Hostile MCI Response Policy

Southern Nevada Fire Operations (SNFO)

SNFO Hostile MCI Policy

In 2011 the Clark County Fire Department was like most first response agencies across the U.S. when it came to responding to an active shooter situation.

We were unprepared: No plan. No multi-agency, multi-discipline training or policies.

SNFO Hostile MCI Policy

As these events continued to become more common across the country there was a growing sense of urgency within not only our organization but all of our local first response agencies.

No one knew: When will it happen here? How will we respond? How should we prepare?

SNFO Hostile MCI Policy

Fortunately a few key things had taken place in recent years that helped us bridge some of the gaps we were facing.

The most notable gap was the FDs interactions with local law enforcement (LE).

SNFO Hostile MCI Policy

First piece: Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center (SNCTC) Fusion Center. One of two Fusion Centers in Nevada. CCFD staffs a Fire Captain in the Fusion Center (modified

duty) to act as a liaison between LE at all levels.

We had our foot in the door in regards to improving relationships with LE.

SNFO Hostile MCI Policy

Second piece: Southern Nevada Fire Operations

Working group that has its roots all the way back to 2002 when some captains from the local FD heavy rescue teams banned together in an effort to improve relationships between teams and increase the response capabilities available to the community.

SNFO Hostile MCI Policy

Since then those captains have moved up in their respective organizations and in doing so brought those relationships and successes with them.

The end result is SNFO.

Projects accomplished: RIT Operations, common SOPs, high-rise firefighting

plan, tactical work sheets, valley wide multi-agency training and coordination.

SNFO Hostile MCI Policy

Given the success of the SNFO group the decision was made to use that same format to address an Active Shooter Policy.

MACTAC – quick note

Multiple Assault Counter Terrorism Action Capabilities. LE’s plan for engaging assailants who are actively killing in

multiple locations. Very good plan. They are very well trained and prepared. Been around for several years

However, no FD/EMS involvement. They assumed we would just follow them into a building to

fight a fire or deal with patients during one an event like this.

SNFO Hostile MCI Policy

In late 2011 the SNFO Active Shooter committee was formed. Now referred to as the SNFO Hostile MCI Committee.

For the first time a SNFO working group had participation from: LE Health District Military Several other specialty personnel

SNFO Hostile MCI Policy

The SNFO Active Shooter Committee worked diligently over the course of three years to arrive at our final policy.

Hurdles encountered: No current template to refer to. Communications. Unified Command with LE. Firefighter resistance. Developing and holding hands-on training.

Clearing the Hurdles

No current template to refer to.

When reaching out we found that most everyone else was in the same place we were….

Conceptual plans began to come together. Shared and received experiences from other departments across

the country that were working on the same problem.

Those conceptual plans morphed constantly because of trial and error.

Clearing the Hurdles Communications:

Common radio frequencies: Existed but LE did not have the fleet maps.

Cant even talk to each other. LE IC trying to talk to everyone:

Quickly became overwhelmed. Terminologies:

ICS terms: LE had never used Div/Grp/Branch etc.

Other terms: Later slide

Clearing the Hurdles

Unified Command with LE: Training side by side. Tactical worksheets. Showing the benefits of accountability. Communications (our radios). Discipline for teams (stay together no matter what).

Clearing the Hurdles

Firefighter resistance Like any other thing we do.

Risk a lot to save a lot. Provide safety given the use of SOPs, training and

coordination. Hands on drills with LE partners. Ballistic PPE.

Clearing the Hurdles

Developing and testing ideas via hands-on training.

Multiple venues used. Several concepts failed. Crews were very disappointed in what we were doing. Eventually some common positive experiences were

found and leaders from both FD & LE were gelling. The rough edges were smoothed out and a policy came to

life.

Tactical Worksheet

The following slide is an example of a ICS worksheet to be used in the class.

Like any ICS worksheet it is not set in stone, only an example of what might develop.

Filling of all the Command Staff positions would not be an initial priority.

