© 2004 montgomery county fire rescue training academyotop officers training officers strategy &...

© 2004 Montgomery County Fire Rescue Training Academy OTOP

Officers Training Officers

Strategy & Tactics

Battalion Chiefs Paul McNeel & John Tippett


Student Performance Objectives

Today’s presentation will provide the attendee with an introduction to several concepts that should enhance emergency scene performance on the fireground.


Overview

• Command Sequence• Strategy• Tactics• Tasks• Reading Smoke• Handling the

MAYDAY Photo by Bob Bartosz


MCFRS Philosophy

We will risk a life to save a life;

we will use considerable caution

to protect savable property;

we will not risk a life to save what is already

lost.


Command Sequence

Step by step decision making process of incident management

• Performing size – up– (The Thinking Phase)

• Determining strategy & selecting tactics– (The Planning Phase)

• Implementing the action plan– (The Action Phase)


Strategy

Loosely defined as “what has to be done to solve the problem”

»Broad Goals

»Overall plan to control the operation


Three Modes

Offensive

Defensive

Transitional


Offensive – coordinated, aggressive interior attack

• Adequate resources

• Predict benefits worth risks

• Necessary support functions


Defensive – fight the fire with minimum risk

• Risk too great for benefit

• Insufficient resources• Maximize safety• Stay out of collapse

zone• No entry made

• Contain fire in area of present involvement

• Protect exposures• Loss of building

probable• Master stream

operation


Transitional - switching from one operational mode to the other

Defensive to Offensive

– No entry made until additional resources arrive

– Begin interior attack

Offensive to Defensive

– Confine fire until rescue can be completed

– Protect exposuresPhoto by Ed Ruping


National Fire Academy Incident Priorities

PRIORITY

Life Safety

Incident Stabilization

Property Conservation

BENCHMARK

All Clear

Under Control

Loss Stopped


Lloyd Layman’s Strategies

R-E-C-E-O

-VS-

Rescue

Exposures

Confinement

Extinguishment

Overhaul

Ventilation-Salvage Photo by Carlos Alfaro


Tactics

The execution of the Strategic Plan

Tactics deals specifically with selecting, placing, and operating:

PERSONNEL, HOSELINES, LADDERS

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT


Engine Company Tactics

• NOZZLE SELECTION

• HANDLINE SELECTION

• HANDLINE PLACEMENT

• TACTICAL HOSE MANAGEMENT Photo by Carlos Alfaro


Principal role of the engine company is

to:

• Locate,• Confine, and • Extinguish the

fire. Photo by Carlos Alfaro


Select the appropriate nozzle and handline based on:

Required fire flow (L x W/3)

Staffing

Attack Mode (Offensive, Defensive, Transitional)


Handline Selection

• 1 3/4” minimum for interior fire attack.

• Rules of thumb:– Up to three rooms involved, 1 3/4”.– Three or more rooms involved, 2” or larger.– Commercial occupancy - 2” or larger.– High rise, 1 3/4” w/solid stream or 2” +.


Handline Placement

Handlines are placed to accomplish one of three goals:

Protect occupants

Protect means of egress

Attack and extinguish fire, including extension


3-Line Concept

• 1st line – Attack

• 2nd line – Stand by/Back up

• 3rd line – Back up/Extension Prevention


Tactical Hose Management

• Fully stretch drag loads before flaking shoulder loads.

• Un-needed hose should not be stretched into a building.

• Additional hose should be flaked outside of the entrance.


• Support personnel (EMS crews, truck company/rescue squad personnel) should assist with hose stretch.

• Add one additional length for each flight of stairs. Ensure hose wraps around banister and doesn’t get wedged in a narrow well.


• For open well stairs, keep line in well. Secure line to rail when attack advance begins. Open well stretch requires only one length for every five stories of height.

• Apply the rule of thumb to determine how much hose should be stretched into occupancy.


Rule of Thumb

Length + Width of Building + one length for each floor above

or below grade

EXAMPLE

Fire on the 1st Floor

50’

1

5

0’

150 + 50 = 200’


Special Service Tactics

• Ladders• Overhaul• Ventilation• Entry• Rescue• Salvage• Utilities

Photo by Carlos Alfaro


Ladders & Ventilation

“Prepare” the building for entry by engine

company and search teams.


Ladder Selection & Placement

Quick Select Method

Choose the ladder that has the same first digit

as the floor you are trying to reach.

(Example: Need to reach a 2nd story window, choose a 24 or 28’ ladder. Need to reach the roof of a 3 story building, choose a 35’ ladder.)



