The fire service has many protocols in place to make our job safer and easier in terms of knowing what to do. One of those protocols is the evacuation order.
An incident commander gives an evacuation order when they determine that the structure is no longer viable, conditions are too far advanced for continuing interior operations, or a drastic or sudden change has occurred with the fire.
An evacuation order is usually conducted with air horn blasts in a sequence of five blasts 3 seconds apart with each lasting 5 seconds. Following this sequence allows all personnel on the fireground to know that an evacuation order has been given.
A radio dispatch message or a set of tones may accompany or precede the air horn blasts to inform everyone that an evacuation order is coming. Because not all personnel may have a portable radio, the air horn blasts ensures that all will hear and know of the evacuation order.
This particular protocol is a vital one to know and follow as its main purpose is to ensure the safety and well-being of all personnel working on the fireground. When this protocol is not followed or even implemented, firefighters’ lives are put at risk, including those on the outside.
Missed or ignored
In the corresponding video, we see what happens when the evacuation order is not heard or ignored. We do not know the circumstances surrounding why the incident commander called for the evacuation of the structure in the first place, but there was probably cause for him to do so.
We also do not know why the interior crew did not leave the structure as the others did — perhaps they did not hear the radio tones and the air horns, we do not know. What we do know is that they did not come out.
The consequences of not hearing or ignoring the order are evident.
The incident commander would have conducted a PAR check right after the order was given to learn who was still inside. As you see in the video, another crew (most likely a RIT team) is tasked with going back in to get the other crew out.
The incident commander deemed the situation to be unsafe and wanted all personnel out — now a crew has to go back in to complete the order.
This is where all the little dominos line up leading to a bad outcome. The what-if questions can start to arise with this situation.
- What if the roof collapsed on the crews?
- What if the fire became too far advanced and trapped both crews?
- What if during the RIT assignment, one of the RIT crew members became injured or worse yet, succumbed to the fire or the building?
Following protocols is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of all firefighters operating on the fireground. When they are not followed, they will produce a domino effect.
