Protecting Responding Police Officers

By Jim Bossert

“When a man becomes a firefighter, his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work. Firefighters do not regard themselves as heroes because they do what the business requires.”
—Edward F. Croker, FDNY Chief of Department

Croker made that statement in 1908, and more than 100 years later, his words still stand as testimony to the dedication to duty that is the hallmark of firefighters everywhere.

Firefighters are, by their nature, people of action who are not inclined to stand idly by when others are in danger. This applies whether on or off duty. The emergency is not limited to those caused by fire. We react and respond to accidents, medical emergencies, and criminal acts, both in progress or just occurred. You would be very hard-pressed to show me a team of firefighters who would not intervene in a mugging, purse snatching, or assault in progress. All across the country there are firefighters deterring and interrupting crimes; apprehending and holding perpetrators; while simultaneously shielding, protecting, and administering first aid to the victims.

The same characteristics can be found in the actions of police officers. While protecting and defending against crime is their primary duty and training, police officers frequently respond to noncrime-related incidents and, at times, find themselves arriving first at the scene of structural fires. When this happens, they find themselves in a very difficult spot. With little or no training and almost always no protective equipment, police officers must make a decision to either stand by and wait for the fire department or act to save a life. In cities and towns across the country, police officers decide to move toward the fire in an effort to save those who might be trapped within.

Coney Island Response

Such was the case in New York City on April 6, 2014: Two police officers arrived at the scene of a Coney Island Brooklyn apartment building before responding fire units. They did not stand around waiting but rather moved toward the reported fire on the 13th floor of the high-rise multiple dwelling. The conditions visible from the outside did not accurately represent the high heat and smoke conditions that existed on the fire floor. As the officers arrived at the 13th floor and exited the elevator, they were met with heavy smoke and high heat conditions. They attempted to exit the area but were overcome. Arriving Fire Department of New York (FDNY) units moved quickly to the 13th floor and located and removed the two officers. Both officers were transported to the hospital in critical condition. Sadly, one officer succumbed to his injuries three days later. The other remained hospitalized for an extended period of time and is recuperating at home, facing a long road to recovery. It is unclear if she will be able to return to duty.

In the days following the fire, the New York Police Department (NYPD) began a thorough review of its current procedures and the training its members were receiving regarding responses to structural fires. Its response was aggressive and comprehensive as it sought to provide a policy that was realistic, effective, and provided for the safety of its members. The NYPD reached out to the FDNY for tactical guidance, and the two departments worked together to develop an operational policy as well as training lesson plans for both current and new police officers.

Procedure Review

The purpose of this article is to encourage police and fire departments across the country to have a similar sit down and review the current tactical procedures for police officers at the scene of structural fires. In addition, they should review or develop training curriculum and initiatives for current and future police officers.

It is imperative that these reviews be conducted jointly, with both fire and police departments participating, for the following reasons:

1.  Responding police officers need to know how the fire department will operate on its arrival. Conditions within the building will change rapidly and dramatically once firefighting operations begin. Police officers should exit the fire floor and floors above prior to the start of fire department operations.
2.  Firefighters need to know how, based on established procedures, police officers will deploy and what areas of the building in which they will operate.
3.  Both police and fire units must be on the same page regarding ventilation. All of our current research points to the need for revised and much more controlled ventilation policies. Operating fire department units, as well as police department units, can become endangered by unexpected and uncoordinated venting performed by well-meaning but untrained personnel.

Current research reveals that some of our tactics may need to be altered to better manage the types of fires we combat today. Departments that are involved in this research are making those tactical changes. It is crucial to get the word out to firefighters and police officers that these are not your father’s (or grandfather’s) fires. They burn hotter and faster and do not behave as they once did. Several factors are to blame, including large amounts of petroleum-based products found in occupancies as well as new construction methods and materials making for much tighter buildings (windows and doors, insulation).

The concept of smoke as fuel needs to be explained. The danger of smoke is no longer simply from inhalation but from the sudden and rapid expansion of the fire. While on the topic of smoke, it should be explained how the content of the smoke at a structural fire has also dramatically changed. Today’s smoke is much more of a witch’s brew of contaminants and chemicals than ever before. Carbon monoxide and cyanide poisoning are serious threats to those who inhale smoke, such as police officers without self-contained breathing apparatus protection. Breathing through rags, clothes, or any mask not designed for these conditions is useless and gives a false sense of security that could be deadly.

Response Procedure

Concepts that should be a part of any operational procedure for responding police officers and absolutely incorporated into any training lesson plan include the following:

Fire dynamics:

•  Know your enemy!
•  Explain the science and timeframes related to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s legacy apartment vs. modern apartment video. (See www./videos/legacy-and-modern-fire-behavior).
•  Explain the concept of smoke as fuel.
•  Explain the concept of flashover.
•  Explain that conditions in a fire are very fluid, change rapidly, and can deteriorate quickly.

