ACTIVE RIT!

SEAN J. WILSON
ROYAL OAK FIRE

HOW CLOSE BEFORE YOU SEE IT?

HOW CLOSE BEFORE YOU SEE IT?

HOW CLOSE BEFORE YOU SEE IT?

HOW CLOSE BEFORE YOU SEE IT?

HOW CLOSE BEFORE YOU SEE IT?

HOW CLOSE BEFORE YOU SEE IT?

SPOT-WELDS

PART 1: ACTIVE RIT THEORY

ACTIVE RIT THEORY

In Royal Oak (MI), we have adopted a tactical approach I refer to as
Active RIT. The Active RIT model is beneficial for two main
reasons:
1 MANPOWER: Manpower in the modern Fire Service, both in the
career and volunteer realms, is not what it once was, nor what it
should be.and nor is this likely to change for the better anytime
soon. However, certain essential tasks must still be performed on the
fireground if fires are to be extinguished and extinguished safely.
2 EFFECTIVENESS: The better equipped, prepared, organized, and
knowledgeable of the fire building that an individual RIT Team is, the
more effective they will be should a mayday occur.
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ACTIVE VS. PASSIVE RIT

Earlier thinking about RIT stated that the RIT Team was comprised of
2-3 unlucky firefighters chosen to stand on the sidewalk leaning on an
axe, bitterly complaining to one another, and watching their pals
have fun.
These firefighters were held in reserve and kept fresh until an
extremely rare event called a MAYDAY happened.
Hence, these firefighters were rarely used for anything at all.

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ACTIVE RIT THEORY

The Active RIT Theory states that the RIT has certain formal functions
that should be done at every incident, and also certain possible
functions that can be used at the ICs discretion, or as a matter of
standard operational procedure.
In essence, so long as the RIT Team is in contact with the IC (via radio),
and in contact with one another (visually), they can be used for
almost any short-duration task on the immediate property of the
structure.provided they dont go up on the roof (or climb a ladder
above the first floor), and they dont go inside.

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ACTIVE RIT THEORY

For instance, the RIT may perform horizontal ventilation on a first-floor or
second-floor window working from the ground with a pike pole.but
should not climb a ladder to vent an upper-story window or get on the
roof.
The RIT may force entry.but should not make entry, except in the
instance of firefighter emergency.

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FORMAL FUNCTIONS
At every incident, the RIT should:
Gather all RIT tools together in one area for use by the RIT only.
Perform an early 360 size-up (independent of the ICs 360).
Be in radio contact with the IC, be in visual contact with other RIT
members, monitor radio traffic, and be able to respond without delay
to a mayday situation.

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360-DEGREE SIZE-UP
After gathering and placing the RIT tools at a staging area, the RIT
should perform its own size-up of the structure. This size-up is
independent of the ICs size-up.
This size-up should be automatic and performed by both/all members of
the RIT if possible (the more eyes, the better).

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360-DEGREE SIZE-UP
Information should be noted regarding:

Layout of the building

Likely placement of interior stairways
All entrances/exits
Utilities & FDCs
Special features or hazards (window bars, etc.)
Location of the fire & fire conditions

Relevant information should be relayed to the IC, preferably by face-toface report.

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DISCRETIONARY TASKS
As mentioned earlier, provided it stays on the ground and doesnt go
inside.the RIT can be used for many short-term tasks either at the
ICs discretion or by SOP/SOG.
These tasks may include, but are not limited to:

Forcible entry (either initial entry or for softening the building)

Shutting off utilities (water, electricity, gas)
Horizontal ventilation (windows that can be reached from the ground)
Ground assistance to the vertical ventilation crew or engineer
Placement of secondary egress ladders
Removal of window bars & security gates
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STANDING ORDERS
Certain standing orders for the RIT may be beneficial for the fire
department to have in place, this is of course up to each individual fire
department to decide for themselves.
For instance, standing orders for working fires might include:
Shutting off utilities as part of the RIT 360-degree size-up.
Small-scale horizontal ventilation (one window or one door) as part of
the RIT 360. All ventilation still needs to be coordinated with the IC.
Removal of window bars & security gates as part of the RIT 360.
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SOFTENING THE BUILDING

