This handbook is going to be split into different sections:

MVA - Motor Vehicle Accident
High Rise Rescue Operations
Fire
Building Entry
Water Rescue





Motor Vehicle Accident

Scene assessment.
When you arrive on scene you must first assess the situation you are in and report that to the Battalion Chief/Scene supervisor that is there, this can be done over Teamspeak or the Fireground Radio (either FG 1 or FG 2 if FG 1 is currently in use). The information you should include;
-Number of vehicles (If not stated in the original dispatch)
-Type of incident  (If not stated in the original dispatch)
-If you can see walking wounded/entrapments
-To request Scene Supervisor to get Police for traffic management (if not already present on scene).

An example of this radio traffic could be:
‘Engine 4 to Battalion’
‘Battalion’ (a short simple acknowledgment that they are being called)
‘Ive arrived on scene of this MVA, it appears to be a Car vs Car, one car has been side swiped. 1 Entrapped and other is still in the vehicle but vehicle is OK. Requesting Police assistance for traffic management.’
‘Copy, Car vs Car, 1 entrapment, PD Requested.’
‘Battalion to Rescue, be 10-76 to MVA on Washington and Gates for Entrapment’



Apparatus arrival and parking on scene
If an incident is covering both lanes of the road the first due unit should maneuver itself into a suitable angle to block both lanes (this is usually 45 degrees), but yet allow enough room for other units such as RA’s to arrive and have access. This first due should ideally sit away from the incident to allow adequate space for operations on scene. Any additional rolling on scene should place them self to the side of the road so not to block access and if needed to even sit around the corner from the incident (I’ve seen additional units sit 2 blocks away from an incident due to traffic etc). The RA should be the only unit (except for a Rescue) to be directly involved in the area of operation, even still the rescue should sit in a position so not to disturb any going ons).
When you are on scene keep your engines and lights ON



Stabilizing a car
When you get to a MVA you want to lift your halligan, fire extinguisher & approach the vehicles (if no fire obvious). Once you get to the vehicle use the halligan to pry open the hood and then disconnect the battery, this can help prevent further sparks.
You also would want to place chocks below the wheels to stop the car from moving whilst on scene.
It is vital that a check for leaking fluids is carried out! If you witness any fluids then get a Rescue/Hazmat on scene to clear that up using spill kits/sand to absorb.



Stabilizing an Overturned Vehicle
If a vehicle is overturned you would want to get ratchet straps/rope and secure that around the 4 corners of the car (to the actual frame of the car) then secure the end of that to your engine/battalion/rescue/trees or anything you can to stop the car from moving. You may also use airbags to deploy under the car to cushion it in that position and stop it from rolling, the same for placing wooden blocks below it.



Providing entry for EMS
Once you have secured the vehicle and the scene your next job is to provide entry for the EMT/Paramedic attending if they can not enter the (backseat/passenger of the) vehicle to begin treatment, this can be done by prying open a door with a halligan or using the hydraulic ‘Jaws of Life’.
To pry the door with the halligan place the top of it(the fork like prong) into the crevice of the door,you may use the flat side of your axe/hammer to put this in deeper, then using physics and leverage pry the door locking mechanism free, allowing entry.
You can also provide entry with a door by using the JOL in place of the halligan and get them to ‘spread’ the door away from the car. Upon opening the door you can then put the jaws onto the hinge and perform a Door pop, this is when an already opened door is cut by the jaws on the hinge and simply carried away.
Another option is to take the side of the car away, this will require 2 door pops and a cut through the central pillar.



How to go about medical treatment
ALL PERSONNEL MUST WEAR HELMETS AND TURNOUT GEAR. As soon as EMS get entry to the vehicle the victims head/neck must be supported, then a C Collar must be placed on the victim by an additional member, Once on you can go ahead and remove the headrest, but continue to support the head/neck.  They must not move except for when being extricated with a team and a backboard.  If you need to administer IV Fluids  etc remember there is plenty of things inside a vehicle to hand the fluid bag on such as coat hooks.



How to remove a roof/perform an extraction
When taking someone out of the car, this is the most useful/easiest/frequently used procedure. It requires the doors and central pillar to be removed, then the roof cut and lifted off. When doing this ensure that the patient is covered first, use a heavy blanket/a physical shield, also provide them with eye cover, again whether this be a heavy blanket held up or safety glasses/shield. This is to protect from metal shards. Begin my preforming 4 Door pops.
Use the electric saw and have a stream of water(use the engine with a low pressure) on the windshield(front and back), cut across a straight line as smooth as possible. The glass will not shatter if you are careful.
Use the Jaws to cut the front struts of the car, this is where the front windshield angles up to the roof, cut this about dash height.
Use the Jaws to cut the rear struts, this is where the back windshield angles to the roof, cut about parcel shelf height.
Now completely remove the centre pillars, either cut top and bottom and lift out, or cut bottom and lift off with the roof.
Now the roof isn't held on, get team of 4-6 to help  lift. Lift the roof off the car and walk it to a suitable location to place it down. Ensure to firmly cover ALL exposed metal that could potentially be sharp(basically where you cut).
Now this is done, remove the headrest to the seat(if not already done).
Use the knob on the seat to tilt it to about a 45 degree angle,
Get a team to slide the backboard down the back of the seat, ensuring not to disturb/move the patient too much.
Once the board is at the sitting part of the seat, flatten the seat as much as it will go and feed  the board down as much as you can.
-If the patient isn't fully on the board, get a full team to slide the patient up the board and then strap them on, if done correctly it won't disturb the spine much, I've had it done myself and I virtually didn’t move.
Now the patient is on the board get the team to lift up at the angle of the seat until the person's feet/bottom of the car are clear from the dash(use a hydraulic ram to create more space if needed).
Now the board should lay relatively flat on the car itself, get your team to reposition and get the board onto a stretcher.



