A large number of firefighters can die during a collapse event. This is where a portion of a building fails to hold together due to fire damage. As a result, it becomes critical that emergency response services be aware of the dangers presented to them in a collapse event (Peromba, 2011). This paper considers collapse events as presented in the case study.
Collapse incidents can easily be avoidable should the rescue command consider a number of things before sending in the emergency response team. Considering that there were a number of group intervening within the fire incident, communication is crucial for successful efforts. Adequate communication would cover hazardous issues such as structural inadequacy in the building among other pertinent factors in emergency response that could ensure the safety of first responders.
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Furthermore, the role of the incident safety officer as a direct subordinate of the incident commander should be on the scene to ensure that the risks of the responders are managed. This includes creating strategies and tactics that the members take during emergencies and ensuring observance of the same. This way, risks to the responders are minimized. The incident safety officer is also responsible in seeing that standard operating procedures are implemented in disaster response (Berry, et al., 2005). This is especially crucial where multiple teams respond. There should be collaborated communication between incident safety officers to ensure that the safety of responders is well-catered for.
The Rapid Intervention Team, on the other hand, must display collaboration and adequate communication for the linearization of approaches and tactics. This way, risks to themselves are reduced as strategies communicated from their supervisors are strictly adhered to. Thus, risks to their well-being are significantly reduced through adequate communication with their incident safety officers and the adherence to standard operating procedures.
References
Berry, D., Usmani, A., Torero, J. L., Tate, A., McLaughlin, S., Potter, S., et al. (2005). FireGrid: Integrated emergency response and fire safety engineering for the future built environment. London, UK: UK e-Science Programme All Hands Meeting.
Peromba, J. (2011). Building Collapse: Learn the Warning Signs . Retrieved January 10, 2017, from Fire Rescue : https://www.firerescue1.com/rescue/articles/458061-Building-Collapse-Learn-the-Warning-Signs/