Forcible entry and creating secondary and tertiary means of egress
should be a prime concern of the IC on any fireground.
On working fires above the size of room and contents (either residential
or commercial), one of the RITs primary jobs should be softening
the building.
That is, forcing entry through ALL exterior doors (then shutting them to
prevent changes in air currents), and removal of ALL window bars
and security gates from the building.
In this way, if attack-crews have their primary exit cut off, or the RIT
needs to enter through a specific door, those paths are already open.
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LIKELY ORDER OF RIT TASKS

1 Gather all RIT tools & equipment and place in a staging area.
2 360 degree size-up. Utility shut-off, horizontal ventilation, forcible
entry, and window bar removal MAY or MAY NOT be done at this
stage depending upon size of the fire and local SOP/SOGs.
3 Report of significant findings to the IC, preferably face-to-face.
4 Soften the building.force all exterior doors, remove bars and gates.
5 Placement of additional ladders as secondary means of egress.
6 Assist engineer or provide exterior, ground-level assistance to other
crews for roof work, line placement, or feeding hose into the building.

PART 2: RIT TOOLS

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RIT TOOLS
In Royal Oak (like many other FDs), we load up the stokes basket from
the ladder truck with a selection of tools likely to be useful in a RIT
situation.
The stokes basket may itself be used to carry a firefighter to safety, but it
also makes it possible for two firefighters to carry all or most
equipment to the scene to be staged in a prominent area.
Placement in the stokes basket should also be a signal to all around that
these are RIT tools, and they should not be used by any personnel
except the RIT.
Some FDs go so far as to have dedicated RIT tools all painted a special
color to differentiate them from other tools on the truck.

RIT TOOLS
A partial list might include (but is not limited to):

Dedicated RIT hose-line

Stokes basket
RIT SCBA bag
TIC
Rope bag / webbing
Irons (halligan and axe)
Sledge hammer
Chainsaw (residential fires)
K12 (commercial fires)
Ground ladder(s)

DOOR-IN-A-WINDOW
EMERGENCY EGRESS.
MADE WITH A CHAINSAW.
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PART 3:
GATED COMMUNITIES

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GATED COMMUNITIES
Start paying attention to security bars, gates, and screens. They
are everywhere.in every type of American city.small or large,
rich or poor, new or old.
More likely to be found on the C-side than on the A-side.
Even in newer, wealthier areas youll find them in places like cellphone, car stereo, and jewelry stores.
Make a bet with your crew about how many they can find in your
district driving around for half an hour.

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BARS & GATES

Significant barrier to entry for FFs, also a serious danger to civilians and
FFs as an obstacle to escape
May be set permanently into masonry or attached with brackets screwed
into the masonry or window/door frame
May be fixed, or hinged on one side and pad-locked

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STRATEGIES FOR REMOVAL

1.

Cut the bars or brackets with K12

2.

Use the Jaws to spread brackets from the building or cut the bars

3.

Pull bars off of building with tow-chain attached to the fire engine

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MORE STRATEGIES FOR REMOVAL

4.

Use Air Bag to pull lag-bolts from building

5.

Using the Irons, pry the bracket lag-bolts away from the building, or
shear off the bolt-heads

6.

Smash the masonry that the bars or lag-bolts are set into

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HOMETOWN NIGHTMARES

These are all buildings in Royal Oak.a very normal suburban city.

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HOMETOWN NIGHTMARES 2

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HOMETOWN NIGHTMARES 3

SPOT-WELDS

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HOMETOWN NIGHTMARES 4

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HOMETOWN NIGHTMARES 5

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HOMETOWN NIGHTMARES 6

If we have houses like this in ROYAL OAK.

YOU have them in YOUR CITY
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BEFORE THE MAYDAY.REMOVE BARS FROM ALL WINDOWS

AND SECURITY GATES FROM ALL DOORS AT ANY FIRE BIGGER
THAN ROOM-AND-CONTENTS. FORCE ALL EXTERIOR DOORS.
SOMEONE MIGHT APPRECIATE IT SOMEDAY.

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DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF BRIAN WOEHLKE.

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FIN.

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