Ventilation

Vent for two reasons:

fire

life

(Battalion Chief John Norman, FDNY)


Venting for life begins as soon as a life hazard is realized.

May intensify the fire.

Venting for fire is delayed until attack teams and resources are in place.


Search

Move rapidly

Close interior doors

Stay in contact with walls

Search with a partner

Use tools and lights

• Search without a hoseline ONLY when there is reasonable certainty that a victim is inside and conditions suggest survivability is likely.



Do not compromise the protective “membrane” of the compartment that

surrounds you while you are conducting search operations.


Requires a commitment of resources to areas most likely to contain victims.a. bedrooms

b. interior travel routes

(hallways & stairs)

c. outside the structure


Narrowing the Search

• Where were victims were last seen?

• Cries for help heard?

• Is the structure

occupied or not?

Photo by Morningside VFD


Vent-Enter-Search (VES)

Advantage - search personnel enter structure from safe atmosphere (outside), search small areas (sometimes single rooms), then exit.

Disadvantage - often conducted ahead of hoseline on “fire” side of structure. If PPV goes in service, entry point can become exhaust port for PPV.


Must be coordinated with Incident Commander.

VES should only be used when

probability of finding victim is high!


Tasks

Labor intensive activities that work to satisfy either:

Layman’s “RECEO(SV)” or NFA’s “LIPs”

(Strategies)


Specific activities that firefighters engage in to satisfy tactics


• Advancing handlines

• Throwing ladders

• Operating nozzles

• Operating pumps

• Using tools and

appliances


Reading Smoke

TEMPE, ARIZONA

PROGRAM


Handling the MAYDAY!

Standardized Survival Actions

of a Lost/Disoriented

Firefighter


1. STAY CALM! Conserve your air supply.2. Stay with your partner (or crew).3. Initiate a “MAYDAY”

• U – Unit

• C – Conditions

• A – Actions

• N – Needs


4. Activate PASS

5. Monitor radio/Update • Turn off PASS to communicate!• Reactivate PASS after!

6. Use flashlight to signal

7. Use tools or debris to alert rescuers


8. Attempt to locate an exit/area of refuge• Move toward visible light• Listen for audible sounds• Search walls for windows/doors• Search for a hoseline (read couplings)• Attempt to locate a lifeline


9. Go down steps unless in a basement or sub-floor.

10. Assume defensive posture• Lie on your right side• Protect facepiece with gloved hands


Handling the MAYDAY!

Standardized Actions of a Rapid

Intervention Company in Locating

and Removing a Lost/Disoriented

Firefighter


Pre-plan structure and fire conditions upon arrival

– Prolonged burn time/heavy fire conditions– Smoke/water showing through walls– Inadequate ventilation (potential for rapid

fire development)– Sagging floors, bulging walls, localized

interior collapse– 2 or more floors involved– Unprotected steel


Fireground Preparations

1. Proactive ladders

2. *Four-side scene lighting/Entry point lighting

3. Back-up/Safety Lines

4. Proactive security bar removal


Response to the MAYDAY

1. Monitor Radio communications

2. RIC is not rapid (Phoenix/Seattle trials)

3. Consider personal limitations• “Smurfs” rescuing “Gullivers”• Don’t become a victim yourself!


4. Personnel Discipline• Those closest may assist• Those not closest need to get out of the way!• Fire Attack must continue

5. Look for signals• Activated PASS Alarm• flashlight beams• banging on walls and floors• dropped helmet


6. *Check exterior walls and corners*

7. RIC Team Concept• “AWARE”

• Air

• Water

• A Radio

• Extrication plan


Three or more teams

• RIC #1 – Recon & Search• Locate downed/lost member

• Establish traceable means of access to victim

• Determine additional needs

• RIC #2 – Stabilization/Removal• Provide equipment & personnel requested

• Begin extrication process


• RIC #3 – Support Team– Provide external

support

– Provide personnel to support

Photo by Morningside VFD


The successful rescue of a downed firefighter is dependent upon a well-

defined rescue action plan that is continually updated.

Photo by Ed Ruping


Wrap Up

• Be Vigilant, Stay Focused (BVSF).

• Think before you act.

• Use all of your resources (CRM).

• Don’t Wreck enroute! You are no help if you are not there!

• Seek out other S&T opportunities.

• Conduct a “hotwash” after each incident.


• Think Strategically,

•Act Tactically

This program was developed by the Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Training Academy

© 2004No part may be used or copied without the expressed written

consent of the Training Officer.

© 2004 montgomery county fire rescue training academyotop officers training officers strategy &...

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