Unified CommandLaw Enforcement / Fire Department

Liaison

Public Information

Safety

Staging

LE (SGT / LT)Assault Branch

LE (SGT / LT)Perimeter Branch

LE / FD (BC)Force Protection

Branch

LE / FD (BC)Transfer Branch

FD (BC/CO)Medical Branch

FD (BC)Fire Branch

SWAT

ARMOR

Team 1

Team 2

Team 1

Team 2

Triage

Treatment

Transport

Fire Medical

Team 1

Team 2

Final Training Push

During the Spring of 2014 the final draft of the policy was out and training with our local LE partners was beginning.

CCFD was to begin our training on June 11th. Other departments were just wrapping up their training.

However June 8th changed everything.

Murder of two Metro Police Officers

On this Sunday afternoon two suspects intent on killing police officers succeeded. Ambush in a pizza parlor. Wal-Mart shooting.

Our policy was tested. Even before we had officially rolled it out. Force Protection 1 was deployed and removed the female

suspect who was still alive.

Moving on as a community

To date training has been completed for all the SNV Fire Departments: CCFD, LVFR, HFD, NLVFD, BCFD, MFD and Bullhead AZ FD. Approximately 1800 FD personnel across 8,000 square

miles. LE agencies involved in the process:

LVMPD, NLVFD, NHP, HPD, BCPD, Tribal PD, FBI, UNLV, Nellis AFB and CCSD.

Terms

Assault Teams. Force Protection. Hostile MCI Kits. Sift and Sort. Transfer Teams. Clean/Dirty area.

Assault Teams

1st priority is to neutralize the threat

The 1st arriving units from LE will form up an Assault Team to quickly enter the building and neutralize the threat! Command mode for us FD types would be “FAST ATTACK”

Force Protection Teams provide care while in the “Warm Zone”, where threat is

at a minimum, but not totally ruled out. LE will be providing for your security with a minimum of two officers.

Force Protection Make-up Only after Unified Command has been established will a

Force Protection Team be assembled. Make up will be the following

– Minimum of 2 LE personnel (Force Protection element)– Minimum of 3 FD personnel (one being a CO, and one being a

Paramedic)– FP Teams Shall take a minimum of 2 Hostile MCI Kits into the Warm

Zone. FD CO responsible for communications with command. Command will provide a briefing prior to entry and cover:

– Team Leader and Call Sign– Who they are reporting to– Radio Channel– Entry Point– Any other special considerations

Hostile MCI Medical Kits The equipment list was developed by FD personnel and Trauma

Doctors from the Special Operations Medical Associations.

Crews entering as part of a Force Protection Team will carry Hostile MCI kits with:

– Chest seals– 3 ¼” 14G catheters for chest decompression– Tourniquets– NPAs– Basic bandage supplies– Tags:

• Orange• Black

Sift and Sort

Term used to describe the actions of the Force Protection Teams

Sifting & Sorting is not triage. Formal Triage will be performed in an exterior medical area.

– Categories of patients:• Walking Wounded (no tag)• Litter (marked with an Orange tag)• Expectant (marked with Black tag)

Transfer Teams

At the same time Force Protection Teams are formed, Command should assemble a Transfer Team(s) to move victims to a CCP or to the exterior medical area for Triage, Treatment, & Transport.

Teams consist of any combination of FD and LE personnel.

Due to the dynamic environment and number of Force Protection Teams in the Warm Zone, Transfer Teams consisting of FD personnel may not need a LE protection detail.

Goal – To rapidly remove all “Orange” tagged victims to the CCP or exterior Medical area.

Note – this process should be done as quickly as possible. Soft litters are available to place the victim on and drag to the CCP. Any means will do as long as it is quick. This is not the time for formal packaging of a victim.

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DIRTY

CLEAN

Transition Area

Personal Belongings Drop

Personal Belongings Drop

Force Protection Transfer Team

Uninjured Collected for Law Enforcement

Triage Treatment and Transport

Refuge Area Medical Branch

Formal weapons sweep by LE personnel

Clean / Dirty Funnel

Hostile MCI Response Policy

Southern Nevada Fire Operations (SNFO)

QUESTIONS?