This page shall serve as the official  Rapid Intervention Team Policy for the San Andreas Fire Department:

Last Updated:  11/08/2022
By:   Kidd B.

14.1- Purpose 

Rapid Intervention Team (RIT): 

A specifically designated team assigned to provide personnel for the rescue of members operating at emergency incidents if the need arises. 

Qualified Firefighter : Any individual possessing a minimum of a San Andreas State Firefighter 2 Certification or equivalent and has completed the training requirements as established by the Department. 

14.2- Establishing RIT

• A Rapid Intervention Team (a minimum of 2 qualified firefighters) will be established when operations are being performed in an IDLH atmosphere as soon as is practicable

• The establishment of a RIT is the responsibility of the Incident Commander and preferably will consist of more than the minimum of two members. The decision will be based on the following: 

  • • • Incident type

      • Building construction

      • Size of building

      • Number of personnel operating within the IDLH atmosphere

        • • • *Note: These are not meant to be limiting factors when establishing the RIT. C. If the incident is in a high or mid-rise structure, large area facility, or other areas with multiple IDLH atmospheres, the incident commander shall establish the necessary number of Rapid Intervention Teams so that the rescue can be accomplished without a deployment delay. 

• A team should be considered for each remote access point on any large facility. The incident commander will be responsible for determining the number of teams needed based on the specifics of the incident

• Due to the highly stressful and sometimes technical nature of incidents involving the rescue of emergency personnel, it is preferable that the RIT members be some of the more experienced and highly trained members

• The incident commander will appoint a team leader after establishing the RIT. The Rapid InterventionTeam leader reports directly to the Incident Commander throughout the incident, until deployed. 

14.2- RIT Responsibilities

• Immediately after being established the RIT leader will perform their incident evaluation/size-up. The purpose of this is to assess the following: 

  • • Construction type of the building

    • Building size (large structures may require more than one RIT)

    • Structural integrity

    •  Access/egress points

• Upon completion of their evaluation, the RIT leader may make recommendations to the incident commander concerning deployment of the RIT (i.e. laddering the building, the need of more than one team, etc.) 

• Organize/procure the appropriate equipment necessary to affect a rescue of a lost, trapped, or disoriented member. The equipment chosen shall be influenced by the type of building construction, but a minimum should consist of the following: 

  • • • A complete SCBA (regulator, face piece, air cylinder and frame)

      • Large Area Search Rope

      • Forcible entry, cutting and breaking tools

      • Appropriate lighting

      • Portable radio

      • Small hand tools (pliers, wire cutters…) 

• When deployed, the members of the RIT are to operate as a unit and report directly to the team leader. The assignment of the RIT is to locate, rescue and remove lost, trapped, or disoriented firefighters, using any means necessary. 

• At no time during the incident should members of the RIT be assigned other fire ground tasks, unless the members can either be replaced or the alternate task does not interfere with deployment of the team. This is particularly important, as the task of the RIT is critical. 

• Throughout the rescue effort the RIT will provide updates to the Incident Commander. 

• As appropriate, the Incident Commander shall assign personnel to assist the RIT with the rescue effort. The Incident Commander shall also provide personnel to establish a second RIT when the original RIT has been deployed as, unfortunately, these members may also find themselves in need of being rescued