HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN 2019-08-26 Item 2C - Discussion - Fire Department Special Operations.0401,17
City of Tukwila
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
TO: Finance Committee
FROM: Chief Jay Wittwer & Assistant Fire Chief Chris Flores, Fire Department
BY: Jeremy Brecher-Haimson & Lillian Ferraz, Management Analyst Interns
CC: Mayor Ekberg
DATE: August 21, 2019
SUBJECT: Tukwila Fire Special Operations
ISSUE
Provide historical overview of the special operations that the Tukwila Fire Department has provided in the past
and the transition towards King County Fire Zone 3 (South King County) regionalization. Document all special
operations (Ops) and current service levels throughout Zone 3.
TUKWILA SPECIAL OPS HISTORY
In 1985-86, Tukwila Fire Department began to train its firefighters in special operations. As teams, they were
among the first in Washington State to specialize in hazardous materials and rescue. Their model of specializing
in rescue efforts became a model for others, and FEMA became a frequent contractor for their services moving
forward. Tukwila, working under FEMA's Washington Task Force 1 responded to calls such as:
• North Ridge Earthquake
• Oklahoma City Bombing
• Multiple Hurricanes
• World Trade Center Emergency
More local to the area, Tukwila and Zone 3 were called in to help in special situations such as the OSO (530)
Mudslide which included assisting engineers with the re-routing of the Stillaguamish river.
BACKGROUND OF ZONE 3 REGIONALIZATION
In 2004-2005 the Zone 3 Operations Chiefs formalized the Zone 3 Technical Rescue Response model. This model
brought together disparate response in the zone and organized and coordinated responding agencies. At the
time there were 8 separate providing agencies. Most Zone 3 Technical Rescue Operations involve rescues in
difficult terrain or on bodies of water.
The first of these responses was to a helicopter crash that occurred during a training flight out of BIM. All
agencies came together to recover the crew of the helicopter at the higher elevations of Mt. Peak near
Enumclaw. The incident was lengthy, as well as technically and logistically demanding. Zone 3 assisted the
United States Army with the investigative phase as well. Tukwila Fire played a significant role in this operation.
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 2
SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN ZONE 3
As mentioned, Zone 3 has begun to regionalize special operations. Below we summarize all of the NFPA
recommended special operations, define them, and highlight the current service levels in the zone.
According to NFPA 1006 & 1670, the following are all of the standard technical search & rescue types:
Special
Operation
Definition
Responsible in
Zone 3
# of
Current
Zone 3
Staffing
# of
Current
Zone 3
teams that
are staffed
24x7
# of
Certified
Tukwila FD
staff with
this
specialty
# of
Certified
Tukwila FD
staff
provide
service in
this
specialty?
#of
Hours
training
necessary to
be certified
1.
Tower
Rescue
High angle rescues from antennae
and towers, generally involving
the use of rope rescue
equipment.
No specialized
component in
Zone 3
0
0
0
24
2.
Rope
Rescue
A general term used to describe
rescues that require the use of
rope or rope systems to serve as
raising, lowering, or fall protection
systems for removing victims from
harm and for protecting rescuers.
Renton RFA,
Puget Sound RFA
South King Fire
Tukwila Fire
Valley RFA
10
2
10
10
40-80
3.
Structural
Collapse
Rescue
Rescue of victims from collapsed
or damaged structures caused by
natural or human caused insults.
The primary components involve
technical search, stabilization,
breaking/breaching, shoring, and
heavy lifting.
South King Fire
Tukwila Fire
KCFD 2
2
1
10
10
80
4.
Confined
Space
Rescue
Rescue from enclosed spaces that
present unique hazards and are
not designed for continuous
employee occupancy.
Puget Sound RFA
South King Fire
Tukwila Fire
8
2
10
10
40
5.
Vehicle
Rescue
Extrication and rescue from
heavily damaged transportation
vehicles, including commercial
vehicles.
Rescue Group
4-6
0
10
10
48
6.
Animal
Technical
Rescue
Rescuing or removing animals
from harm, this might include
entanglement, stranding in
difficult terrain, or water.
No specialized
component in
Zone 3
0
0
0
0
24
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 3
Special
Operation
Definition
Responsible in
Zone 3
# of
Current
Zone 3
Staffing
# of
Current
Zone 3
teams that
are staffed
24x7
# of
Certified
Tukwila FD
staff with
this
specialty
# of
Certified
Tukwila FD
staff service
in this
specialty?
# of
Hours
training
necessary to
be certified
7.
Wilderness
Search and
Rescue
Rescue from remote areas
generally involving challenging
terrain and other difficult
environmental issues.
