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Subject: Responsibilities
at the Scene of a Fire and the Security of Fire Department Unit Personnel
and Equipment |
Series Number
Change 308 11 Effective
Date December 01, 1971
Revision
Date March 17, 1972 |
The purpose of this
order is to establish the policy and procedures to be followed by members of
the force responding to the scene of a fire and providing protection for fire
fighters and their equipment This order consists of the following parts:
PART I Responsibilities
and Procedures for Members of the Department
PART II Responsibilities and Procedure. for
Special Assignment Personnel
PART III Responsibilities and Procedures for
Supervisory and Command Personnel
PART I
A. Fire Alarms.
1. Policemen
shall respond promptly to the scene of all fires. They shall protect fire
fighters and Fire Department equipment, clear the immediate area and prevent
interference by pedestrians and traffic, prevent persons from crowding near
entrances to burning buildings, and facilitate in every way the activities of
the Fire Department.
2. All
persons except fire fighters shall be kept out of the building until the
occupant has resumed possession. Persons bearing fire actuary passes or
employees of the gas or electric company may be permitted to enter such
premises in connection with their official duties but members of the press
shall be excluded from the premises although they may operate within fire
line., if identified by properly displayed current press passes.
B. Members Assigned to Foot or Scooter Patrol.
Officer.
assigned to foot patrol or scooter patrol, not equipped with footmen radios
shall, when they hear fire apparatus, immediately communicate with their
station and ascertain the location of the fire. If the fire is on their beat,
they shall respond promptly; and if not on their beat, they shall comply with
instructions given at the time of their inquiry.
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C. Reporting Requirements.
1. PD
Form 253 shall be prepared in all instances when a fire is determined to be of
‘suspicious origin, and in the event of injuries, deaths, or found property,
resulting from a fire. PD Form 231 shall be prepared when the fire is
determined to be the result of a criminal act.
2. In
cases where the reporting officer’s preliminary investigation indicates that a
fire is of suspicious origin, he shall notify an official of the Burglary and
Pawn Section, Criminal Investigations Division, who will assume
responsibility, for the investigation.
3. With
the exception of those instances set forth in part I, paragraph C1 above,
members of the force shall not be required to prepare an official report on the
facts and circumstances surrounding a fire. All pertinent information from the
department’s standpoint shall be recorded on PD Form 258 by the communications
dispatcher.
4. When
responding to an actual fire, the responding unit shall assume the
responsibilities as set forth in other sections of this order. After the scene
has been secured, traffic cleared and conditions returned to normal, the unit
shall return to service with the disposition “Report Handled by the Fire
Department.
5. In
the event the alarm is false, the Fire Board will notify a police dispatcher
who shall relay this information to the responding unit. A disposition of “No
Police Action’ shall be recorded on PD Form 258 by the dispatcher handling the
assignment. The responding unit shall continue on to the scene, however,
returning to service only after all Tire Department apparatus have departed.
Part II
A. Motorcycle
Officers.
Members
of the force assigned to motorcycle patrol shall, when responding to the scene
of fires, report to the senior official in charge. In the absence of an
official they shall facilitate the movement of traffic, prevent persons from
endangering their lives, and secure any property.
B. Station Personnel.
Personnel
assigned to station duty (such as desk sergeants, extra clerks, or P.S.S. men)
shall be responsible for notifying officers assigned to foot patrol as to the
location of fires.
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C. Special Details.
When
officers are detailed to patrol with the National Guard Fire Department
Security Detail or assigned to the fire alarm headquarters, they shall provide
such assistance as is needed.
D. Burglary
and Pawn Section Criminal investigations Division.
The
Burglary and Pawn Section shall be responsible for investigating all fires
reported to be of “suspicious” origin.
Part III
A. Supervisory Officials.
An
official shall respond to all fire alarms. When responding to fire alarms in
areas known for their hostilities or disorders (such as the stoning of fire
fighters), the official shall, when necessary, request and assign additional
units to patrol that area.
B. Major Disorder..
1. When
disturbances or other disorders (including campus disturbances) occur requiring
the redeployment of on-duty personnel or the activation of the Civil
Disturbance Unit, the Director of the Communications Division shall be
responsible for notifying the chief operator of the Tire Department (by direct
line) of the location and scope of the disturbance. In the event the area is
barricaded to isolate the disorder and fire equipment is needed to respond, the
Tire Department official will report to the senior police official in charge. A
decision will be made by the senior officials on the scene (both police and
fire) as to whether fire fighters will go into the isolated area.
2. The
District of Columbia National Guard has organized a Tire Department Security Detail
(TDSD) to provide support to police districts during major civil disturbances.
When the FDSD is activated and assigned to police districts, those district
commanders affected shall designate a police officer to ride with the detail.
Until such time as the FDSD is activated, district commanders shall provide as
much protection for fire fighters as is needed,
C. Security Details.
1. Third
District.
During
major disturbances, the Third District Commander shall detail officers as a
security force to Engine Company No. 4, located at 931 P Street, N.W.
(Auxiliary Alarm Headquarters).
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2. Fifth
District.
The
Fifth District Commander shall detail officer. as a security force to the Fire
Department Fire Alarm Headquarters, located at 300 McMillan Drive, N.W.
3. Special Operations Division.
The
Commander, Special Operations Division, shall detail two officers with proper
equipment as a security force for each of the two fire department gasoline
trucks at the Apparatus Division, located at 1103 Half Street, S.W.
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