Ch 20 - Basic Fire Attack

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