King County
Sheriff
0
0
0
0
200+
8.
Trench
Rescue
Rescue from failed or collapsed
excavations most frequently
associated with construction
accidents in urban and suburban
areas.
South King Fire
Tukwila Fire
KCFD 2
2
1
10
10
40
9.
Machinery
Rescue
Rescue from entanglement in
machinery. This may involve farm
equipment in an agricultural
setting or machines and
equipment in an industrial
setting.
South King Fire
Tukwila Fire
2
1
10
10
80
10.
Cave
Rescue
Rescue from caves, caverns.
No specialized
component in
Zone 3
0
0
0
0
40-100+
11.
Mine and
Tunnel
Rescue
Specialized rescue and equipment
are utilized for extended forays
into hazardous atmospheres and
environments related to
subterranean transportation and
industrial practices and activities.
Seattle Fire
0
0
0
0
100+
12.
Helicopter
Rescue
Rescues involving the use of
helicopter.
King County
Sheriff
0
0
0
0
13.
Surface
Water
Rescue
Water rescue not involving moving
water and not involving the use of
dive resources
Multiple
Agencies
2
2
10
10
40
14.
Swiftwater
Rescue
Swiftwater rescue operations are
inherently dangerous and with the
complications of fast current, low-
head dams, and/or hidden debris
they can become deadly.
Renton RFA
Valley RFA
Tukwila Fire
Puget Sound RFA
2
0
12
12
80
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 4
Special
Operation
Definition
Responsible in
Zone 3
# of
Current
Zone 3
Staffing
# of
Current
Zone 3
teams that
are staffed
24x7
# of
Certified
Tukwila FD
staff with
this
specialty
# of
Certified
Tukwila FD
staff service
in this
specialty?
# of
Hours
training
necessary to
be certified
15.
Dive
Rescue
Public safety divers and surface-
support personnel are prepared to
respond effectively to a water -
incident scene. Topics include: 1)
overview of public safety
drowning accidents; 2) selecting,
training, and equipping dive
teams; 3) family media and other
agencies relations; 4) search
pattern fundamentals; 5) victim
retrieval tactics; 6) responding to
vehicle accidents; 7) accident
scene documentation; and 8) an
introduction to specialized
equipment.
Renton RFA
Valley RFA
4
2
0
0
80+
16.
Ice Rescue
Ice Diving Operations is physically,
mentally, and logistically
challenging. Topics include: 1)
selecting and using specialized
equipment, 2) using underwater
communication systems, 3) ice -
diving protocols, and 4) special
diving techniques
0
0
0
0
0
16
17.
Surf
Rescue
18.
Water -craft
Rescue
Puget Sound
Renton
Valley RFA
Tukwila
South King Fire
8
3
12
12
80
19.
Floodwater
Rescue
Tukwila Fire
Renton RFA
Puget Sound RFA
South King Fire
8
0
12
12
80
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 5
Additional Special Operations (not included in NFPA) include:
Special
Operation
Definition
Responsible in
Zone 3
# of
Current
Zone 3
Staffing
# of
Current
Zone 3
teams that
are staffed
24x7
# of
Certified
Tukwila FD
staff with
this
specialty
# of
Certified
Tukwila FD
staff service in
this
specialty?
# of
Hours
training
necessary
to be
certified
1.
Urban
Search
and
Rescue
Urban search and rescue (USAR)
involve the location, extrication,
and initial medical stabilization of
victims trapped in structural
collapse due to natural disasters,
mines and collapsed trenches. The
causes of USAR incidents can be
categorized as accidental and
deliberate. USAR services can be
faced with complex rescue
operations within hazardous
environment. Incidents
experience shows that people are
often found alive many hours and
days after rescue operations
commence, and the
corresponding services should be
planned accordingly.
Valley RFA
South King Fire
Tukwila Fire
Puget Sound
Fire
KCFD 2
8
1
10
10
100+
2.
Hazardous
Materials
Renton RFA
Puget Sound
Fire
South King Fire
Valley RFA
7
3
0
0
100+
Tukwila currently specializes by providing confined space rescue as well as trench rescue, rope rescue including
high angle, vehicle and machinery rescue, swift water rescue, surface water rescue, structural collapse rescue,
urban search and rescue, and benefits from the other fire jurisdiction special operations listed above.
Rescue Group — made up of PSRFA, South King Fire (both are fully staffed every day of the year with at least two
rescue Techs and called Rescues) and 9 other agencies that can staff when personnel resources allow. Tukwila is
part of the "part time" staffing model. When able to staff that unit, these units are called a Squad.
RECOMMENDATION
For information only.
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