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SENATE BILL NO. 1456

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Daily Data Tracking History

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S1456.......................................by COMMERCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES
FIREFIGHTER SAFETY - Adds to existing law to provide requirements to ensure
the safety of firefighters operating at the scene of structure fires in the
free burning stage and to provide exceptions.

02/13    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/16    Rpt prt - to Com/HuRes

Bill Text

S1456


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fourth Legislature                 Second Regular Session - 1998
                                                                        

                                      IN THE SENATE

                                   SENATE BILL NO. 1456

                        BY COMMERCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

 1                                        AN ACT
 2    RELATING TO FIREFIGHTERS; AMENDING CHAPTER 18, TITLE 44, IDAHO  CODE,  BY  THE
 3        ADDITION  OF A NEW SECTION 44-1813, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS TO
 4        ENSURE THE SAFETY OF FIREFIGHTERS OPERATING  AT  THE  SCENE  OF  STRUCTURE
 5        FIRES IN THE FREE BURNING STAGE AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS.

 6    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

 7        SECTION  1.  That  Chapter  18,  Title 44, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
 8    hereby amended by the addition thereto of a  NEW SECTION  ,  to  be
 9    known and designated as Section 44-1813, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:

10        44-1813.  FIREFIGHTER  SAFETY.  (1) Firefighters operating at the scene of
11    structure fires in the free burning stage shall not  enter  the  structure  in
12    teams of less than two (2) members. The team members shall be in communication
13    with each other through visual, audible, physical, safety guide rope, or elec-
14    tronic  means, or by other means, to coordinate their activities. Team members
15    shall stay in close proximity to each other to provide assistance in  case  of
16    emergency.
17        (2)  The fire department shall provide a standby team of not less than two
18    (2)  trained firefighters for the rescue of members operating at the emergency
19    incident prior to any team's entry into a structure fire in the  free  burning
20    stage.
21        (a)  The  standby  team  shall  remain  in positive communication with the
22        entry team and be prepared to rescue them.  The standby team  must  be  in
23        full  protective  clothing with self-contained breathing apparatus donned,
24        in standby mode.
25        (b)  Of the standby team, one (1) member shall  be  permitted  to  perform
26        other tasks, but only if those tasks can be abandoned without jeopardizing
27        the safety and health of others at the emergency scene.
28        (c)  One (1) member must remain free of all other tasks and be prepared to
29        initiate a rescue of those firefighters inside.
30        (3)  Nothing  in  this statute shall prohibit entry to a structure fire if
31    there is an immediate risk of loss of life within the structure  should  entry
32    be delayed.  Entry shall not be delayed at any fire which can be controlled or
33    extinguished by portable fire extinguishers, class II standpipe, or small hose
34    systems without the need for protective clothing or breathing apparatus.
35        (4)  It  shall  be  recognized that deviations from the provisions of this
36    section may occur in an emergency  or  "good  samaritan"  operation  involving
37    life-threatening situations where immediate action is necessary.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact

    





                           STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
    
                                 RS07971
    
    This legislation creates a new section providing for minimum standards of safety prior to 
    Firefighters entry into a structure fire in the freeburning stage. Included in the legislation are exceptions 
    and "good samaritan" provisions.
    
    The purpose of this legislation does not direct the number of firefighters needed on duty, but 
    does address the number and functions of firefighters at the scene of an emergency incident needed to 
    safely initiate an interior attack at a structure fire.
    
    Nothing in this bill intends to prevent any number of persons from responding to a call, setting 
    up equipment and initiating exterior suppression at the fire scene. It is not the intent of this legislation 
    to prohibit an individual firefighter from taking an action to preserve the life or safety of another 
    person.
    
                              FISCAL IMPACT
    
    There is no fiscal impact.
    
    Contact: Sen. John Andreason
          208-332-1000
          Mitch Caldwell
          Professional Firefighters of Idaho
          208-939-1516
    
    STATEMENT OF PURPOSE / FISCAL NOTE
    
    S 1456