standard operating procedure college station fire department

SUBJECT: Incident Command Procedures SOP: 300.1.10
CATEGORY: PAGE: 2 of 4
Two in Two:
The Current Incident Commander must make a determination of whether or not to send a
crew into the structure based on the following guidelines:
The fire or situation is small in nature and does not create a significant hazard to the entry
crews.
A known life hazard is present upon arrival that necessitates a rescue attempt. (In this
situation the two in two out policy may be overridden at the discretion of the Incident
Commander).
Anytime department personnel are operating in an IDLH atmosphere or area that could
possibly become an IDLH atmosphere SCBAs will be used and the department will put
the Two in Two Out rule into effect. The Two in Two Out rule means that personnel will
always work in pairs when in an IDLH area. The members of the crew will remain
within voice contact of each other and operate as a team. Two additional department
members will serve as the two out crew. The two out crew will be dressed in the same
level of PPE as the two interior members. The Two out team will be in full PPE including
an SCBA and will be ready to respond to help the two in crew at a moment’s notice. The
two out crew functions as a safety and recovery team for the members functioning in the
interior of the structure in case they encounter an emergency. The two out crew is to be
used solely for the rescue of fire personnel.
When the two in two out policy is used one member of the rapid intervention crew (RIC)
may be used to perform non-critical duties outside of the danger zone. The other member
of the RIC must not be used for other functions. Both members of the RIC must be in
full protective clothing including SCBA to be able to respond immediately should the need
for a fire fighter rescue arise.
To accommodate the use of two in two out: If EMS treatment is not needed immediately
on scene the ambulance crew should don full protective clothing and function as the Rapid
Intervention Team until other resources become available to perform this function.
Incident Commander:
Must give “over the radio” location of command
Establish a visible command
If outside of the vehicle must wear vest bearing the words “Incident Commander”
If command is passed it must be done over the radio and face to face if possible.
Higher-ranking officers may take over command if the situation dictates
May assign sectors, divisions and additional personnel assignments as needed, such as, but
not limited to:
Rescue, Safety, Rehab, Staging, Exposures, Ventilation, Interior, Exterior, Medical,
Liaisons
rev: 4/94, 3/99