“Missed Opportunities”…
By thehousewatch | November 21, 2009
photo by flickr
I was working a shift trade at a downtown engine company the other day. History abounds in this company as it will soon celebrate its 164th birthday. I’m working a ton these days as I enjoy a few summer days off at the expense of hunters who need the fall. Unfortunately, it’s payback time of the year. Digressing, this engine company is housed in one of our oldest firehouses in the city. It’s architecture has remained mostly unchanged, save a remodel in the early 30’s. One thing that has not changed however, is the engine officer’s bunkroom. It used to be the citywide deputy chief’s quarters before he moved a few blocks west early last century. Perhaps its most historical significance is that fact that it is purported to have best shower in the city. Yeah, the best shower. The shower room in the engine officer’s bunk room looks like a Turkish bath-house that includes a shower head the size of basketball.
Why am I bringing up a stupid shower? Well, I never got a chance to experience the shower because I had to work the next day at my regular company; and I opted to shower back at my regular company due to morning administrative duties killing my chance for a shot at the spa. Although this may seem like an insignificant thing in my daily duties, It represents a missed opportunity to take all of my job in. People sink to their knees when they talk about the shower, and many take promotional exams just to get a shot at the experience. Oh well, maybe next time.
What else are we missing at work, or even off duty these days? Are we still drilling like we used to? Finding vacants to train in? How about getting along like we used to? When was the last time you went to a company outing? Came up with one on your own? Went to a training class? Read a magazine on the toilet or online? How about even talking about fires?!!
The deprecession has hit our job(s) hard. We’ve lost companies; watched a browned-out one across the floor sit vacant all day; and can look over to another empty seat on the apparatus enroute to a fire. The fire service is at a crossroads folks, not unlike what the seventies endured, and our departments will never look or operate the same ever again. My job definitely has changed; and it has changed a lot of what people want to do while they’re there. It transcends simple morale into a cultural shift towards apathy and contempt. This is understandable because the pace of change has outpaced our ability to incorporate it (collectively as a fire service). When this happens, we start to miss opportunities and lose focus on the constants that have always kept this job better than anyone’s.
I’m referring to the aforementioned questions posed. I’m not saying that sitting in a class or reading a magazine will shadow the loss of a spot next to you or even an entire company in your department. Rather, it will get your head back into the game; and any chance to put on the costume makes you feel like a fireman. What’s more, playing fireman at work during drills further enhances and inspires your desire to do the job better.
Getting the company out for a few after work or on an off-day will get the customary gripes about cuts and politicians out the way so we can get to the parts where we talk about the good times, people’s historic and recent misfortunes, and yes, great fires we went (and love going) to. There’s no “VFWs” for retired firemen so we need to ensure the stories stay in the firehouses, at company outings, and at the pubs. We can’t miss these opportunities or else the good things on the job will be an even greater loss during these trying times. We also can’t afford to forget that we still have to go to the same fires with less now, and have to find ways to do it. It’s okay to bitch about the cuts, they’re not going to stop anytime soon. It’s also okay to bitch about the loss of our culture and what made it great. Don’t miss out on keeping this job good for the next guy. It may not be as good as you had it, but still beats most other gigs out there. The way we do that is taking all of our jobs in and passing the good times on so that no one misses the important things. And next time I work at that downtown engine, I’m bringing a lounge chair and towel…
Topics: Editorials | No Comments »
“Spring Firefighter Development Symposiums”…
By thehousewatch | November 15, 2009
Topics: Training and Development | No Comments »
“Tactical Safety: Shortcutting the Stretch Eventually Stings”…
By thehousewatch | November 15, 2009
“Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate”
Tactical Safety – Shortcutting the Stretch Eventually Stings
By: Ray McCormack
There are many ways to get a hoseline where it is needed; some methods follow sound fire tactics and are examples of knowledgeable hoseline management and tactical safety; while other moves are short sighted, risking firefighter safety where it should be at its highest, on the hoseline.
