hydrants were frozen. Neighbors advise the arriving crews that the homeowner is still inside the home. The homeowner ended up being outside watching the whole thing, but didn’t tell crews the house was unoccupied. A crew went inside to perform a quick search, thinking the fire was isolated to the car and garage. The fire cut off their primary means of egress, and they evacuated to the bay window roof. –Jimm-

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