Firefighters get hurt often; one tool in the arsenal to prevent or reduce this phenomenon is called RIT (Rapid Intervention Team). This is also known as FAST (Fire Brigade Search and Assistance Team). The RIT/FAST is essentially designed to enter a building to rescue injured or trapped firefighters. Over the years, researchers have studied firefighter line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) to determine what firefighters are doing wrong. In Pennsylvania in 1995, three firefighters died when a house fire collapsed, killing all three. Research established that there was no effective accountability system. In Iowa in 1999, three firefighters died while trying to rescue confined residents in a house fire. The exact circumstances were undetermined, but an absent accountability system, no rapid response team, and lack of adequate manpower contributed to the deaths (Jakubowski). Firefighters understand that fire conditions can change quickly. They are taught this from the beginning, but can develop tunnel vision, allowing the fire to get the better of them. Some newer building materials, such as high-efficiency windows, can support rapid fire spread without exposure. Materials such as oriented strand board (OSB) burn quickly and can collapse more quickly than older lumber. When a structure collapses, most firefighters are not trained enough to save themselves or get out of this tough situation. Most firefighters believe they are the hero, not the victim. With this attitude they believe they are invincible. Therefore, they think that they do not need to learn how to protect themselves or save themselves from an emergency. Another problem that firefighters have is what is known as f... middle of paper... nothing, but when called into action, they are ready at a moment's notice to rescue a fallen firefighter. . This is why the guidelines, training and equipment prepare them to be the saviors of firefighters. Works Cited Burton, Clark A. “You Have to Call Mayday for RIT to Work: Will You?” Fire engineering. June 2003: 85-89. Print.Children, Robert. “RIT bag.” Fire engineering. April 2005: 30-32. Print.Jakubowski, Greg, “Rapid Response Team Instructor Package.” Fire Protection Publications, 2003. Slide show. 28 November 2013. Milan, David. “Establishing an RIT from scratch.” Fire engineering. December 2006: 28-31. Press. "Respiratory protection". Personal protective equipment: occupational health and safety standards. U.S. Department of Labor, June 2011. Web Nov. 19, 2013. U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series. 2013.