DAOD 4007-3 - Emergency Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Operations

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition
3. Overview
4. Operating Principles
5. Compliance and Consequences
6. Responsibilities
7. References

1. Introduction

Date of Issue: 2010-03-19

Date of Last Modification: 2021-01-12

Application: This DAOD is a directive that applies to employees of the Department of National Defence (DND employees) and an order that applies to officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces (CAF members).

Approval Authority: Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) (ADM(IE))

Enquiries: Canadian Forces Fire Marshal (CFFM)

2. Definition

emergency aircraft rescue and fire fighting operations (mesures d’urgence pour le sauvetage et la lutte contre les incendies d’aéronefs)

Rescue, fire suppression, emergency medical care and other operations performed at the scene of an aircraft occurrence, including action taken to prevent, control or extinguish a fire for the purpose of maintaining escape routes for occupants of an aircraft using normal and emergency routes for egress. (Defence Terminology Bank record number 43057)

life safety (sécurité des personnes)

The protection of persons exposed to specific hazards from fire or the design or maintenance of buildings or other structures. (Defence Terminology Bank record number 43134)

3. Overview

Purpose

3.1 The purpose of this DAOD is to:

1. set minimum standards for emergency aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) operations at a base or wing, in the following order of priority:
   1. life safety for first responders and occupants of aircraft, i.e. their protection from exposure to specific hazards from an aircraft fire or the design or maintenance of an aircraft
   2. the continuation of CAF operations and missions; and
   3. the protection of CAF aircraft; and
2. ensure that risk assessments in respect of emergency ARFF operations are conducted regularly for a base or wing.

Local Plans

3.2 In consultation with the base or wing fire chief, the base and wing commanders must develop local plans to provide first responders with additional personnel and other resources during emergency ARFF operations that could result in significant property damage or potential loss of life on defence establishments. This is typically accomplished through the establishment of mutual aid agreements with neighbouring municipalities or townships, or both.

4. Operating Principles

Minimum Required Personnel

4.1 For the conduct of emergency ARFF operations, the base or wing commander must ensure that the following number and type of qualified firefighters are available:

Minimum Required Vehicles and Quantities of Extinguishing Agents

4.2 For the conduct of emergency ARFF operations, the base or wing commander must ensure that the minimum number of ARFF vehicles and quantities of extinguishing agents, based on airport category and CAF aircraft type, are available as set out in Annex A to the CFFM Directive 2003.

Minimum Required ARFF Resources

4.3 The minimum required ARFF resources (personnel, vehicles and extinguishing agents) to support air operations at a base or wing must be based on the largest resident aircraft. If a base or wing experiences a temporary increase in aircraft type or operational or training activities, the base or wing commander must carry out a risk assessment to determine if additional resources are required.

4.4 If the minimum required ARFF resources cannot be provided as a result of a manning shortfall or vehicle unserviceability, the base or wing operations centre and the applicable command fire marshal must be notified immediately. Under such circumstances, the approval of the 1 Canadian Air Division Operations Centre is required in order to continue air operations.

4.5 If the minimum required ARFF resources cannot be provided for any other reason, the base or wing commander must request that a risk assessment be carried out by the CFFM to identify options to mitigate the risk of death, injury, loss or damage.

Commencement of Emergency ARFF Operations

4.6 Base and wing commanders must ensure that their fire service can commence emergency ARFF operations at the scene of any aircraft occurrence at their base or wing, except in conditions of foul weather, hazardous road conditions, training or other extreme circumstances, within the following times:

1. three minutes for the first responding ARFF vehicle to reach any point on an operational runway; and
2. 30 seconds after the first responding vehicle arrives for all other ARFF vehicles necessary to deliver the required extinguishing agents.

4.7 If the base or wing commander determines that it is not practical to commence emergency ARFF operations within the above times, the base or wing commander must request that a risk assessment be carried out by the CFFM to identify options to mitigate the risk of death, injury, loss or damage.

5. Compliance and Consequences

Compliance

5.1 DND employees and CAF members must comply with this DAOD. Should clarification of the policies or instructions set out in this DAOD be required, DND employees and CAF members may seek direction through their channel of communication or chain of command, as appropriate. Managers and military supervisors have the primary responsibility for and means of ensuring the compliance of their DND employees and CAF members with this DAOD.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

5.2 DND employees and CAF members are accountable to their respective managers and military supervisors for any failure to comply with the direction set out in this DAOD. Non‑compliance with this DAOD may have consequences for both the DND and the CAF as institutions, and for DND employees and CAF members as individuals. Suspected non‑compliance may be investigated. Managers and military supervisors must take or direct appropriate corrective measures if non-compliance with this DAOD has consequences for the DND or the CAF. The decision of a level one advisor or other senior official to take action or to intervene in a case of non-compliance, other than in respect of a decision under the Code of Service Discipline regarding a CAF member, will depend on the degree of risk based on the impact and likelihood of an adverse outcome resulting from the non-compliance and other circumstances of the case.

5.3 The nature and severity of the consequences resulting from non-compliance should be commensurate with the circumstances of the non-compliance and other relevant circumstances. Consequences of non-compliance may include one or more of the following:

1. the ordering of the completion of appropriate learning, training or professional development;
2. the entering of observations in individual performance evaluations;
3. increased reporting and performance monitoring;
4. the withdrawal of any authority provided under this DAOD to a DND employee or CAF member;
5. the reporting of suspected offences to responsible law enforcement agencies;
6. the application of specific consequences as set out in applicable laws, codes of conduct, and DND and CAF policies and instructions;
7. other administrative action, including the imposition of disciplinary measures, for a DND employee;
8. other administrative or disciplinary action, or both, for a CAF member; and
9. the imposition of liability on the part of Her Majesty in right of Canada, DND employees and CAF members.

Note – In respect of the compliance of DND employees, see the Treasury Board Framework for the Management of Compliance for additional information.

6. Responsibilities

Responsibility Table

6.1 The following table identifies the responsibilities associated with this DAOD:

7. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Policy DAOD

• Canada Labour Code, Part II, Occupational Health and Safety
• Canadian Aviation Regulations
• QR&O Chapter 30, Fire Protection Services
• Framework for the Management of Compliance, Treasury Board
• Fire Protection Standard, Treasury Board
• DAOD 4007-0, Fire Protection Services

Other References

• DAOD 4007-2, Emergency Fire Operations in Respect of DND and CAF Infrastructure
• A-LM-158-005/AG-001,Transport Manual
• Canadian Forces Fire Marshal Directive 2003, Airport Category and Minimum Response Strength for Fire Fighting
• 1 Canadian Air Division Order 3-706, Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Policy
• NFPA 402, Guide for Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Operations
• NFPA 403, Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Services at Airports
• NFPA 405, Standard for the Recurring Proficiency of Airport Fire Fighters
• NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1002, Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1003, Standard for Airport Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications
• STANAG 3712, Airfield Rescue and Fire-Fighting (ARFF) Services Identification
• STANAG 7145, Minimum Core Competency Levels and Proficiency of Skills for Fire Fighters