Operations at Fire Stations: Difference between revisions

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====Conduct====
====Conduct====
When operating from a fire station, volunteers should act as guests on the property. Please be respectful and avoid damaging the grounds or any property at the location. If PF&R personnel are present, volunteers should follow any and all instructions given by them. Please represent PBEM professionally and respectfully.
When operating from a fire station, volunteers should act as guests on the property. Please be respectful and avoid damaging the grounds or any property at the location. If PF&R personnel are present, volunteers should follow any and all instructions given by them. Please represent PBEM professionally and respectfully.
Credentials are required in order to access to the VHF kit. Fire station staff are instructed NOT to give volunteers access unless they possess an official PBEM volunteer badge.
Except in highly unusual circumstances (i.e. potential life safety situation at the fire station, or the building has collapsed), the Go-Kit should never leave the premises of the fire station.
====Personal Security====
====Personal Security====
#As indicated in the [[PBEM Volunteer Code of Conduct|Volunteer Code of Conduct]], volunteers must never carry firearms or other weapons when volunteering at a BEECN. A folding knife or knife with less than a twelve-inch blade is acceptable as a tool.
#As indicated in the [[PBEM Volunteer Code of Conduct|Volunteer Code of Conduct]], volunteers must never carry firearms or other weapons when volunteering at a BEECN. A folding knife or knife with less than a twelve-inch blade is acceptable as a tool.
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* '''Look for PF&R personnel on site.''' Firefighters on site have probably already conducted a safety assessment and determined whether the building is safe.
* '''Look for PF&R personnel on site.''' Firefighters on site have probably already conducted a safety assessment and determined whether the building is safe.
* '''Try to determine if the antenna is still standing.''' Can you see the antenna still standing on the roof? If volunteers can confirm it has fallen down, they will not be able to broadcast.
* '''Try to determine if the antenna is still standing.''' Can you see the antenna still standing on the roof? If volunteers can confirm it has fallen down, they will not be able to broadcast.
* '''Stay out of the collapse zone.''' The collapse zone of a building is 1.5 x building height. If the fire station is dangerous to be inside of, it is dangerous to operate '''''near''''' it as well.


If the fire station is not tenable to operate from, volunteers should attempt to recover the Orange Kit '''''only if''''' it is safe to do so. Volunteers should not enter a building at risk for collapse.
If the fire station is not a tenable location to operate from, volunteers should attempt to recover the Orange Kit '''''only if''''' it is safe to do so. Volunteers should not enter a building at risk for collapse; always assume earthquake aftershocks. An ARO may be able to set up the kit at a safer nearby location and begin passing radio traffic.


== X ==
== X ==


=== Fire Station Volunteers: General Objectives ===
=== Fire Station Volunteers: General Objectives ===
In the event of a deployment, Fire Station cohorts:
# Stay safe, and will abort their deployment if they feel unsafe.
# Deploy to their assigned fire station to access the orange VHF Go-Kit (See [[Equipment Caches#BEECN Radio Go Kit|Equipment Caches BEECN Radio Go Kit]]Equipment_Caches#BEECN_Radio_Go_Kit for equipment details).
# Deploy to their assigned fire station to access the orange VHF Go-Kit (See [[Equipment Caches#BEECN Radio Go Kit|Equipment Caches BEECN Radio Go Kit]]Equipment_Caches#BEECN_Radio_Go_Kit for equipment details).
# Set up the Go-Kit at the fire station, as well as the handheld UHF radio.
# Set up the Go-Kit at the fire station, as well as the handheld UHF radio.
# Pass radio traffic between nearby BEECNs and net control at the city’s ECC.
# Pass radio traffic between nearby BEECNs and net control at the city’s ECC.


=== Deployment Planning ===
Have a plan. Cohorts must consider that an earthquake knocking out communications systems means volunteers will be unable to check in with each other. Therefore, cohorts must plan ahead on who deploys for the first 8-hour shift, and who for the second.  Furthermore, all four volunteers (Primary and Backup) assigned to a shift should deploy for that shift if they can. If one or both Primary volunteers cannot deploy, the Backup volunteers are still present to carry out fire station responsibilities and/or assist the Primary Volunteers if needed. Backup volunteers can also rotate Primary Volunteers out of their shift for breaks to eat, use the bathroom, etc.
PBEM recommends that the Cohort Coordinator inform local NETs of the cohort’s deployment plan. The Team ARO for a local NET may need to access the orange Go-Kit in the event of a disaster.
=== Responsibilities Prior to Deployment ===
Immediately following an earthquake, FS volunteers:
a. Check themselves for injuries and ensure personal safety.
b. Check in with household members, ensure their safety, and treat any injuries.
c. Deploy to fire station if it is safe to do so and commence operations.
=== Deployment Protocols ===
BEECNs are deployed 24 to 48 hours following a catastrophic earthquake that has shut down communications systems such as cell phones and land lines. Therefore, FS volunteers must expect to self deploy without a direct request from PBEM or other government authority. FS volunteers deploy to their assigned fire station and set up the Go-Kit if, and only if, the following conditions are met:
a. No less than 24 hours have passed since a catastrophic earthquake.
b. The volunteer and his or her family are not in any immediate danger, and are not injured.
c. Communication systems (such as land lines) are inoperative.
d. Volunteers have received no direct instructions from PBEM or other government authority.
=== Self Determination to Deploy ===
Individual volunteers maintain personal discretion to deploy when the self- deployment protocols are met as described in 400.20. The decision to deploy following a disaster is a volunteer’s own, and a volunteer may never be coerced into deploying. A volunteer who chooses not to deploy will not be subject to any consequences related to his or her standing in the BEECN program.
=== Deployment Guiding Principles ===
During the course of any deployment or exercise, FS volunteers must ensure that all chosen actions conform to the following guiding principles:
a. Safety is always the top priority.
b. Use the buddy system and always work in pairs. It takes at least two volunteers to relay radio traffic from the fire station.
c. If you see something unsafe, say so. Everyone has permission to say, “That does not seem safe” or “I do not feel safe.”
d. If someone points out an unsafe condition, stop and correct it right away.
[[File:BEECN Radio Communications From Fire Stations.png|400px]]
=== Conduct at the Fire Station ===
a. When arriving at the fire station, volunteers should act as guests on the property. Please be respectful and avoid damaging equipment or property at the station.
b. Credentials are required in order to access to the VHF kit. Fire station staff are instructed NOT to give volunteers access unless they possess an official PBEM volunteer badge.


c. Except in highly unusual circumstances (i.e. potential life safety situation at the fire station), the Go-Kit should never leave the premises of the fire station.


=== Basic Fire Station Operations ===
=== Basic Fire Station Operations ===
Retrieved from "https://volunteerpdx.net/index.php/Operations_at_Fire_Stations"