FIT Operational Guidelines

Ara Safety has engaged leading life safety trainers to assist us in developing operational guidelines for deployment and post-deployment of the FIT. The following checklists are intended for trained fire responders wearing proper protective gear only. Civilians and other untrained personnel should not operate the FIT and should not rely on these guidelines as a substititute for professional training and should never presume to be capable of engaging a fire in the same way as a trained and properly equipped fire fighter.

These guidelines are intended as a supplement to professional training specifc to the deployment of the FIT. They are not a subsititute for common sense, training and/or any structural fire or other operational guidelines.

ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO ATTACK AND OVERHAUL WITH WATER OR FOAM AFTER DEPLOYING FIT

Pre-Deployment Checklist

If arriving on a fire scene before FIT deployment, please follow these steps:

1. Don protective clothing and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA);
2. Locate your FIT and remove from its storage or packaging;
3. Conduct a tactical size up of the fire. Specifically, assess:
• Fire behavior.
• Building size.
• Building construction.
• Possible occupants.
• Stage of fire.
• Location of fire.
• Available resources / resources required.
• Wind direction.
• Risk versus benefit.
4. Evaluate effectiveness of FIT deployment. DO NOT DEPLOY IF
• Pressurized vessels are involved.
• Fire is burning in large open (ventilated) space.
• Fire sprinklers are operational.
• The fire involves pressurized flammable liquids.
5. Announce tactical size up and strategic mode (Defensive, Transitional, Offensive);
6. Remove cap on FIT and pull string;
7. Throw the FIT into location or base of the fire;
8. Evaluate effectiveness of FIT deployment. Consider fire behavior and building integrity. Continually size up fire;
9. Update incoming units on tactics deployed and strategic mode;
10. Assign new tactical operations based on available resources and fire conditions.

Post-Deployment Checklist

If arriving on a fire scene after a FIT has been deployed, please follow these steps:

1. Don protective clothing and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA);
2. Receive incident status report from first responder;
3. Incident Commander conduct tactical size up:
   • Fire behavior.
   • Building size.
   • Building construction.
   • Possible occupants.
   • Stage of fire.
   • Location of fire.
   • Available resources / resources required.
   • Wind direction.
   • Risk versus benefit.
4. Evaluate effectiveness of FIT deployment. Consider fire behavior and building integrity. Continually size up fire.
5. Considerations for Incident Commander:
   • After deployment the thermal layer may be disturbed;
   • Occupant search would be considered primary tactical objective;
   • How long the fire burned before deployment of the FIT-5;
   • Did the fire flare up after deployment then get knocked down again by residual powder;
   • Pressurization of compartment could have produced fire extension;
   • If compartment was not ventilated consider back draft potential;
   • If offensive attack is decided, make entry into building according to structural fire operational guidelines;
   • Overhaul is mandatory after FIT deployment.
6. Announce tactical size up and strategic mode (Defensive, Transitional, Operational).
7. Apply tactics with clear objectives to fire fighters.
8. Update incoming units on tactics deployed and strategic mode.
9. Continually evaluate fire conditions and effectiveness of tactical operations.
10. Assign new tactical operations based on available resources and fire conditions.