The overwhelming effect of a solid engine company performance, is not just about targeted water delivery, it is about heightened fireground safety. There are many safety gaffes which occur that will never add up to a tragedy, however, when errors occur that violate fundamental engine company operational standards then a tragedy is now within the mix of possible outcomes.
Shortcuts shave time; they often shave safety as well. Engine company close shaves on the fireground are usually rooted in poor leadership and misguided tactics. Some people profess that there are no absolutes in the fire service when it comes to tactics. If you believe that then you could possibly be swayed into using poor engine company tactics and risky shortcuts.
First, the engine helps no one on the fireground without water in their hoseline. Secondly, engine company firefighters with a dry hoseline do not belong in the fire area. Can you get away with it? Sure, but eventually your shortcut will catch up to you and you will not like the results. True story (TS): an engine stretches dry into a single story home and makes it into a bedroom before calling for water. Fire extends from a room opposite theirs and traps them until the back up line with water puts out the fire. The first engine was trying to save time. My question is how much time is your life worth? Waiting for water is time well spent, it worked for second engine.
Egress is to be protected. Have you ever been told that the front entrance of a home that has fire showing from it would be best protected by ignoring that area? And that you should work your way to the back as a starting point? That plan should give you pause. “No one could make it through that doorway alive,” they will say, and that may be true, but with a rapid knockdown anyone still near the main egress hub will have a much better chance of survival, now that we are able to directly enter the home.
Hoseline placement that bypasses the interior stairs in favor of a fire floor window can leave us wanting if the fire forces us to back out. Time to slide the hoseline! Your stretch may have been shorter but you eliminated safe egress from it. By using that stretch you really didn’t look after your crew like you thought you did. You saved them some work, but you didn’t protect them as well as you could have.
Tying up an aerial ladder to create a make shift standpipe riser is another option that shortchanges rescue capability as well as engine safety. This tactic does it all and it can seem so benign. True story (TS): a department had a large apartment house and wondered the best way to get the first line to the upper floors, so the ladder company boss suggested using the aerial as a standpipe riser. When asked what about losing his exterior rescue capability, he stated that it was okay because the department had another truck company. He just couldn’t see it.
Doors that are not wedged-open, lines that are not thoroughly flaked out, lines that are undersized all lead to problems on the fireground and are a form of shortcutting that does not protect our people or the public to the best of our ability. We must take care of the little things in the engine! There are no little things in the engine! You must know what to look for, you must see it, and you must fix it.
Firefighters and officers who operate outside sound engine company tactical boundaries need to examine the why behind their choices and methods; and hopefully discover in the process the underlying role of the engine company, which is to raise everyone’s tactical safety level on the fireground.
Next Tactical Safety – Great Followers Make Good Leaders
Topics: Training and Development | No Comments »
“Tactical Safety: CANceling Fire”…
By thehousewatch | November 9, 2009
“Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate”
Tactical Safety – CANceling Fire
By: Ray McCormack
Photo by Michael Dick
Fire extinguishment can be accomplished using several methods as well as delivery systems. One of the most common is using a hand-held extinguisher. All fire departments carry various types of extinguishers for different types of fires. The most commonly used type is the two and half gallon water type extinguisher aka “The Can.”
Obliviously the Can will extinguish small fires. Many times firefighters will use it for small rubbish container fires or for fires in difficult to access areas. The Can is an efficient way to bring water wherever we need it quickly. Taking the Can to areas where a hoseline stretch would be either personnel-intensive or time consuming allows us to efficiently extinguish these small but hard to reach fires. The Can will also knockdown larger fires. There is a difference between knockdown and extinguishment with one being temporary and the other final.
In confined spaces, the can is used similarly to a hose line by pointing the narrow stream at the ceiling space so that it rains down on the assorted burning elements, or pointed at the base of the burning materials. Many firefighters have had success using the Can to knock down fire in order to allow other fireground tasks to be preformed, such as a search. If used correctly and when needed the Can will allow firefighters to accomplish certain tasks prior to the placement of a hoseline. The Can however should never replace a handline. The Can is an early intervention and extension prevention tool but it is not a continuously supplied fire extinguishment tool.
