Introduction
It is the coordinated effort of multiple fire companies working together that result in a successful fire attack. Every task at a fire is critical to overall success.
Strategy
is the development and implementation of a plan, incorporating specific goals,
House fire statistics
The house fire is the most dangerous and deadly type of fire for both civilians and firefighters.
Annual civilian injuries - 14,000
% of all structure fires - 78%
# of civilian deaths - 2,865
Annual fire loss - $7.4 billion
% of firefighter deaths - 50% (
Communication
Communication is the lifeblood of any emergency operation. Without effective communication, the operation is doomed to failure. Messages received from dispatchers often hold clues to the fire condition. When a life hazard exists, all on-scene operation su
Common Terminology
Common terminology allows firefighters to quickly communicate about the strategy and tactics and to give orders. For National Incident Management System terminology, Division A, Division B, Division C, and Division D are used to define the geographic area
Steps to a successful fire attack
1. Size up (ongoing process of evaluating the situation before arrival, upon arrival, and during the incident.
2. Develop a strategic plan (the incident commander's job).
3. Establish a reliable water supply.
4. Force entry or exit into or out of the stru
Size-up
Size up is the first step in any emergency situation, and is critical for gaining awareness to develop an action plan. The ISFISI's 2013 Position Statement of Fire Dynamics Research states "Size-up must occur at every fire...A tactical plan for that fire
Dispatch time - as a part of size up
Consider the time of the call and where possible victims may be. For example, they are likely sleeping in the bedroom in the middle of the night (599).
On-scene information - as a part of size up
Bystanders, civilians and PD may have valuable information about the fire or occupants. A neighbor may report that the family is out of town. Not all civilian reports are reliable (599).
Location of fire building - as a part of size up
Developments are usually built with the same or similar style. This may help you understand the floor plan of the house (599).
Floor plan - as a part of size up
Knowing the layout of the fire building is one of the most important factors in a successful operation (599).
Construction hazards - as a part of size up
The words "new construction" almost always mean "lightweight" construction. Lightweight construction often has little or no fire resistance. Expect early and catastrophic structural failures that will cause floors to collapse. Pre-fire intelligence and pl
Resources available - as a part of size up
Be aware of other units also responding. Be aware of the staffing on your rig and the assignment once you pull up. Weather can play a part in your size-up. You will do well if you control your anxiety and follow orders (600).
Size-up upon arrival - as a part of size up
Seven size-up points that must be considered to complete your size-up upon arrival:
1. Location of the fire and type of construction
2. Life hazard
3. Fire control
4. Forcing entry
5. Ventilation
6. Stretching considerations
7. Water supply
Size-up begins
Developing a strategic plan
The Chief or first-in officer will determine the overall strategy based on their size-up. Strategy is the overall rescue and fire attack game plan for this call. Strategy is determined by command level officers. Tactics are the supporting tasks necessary
Offensive strategy - as a part of strategic plan
Offensive strategy is used when an aggressive interior search or attack can save lives or property, and some of the following factors are present:
-Lives can be saved by rapid interior search and fire attack operations.
-The building has a limited amount
Defensive strategy - as a part of strategic plan
Defensive strategy is employed when it is determined that some or all of the following factors are present:
-There is no savable human life present; it is not worth risking firefighters' lives for a futile rescue attempt.
-The building is so heavily invol
Defensive/offensive strategy - as a part of strategic plan
Defensive/offensive strategy is used when the firefighter cannot immediately enter the building necause of an extremely heavy fire involvement or other hazards prevent you from getting close enough for an offensive attack. Used when the following factors
Offensive/defensive strategy - as a part of strategic plan
Offensive/defensive strategy is used when initial interior fire attack is used then requires teams to exit due to the following reasons:
-Could be the intention of the IC. Mount an interior attack until a search can be completed, then back out due to the
Establishing a reliable water supply
There's one inescapable truth in the fire service - to extinguish the fire, you must apply more gallons per minute to overcome the total heat the fire is producing to ensure extinguishment. One of the first priorities is to establish a reliable water supp
Forcible entry
Firefighters conducting forcible entry are usually the first team to the building because they only have hand tools with them. Common tools include the flat-head axe, Halligan, and/or a hydraulic door opener. The occupancy and characteristics of the respo
Conduct search and rescue operations
The most important operation on the fireground is search and rescue. Saving the occupants of the building is always our first priority. When a search and rescue operations is in progress, all operations must support the search and rescue. For example, the
Search and rescue tools - as a part of search and rescue
PPE, SCBA, a portable radio and a hand light are critically important when conducting search and rescue. A thermal imaging camera (TIC) will make your search much more rapid, effective and safer for you and your crew. Handtools should be selected based on
The search and rescue plan - as a part of search and rescue
A standard search and rescue plan for a single-family dwelling uses the two-team approach. One team enters the front door and the second team attempts to enter nearest the victim. The preferred means of removal (taught by FDNY) is to remove the victims by
Fire attack
Fire attack is the heart of what we do. Officers will make decisions, such as: size of hoseline, positioning of hoseline, and coordinating the hoseline attack with ventilation operations. Once hoseline is in place, chief officer will direct the ventilatio
ADULTS
FDNY has developed the acronym ADULTS, and can be remembered with the phrase "ADULTS use big hose".
