Firefighting 101                                                         by:  Dan Howell

Initial Operations - Putting It Together

When a fire incident occurs, lives and property are immediately endangered. For this reason, swift, professional operations are necessary by the responding fire units and personnel. The initial operations that must be performed include size-up, strategic and tactical decisions, establishment of water supply and preparation for entry and fire attack.  Not until these early operations are initiated, will the necessary operations of rescue, ventilation and fire attack be consistently successful. Furthermore, it must be understood by all firefighters, that despite the common affliction of limited personnel, these operations still demand a high priority, for the incident will not limit itself to the resources responding. Fortunately, with training, experience, discipline and proper preparation, even the limited resources initially available, can successfully place these operations in motion.

For any fire ground operations to be successful, they must be performed by properly prepared firefighters. This preparation includes training, experience and the appropriate protective gear. All firefighters must make it a priority to attend departmental training as well as any other training opportunities available. Firefighters must keep their training up to date and avoid the complacency that often occurs when basic training is over. Also, firefighters must play an active role in their department and respond whenever possible. This will serve to support the department and provide firefighters with the necessary experience to effectively serve the community. Firefighter training should be well rounded, enabling all firefighters to fill any position as necessary. Additionally, it is mandatory for the firefighters’ department to provide all needed turnout gear as well as focus and direction to firefighters with SOP’s based on departmental objectives. The importance of these preparations is heightened when limited personnel are available. By maintaining a high state of readiness, firefighters will expand their ability to face the challenges of a fire incident, even when facing overwhelming odds. 

Once firefighters are fully prepared, they will be ready to begin the important operations that are necessary to resolve a fire incident. The first of these operations is size-up. Size-up is the systematic and continuous evaluation of an incident that is used by responding units to gather the information necessary for the incident commander to make the correct fire ground decisions. It is, therefore, critical for size-up to be the first operation initiated during the incident. This initial size-up includes a complete walk-around, or the equivalent, of the entire structure. During this walk-around, all four sides, the basement and attic of the structure must be evaluated. The information gathered should be organized to incident priorities, which are life safety, incident stabilization and property conservation. Above all else, firefighter safety should be given first consideration throughout the incident.

The initial size-up and walk-around can usually be accomplished by a single firefighter and should be the primary task of the first firefighter to arrive. If this firefighter is the incident commander, then the necessary information will be available for early decision-making. Otherwise, the firefighter can quickly relay the information to other firefighters as they arrive. It will also be the responsibility of this firefighter to account for any utilities, such as electricity and gas. If trained and it is safe to do so, this firefighter should be prepared to disconnect power and shutoff any other utilities as necessary. As can be seen this firefighter will play a crucial role during the incident because the information gathered may very well be the difference between the life and death of firefighters and occupants. To accomplish the initial size-up requires discipline and should be stressed as a top priority in departmental training. Otherwise, size-up may be neglected and the opportunities for disaster will be vastly increased.

When the initial size-up is complete, there should be enough information for the incident commander to decide on the best course of action to meet incident priorities. This will only occur, however, if someone has assumed command. It is therefore imperative that command be established immediately with the arrival of the first units on scene. Even if a fire officer is not available, someone must take the responsibility of directing the scene until higher-ranking personnel arrive. This may be the same firefighter that performs the initial size-up. This firefighter should have the beginning information needed to take command of the incident.

Once command is established and the initial size-up is completed, the incident commander should be prepared to make the necessary decisions involving strategy and tactics, and any additional resources needed. Strategy refers to what will be done and tactics represent how the strategy will be accomplished. In addition, the strategy and tactics implemented will determine the mode of operation of the incident. The incident could be offensive, defensive, or in a state of transition. It is also important that any additional resources needed are requested in the early stages of the incident. These resources include additional departments, personnel, and utility control, such as gas and electric companies.

It is important that the strategy and tactics implemented, along with any decisions made, be safe, focused, and practical. All three can be ensured with effective planning, departmental training and experience. It is important that the officers of the department play an active role in planning for the incidents that are likely to occur in the community. Officers should also set the standard by participating in training opportunities with firefighters. In this way, firefighters will know ahead of time what strategy and tactics are likely to be selected for any incident, vastly improving the execution and professionalism of all operations performed.

With size-up completed, and command organized, the incident commander will be prepared to establish water supply. For any fire incident to be successful, an effective water supply must exist. An effective water supply will only exist if it is adequate, continuous, and efficient. To be adequate the water supply must be capable of supplying an amount of water that can achieve knockdown. It is important to remember that when selecting the gpm for initial attack, that properly applied high flows are more effective than low flows in stopping a rapidly developing fire. Low flow attacks versus large fires will only result in a fire that continues to grow while water supplies are depleted. Next, to be continuous, the water supply must be based on a hydrant lay, or more commonly, a good water shuttle. Efficiency will only be possible through departmental training and planning. Training should stress the options that the department possesses to supply water and on ways to improve the water supply operation. Planning is important in water supply evaluations and apparatus purchases. The department should consider options on all new apparatus to improve their ability to receive and deliver water.

The effective water supply described above is not beyond the abilities of a limited initial response. In such situations, the operators should recognize their responsibility to establish an effective water supply. The first unit to arrive should be positioned so that water can easily be delivered to the pump. Shuttling units should continue this process of proactive water supply by finding ways to overcome any obstacles at the fill site or fire ground that hinder their ability to quickly supply water to the attack pumper. If a supply line is to be used, later arriving units must not block the hydrant or attack pumper. Finally, the incident commander should not hesitate to request the additional water needed and appoint a water supply officer as soon as personnel allows. If these guidelines are followed, first arriving units will set the foundation for a water supply, that when fully prepared, will meet the demands of the incident.

When fire conditions are appropriate, fire ground operations will enter the interior of the structure. When this occurs it is essential that firefighters be properly prepared. This preparation includes everything discussed so far such as size-up, organized command, and water supply. In addition, the firefighters should have full protective gear, SCBA, hoseline, tools, radio and the appropriate amount of back-up, who are fully prepared themselves. In order for a limited number of firefighters to achieve all of these goals they must work together, each accomplishing a different task. One firefighter can stretch the first hoseline. It is that firefighter’s obligation to make sure that line is ready for entry. The line must be free of kinks, air, and have the proper nozzle setting with adequate pressure to achieve the desired flow. A second firefighter will then be responsible to get the needed tools to the door and make sure that size-up is complete. So with the minimum of two firefighters needed for entry, the first hoseline will be properly prepared.

Although the line may be ready for entry, the proper backup must be made available. Remember! Unless there is a rescue situation, two in/ two out is the law! Beyond this, providing a backup crew is the least that firefighters should do to protect themselves. The crew standing by outside could be the difference between life and death for firefighters operating on the interior of the structure. For these reasons, it is critical that backup crews are given serious consideration and the necessary personnel summoned to the incident as early as possible.

In conclusion, it has not been the intent of this article to advocate limited personnel on the fire scene. The goal has instead been to stress how a limited number of personnel can still initiate the beginning operations necessary for a fire incident. These operations require departmental planning, training, focus and leadership. Operations that when completed, allow for effective rescue, fire attack, and ventilation, culminating in the successful conclusion to the incident.