PURPOSE: 

The purpose of this document is to provide a guideline for the New Hackensack Fire Department on Apparatus Placement and Positioning at emergency incidents.

RESPONSIBILITY:

1. All Officers of the New Hackensack Fire Department are responsible to comply with and ensure that personnel under their command are adequately trained, fully understand and comply with this guideline.

2. All members of the New Hackensack Fire Department have the responsibility to learn and follow this guideline.

GUIDELINE:

Apparatus function shall regulate placement. The first arriving units should position themselves to maximum advantage and go to work. Later arriving units should place themselves in a manner that builds on the initial placement and allows for expansion of the operation. However, at no time shall apparatus be positioned in a manner as to place it in an unnecessarily dangerous position.

STRUCTURE FIRES AND FIRST ALARM ASSIGNMENTS

Upon receiving an alarm, apparatus will respond as per New Hackensack Fire Department alarm assignments for the type of alarm received.

1. Apparatus that is not being used should be staged in an uncommitted position that will not congest the incident site and will facilitate performing a maximum number of evolutions.

2. When positioning an emergency vehicle at an incident, consider the following items:

a.      Leave an access lane open. If possible, all apparatus should be placed on the same side of the street as indicated in NK-312 Vehicle Operations SOG.

b.      Do not park in such a manner as to make the emergency vehicle an exposure.

c.      At fires, avoid heat and smoke. Guard against possible building collapse.

d.      Don’t become trapped. Allow adequate room to reposition the vehicle if necessary.

e.      When placing an apparatus at the scene, beware of overhead power lines that would compromise or prohibit safe operation.

f.        When responding to a car fire, the apparatus should approach the vehicle involved from a 45-degree angle to best attack the fire.

g.      On multiple alarm incidents, an Officer shall be assigned to stage apparatus and deploy them per the Incident Commander's request.

h.      Take maximum advantage of key hydrants to avoid excessive lays and to ensure maximum use of the water supply. Hose shall be laid in such a manner so as not to obstruct ingress/egress from the scene.

i.        Don’t park too close to another emergency vehicle. Allow sufficient room to deploy hose lines and to remove stretchers, ladders, and other equipment from the vehicle.

NOTE: Staging shall be in accordance with applicable New Hackensack Fire District guidelines.

3.      The first arriving engine at a fire should normally proceed just past the front of the fire, laying a supply line if necessary. ("Front" does not necessarily mean the front of the building.  It may mean the area of heaviest involvement or primary access.) Driving past the structure will enable its crew to see three sides of the building.  Depending on the setback of the structure to the road, proper vehicle placement may require entering the driveway to approach the structure.

4. Position the engine to use its deck gun, floodlights, and other equipment as may be needed. Take care to leave room for any additional equipment that may be needed and called to the scene. If the building has a wide frontage, position the engine at the entrance that provides best access to the fire.

5. The second arriving engine at a working fire should secure water supply, or complete assignments as ordered by the Incident Commander.

6. If nothing is showing, the second arriving engine should stage at the nearest hydrant and await orders if the first arriving company did not lay hose.

AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS

When responding to an automobile accident, follow the guidelines set forth in NK-308 Auto Accidents.  Upon arriving at the scene of an automobile accident and doing initial size-up, equipment should be positioned according to the hazards at the scene, to protect responders from oncoming traffic, and to best approach the vehicles to perform patient extrication.  If there is no fire found upon arrival on the scene, the engine should be positioned in a manner to safely block the incident scene from oncoming traffic, effectively closing the road.   

HAZ-MAT or NATURAL GAS EMERGENCIES

When responding to Natural Gas Emergencies or HAZ-MAT Incidents, follow the guidelines set forth in NK-315 Natural Gas Emergencies or NK-305 Hazardous Material Incidents, respectively.  All apparatus should approach the scene with caution, staying back until initial size-up has been done.  Zones should be set up in accordance with the DOT Emergency Response Guide, NIOSH Guide, Material Safety Data Sheets, or other means available.  Apparatus should be staged uphill and upwind at a safe distance from the incident.  Avoid unnecessarily committing apparatus and personnel to a dangerous situation.

EMS INCIDENTS

1. Responding equipment vehicles that arrive before the ambulance unit should leave clear access for the ambulance unit and should not block the incident site.

2. Due to traffic dangers when responding to EMS calls located on or near a roadway, 52-67 should be parked so as to provide a protective barrier for emergency personnel responding to the scene.