I do not think it is prudent to place too much fire extinguishment capability on the Can. Yes, it can knockdown a good portion of fire in an area, but it is risky to think that it is more than that; you must know its limitations. I have seen the Can work well and I have seen it barely make a dent in the fire. With two and a half gallons of water, the Can is equal in volume to one full second of water from a well charged 1 ¾ handline.
The Can’s stream can be kept in its original form which is straight, or you can place your finger slightly over the tip to produce a broken stream that fans out over the burning material. Both streams are effective and a combination of both is often used.
The Can is usually carried and used by ladder company firefighters, who are conducting search and rescue operations, or by firefighters making a preliminary investigation. Companies that operate above a fire can also benefit from having a Can with them. Often extension can be quickly stalled by use of the Can.
This tool allows for rapid fire containment prior to the hose line’s arrival. This tactic may be used upon entry into the occupancy or held at bay until the team exits. The reason teams may hold off include loss of visibility in the area post knockdown; often the fire is monitored so that it does not block egress and does not extend. Once the search has been performed, the fire will then be hit with the can.
The converse is that the team will find the fire and knock it down right away and then search. Even though the second method sounds safer, it may not be. Remember once we use up the Can, we have no additional extinguishment capability and now the best we can do is monitor the area without the added safety of the Can.
Never push the results you think you’ve obtained using the Can. A hose line should be stretched if there is any feeling of doubt as to total fire extinguishment. It is always prudent to back up any type of extinguishment tactic. Practice with it so you know its reach, duration, and limitations. The nice thing about the pressurized water extinguisher is that it is easily refillable in-house which helps make individual training very practical. The Can when used judiciously is a great safety and first attack tool for many departments. Increase your tactical safety on the fireground; know how to use the Can.
Next Tactical Safety – Shortcutting the Stretch Eventually Stings
Topics: Training and Development | No Comments »
“Chronology”…
By thehousewatch | November 9, 2009
Following an order of operations based upon the chronology of the fire’s location, extension and severity, in relation to the life hazard, ensures we get the most bang for our buck. Having designated areas of responsibility and positional assignments, based upon an order of arrival, gives those who call us a fair shake when we get there. If the IC has to tell you what to do and where to go when you get there, your department does not have a plan. The following incidents you are about to see demonstrate favorable outcomes when predetermined plans come together. Moreover, freeing up the Company Officer from having to formulate a plan upon arrival gives him time to determine if his department’s plan can in fact be implemented safely. If not, I’ll bet his department has another play in the book for such cases…
Hat tip Nate:
Hat tip Murphy:
Topics: Editorials | 2 Comments »
“Tactical Safety: Understanding Aggressive Interior Attack”…
By thehousewatch | November 2, 2009
“Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate”
Tactical Safety – Understanding Aggressive Interior Attack
Photo by Michael Dick
By: Ray McCormack
Aggressive interior attack does its job every day across this country; it is how most fire departments operate the majority of the time. It is our common game plan when we head out the door. When we arrive, we will determine if the plan is suitable for a particular fire or building; or if the plan needs modification. The American fire service saves the most lives and property by fighting fires from inside buildings Aggressive interior attack is a coordinated, well thought out method of interior fire extinguishment. There are two reasons why we enter structures for extinguishment, the protection of life and property.
The majority of dwelling fires are extinguished utilizing the initial handline. This tells us several things. First we are arriving in a timely fashion; we are stretching the correct size handline, and aggressive interior attack gets the job done efficiently and effectively. Tactically safe interior fire extinguishment begins with the correct hoseline choice, sustained water for extinguishment, and the ability to determine if the interior fire fight is winnable. ‘Winability’ and safe operations are at the heart of interior attack. Safety is the biggest factor that weighs on initiating this form of firefighting. What will the building do next? How far has it been compromised? Most times it is evident and sometimes it is cleverly hidden from us.