Size-up:

•  Note the type of construction (fire resistive/nonfire resistive).
•  Note the type of occupancy (residential/commercial/vacant).
•  Note conditions reported and conditions observed.
•  Note the actual location of the fire.
•  Request an update on reports being received by dispatch.
•  Find out if anyone is reporting people trapped or unaccounted for.

Decision whether to enter the building:

•  Note the volume of the observed fire. Just because nothing is visible from the exterior does not mean there is only a small fire or no fire in the interior.
•  Are there reports of trapped people (with credible witnesses on scene)?
•  Risk vs. reward: Are observed conditions so severe that any occupants still inside are likely beyond saving?
•  Risk a lot to save a lot (occupied residential) vs. risk little to save little (locked commercial or vacant structure).
•  What is the fire department’s estimated time of arrival? Are personnel close? Can you hear them? If so, it may be better to stay out, meet them, and give them information you have gathered.

Making a Decision

After the responding officers have considered all of the above factors, they are faced with a tactical decision: They must decide which course of action is appropriate and whether or not that action can be effective. In addition, they must weigh the degree of danger to themselves; they must operate within a margin of safety that prevents them from becoming another trapped victim.

If police officers decide to stay outside of a structure, some important actions they must take include the following:

•  Prevent civilians from entering the building.
•  Clear the front of the building and fire hydrants of all vehicle traffic.
•  Prevent civilian vehicles from entering the block.
•  Use the police vehicle loudspeaker to calm trapped occupants and advise them that the fire department is on the way.
•  Take note of windows where people need help; they may be no longer visible when the fire department arrives.
•  Assist occupants who are self-evacuating.
•  Continue to obtain information about fire size and location and trapped people by observing conditions and questioning occupants who have exited the structure.

If police officers decide to enter a structure, some important actions they must take include the following:

•  Advise police dispatch that you are entering the building (give destination).
•  Have police dispatch notify fire dispatch that police officers are entering the building. Be specific about the number entering the structure. This notification must be done immediately.
•  Know why you are entering the building. Have a specific reason or mission.
•  Double check the location of fire. Visible fire on the outside may have come from a lower floor. Going straight to it would put you above the fire.
•  Never go above the lowest fire location.
•  Avoid the use of elevators.
•  Check the location of all stairways.
•  Monitor smoke and heat conditions. If they are increasing-withdraw!
•  Never open a door without checking it for heat. If it is hot, do not open it.
•  Close all doors that you pass through, and confine the fire by closing the door to the fire area, if possible.
•  Stay low to the floor.
•  Note landmarks to help find your way back to the stairs. Stay next to the wall, and count doors that you pass on the way in. If conditions change, you may be withdrawing rapidly in zero visibility.
•  Leave the building immediately once the fire department begins to operate. Halls and stairs previously OK will become untenable. It gets much worse before it gets better!

Keeping Responders Safe

As stated previously, police officers are just like firefighters in that they feel compelled to take action when people are in danger. But a structural fire is not what they are trained for, and they are not properly equipped or protected to address the threat. That being said, it must be acknowledged that first responders feel a powerful sense of duty to take action. For those of us in the fire service, to do no more than tell the police to stay out of the building and wait for us is unrealistic and irresponsible. We should be working with police officers and educating them on how they can operate safely and effectively.

The two police officers who entered that building in Brooklyn did so with the best of intentions and with the dedication to protect others-that is the driving force behind first responders everywhere. In their honor, fire departments across the country need to reach out to their local police departments and offer the information and training they need to operate safely at fire scenes.

The Coney Island tragedy was not the first time police officers have died operating in a structural fire. Let’s communicate, train, and work together to make sure it’s the last time! We all win when everybody goes home.

Sidebar – Ten Do’s for police officers on the fireground.

•  Do verify the address.
•  Do make sure fire department is responding.
•  Do determine fire location in the building.
•  Do obtain information by questioning all present.
•  Do advise police department dispatch if you are entering the building. Tell them to advise fire department dispatch immediately.
•  Do close all doors behind you. Close doors to confine the fire.
•  Do have an escape plan (secondary exit).
•  Do check floor layout on the floor below fire.
•  Do use the wall as a guide and count doors from the stairway so you can find the stairway door on your return.
•  Do leave a member at the door to the fire area to guide you back, and never enter the fire floor alone!

Sidebar – Ten Don’ts for police officers on the fireground.

•  Don’t block the front of the building with police vehicles.
•  Don’t park blocking hydrants (use driveways/bus stops).
•  Don’t use elevators.
•  Don’t go above the lowest level of fire.
•  Don’t ventilate; don’t break glass or leave doors open.
•  Don’t stay inside any longer than absolutely necessary.
•  Don’t expect conditions to remain the same as when you entered. They will change quickly and often.
•  Don’t remain in a building after the fire department arrives and begins operations.
•  Don’t attempt to stand and carry victims from the fire area. If in high heat, stay low to the floor and drag victims to safety.
•  Don’t assume all windows can be opened from inside, as you can end up trapped.