LL OO WW AA NN GG LL EE RR OO PP EE RREESSCCUUEE OOPPEERRAATTIIOONNAALL Approved and Adopted by the Office of State Fire Marshal Recommended by the Statewide Training and Education Advisory Committee and the State Board of Fire Services INSTRUCTOR STUDENT and MANUAL May 2007 CDF/State Fire Marshal State Fire Training LLOOWW AANNGGLLEE RROOPPEE RREESSCCUUEE OOPPEERRAATTIIOONNAALL IINNSSTTRRUUCCTTOORR AANNDD SSTTUUDDEENNTT MMAANNUUAALL Published by STATE FIRE TRAINING PO Box 944246 Sacramento, CA 94244-2460 Second Printing, May 2007 STATE FIR E STATE FIRE LOW ANGLE ROPE RESCUE OPERATIONAL Mission Statement.....................................................................................................................................i Fire Service Training and Education Program.......................................................................................i Acknowledgments.....................................................................................................................................i Course Approval......................................................................................................................................iii Course Outline.........................................................................................................................................iv Texts and References............................................................................................................................v Revisions to the Low Angle Rope Rescue Operational Manual...........................................................v Sample Calendar of Events......................................................................................................................vi Chapter 1: Course Introduction................................................................................................................1 Course Overview...................................................................................................................................1 Low and High Angle Rope Rescue Definitions....................................................................................1 Rescuer and Victim Safety Considerations...........................................................................................1 Student Evaluations...............................................................................................................................2 Chapter 2: Rope Rescue Equipment.........................................................................................................4 Kernmantle Rescue Rope......................................................................................................................4 Prusik Loop.........................................................................................................................................10 Webbing..............................................................................................................................................11 Load-releasing Device........................................................................................................................12 Commercial Harness...........................................................................................................................13 Carabiner.............................................................................................................................................15 Brake Bar Rack...................................................................................................................................17 Figure Eight Plate with Ears...............................................................................................................18 Rescue Pulley......................................................................................................................................20 Mechanical Grab Device.....................................................................................................................21 Anchor Plate........................................................................................................................................22 Edge Protection...................................................................................................................................23 Chapter 3: Rescue Knots and Hitches....................................................................................................25 Qualities of a Rescue Knot..................................................................................................................25 Rope Terminology..............................................................................................................................25 Components of Knots and Hitches......................................................................................................26 Hitches................................................................................................................................................27 Knots...................................................................................................................................................28 Chapter 4: Anchor Systems....................................................................................................................44 California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 1670.......................................................................44 Considerations When Selecting Anchors............................................................................................44 Types of Anchors................................................................................................................................45 Sling Anchor Attachments: Pretied.....................................................................................................46 Single Sling Anchor Attachments: Open............................................................................................51 Multi-Point Self-adjusting Anchor Systems.......................................................................................53 Windlassed Picket Systems.................................................................................................................57 Chapter 5: Rescuer and Ambulatory Victim Packaging.........................................................................61 Rescuer Packaging..............................................................................................................................61 May 2007 Edition STATE FIR E STATE FIRE LOW ANGLE ROPE RESCUE OPERATIONAL Sample NFPA Class II Harness Instruction Card...............................................................................62 Ambulatory Victim Packaging Overview...........................................................................................63 Sample Victim Harness Instructions...................................................................................................63 Chapter 6: Types of Litters and Victim Packaging................................................................................69 Rescue Litters......................................................................................................................................69 How to Secure a Victim to a Rescue Litter.........................................................................................71 Alternative Victim Packaging (Optional)...........................................................................................75 Considerations for Packaging Nonambulatory Victims in Unstable Terrain.....................................78 Chapter 7: System Attachments and Fall Restraint................................................................................79 Rescuer Attachment to a Rope Rescue System..................................................................................79 Ambulatory Victim Attachment to a Rope Rescue System................................................................80 Rescue Litter Attachments to a Rope Rescue System........................................................................81 Rescuer Attachment to the Litter System...........................................................................................82 Litter Harness Pre-rig..........................................................................................................................82 Three Rescuer Litter Attachment........................................................................................................84 Four Rescuer Litter Attachment..........................................................................................................85 Fall Restraint.......................................................................................................................................86 Components of a Fall Restraint System..............................................................................................87 Chapter 8: Three Main Components of a Rope Rescue System.............................................................89 Key Points about the Component Approach.......................................................................................89 Single RPM Configuration..................................................................................................................91 Prerigged Dual RPM Systems.............................................................................................................92 Chapter 9: Belay/Safety Line Systems...................................................................................................94 Key Points Regarding the Operation of Belay/Safety Line Systems..................................................94 Belay/Safety Line Configurations.......................................................................................................95 Lowering Operations – Basic Configuration......................................................................................96 Retrieval Operations – Basic Configuration.......................................................................................97 Lowering Operations – PMP Configuration (Optional).....................................................................98 Retrieval Operations – PMP Configuration (Optional)......................................................................99 System Variations...............................................................................................................................99 Chapter 10: Descending/Ascending.....................................................................................................101 Descending........................................................................................................................................101 