What does the word aggressive mean when it comes to attack? Is it just a slogan or does it quantify a select method of operation. I believe it is the latter. If the hoseline’s not moving we’re losing! For any interior fire to be extinguished quickly we must move (march) a hoseline from the building entrance to the fire. This is the where aggressiveness comes into play. Remember aggressiveness does not imply an unsafe advance or reckless disregard for operational safety. Aggressive is the opposite of passive; we must fight fires with determination or the job will not be done in a timely manner. Time is what aggressive attack is about. We wish to extinguish the fire quickly while maintaining egress protection.
Determination is something most officers and firefighters arrive on scene with. However, difficult conditions often test our determination. Tough firefighting is like climbing a steep hill. The fire (climb) is intense and hot but finally we make it to the top and then we can relax just a bit realizing the worst is over, and we then proceed downhill; we have the fire knocked down. It is not just technical skill that gets us through a difficult fire, it is often headlong determination. We improve our chances of success by getting all of our ducks in a row. We flake out the line, we get properly dressed, we check for good water, and we continue to evaluate our attack progress and conditions around us while pushing forward at a pace compatible with fire conditions.
Officers evaluate the fire and look for evidence of progress. Looking at a whole host of variables is part of every IC’s job, with steam conversion being high on the list of favorite sights to see. Aggressive interior attack usually presents quick results and gives the IC the non verbal inside view of what is occurring. It will be a back and forth conversation between inside and outside as to how well we are progressing in our fire attack. The IC always has the option of pulling the plug and switching tactics if he feels or is told that we are losing; or that even winning the battle could be too costly.
The interior of the building is a tricky thing; some appear common while others are more intricate. The path to the fire may be decided upon using several factors: the most direct route, timeliest route, egress route, or building entrance. The need to go interior for your attack is not based on machismo. It is based upon the fact that fires are extinguished more rapidly from up close. Fire knock down is not fire extinguishment. When the risk to personnel rules out interior operations, we will hit the fire from an exterior vantage point. Will it take longer that way? Yes, because you can no longer get close to open up a wall or move debris to get to hidden fire.
How much of the building is involved in fire? What is the tipping point for either suspending or abandoning this attack method? It is different for many officers and IC’s as it is for buildings and occupancies utilizing various amounts of light weight components. Total losers however, we all can agree upon, such as well involved buildings, structurally degraded, and derelict structures. All fire buildings need to be constantly evaluated relating to interior attack commencement and viability.
We must train our firefighters to utilize effective extinguishment tactics and proper nozzle technique within the fire compartment. We must train our companies to quickly get a handline in service so that extinguishment can begin within the quickest time frame after arrival size up is performed. Remember time is not on anyone’s side at a structural fire. Different buildings and occupancies within buildings can be vastly different. Some homes have more of a fire load than others. Some occupancies have shapes that can make extinguishment more difficult. If we have decided to enter an occupancy/building then we must have our (gun drawn) hoseline ready to attack at a seconds’ notice. The importance of hoseline protection should never be an after thought. You must understand how building methods and materials can dramatically accelerate the collapse potential. Could we successfully extinguish an occupancy that has fire through out it? Yes we could but what we have to worry about is the structure degrading in the amount of time it will take to progress through the occupancy. This is why it is important to fight dirty against the enemy. We must be ready to bring overwhelming (force) water to the battle. That does not always equate to multiple small hoselines. Remember initial attack gives us our best punch in the shortest amount of time.
However with all things being equal an engine company that covers all the bases, and uses a systematic approach to extinguishment, will win more battles than one that is unprepared. Initiating an aggressive interior attack demands strong leadership, tactical safety, good nozzle technique, knowledge of engine emergencies, and fire behavior. There are many fire behaviors that we learn about such as flashover, backdraft, and rollover which often overshadows the more common threats associated with fire extinguishment. Firefighters must know how to combat battle multi-room fires, deal with cluttered conditions, fire wrap around, extension, black fire and accelerated fire growth just to name a few. Hoseline management must be understood and appreciated by everyone on the fireground, especially understaffed departments. Back up hoseline positions must be placed in advantageous locations that do not restrict the movement of the guarded handline and commanded by officers who understand line placement.