Extraction from an overturned
You would need rear entry to the vehicle. This could mean using a ram/spreaders to enlarge a back window. You will then proceed to use the same procedure described above (from the point of putting the board down the seat). You just simply do actions upside down. Ensure straps on the board are tight, the patient will not fall off. Just slide the board out the back (keeping the patient off the metal/glass) then slowly turn the board when outside of the car to allow the board to be the correct way up and placed on a stretcher.



REMEMBER: You all carry seatbelt cutters in your equipment, you simply place this on the belt and make a harsh rip across the belt to cut it.




High Rise Operations

Setting up the ladder (truck)
Park opposite the building/structure and extend your aerial ladder to this.



Setting up a rope system
If on a roof and having to rope down, find a suitable anchor and set up a pulley, then feed your rope through this, one end goes to the firefighters on the roof and the other through your figure 8 descender. The firefighters can then act as your counter/pull rope through to lift you up/release rope to let you down if you cannot manually do this.
If a pulley cannot be set up, then have a firefighter sit against the wall(lip) of the roof and brace himself against this, he will want to attach his own safety line to an anchor if possible. This firefighter will then use his figure 8 descender as a pulley and his body as the anchor braced against the wall. He will then control your descent with this figure 8 descender. Other firefighters can aid him in the control of the rope if needed.


Safety lines must always be used. This can be a direct line to an anchor/another firefighter or even a second rope. If on the rope and you have a patient attach a line from them to yourself if you do not have a dedicated safety line for them.


Backboards and people
If you happen to be taking a backboard on a rope with a person, you can lower it with all 4 corners of the board attached to a main carabiner, this will enable a flat descent and a firefighter can clip onto the carabiner also.
You can also put the rope to the top of the board and lower it down the Ladder to awaiting paramedics.

When taking a person on the rope, be sure to put them in a simple under the arm harness so they can't fall out, ensure their body stays straight then wrap your legs/arms around them. When you reach the top of the building, turn yourself to have your back against the wall so that they don't hit off it whilst being lifted by the other firefighters. Ensure the safety line is used.



Personal Protective Equipment
Ensure when on high rise operations that you are wearing your helmet and bunker gear. This will protect you from falling debris, from falling yourself or from bumping and scraping against buildings. Ensure that your general purpose gloves are worn to protect against rope burns/lacerations from the operational area. A harness must always be worn when operating in High rise, weather you are on the rope or not.






Fire

Approach
When approaching a fire, park the engine near a hydrant, angled in towards the kerb, this gives a natural fend off for civilians and puts the engine closer to the hydrant itself. If you are second due engine you can park normally and use the first engine as a water supply for your pump.



Equipment needed to fight the fire
Water
Hose
Nozzle
SCBA (breathing apparatus)
Various extinguishers, foam,co2, powder.
PPE - Full bunker gear, gloves, flash hood



Different lines and set up
You can immediately turn on the pump and use a quick attack line to fight a fire, although this is only for small based fires, for any larger fires you will have to get the main attack line, you want to connect the end to the pump and a nozzle to the other. Increase the pressure from the pump for every line/distance/amount of water needed to fight the fire. Run all hoses in a S shape for better water flow and to avoid blockages from V shaped kinks.



Approach and extinguish
When approaching a fire, it is recommended to have your SCBA on, this will protect your lungs from the harmful gases from smoke inhalation. You want to start attacking the fire as you move forward towards it, using a straight stream at first but opening it up the closer you get to protect yourself/cover more of the fire, if you find yourself too close to the fire, open the nozzle for full fog. When extinguishing a fire you want to aim for the base of it, this will knock out what it is eating from. If a fire is beside anything you can work it by cutting a channel, (move your hose up and down rapidly in  a straight line) this will make a clear cut in the fire whilst others work on putting it out. Remember you can use a foam extinguisher on fuel fires or other savaging fires as this takes in all the oxygen, thus preventing further development.



Building entry and clearance
When you come to an entry for a building, crouch down beside the door, ensure you have SCBA on before entering. Place the BACK of your glove on the door and feel for heat, try different areas. If it isn't an inferno on the door it is mostly safe to open. Open the door (wait 3 seconds) and enter low with an attack line to hit any fires that may be there. Conduct your search, stamp hard with your feet to test the ground/feel it and use your arm in a up down, side to side motion to search around you. The truck crew should be ventilating at this point for smoke to clear so the visibility should increase to be able to see what you are searching.



Hazardous Fires
When dealing with a car fire stay away from the car as it has hydraulic cylinders that could pop at anytime, severely injuring yourself. When dealing with fuel use something to take away the oxygen, such as BCF or Foam and keep the flames suppressed. If there is an entrance into an area that is on fire, but with no natural ventilation, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR/ACCESS. This will create a flashover, instead work on containment and cooling.



Building Entrance
If you are needing entry to a building that isn't open you can use the Axe or chainsaw to cut/chop the door, a sledgehammer to put it through, halligan to pry it open or smash a window and use a small ladder/step system to get up to this window to get entry.

Water Rescue

Apparatus
A water rescue requires the rescue truck to be on scene. This provides you with all the appropriate drysuits/dive gear and boats.



Dive gear
When diving you will need a rescue knife, dry suit, ballast compensator and a full face mask with comms link. You will also need a dive light and guide ropes.

When you are in the water you can use the ballast compensator to descend/ascend. The comms link in the mask will go back to your guide on the shore who will stay in constant communication with you. Your guide ropes are to be tethered to you and anchored to something on land/your entry possibly a buoy so you can easily find your way back to your support team on shore/in the boat.
It is a very possible scenario that you may get tangled in rope etc which is why you will carry a rescue knife to cut through such situations.