A
Advanced fire on arrival. Any fire that's surpassed the extinguishment power of your standard 1 3/4" line calls for a larger attack line. Two ineffective
Stretching
Stretching positions include the officer, the nozzle operator, the backup position, and the door position. Each position is critical for a successful hose stretch (609).
Officer duties in the stretch
The engine company officer is responsible for getting water on the fire as quickly as possible. There are subtasks that ensure water is put on the fire as soon as possible:
1. Size up the fire (size and number of lines)
2. Clearly order changes from the S
Nozzle operator duties in the stretch
Nozzle operator duties:
1. Carry the nozzle and the first 50' of hoseline
2. Work under command of the officer
3. Know department SOPs
4. Get information from the officer
5. Stop and wait for the backup position to shoulder the assigned hose
6. Bleed air
Backup position's duties in the stretch
1. Second firefighter in stretch
2. Carry second 50' of line and drop it at appropriate time and place
3. Communicate with nozzle operator
4. Relieve the nozzle reaction for nozzle operator during the advance
5. Watch the nozzle operator's body and head p
Door position duties in the stretch
The door position is the third firefighter in the stretch. Door position is responsible for ensuring the hose is clear of the preconnect bed, removing kinks, and feeding hose to the nozzle operator and the backup firefighter. The door position needs to be
Advancing charged hoseline - officer's duties
The officer will be the eyes and ears for the nozzle operator. The steam blocks the view of the nozzle operator so the officer can get a better view. Officer monitors level of fatigue, and requests additional firefighters, hose, companies if necessary (61
Advancing charged hoseline - nozzle operator's duties
There's a variety of ways to position yourself when you advance. Fatigue, speed of fire control, and other conditions determine your speed of advance and subsequent positions while operating or backing up the nozzle operator. Keep nozzle in front at about
Advancing charged hoseline - door position's duties
Door position remains at the door during advance and chases kinks (616-617).
The well hose stretch
Commonly used in older apartment buildings. Can be used when you encounter a well hole in the stairwell. The well hole is the space between the stairs and the edge of landing of the public hall in a multiple dwelling. Using the well hole will reduce the n
Standpipe stretch
A standpipe system is a fixed set of water supply piping with hose valves that's typically installed in high-rise and large area buildings. A Fire Department Connection (FDC), also known as a Siamese, is located at the street level for connection. The hoo
Methods of aggressive interior fire attack
There's four methods of structural or aggressive interior fire attack: combination, indirect, direct, and modified direct. A few basic factors to consider:
-Is the building safe to enter?
-Are there salvageable human lives inside the building?
-Is there a
Modified direct method of attack
The modified direct method of fire attack is the most common type of attack used. Used when the fire has gone through the flasover phase or extended beyond one room to several rooms or fire areas, heavy smoke has obscured vicibility, and/or conditions are
Nozzle choice for modified direct attack
The most proven and safest stream for interior attack is a solid stream from a smoothbore nozzle or a combination nozzle set to a straight stream pattern from a fog nozzle. A straight stream provides the most fire-killing power and the least danger proven
Fog streams: combination and indirect attacks
Fog stream tests concluded air volumes of 2,000 cfm from 1 3/4" fog nozzles, moving air from as high as 6,000-10,000 cfm. 30�-60� fog pattern from a combo nozzle moves enough air to disrupt the thermal balance. Liquid water expands into steam at an expans
Ventilate the fire building
Ventilation is described as the key to success for any aggressive interior attack fire operation. There's four types of ventilation: vertical, horizontal, positive pressure, and hydraulic ventilation (623).
Horizontal ventilation
Horizontal ventilation is more efficient when doors and windows are opened opposite the advancing hoseline (623).
Vertical ventilation
If the fire has penetrated the attic space, opening the roof will allow the fire to escape rather than mushrooming and spreading horizontally inside the attic. Do not place ladders over windows in case fire comes out of the windows it can block that means
Positive pressure ventilation
Positive pressure venilation (PPV) is the use of large fans (30,000 cpm) positioned outside the building to create an increased or positive pressure inside the building. For years firefighters used smoke ejectors to create a suction or negative pressure f
Protecting exposures
Confine, then extinguish is the overall strategy to limit fire spread. Protecting exposures is the first step in confining and limiting the spread of fire and ultimately extinguishing the fire.
