FIRE POLICE GUIDELINE
The welfare and safety of our firefighters comes first!
When reporting to any scene of any nature, report by radio if available to the senior command officer that you are on the scene.
Assess the situation first and unless given orders by the senior command officer, take charge of the scene and implement what is necessary. DO NOT REQUEST ORDERS FROM THE COMMAND OFFICER UNLESS NECESSARY. If there is no command officer on the scene, delegate the first past chief or officer on the scene to take charge upon his arrival.
Take charge of traffic control on all fire department related scenes.
Position all newly arriving vehicles in a manor consistent with an open lane for fire apparatus arrivals and departures.
Advise all newly arriving personnel to leave their keys in their vehicles.
Unless directed by a command officer, station all medical personnel as close to the scene as possible without blocking any traffic lanes.
Send all fire determiners directly to the scene.
Offer assistance to S.P.'s on all traffic incidents. Offer to take over traffic control. Advise S.P.'s when we leave, that the scene has reverted back to their control.
If you are the only F.P. on the scene and you feel you need assistance, notify the senior command officer. If assistance cannot be provided to you immediately, and you have fire personnel on the road, shut down the road in both directions. If personnel cannot be provided to you in a reasonable time, request a signal 14 for fire police from the nearest fire department.
If state police or sheriff's are on the scene, request assistance if possible until additional F.P. units arrive.
If you are the second or third F.P. unit arriving, request by radio what actions have been taken..
When radio contact must be maintained, use channel #6. Leave pagers on to monitor channel #1 at all times.
Flares should be set out when necessary. Establish flares to reflect the traffic pattern you desire. If you want the road closed then a straight pattern of flares should be set out in a line in one lane only. Always leave the return lane open. If you want the traffic to curve left or right, set your flares accordingly.
Do not let any civilians on the scene. If an owner of a burning structure or a relative of a victim identifies themselves, notify the senior command officer for instructions. Assess all situations before allowing any press on the scene.
If any civilians will not obey your orders, notify the senior command officer to request the presence of S.P.'s or the Sheriff.
If a weapon is in sight, do not attempt an arrest. Notify the command officer immediately.
If you detain someone for the purpose of making an arrest make sure you take notes of the situation with time of day included and all particulars leading up to and including the arrest. Notify the command officer immediately.
If a dangerous or life threatening situation arises, you will say on your radio: "MAYDAY, MAYDAY” with your location if possible and with the nature of the emergency if possible. If you do not have a radio and if it is possible you should shout> "MAYDAY, MAYDAY” as loud as possible. This procedure should only be used as a last resort and only in extreme emergencies.
For all signal #14's call the fire house to request what the senior officer wishes.
If an undetermined or possible false alarm is toned out, the following orders are: If you are close to the fire house, report there. If you are close to the scene, report there. If you are close to neither, post yourself in a safe location and monitor your radio. If the senior officer calls for apparatus, report to the scene. If the senior officer releases all personnel, advise the station or the senior officer you were responding. If you cannot reach a senior officer or the station, advise at the earliest possible time of your response.
Vests or coats must be worn on all scenes.
Personal vehicles must not be used to block the road unless ordered by the command officer.
On all highway incidents, personal and F.P. vehicles must be stationed at least 100 feet from the accident or fire scene.
Be aware of any fuels running on the road before setting out flares.
All fire police shall station themselves in as visible a manor as possible without putting themselves in danger.
Do not engage any civilian traffic in conversation. Move traffic along in as quick and safe a manor as possible.
Do not open up traffic to normal conditions until instructed so by the senior command officer.
Do not leave your post until told to by the senior command officer, the F.P. captain or until all fire personnel have left the scene.