PUBLIC EVACUATIONS
OG# 3.2.9 / Date of Last Revision: June 25, 2013
Purpose: To establish resources and outline processes which may be used to aid in the evacuation of the occupants of a structure or area that is threatened by fire, explosion or other immediate danger.
Scope: All Cranbrook Fire Emergency Services personnel.
Policy: When occupants of a structure or area are evacuated by the CF&ES efforts will be made to ensure that the occupants are protected from the hazards and environmental elements. When evacuation is necessary occupants should be assembled in a designated marshalling area, located in the cold zone. Evacuees should further be provided with transportation to another safe location such as the Emergency Social Services (ESS) reception center.
Procedure:
An evacuation may be made as a tactical command or a formal evacuation order.
Section 3.3 (b) of the Fire Services Bylaw authorizes the Director of Fire & Emergency Services to undertake a tactical evacuation if an emergency arising from a fire hazard or risk of explosion is imminent or poses serious danger to life or property.
A request for the Fire Commissioner to authorize an evacuation may be made under the provisions of Section 25 of the Fire Services Act.
Should a tactical evacuation be required due to imminent danger to life or property, members should consider requesting voluntary evacuation of occupants or residents.
When possible evacuations should be conducted in cooperation with the RCMP.
A tactical command to evacuate is issued without formal authority, therefore it is an advisory based on an immediate threat to life or safety.
Legislated authority (Fire Services Act, Emergency Program Act, and Bylaw) is required to undertake a formal evacuation. This process requires that an Order be issued by the authority having jurisdiction.
When issuing an evacuation order based on the threat of fire or explosion contact the Office of the Fire Commissioner for an evacuation order. A rescind order will be required once the threat has been eliminated.
When activating Emergency Social Services (ESS) in order to provide assistance to evacuees, a Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) task number is required.
When Emergency Social Services has been activated encourage occupants to report to the reception
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center.
When conducting large scale evacuations written Incident Action Plans (IAP) should be established.
Evacuation of multiple storey structures should begin on the floor affected by the fire or threat, followed by the floors above and then the floors below the fire. In many instances separate crews can begin the evacuations simultaneously.
Fire alarms and public address systems (PA) can be utilized to achieve a general evacuation, however consider that these systems are not likely to be intrinsically safe and if an explosive environment exists they could provide the spark that ignites the explosion.
Fire fighters are not to enter a known explosive environment, in these situations conduct evacuations from the exterior utilizing load speakers, the radio station, etc.
When entering potential explosive environments atmosphere monitors with LEL capabilities are to be utilized by each team.
Consider that fire department portable radios are not intrinsically safe.
In a potential explosive environment do not turn electrical appliances or lights on or off, leave them in the position found.
In a potential explosive environment avoid generating sparks or changing atmosphere conditions until all occupants and rescuers are clear of the structure.
If an explosive environment is suspect turn off the gas services to the structure, advise the property owner to contact the gas company.
Searched rooms or apartments should be marked by tying fire line tape to the door knobs. A second fire line tape can be used to indicate completion of the secondary search.
Primary and secondary searches are required. Every area of the structure must be searched when safe to do so.
Once occupants have been evacuated from the structure, they may not be permitted to re-enter the building until the threat of fire or explosion has been eliminated and the evacuation order has been lifted.
RCMP should be utilized to maintain the evacuation order (dealing with persistent or argumentative evacuees).
Once the structure is evacuated IC is responsible to ensure that security to the structure is maintained.
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Before allowing occupants to return, after the event, ensure suites are properly secured and safe.
Outside agencies may be required to determine if the structure is safe for inhabitants, i.e. engineer’s, Environment, Public Health, etc.
Consider utilizing temporary shelter such as a nearby structure, private vehicles, the site support trailer or buses until an ESS site can be established.
When possible, evacuee contact information should be recorded, consider utilizing EHS to gather contact numbers and information.
The use of the occupant’s personal vehicles for shelter or transportation is encouraged.
Occupants can be recruited to assist one another.
The IC can utilized taxi cabs, school buses or as a last resortCity buses, depending on the scale of the event.
Charges for taxis and buses are forwarded to CF&ES. When ESS is established cost recovery through PEP may be possible.
Incident Command is responsible to provide ESS with regular situation reports.
Reference:
Dispatch resource call out list
Fire Commissioner’s Office
City of Cranbrook, Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, Adopted 26, April, 2010. Part 9, Enforcement.
Also OG:
Incident Command, 2.4.2
Personnel Risk, 2.4.5
Communications, 2.4.6
/ This OG replaces:Implementation Date: April 14, 2009
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