The use of larger handlines is predicated on many factors such as the D.A.L.L.A.S. acronym as well as occupancy type and building size. The post incident action report of difficulty using a large handline and low staffing is often just an excuse that attempts to mask a lack of relevant and comprehensive hoseline training. Is a larger line more difficult to use? Yes, it may be more difficult, but the results are what we are after, not a sob story. All handlines should be properly staffed in order to facilitate a timely extinguishment. Safe extinguishment comes with a through knowledge of engine company operations and interior attack hazards and how to counter them. Absolute safety can never be achieved unfortunately, but that is no reason to abandon or put down aggressive interior attack, which is by far our most powerful and effective life saving tactic once we are engaged in structural fire operations.
Look at all the statistics the fire service collects on fires and firefighters and you will see multiple negative categories. Many in the fire service look to the private sector for ideas and trends. Corporate reports don’t dwell on the negative. Maybe we should start keeping statistics on how much property and how many lives we save; and they way they’re saved instead of always focusing on loss. These new numbers would help to display the positive impact our service has on the community and our value.
Next Tactical Safety – CANceling Fire
Topics: Training and Development | 5 Comments »
“The Constant”…
By thehousewatch | October 30, 2009
One of the draws to this job for me was the fact that I knew I wouldn’t be doing the same thing everyday. Each day would be it’s own 24 hour career and I would do 122 of them each year. What I later realized however, was that there is actually a tremendous amount of repetition in this job. I’m not referring to the mundane, rather the very things we do best that we want to do every day we show up to work. It could be forcing doors, opening roofs, searching, estimating the stretch, the nozzle, et. al. Everyone has that one thing they do best, or rather, that thing they enjoy doing the most. The latter is what I’m going to talk about here.
I recently went to a fire in a private dwelling with fire that was extending from the first floor to the attic space thanks to its fire-friendly balloon frame construction. I knew the first due Truck would be taking a shot at getting a hole in the roof for the Engine; and sure enough, through the gangway came the Truck with ladders and eagerness in tow. I noticed that one of the Roof Firefighters on this Truck was a classmate of mine from the academy days. After the customary friendly its-been-a-while nods, he went about his work getting the 35′ to the eave line. The first line was being stretched while the door was being forced, clockwork. What gave me pause during all of this is that I immediately heard the saw start and sink into the roof after what seemed like milliseconds after my courtesy nod in the gangway. I took a step back and saw the Truck already pulling the roof boards as the line was getting wet after being flaked-out, perhaps the fastest roof I have ever seen.
As everyone was taking up from the fire, I made a bee-line for my classmate to congratulate him on his and his crew’s solid performance. A humble man, he chidingly reminded me that he never left the Truck or took a promotional exam like me because he simply loved opening roofs. He liked that constant about his work. And that’s not a bad thing at all; His performance was proof of that. Is he good at the other Truck acts too? Perhaps, but I know who I want on the roof the next time I’m working in the Engine.
Pictured is Matthias Schlitte, famous German arm-wrestling champion. Yes, that's his real forearm. When you get good at one thing, everyone knows it and can see it a mile away. Who would you want on your arm-wrestling team? I'd want this guy too.
The fire service often looks at things from the perspective of a generalist. The Chief on the curb has to be a generalist looking at the fireground aggregate and ensuring everything’s coming together like the last one. Others however, should look at things from a positional perspective (always thinking about the first line though). Read Ray’s latest ‘Tactical Safety’ post to see said perspective in context. For this post, I’m not simply referring to which side of the fire house you’re on or good at, the Engine or the Truck; I mean the specific thing(s) you do in these companies; the sub-constants. Everyone knows who’s the best with the irons, getting to the roof, ladders, stretching, the door position, standpipe outlets, etc. It shouldn’t mean that’s all you’ll do when you put the costume on the rig for the tour. It means that you should not keep this talent or specialty to yourself. Teach everyone what made you good at it. Brag about it to the companies in your Battalion. That way, when they need a hand filling an area of responsibility, they’ll know who can. Or who will when they can’t! That’s not elitism, that’s professionalism. And professionalism is the constant we all need to strive for.