Exterior exposures
are a building that, left unprotected, wil
Fire control and overhaul
Once fire is knocked down, allow structure to vent from heat and smoke. A hoseline set to a fog pattern, 4-5' away from the window and directed out, will move heat and smoke out. Same can be done with a solid stream nozzle by using a broken stream. Overha
Pick up and return
Take time to reset equipment for the next alarm. When hose is repacked it's important to remember it's not how it goes back on but how it'll come off.
Tools
Inspect all tools.
After action review (AAR)
Conduct an after action review with your officer befo
True or False:
Firefighter is 1/3 training, 1/3 experience, and 1/3 art and science? True (629).
Random tidbits from the single-family-dwelling Scenarios
Two rooms of fire per hoseline.
-A 500 gal tank gives driver about 2 minutes to hook up the supply line and get a reliable water supply from the hydrant.
-Forward lay - laying a supply line from the hydrant.
-Recommended water flow for an 1 3/4" hose is 1
Garden apartments
Garden apartments are simply a group of single family homes put together both horizontally and vertically. They're dealt with similarly to single family homes. Usually set back off the road or parking lot. Built with lightweight construction. Requires mor
Taxpayers
Taxpayers are buildings with businesses on the first floor and apartments or living space on the upper floors. Typically main-street buildings. Usually built with ordinary construction. Occupants on upper floors can become trapped. Use 2 1/2" hose. Ventil
Strip malls
Strip malls are the modern taxpayers. Contain stores on the first floor. Either ordinary construction or non-combustible construction. Fire control from outside the structure is ideal in case the fire has weakened the steel beams overhead. Stay off the ro
Big box retail
Higher ceilings and undivided. 2 1/2" hose. Sprinkler systems are your best option (640-641).
Office buildings
Location of the fire is important because it's divided up into smaller offices. Use of life lines and large area search procedures may be necessary. There may also be areas of resuce assistance for disabled people, which are called "areas of refuge". Thes
Restaurants
An important factor for restaurant fires is how often the hood ventilation system is cleaned and serviced. Often built with lightweight material with minimal fire protection systems. This is a class of "disposable" buildings that should never be paid for
Vacant buildings
Assume the structure is compromised. Concerns with vacant:
-Elevators and dumb waiters may have been removed. Barrels of hazardous materials could be open inside.
-Are heavy items on a shelf that could fall?
-Were stairs and holes cut in the floor to allo
Exposure protection
Apply water directly on the exposed surface. Water curtains are not as effective as applying water directly on the structure because the water curtain is not dense enough (644-645).
Smell of smoke calls
The most important consideration for these calls is: is there significant fire in the void spaces of the building that's hidden? Food on the stove runs are common with multi-family residential buildings. Electrical appliances or lighting fixtures are freq
Outside fires
One of the most common types of outside fires are dumpster or trash fires. Consider hazardous materials and the toxic fumes they put off. 20 lb propane tanks are often thrown in the trash. Fill the dumpster with water. They often have a drain hole that yo
Junkyard fires
Cars stacked up can fall. Sharp metal, burning plastics, and piles of hot and possibly molten metal dripping down pose risks. Use the reach of the stream so you can stay back and away from the danger (647).
Outside tire fires
Tire fires are very difficult to extinguish. They produce huge quantities of heat and black smoke. These often burn for days. The best way to put them out is to physically separate the unburned tires from the burning tires which is done with heavy equipme
Outbuilding fires
Shed and small storage buildings are also common types of outside fires. May contain products, chemicals and processes that people don't want in their main house or building. Common hazards found in outbuildings include pesticides, pool chemicals, herbici
Groundcover fires
Small brush fires
Often occur along roadways and railroads, sometimes sparked b improperly disposed cigarettes, hot exhaust, and campers. Small brush fires are usually controlled by small hose lines. Key to putting them out is to determine the direction o
Fires in stacked materials
Present two major challenges: water application and collapse hazards. Commonly found in lumberyards, junkyards, recycling plants, and warehouse or storage areas. Water must be put on all six sides, proving to be difficult. Wooden pallets will burn, become
How much does water weigh?
8 lb per gallon (650).
Foam use on stacked material
Class A foam can be used to increase the effectiveness of water on stacked material fires. The foam lowers the surface tension of water and therefore make it more effective. Essentially the water is allowed to penetrate deep in the material instead of bea