Rapid Intervention Team
Established 2002
Squad LeaderSteven Idtensohn
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Asst. Squad LeaderMatthew Shimkus
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Squad History
Fire Departments should utilize a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) at all structure fires with good reason. More fire fighters die in residential occupancies than in any other type of structure fire and are typically the most common type of occupancy that fire fighters encounter. Both the NFPA and OSHA have requirements for some type of RIT at structure fires. These standards require that a team fire fighters be standing by outside in full protective equipment, while other crew members are working in a hazardous atmosphere in case a fire fighters became lost, trapped, or disoriented while fighting a structure fire they can call upon RIT for assistance.
In 2002 some of the members of the Southampton fire Department gathered to begin discussing a serious issue all of us face, firefighter rescue. Over the years members of the department spent many intense hours preparing themselves for the possibility of having to rescue one of our own. In late 2002 these members wrote up a set of by-laws and prepared a training regiment. With the retirement of old unit 19 the members were now ready to set themselves up as an elite team of rescuers that could respond to and handle most emergencies they are faced with. Today our surrounding departments know that if no matter what the situation they can call upon us to assist.
In 2002 some of the members of the Southampton fire Department gathered to begin discussing a serious issue all of us face, firefighter rescue. Over the years members of the department spent many intense hours preparing themselves for the possibility of having to rescue one of our own. In late 2002 these members wrote up a set of by-laws and prepared a training regiment. With the retirement of old unit 19 the members were now ready to set themselves up as an elite team of rescuers that could respond to and handle most emergencies they are faced with. Today our surrounding departments know that if no matter what the situation they can call upon us to assist.
RIT 7-3-9