Topics: Editorials | 1 Comment »
“Tactical Safety: SOPs, Standard Operating Positions”..
By thehousewatch | October 26, 2009
“Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate”
Tactical Safety – SOP’s Standard Operating Positions
By: Ray McCormack
Photo by thehousewatch.com
All sports teams and business organizations use positional models to streamline command chains, improve task accountability and deliver successful and efficient results to a challenge. The fire service is no different. The positions are there for all of us to see. The operational plan can be specific or general depending upon the level of pre-operational research that went into plan development. However, many departments suffer from: weak command chains, low task accountability monitoring, and questionable successes. Why is that?
When we examine positional modeling on the fireground, we often see fluid models that vary at the whim of commanders. These commanders themselves may have only temporary discretionary powers but their decisions often live on throughout the firefight despite additional resources or solutions. Some department still do not subscribe to operational guidelines or a more organized/standardized approach to company functions/tasks and positional firefighting. Is there a reason why some make up their operational chains at every fire? Is there a benefit to increasing the demand on the IC, or temporary IC, as to placement/roles of arriving companies? How efficient are we when we must await routine commands to get a water supply initiated or stretch an attack line. All that extraneous radio traffic leads to is increased opportunities for misinterpretation or missed communication; and does not enable a more comprehensive and better managed fireground.
Guidelines and procedures that are standardized help us to comprehend the fire situation quicker and with improved focus. A more defined focus for the IC, company officer and firefighter increases tactical safety. Having positions and known plays that are understood by all attending; and implemented without prodding, makes the fireground more efficient and safer. Clearly defined positions do not handcuff the IC or company officers; rather it frees them from having to deal with the mundane.
Firegrounds are all different and at the same time identical. The mission is to extinguish the fire. When companies are dispatched, either their arrival placement is understood or assigned. Companies may arrive out of sequence or may be from different departments or areas. This does not dismantle positional standards. Operational positions should be disseminated and understood no matter who is responding on the first alarm. Standard operating positions makes for great accountability as tasks are pre-assigned and the potential for a misinterpretation of roles and tasks is virtually eliminated; plus, we know who to seek out if something was overlooked as opposed to just dealing with the either the excuse of “I didn’t know it was my job,” to the IC forgetting to assign a specific task.
Modeling positional standards doesn’t mean all objectives are written in stone, however, there are basic features to the game plan that should occur enough times that they form a standard of operation. It doesn’t matter what model you choose as long as your choice makes sense and it works for your response area. These positional assignments allow for smooth transitions in command as well because the tactical objective are known, and filled following a standard of operations. We know that supply was handled, search was assigned, and an attack group was formed; and all have operated in an organized fashion. We don’t always know the script the fire is following but we should be aware of our own.
When it comes to the company level we generally follow a model of a designated leader/officer in charge of several firefighters. The span of control is tight which should maximize effectiveness, integrity and safety. The officer will be the link to the next higher level of command, usually the IC or sector. Teams or companies are assigned areas of responsibility and control the fire with extinguishment, search, and support tasks such as: ventilation, RIT, and back up. Each group will have several team members to tackle the tasks inherent at every fire.
- We have company officers whose job it is to lead a group of firefighters.
- We have pump operators whose job it is to get and maintain water supply for extinguishment operations.
- We have a nozzle firefighter and other firefighters assisting the hoseline advance
- We have a search and rescue group
- We have an IC, Sector Officers and Safety
We comply with national standards and track our companies and our people; keeping a close eye on progress made or lost, so that the players can be rearranged and tasks shifted from the original plan if needed. To arrive at a fire and do it from scratch does not show much in the way of leadership. We should have plans and SOP’s in place so that when we arrive on scene things get done in a timely fashion and done safely.
