a Historical Perspective 1 The History of Civil Unrest in the US The Boston Massacre Boston Tea Party FALN Puerto Rican Liberation Front 130 Bombings in NYC between 1974 and 1983 Irish Draft ID: 576011
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Fire, Rescue and EMS Operations in Periods of Civil Unrest – a Historical Perspective
1Slide2
The History of Civil Unrest in the US
The Boston Massacre
Boston Tea Party
FALN (Puerto Rican Liberation Front)
130 Bombings in NYC between
1974 and 1983
Irish Draft
Riots
1863Slide3
This Is Not New To America – It Is New To You!!!Whiskey Rebellion (1791)NY-Baltimore Draft Riots (1863)
Haymarket (several more following May Day riots 1866)
Labor strikes with riots and / or violence (1877-1959)
Bonus marchers (1932)
Race-based civil unrest (1831-today)
Weathermen, Puerto Rican Liberation Front,
and other activist groups (1970s)
Vietnam War
Protestors (1966-75)
Economic protestors - Occupy 2011, WTO (many)Sports eventsFurgeson / Baltimore 2015Slide4
H. Rap Brown: 1967 - Minister of Justice for the Black Panther Party
“Violence is as American as cherry pie.”
NY Post, September 8, 2015Slide5
Civil Unrest in the USMany are peaceful and resolved; others violent, Watts 1965 first modern combination of massive fire / rioting (Hybrid Targeted Violence – HTV)
Many involve fire/EMS/Rescue service demands
US history has been marked by disagreements, some violent
Since pre-revolution times, the Republic has had nearly 400 rebellions, insurrections and riotsSlide6
Strategic Lessons Learned: Planning is essential (NFPA 1500)All-Hazards response planning = cooperation when things turn badPlan and train to
your community’s specific risks
Prepare for “unified” independent action
Delegate authority to actSlide7
Operational Lessons LearnedThe use of task forces (TF)– multiple companies, joint efforts, unified command, includes other public safety elements.
The TF concept provides protection; allows FF / EMS personnel to “maintain traditional notion of firefighters being solely public helpers”
Disregard alarms - call back or verify all calls
TF requires inter-operable communications plan and capabilitiesSlide8
Operational Lessons Learned1 (cont)Determine call priorities
Abbreviated fire control/treatment (knock down, grab patients, get out-leave things behind if necessary)
Mutual aid is critical to maintain service levels;
other things happen
Be involved with local information and intelligence analysis efforts (usually law enforcement-counter terrorism
focused - Fusion Centers).Slide9
Tactical Lessons Learned Consider personal protection levelsConsider removing external equipment from rigsBe prepared to abandon scene, leave hose and other gear if necessary.
Supply line disruption
Short hose lays, deck guns, quick attacks, class A foam, tank water, little over-haul, quick take-ups5
Minimize aerial and laddering (life safety only)
Minimize work on dead-end streets5Slide10
What have we learned?1 (cont)Organization Stress cycles
Cyclic - stress increases in evening; abates with daylight
Peak
cycle with increasing violence through night continuing into following daylight (3-4 days)
FD Roles
Administration
– planning, coordinating with other agencies, departments
Prevention
– resources moved to other sectionsSuppression – change from company to TF response, priority listings, citizen hostility, little rest (peak cycle), retreat as necessaryCommunication- extra staffing, liaison with PD comms, box alarms, reduced comm traffic, interoperabiltySlide11
In conclusionThere is no substitute for planning or trainingThe is no substitute for leadershipThere will be external entities controlling the overall command, control, communications / PIO functions (mayor, commissioner, governor, etc.)Coordination, liaison, unified command will
improve multi-agency response.Slide12
NYPD Officer
Michael Onieal
2 years on the NYPD4
th civil unrest event in which shots fired / he had to draw his weapon Protecting FDNY paramedic treating man shotSlide13
References: 1- Warhalt & Waxman (1973). “American Behavioral Scientist” 16, no 3 (Jan-Feb 1973): 343-355 please note this article predates NIMS , 9-1-1, and cellular service
2-Vernon. August (2005). “Fire and EMS Response to Civil Unrest Events” Firehouse; pp 60-64, December.
3-Kramer, William and Bahme
, Charles (1998). ”Civil Disorders and Riots”, Fire Officers Guide to Disaster Control, pp 222-247, Fire Engineering Books,.
4-Robert, Mary Rose(2011). “Get Ready-Here They Come”, Fire Chief. July 2011 pp 45-50.
5- Mahoney, G., Rickman, T., & Wallace, G. (2008). “The Model Incident Command System and Firefighter Safety,
Ch
3, pp 114-118.
Fire Suppression Practices and Procedures
(2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: PearPrentice Hall.