DFRS

POLICES & PROCEDURES
Department Of Fire & Rescue Services
Montgomery County, MD

EXPLOSIVE INCIDENT
PROCEDURE


No. 1112
May 20, 1998

PURPOSE
1.0 The Fire and Explosive Investigations Division has the responsibility of first response, render safe, and the investigation of, actual explosions, suspected explosive devices and recovered explosives to include military ordnance. This policy and procedure will give the Fire and Explosive Investigations Division and the Emergency  Communications Center direction in the proper initial notifications and handling of these types of incidents. This policy does not address bomb threats.

APPLICABILITY
2.0 This policy and procedure is applicable to all DFRS personnel.
2.1
This policy was developed in cooperation with the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1664.

DEFINITIONS
3.0 Bomb Squad - A group of specially trained personnel responsible for the overall rendering safe procedure of a suspected or actual explosive device.
3.1 Explosive - As defined by the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 38A, Section 26 as follows:

"Explosives" means gunpowder, powder for blasting, high "explosives" blasting materials, fuses (other than electric circuit breakers), detonators, and other detonating agents, smokeless powder and any chemical compound or any mechanical mixture containing any oxidizing and combustible units, or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities, or packing that ignition by fire, friction, concussion, percussion or detonation of any part thereof may and is intended to cause an explosion, including bombs and destructive devices designed to operate by chemical, mechanical or explosive action but shall not include fixed ammunition for small arms, small arms ammunition primers, small arms percussion caps, safety and pyrotechnic fuses, quills, quick and slow matches, friction primers, fireworks or common matches when used in their original configuration.
3.2 Fire Investigator - A member of the Fire and Explosive Investigations Division charged with the responsibility of investigating fires and explosions.
3.3 Fire Investigator/Bomb Technician - A member of the Fire and Explosive Investigations Division Bomb Squad charged with the responsibility of investigating fires and explosions and tasks associated with Bomb Squad operations.
3.4 Fire Investigations Duty Officer - A fire investigations supervisor assigned to assist the on-duty fire investigator.
3.5 Render Safe Procedure - The act of defusing or neutralizing explosives, improvised explosive devices, hoax devices or military ordnance.

POLICY
4.0 The Department will provide prompt reports of and response to unauthorized or criminal use of explosives, improvised explosive devices, hoax devices and military ordnance.
4.1 The Department will determine what action is needed to mitigate explosive incidents in a safe and timely manner.

RESPONSIBILITY
5.0 All Department personnel must report all real and hoax devices to the Fire and Rescue Communications Division by the most expedient means available.
5.1 All DFRS personnel are responsible to adhere to this policy and procedure to ensure the safety of the community, fire/rescue, and police personnel.

PROCEDURE
6.0 When the Emergency Communications Center is notified of an explosion (not one involving transformers, etc.) they will immediately dispatch the appropriate fire and rescue equipment to the scene along with the on-duty fire investigator and fire investigations duty officer.
6.1 When an explosion has been verified, the fire investigations duty officer must promptly notify the Fire Marshal and the Assistant Fire Marshal, Division of Investigations, of all pertinent information regarding the incident.
6.2 Suspected explosives and/or devices are not to be approached or disturbed at any time by fire and rescue personnel, police or public. Fire and rescue personnel must maintain a minimum safe distance of 300 feet. All handling of those items will be done by the bomb squad during render safe operations. The on-duty fire investigator/bomb technician or fire investigations duty officer will establish a hot, warm and cold zone and utilize the incident command system.
6.3 The Division of Fire Investigations Duty Officer will coordinate with the incident commander to ensure that the scene is secured and to assist in the activities to mitigate the incident.
6.4 The Division of Fire Investigations Duty Officer or on-duty fire investigator will coordinate all response efforts with the fire suppression and EMS units, law enforcement canine explosive team, and the Bomb Squad commander, to ensure a safe and expedient operation.
6.5 The Division of Fire Investigations Duty Officer or the on-duty fire investigator will, as needed, request assistance from other agencies or departments to assist in the mitigation and investigation of the explosive incident.
6.6 When the Emergency Communications Center is notified of a bomb threat, suspicious package, undetonated explosive, improvised explosive device or unexploded military ordnance, they must immediately notify the on-duty fire investigator/bomb technician, the Division of Fire Investigations Duty Officer, and the Fire Marshall. Once Command 91 has been established, the first due fire/rescue duty officer, Shift Chief, local law enforcement agency and the Department of Fire and Rescue Media Officer will be notified of the incident.
6.7 The on-duty fire investigator/bomb technician or Division of Fire Investigations Duty Officer, utilizing the appropriate protective clothing and equipment, will size up the scene, photograph the device or explosive, and obtain as much information as possible regarding the package or device. Based on this information the on-duty fire investigator or fire investigations duty officer will provide a report to the on-duty fire investigator/bomb technician. ECC will be provided with a report, the actions to be taken and /or request for a full bomb squad call out. The use of two way radios and cellular phones may be limited based on the size up of the incident. If the incident is life threatening, the area is to be evacuated immediately.
6.8 When the on-duty fire investigator/bomb technician or fire investigations duty officer requests fire and rescue units for assistance for any items noted in 6.6, they must state the type of equipment needed and in the interest of safety establish a staging area within the cold zone. All responses to the scene will be routine in nature unless otherwise requested.

CANCELLATION
7.0 This policy and procedure replaces policy and procedure #1112 , Explosive Incident Procedure, dated September 1, 1996.