Next Tactical Safety – Understanding Aggressive Interior Attack
Topics: Training and Development | 3 Comments »
“Son of Brady St.”…
By thehousewatch | October 20, 2009
Photo by Milwaukee Fire Department Historical Society
It’s great to see good press in bad times…
We should all remember that Firefighters not only protect the socioeconomic vitality and health of neighborhoods, we also know them better than anyone.
Topics: Editorials | 5 Comments »
“Tactical Safety: Winning Fires With Water”…
By thehousewatch | October 19, 2009
“Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate”
Tactical Safety – Winning Fires with Water
By: Ray McCormack
Winning fires with water is based on several key factors such as: the amount of water brought to the battle, from supply volume to actual usage volume, to proper targeting of each individual water stream, and the selective placement of streams for maximum coverage and timely extinguishment. Firefighting is war. To win our individual daily battles, we must strategize on which tactics will safely and effectively give us the upper hand against the enemy. We can have multiple streams in operation, but if they are missing the target, we are loosing the battle. We must use our primary attack tool (water) effectively in both the advanced tactical mode and in offensive/defensive platforms in order to win.
Water supply both upon arrival and after supplementation gives us a foundation and reserve for continuous operations. The higher the number of supply and supply methods used the higher our level of safety should be. Supply provided by only a single source no matter what the number (volume) is never as prudent as having multiple sources. All of our water sources should be maximized with total volume pulled surpassing need.
When we arrive with our pumpers, provide a static amount of water to initiate some type of fire operation. If you feel that your fire race is equal to 1,000 gallons then starting off with a pumper that only contains 500 gallons can lead to a disappointing finish. We must be able to judge the effect of our actions prior to implementing them. A fire that requires thousands of gallons of water for extinguishment may be quickly reduced if the sweet spot is hit with those 500 gallons of water. These are judgment calls based on many factors; two of the leading contributors being urgency and growth potential.
Having a sustained water supply is one of the keys to an effective offensive/defensive operation. Many times our offensive water demand will later be dwarfed by the increased water supply demand of defensive operations. Defensive operations that switch from small handline suppression to appliance assisted suppression require a tremendous increase in water volume to work effectively. This transition time can allow for exponential fire spread. When larger handlines are used, this transfer works better because these lines double nicely as supply lines for appliances, thereby saving time and effort. Any appliance that can be feed from multiple supply lines with separate water sources allows for a fail safe(r) operation.
When we miss the target by not hitting the seat of the fire we have a problem. You can lob all the water you want at the fire but if it is not getting there it is a wasted effort. Many times we follow standards of line placement that embrace interior attack; when we move to defensive operations, hoseline placement considerations change. We must place stream reach high on our list of priorities to keep us outside the collapse zone. Proper stream placement helps to prevent many things including collapse, due to reduced burn time and water/absorption.
Fires don’t exist in a vacuum; most times they leave behind a debris field for us to examine. If you are not standing on top of or amongst a pile of burned out rubb, then you may still have more work to do. An even bigger problem is when we think we have extinguished the fire and we have not. I once had this happen to me. Just as I reported “all visible fire knocked down” I knew I had spoken too soon. The IC quickly countered with “What about the fire blowing out the window into the shaft”? I replied “I haven’t gotten to the invisible fire yet!”
We must make sure that we also understand volume. The volume of space contained within the fire compartment and the need for effective hoseline selection and a heightened awareness for usage. Compartment height is often a dimension that gets little consideration for its relationship to dramatic fire growth, and potential fireground emergencies. Water does a great job of extinguishment; it is up to us to know the correct amount to bring to the battle, to reinforce the battle and to win the battle. Redundancy and independence are the two foundational blocks of water supply that increase tactical safety on any fireground.
Next Tactical Safety – SOP’s – Standard Operating Positions
Topics: Training and Development | No Comments »