Rigging a Fixed Line.........................................................................................................................102 Rappel Position.................................................................................................................................105 Ascending..........................................................................................................................................115 Chapter 11: Lower/Raise (Mechanical Advantage) Systems...............................................................117 Key Points Regarding Lower/Raise Operations...............................................................................117 Lowering Line Systems....................................................................................................................118 Raising (MA) Systems......................................................................................................................119 Lower to Raise Conversion: 3:1 Inline – RPM.................................................................................119 Lower to Raise Conversion: 5:1 Inline – RPM.................................................................................121 Lower to Raise Conversions.............................................................................................................122 May 2007 Edition STATE FIR E STATE FIRE LOW ANGLE ROPE RESCUE OPERATIONAL 3:1 or 5:1 Inline with Directional Pulley..........................................................................................123 Piggyback Systems...........................................................................................................................127 Pig Rig Construction: 3:1..................................................................................................................128 Pig Rig Construction: 5:1..................................................................................................................129 Lower to Raise Conversion: 3:1 Pig Rig..........................................................................................130 Lower to Raise Conversion: 5:1 Pig Rig..........................................................................................134 Chapter 12: Load-releasing Methods...................................................................................................139 Rappelling or Lowering Operations..................................................................................................139 Raising Operations............................................................................................................................142 Chapter 13: Rescue Scene Organization and Management..................................................................147 Command and Control in Low Angle Rope Rescue Operations......................................................147 Considerations for the IC..................................................................................................................151 Introduction to Rope Rescue Lowering and Raising Systems..........................................................154 Example Organization of a Low Angle Rescue Using 3-Person Engines........................................157 Sample Organization Chart...............................................................................................................159 Chapter 14: Litter Walkouts.................................................................................................................165 The Simple Walkout.........................................................................................................................165 The Caterpillar Walkout....................................................................................................................166 The Single Pitch Walkout with a Belay/Safety Line........................................................................166 The Multiple Pitch Walkout with a Belay/Safety Line.....................................................................167 Staffing..............................................................................................................................................167 Ladders used in Litter Walkouts.......................................................................................................169 Chapter 15: Ladder Rescue Systems....................................................................................................170 Moving Ladder Slide........................................................................................................................170 Ladder Slide......................................................................................................................................174 Chapter 16: Evolutions.........................................................................................................................179 Evolution Components......................................................................................................................179 Appendix A: Student Task Book..........................................................................................................201 Responsibilities.................................................................................................................................201 Instruction for Completing the Task Book.......................................................................................201 Appendix B: Glossary...........................................................................................................................211 Appendix C: Graphics Index................................................................................................................215 Appendix D: Training Site Requirements............................................................................................221 Low Angle Rope Rescue Operational Equipment Inventory............................................................223 Appendix E: Instructor Levels and Requirements................................................................................225 Instructor Levels...............................................................................................................................225 Instructor Qualifications...................................................................................................................225 Maintaining Primary Instructor Status..............................................................................................227 Appendix F: Instructor Trainee Task Book..........................................................................................229 Responsibilities.................................................................................................................................229 Instruction for Completing the Task Book.......................................................................................229 May 2007 Edition STATE FIR E STATE FIRE LOW ANGLE ROPE RESCUE OPERATIONAL Mission Statement MMiissssiioonn SSttaatteemmeenntt The mission of State Fire Training is to enable the California fire service to safely protect life and property through education, training, and certification. Fire Service Training and Education Program The Fire Service Training and Education Program (FSTEP) was established to provide specific training needs of local fire agencies in California. State Fire Training coordinates the delivery of this training through the use of approved curricula and registered instructors. The FSTEP series is designed to provide both the volunteer and career fire fighter with hands-on training in specialized areas such as fire fighting, extrication, rescue, and pump operations. All courses are delivered through registered instructors and can be tailored by the instructor to meet your department's specific need. Upon successful completion of an approved FSTEP course, participants will receive an Office of State Fire Marshal course completion certificate. AAcckknnoowwlleeddggmmeennttss The development of this technical rescue system training curriculum was made possible through cooperation and collaboration between the Office of State Fire Marshal/State Fire Training, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services Fire & Rescue Branch (Special Operations Division), and the California Fire and Rescue Training Authority at Sacramento. Before its publication, the Statewide Training and Education Advisory Committee (STEAC) recommended this guide for adoption by the State Fire Marshal. This guide is appropriate for fire service personnel and for personnel in related occupations. State Fire Marshal Governor's Office of California Fire & Rescue State Fire Training Emergency Services Training Authority Ruben Grijalva Henry Renteria Dave Baltzell Director of CDF Director Facility Manager Kate Dargan Kim Zagaris Sherri Martucci State Fire Marshal Fire Chief Administrative Assistant Michael Richwine Charles D. Hurley Chief, State Fire Training Deputy Chief, Special Operations May 2007 Edition - i - STATE FIR E STATE FIRE LOW ANGLE ROPE RESCUE OPERATIONAL Acknowledgments Special acknowledgement and thanks are extended to the following members of State Fire Training for their diligent efforts and contributions that made the final publication of this document possible. Alicia Hamilton Fire Service Training Specialist Rodney Slaughter Deputy State Fire Marshal The material contained in this document was compiled and organized through the cooperative effort of numerous professionals within, and associated with, the California fire service. We gratefully acknowledge the following individuals who served as principal developers for this document. Jim Mendonsa, Team Leader Columbia College, Retired James Bishop Matt O'Donnell CDF/Tuolumne Calaveras Unit Ebbetts Pass Fire District John Brenner Matt Loughran Sacramento Fire Department Fremont Fire Department Steve Herzog Kevin Southerland CDF Academy Orange Fire Department Van Riviere Jeff Speegle, Graphic Development Stockton Fire Department Stockton Fire Department We also thankfully acknowledge the following individuals who served as contributors to this document. Patrick Bell Mike McGroarty OSHA OES, Retired Paul Cole Steve Morikawa Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District Santa Rosa Fire Department Andy Mauer, Graphics Assistance Ernie Ojeda Trout Stream Designs Los Angeles Fire Department May 2007 Edition - ii - STATE FIR E STATE FIRE LOW ANGLE ROPE RESCUE OPERATIONAL Course Approval CCoouurrssee AApppprroovvaall In May 2007, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security formally approved this course and issued the following: May 2007 Edition - iii -