CONFIRMED STRUCTURE FIRES NEW TYPE CODES FOR WORKING

CONFIRMED STRUCTURE FIRES NEW TYPE CODES FOR WORKING STRUCTURE FIRES – FIRE AGENCY EDITION

OBJECTIVES • Define the Confirmed Fire Commercial Response (FCC) and Confirmed Fire Residential (FRC) type codes. • Recognize criteria that differentiates an FCC or FRC from a Fire Commercial Response (FC) and Fire Residential (FR). • Agency responsibilities.

NECESSITY • In an effort to more efficiently manage our apparatus and resources, Snohomish County fire agencies, in conjunction with SNO 911, are introducing two new type codes for calls relating to structure fires. • Reports that begin as a potential or unconfirmed structure fire many times result in a much smaller or non-existent incident, pulling units out of service needlessly. • The FCC and FRC type codes provide an option to identify these unconfirmed structure fires.

FIRE RESIDENTIAL (FR) • Report of a potential fire involving a single family residence or duplex type dwelling, including a detached structure or any type of fire with exposure to the dwelling • Dwellings that are reported as housing three families or more shall be considered as a commercial response (FC) • Conditions of a FR response include: • • • Smoke inside the structure from an unknown source Hot or smoking portions of interior construction Description of light smoke visible from the exterior but no flames

CONFIRMED FIRE RESIDENTIAL (FRC) • Report of a known fire in a residential structure as defined in the Fire Residential (FR) response, that is confirmed by one of the following conditions: 1. Two or more calls on the same residential structure reporting flames and/or heavy smoke visible 2. 3. 4. Any fire or police unit reporting flames and/or heavy smoke conditions 5. In the dispatcher’s opinion the caller has described a working fire condition in a residential structure Any fire unit requesting upgrade to a confirmed fire residential response Any description by the caller of entrapment of an occupied residential structure on fire

FIRE COMMERCIAL RESPONSE (FC) • Report of potential fire involving a commercial type structure, which includes: • • • Multi-family dwellings (Apartment buildings, condos, building housing 3 or more families) Industrial buildings Hospitals Strip malls and shopping malls Schools and educational facilities Warehouses and storage facilities Public gathering locations (restaurants, night clubs, theaters, etc. ) Commercial boat/ship or multiple private watercraft (dock involvement or potential) Single private watercraft with potential exposure to other watercraft or docks, pier or pilings Trains involving multiple railroad cars or a single car with cargo Any large building not identified as a single family dwelling or duplex

CONFIRMED FIRE COMMERCIAL RESPONSE (FCC) • Report of a known fire in a commercial structure as defined in the Fire Commercial (FC) response, that is confirmed by one of the following conditions: 1. Two or more calls on the same commercial structure reporting flames and/or heavy smoke visible 2. 3. 4. Any fire or police unit reporting flames and/or heavy smoke conditions 5. 6. Two or more involved residential structures Any fire unit has requested upgrade to a confirmed fire commercial response Any description by the caller of entrapment of an occupied commercial structure on fire In the dispatcher’s opinion the caller has described a working fire condition in a commercial structure

AGENCY PERSONNEL UNDERSTANDING FIRE RESIDENTIAL CONFIRMED (FRC) AND FIRE COMMERCIAL CONFIRMED (FCC) BEGINS FEBRUARY 13, 2019 • Initially, fire response plans for FRC and FCC will exactly mirror the current plans for FR and FC (This means upgrades to a FRC/FCC, no additional units will be recommended until agencies make changes to their response plans) • It is up to each agency to request changes to its response plans if you desire a different response to FR, FC, FRC, and FCC.

CRITICAL POINT • FR AND FC type codes are for potential structure fires. The type code must be changed to a FRC or FCC for any working fire and prior to any upgrade to 2 nd alarm or greater! • Personnel responding or arriving to an incident that is a working fire should include a radio message of: • • • Upgrade to “Fire Residential Confirmed” or “Fire Commercial Confirmed” • While fire dispatchers are being trained to change type code to a confirmed fire as soon as any criteria is met. Fire personnel should include request for upgrade during any appropriate communication with dispatcher. This should be done as soon as possible into the incident at a known working fire. Failure to upgrade and then request a greater alarm may result in no additional units recommended to the incident.

THE FIRE TAC COMMITTEE EXTENDS ITS SINCEREST APPRECIATION TO OUR SPATCHERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY.