Phoenix Fire High-Rise Task Force

The purpose of this task force is to develop a relationship with high-rise building owners, managers and engineers focusing on emergency preparedness and safety training. 

Although it may seem like a burden to have firefighters walking through your facility be assured the more familiar they are with the building and its systems the better they can serve you and your occupants in an emergency situation.  View the video to hear from a Fire Chief the importance of familiarization walk-throughs.

Task Force Goals:

Fire Drills - One of the goals of this partnership is to coordinate fire code required fire drills with fire operations and the building occupants.  This provides a significantly more realistic drill for both the building occupants and the firefighters, and encourages participation.

Full Building Inspections - The first task of an inspection is to collect data on all building fire protection systems and review the maintenance records. Building staff is asked to collect and have available maintenance and repair records.  To ease the burden on high-rise management and engineering staff a self-inspection checklist is being provided prior to an inspector arriving on-site. Rooftop Assessments - We are in the process of conducting rooftop assessments on all high-rise buildings.  These assessments determine where firefighters could be dropped-in if necessary, the location of any standpipes (fire hose connections), and the location of doors and stairwells. An appropriate landing zone, on the ground, is also being identified.  This landing zone could be used to load and unload additional firefighters, as needed, and unload evacuated building personnel in case of emergency.

Operations High-Rise Task Force:

Battalion 1 Chiefs  (3 one per shift)
Fire Stations 1, 3, 4, 6, 8,  9 & 61 

• 55 Firefighters
  8 Engines
• 3 Ladders
• 3 Rescues
• 5 Specialty Vehicles
• 1 Vent Truck - equipped with a giant fan that would help move smoke 
• 1 High-rise Truck - equipped with the unique equipment only needed in high-rises
• Squad 8 - designed for "heavy" rescues such as building collapses & bomb threats
• HazMat 4 - equipped to respond to incidents involving hazardous materials
• Car 957 - a Captain staffed response vehicle acting in a consulting position for technical and hazardous incidents