PURPOSE: This section is intended to provide guidance to the Company Officer when responding to vehicle fires in the parking structures of the North Mississippi Medical Center.

SITUATION/STRUCTURE DESCRIPTION

Southeast Parking Garage- The five story parking structure that is accessible from Council Circle.  The standpipe connection is locate at the east entrance from Council Circle.  The closest hydrant is at Council and Pegram.  There are standpipe connections on each floor located at the south stairway and west stairway.  The first floor also has a standpipe connection located on the north wall near the east entrance from Council Circle.

East Parking Garage- The three story parking structure located north of the Southeast Parking Garage.  Access to the third floor is from Emergency or Outpatient drives and the Southeast Parking Garage, Level 3.  Access to the second floor is from the Southeast Parking Garage, Level 2.  The first floor access is a limited access entrance from Council Circle.  This structure is NOT protected by a standpipe system.  Fires on the third floor can be accessed by driving to the top floor.  Hoselines for fires on the second level can be established from the standpipe in the Southeast Parking Garage or hand laid down the stairways located on the west side of the third level.  Fires on the first floor can be accessed from Council Circle.

North Parking Garage-This five story parking structure is commonly called "employee parking".  This is a limited access structure with entrances on Council Circle and the hospital side.  This structure is protected by three individual standpipe systems.  Each system is independent of the other.  The standpipes are located in the stairways, one at the south end, middle, and northwest end of the structure..  The middle fire department connection is located at the south side of the stairway structure, south Council Circle entrance.  The northwest fire department connection is located across the hospital driveway at the northwest corner of the parking structure.

STANDARD RESPONSE

The standard response for a vehicle fire in a parking structure shall be the same a commercial fire; two engines, one truck, one rescue, and Chief Officer.

TACTICAL GUIDELINES

Vehicle fires in parking structures provide a unique situation.  The close proximity of other vehicles, lack of engine access, open structures, the potential of damage to the structure, and multiple levels all play a role in attacking fires of this type.

The first arriving officer should attempt to determine the location of the vehicle.
These fire should be treated as a HIGHRISE fire. Firest arriving companies should prepare to take necessary equipment with them.  This should include a high-rise pack, 2 ½ inch supply line, dry chemical extinguisher, and forcible entry tool.

Upon determining the location of the fire, a final size up can be conducted.  The company officer should take into consideration exposures (other vehicles, structure) and the potential for extension upward to other floors.  Parking structures are very open structures, thus fire can extend unchecked from floor to floor.

The first company should connect to the standpipe on the fire floor and extend the high-rise line to attack the fire.  Communications between the interior crew and the driver will be necessary to assure adequate water is available to attack the fire.

The second company is responsible for establishing a water supply to the standpipe from the hydrant.

The driver/operator will initiate connection to the standpipe and establish a water supply.  Tank water will be insufficient to fill the standpipe and provide firefighting water.  Hydrant connection will be required.

The truck company should be prepared to operate as a separate company, raising the ladder to the fire floor and assist in attacking the fire.

The Truck Company Officer should meet with the Incident Commander to determine a plan of action.

The Rescue Company should establish a staging area on the floor below the fire taking additional air bottles, hoses, and equipment to the staging area.

STANDARD COMPANY FUNCTIONS

First Arriving Company-General Responsibilities

•      Establish Command
•      Size up
•      Determine the means of access
•      Assign Hospital Security to evacuate and secure the building
•      Take high-rise pack and minimum of 100 ft. of 2 ½ inch hose to fire floor

Sergeant/Driver-Operator will:
 

•      Position apparatus
•      Don bunker gear and SCBA
•      Obtain dy chemical extinguisher and forcible entry tools
•      Check all standpipe outlet caps and valves

Firefighter will:
 

•      Obtain high-rise pack (or two 1 3/4 inch doughnut rolls and nozzles)
•      Proceed with the Company Officer to the fire floor

Company Commander will:
 

•      Establish command, make size up, give initial report and develop attack plan
•     Direct other incoming units and implement plan until relieved of command
•     Back-up firefighter on the attack line or pull a second pre-connect
•    Obtain a high-rise pack or minimum of 100 ft of 2 ½ inch hose (or as apparatus is equipped)
•     Assign Hospital Security to evacuate and secure the building
•     Direct other incoming units and implement proper high-rise procedures
•     Proceed to the fire floor to determine and implement a plan of action

Second Arriving Engine Company-General Responsibilities

•     Connect to the standpipe
•     Establish water supply
•     Pump 100 + hoseline FL + 5 psi/floor

•     Position apparatus
•     Connect 5" supply line to intake
•     Signal plug operator to open hydrant
•     Connect two 2 ½ " lines to 2 ½" discharge outlets
•     Open 2 ½" discharge outlets when directed
•     Pump/maintain Pump Discharge Pressure

•     Pull 5 inch hose to hydrant
•     Make hydrant connection
•     Open hydrant upon signal from the driver-operator
•     Straighten 5" line
•     Report to driver-operator to assist in making hose connections
•     Obtain SCBA bottles to take to the staging area
•     Report to Company Officer

•     Pull two 2 ½" lines
•     Connect 2 ½" lines to standpipe connection
•     Check for gated wye or end of hose when hoisting lines if no standpipe present
•     Obtain additional high-rise pack or doughnut rolls and nozzles
•     Proceed to the interior staging area or Operation Chief

Truck Company Operations-General Responsibilities

•     Position Apparatus
•     Raise ladder to the fire floor
•     Assist in firefighting effort
•     Report to Operations Chief

•      Position Apparatus
•      Prepare to place aerial device

•      Set jack-plates and assist in readying the apparatus to raise the aerial
•      Proceed with the officer to the fire floor

•      Supervise the placement of the aerial to the fire floor
•      Proceed to the Operations Chief to assist in fire operations

     Establish a staging area for tools, hose, and equipment on the floor below the fire or the fire floor