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Despite the constant debate in the fire service
over the best method of fire attack, there are three basic rules that all
sides do agree upon. The first is that there must be adequate water flow
to knock down the fire. Second, the water must hit the seat of the fire.
Finally, fire attack must be properly supported. These support operations
include size-up, command, water supply, deploying the first attack line,
deploying the second attack line, and ventilation. Collectively, these
operations are called the “Keys to Success” and they are often the
difference between success and failure during a fire incident. The purpose
of this article is to begin briefly introducing each of these “Keys to
Success” and then provide some tips on how to accomplish them
successfully.
Size-Up
The first operation to be
performed on the fire ground is size-up and should be initiated by the
first firefighter on scene. Size-up is the systematic and continuous
evaluation of an incident to obtain the necessary information to ensure a
safe and successful conclusion. Essential components of size-up include
the walk-around, accounting for utilities, and determining incident
priorities.
1.
Perform a walk around – All six sides of the structure
should be evaluated during the walk around. The six sides include all four
sides, the basement, and the attic. The completed walk around will allow
firefighters to locate the fire and develop a complete picture of the
incident. If the structure is too large to walk around, this step should
then become a drive around.
2.
Account for all utilities – The most common utilities
include electrical power, gas supply, heating oil, and water. It is
essential for the safety of firefighters that utilities be disconnected
and accounted for.
3.
Determine incident priorities – A helpful tool for
organizing the information gained in size-up is RECEO. It is described
below.
a.
R – Rescue –Are there people trapped inside? What
dangers exist to firefighters? At all times, the highest priority.
b.
E – Exposures – What other structures are threatened
by the fire?
c.
C – Confinement – Where is the fire at and where is
going in the involved structure?
d.
E – Extinguishment – What will be necessary to knock
down the fire?
e.
O - Overhaul -
What resources will be needed to completely resolve this incident?
4.
It normally only takes one firefighter to perform
size-up. This firefighter will commonly be the incident commander.
Command
Command should be implemented on every incident. Even if an officer
is not on scene someone must take the responsibility to organize and
command the incident. Command is the centerpiece for the entire incident
and every operation hinges around the incident commander. The
responsibilities of command are endless and beyond the scope of this
article. There are, however, a number of important considerations for
command during the initial stages of the incident.
- Give an initial report – The initial report
sets the tone for all additional responding personnel. The first
firefighter on scene should give an indication of what conditions are
present and as soon as command is established, the report should be
expanded with additional information. Based on the situation, the
following information should be considered.
- Size-up information
- Who is in command
- What additional resources are needed
- What activities should be performed by next
arriving personnel
- Request additional resources – Any additional
resources that are needed should be requested immediately during the
incident. Resources include additional personnel, equipment, water
supplies, and any needed agencies. The critical thing to remember here
is that it is better to overestimate than it is to underestimate the
resources that will be needed.
- Develop a strategy and then get to work! –
Use size-up information and incident priorities to determine what
actions are safe and necessary and then use the resources that are
available to begin meeting these needs.
- As with size-up, it will normally only take one
firefighter to establish command. As noted above, this may very
well be the same firefighter who performed size-up. If the incident
escalates and incident command is expanded, then so must the number of
firefighters assigned to command functions.
Water Supply
The importance of establishing a good water supply
cannot be overemphasized. Water supply is essential for the success of
almost all fire ground operations and should be a top priority of all
firefighters. Some guidelines for water supply are given below.
- Remember to ACE every water supply operation.
- A – Adequate: There should be an adequate
amount of water to knock down and fully extinguish the fire.
- C – Continuous: The water supply
should be reliable and not interrupted during the fire. When water
supplies are depleted before the fire is controlled, the incident
quickly deteriorates.
- E – Efficient: The water supply
operation should be set-up so that it proceeds smoothly and
efficiently. This will increase the water available and provide a
greater level of safety to firefighters.
- Choose the correct type of water supply operation
to implement. There are four basic types of water supply
operations. These are described below:
- Booster Tank – Just operate off of the
booster tank. This is only suitable for small fires. If a fire is
serious enough to stretch attack lines and enter a burning
structure, then it is serious enough to establish a better water
supply.
- Shuttle Operations – Tankers are used to
bring water to the scene and supply attack units. This operation
should be set-up to provide good dump and fill sites. Remember!
Only tankers that are moving are increasing the GPM available to the
incident.
- Supply Line Operations – This is the best
type of water supply when it is an option. Once the line is deployed
and charged there is a constant source of water. A supply line is
vastly superior to a tanker shuttle due to the lack of moving
tankers and the decrease in the number of personnel needed for water
supply. The benefits to a supply line far outweigh the disadvantage
of having to repack supply hose. It is very difficult for a water
shuttle to ever deliver more water than a supply line.
Unfortunately, in rural areas, a supply line is not commonly a
possibility.
- Relay Operation – With increasing flows and
distances, a supply line may require additional pumpers in line to
provide the necessary water supply. A relay is still safer than a
shuttle and generally requires fewer resources.
- In rural water supply consider the initial reserve
versus the GPM available from tankers. In rural water supply
operations, firefighters will start with an initial reserve of water
that is equal to the water carried in the tanks of arriving apparatus.
Once this initial reserve is exhausted, the only water available is
what shuttling tankers deliver. On average, a 1000-gallon tanker will
provide 50 GPM and a 2000-gallon tanker will provide 100 GPM. If the
initial reserve does not reduce the fire down to a level that the
tankers can supply, the fire will not be extinguished. This is why
that even in a rural setting, firefighters must hit the seat of the
fire with a high flow of water to achieve rapid knockdown. If the fire
escapes the initial reserve, the situation will only grow more
difficult to control. Count your tankers! Know what they will
supply and call for any additional help immediately!
- Apparatus drivers will normally start water supply.
As engines and tankers arrive, their drivers need to help make
connections and perform needed tasks. If a shuttle is going to be
implemented, a top priority should be the early deployment of a drop
tank. History has proven, if the drop tank is not set-up early, it is
never set-up in time.
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