STRUCTURE DEFENSE

Captain Tracy Connelly

Division Supervisor - Great Basin Team 4

FORWARD

The following presentation is just a general overview and refresher of Structure Defense. It follows and uses information from Firescope, Cal Fire, USSF, 2018 NWCG IRPG and East Fork’s own Concepts of Operations Plan

Some information is from real life cases of things that work well and things that can be improved on

Concept of Operations http://eastforkfire.org/AdminEF/Documents/Operations/2019%20Wildland%20Fire%20Concept%20of%20Operations.pdf

Near Miss and Fallen Firefighters to

Remember – Structure Defense CEDAR FIRE 2003

Engineer - Steve Rucker

https://www.wildfirelessons.net/orphans/viewincident?DocumentKey=bbbcc306-0c1f-4963-84bb-e2dfb54188d2

ESPERANZA FIRE 2006

Captain - Mark Loutzenhiser

Fire Engine Operator - Jess "Gus" McLean,

Assistant Fire Engine Operator - Jason McKay

Firefighter - Pablo Cerda

Firefighter - Daniel Hoover/Najera

https://www.wildfirelessons.net/orphans/viewincident?DocumentKey=97859081-944b-473d-a5d4-6e5350e5ca74

Multiple near misses – Calabasas

https://www.wildfirelessons.net/orphans/viewincident?DocumentKey=8cfa6846-9772-457f-a7de-eb86c3cd569a

OBJECTIVES

Overview Structure “Defense”

Review Terminology

Review LCES

Triage Considerations

Review Triage Categories

Review Tactical Categories

Safety Considerations

WUI Watchouts

Engine Considerations

Other Considerations

STRUCTURE DEFENSE DEFINITION

Actions taken in advance of a fire reaching

Structures or other improvements (Values) are

intended to safely prevent the fire from damaging or

destroying these Values at Risk. Structure Defense

involves the use of standard Wildland Fire

suppression tactics and control methods; including

the use of standard equipment, fire control lines,

and the extinguishing of spot fires near or on the

Structures (Values) when safe and practical

TERMINOLOGY LCES

Temporary Refuge Area (TRA)

Escape Route

Safety Zones (SZ)

Situational Awareness (S.A.)

Management Action Point/Trigger Point

Fire Behavior

Deployment Zone

Structure Defense Catagories

Structure Defense Tactics

LCES Lookout(s)

Experienced, competent, trusted

Enough lookouts at good vantage

points

Knowledge of crew locations

Knowledge of escape and safety

locations

Knowledge of trigger points

Map, weather kit, watch, IAP

Communication(s)

Radio frequencies confirmed

Backup procedures and check-in

times established

Provide updates on any situation

change

Sound alarm early, not late

Escape Route(s)

More than one escape route

Avoid steep uphill escape routes

Scouted for loose soils, rocks, vegetation

Timed considering slowest person, fatigue, and temperature factors

Marked for day or night

Evaluate escape time vs. rate of spread

Vehicles parked for escape

Safety Zone(s)

Survivable without a fire shelter

Back into clean burn

Natural features (rock areas, water, meadows)

Constructed sites (clear-cuts, roads, helispots)

Scouted for size and hazards

Upslope? Downwind? Heavy Fuels? Each means more heat impact meaning larger safety zone.

LCES Who is responsible for LCES briefing?

Who is assigned as the lookout?

What is our primary tactical channel in our district for wildland fires?

Which member of the crew is the escape route based on?

How do we mark an escape route?

How big should your safety zone be?

A safety zone should be large enough so that the distance between the Firefighters and flames is at least four X’s the maximum flame height.

SAFETY ZONE Area in acres is calculated to

allow for distance separation on all sides for a 3-person engine crew (1 acre is approximately the size of a football field, or 208 feet by 208 feet). Calculations are based on radiant heat only and do not account for convective heat from wind and/or terrain influences. Since calculations assume no wind and no slope, safety zones downwind or upslope from the fire will require larger separation distances

Flame Length:

Is the distance measured from the average flame tip to the middle of the

flaming zone at the base of the fire. It is measured on a slant when the

flames are tilted due to effects of wind and slope. Flame length is an

indicator of fireline intensity.

Flame Height:

Is the average height of flames as measured vertically, up and down. It may

be less than flame length if the flames are angled in the horizontal direction,

backward or forward

SITUATIONAL AWARNESS

An on-going process of gathering information by

observation and by communication with others. This

information is integrated to create an individual's

perception of a given situation.

What are some examples of attention traps while on the

fireline? How can we mitigate these?

How does group interaction and communication help you

to think critically about the situation you are faced with?

How can you participate in the group sensemaking

process?

How can you be ready to adapt your plan when faced

with a changing situation?

TEMPORARY REFUGE AREA

Temporary Refuge Area (TRA) – Is a preplanned area

where Firefighters can immediately take refuge for

temporary shelter and short-term relief without

using a fire shelter in the event that emergency

egress to an established Safety Zone is

compromised.

Examples: lee side of structure, inside of structure,

large lawn or parking area, cab of apparatus

SITUATIONAL AWARNESS

HUMAN FACTORS• Low Experience Level with Local Factors

• Unfamiliar with the area or the

organizational structure.

• Distraction from Primary Task

• Radio traffic

• Conflict

• Previous errors

• Collateral duties

• Incident within an incident

• Fatigue

• Carbon monoxide

• Dehydration

• Heat stress

• Poor fitness level can reduce resistance to

fatigue

• 24 hours awake affects your decision

making capability like .10 blood alcohol

content

Stress Reactions

Communication deteriorates or grows tense

Habitual or repetitive behavior

Target fixation – Locking into a course of action; whether it makes sense or not, just try harder

Action tunneling – Focusing on small tasks, but ignoring the big picture

Escalation of commitment – Accepting increased risk as completion of task gets near

Hazardous Attitudes

Invulnerable – That can’t happen to us

Anti-authority – Disregard of the team effort

Impulsive – Do something even if it’s wrong

Macho – Trying to impress or prove something

Complacent – Just another routine fire

Resigned – We can’t make a difference

Group Think – Afraid to speak up or disagree

MANAGEMENT ACTION POINTS

TRIGGER POINTS

Management Action Points (MAPs): Geographic

points on the ground or specific points in time where

an escalation of management actions, or an

alternative management action, is warranted. These

points are defined, and the management actions to

be taken are clearly described, in approved fire

management or land management plans.

TRIAGE CONSIDERATIONS

Structure or Value at risk

Access and egress

Construction type and exterior building material

Defensible Space

Haz-Mat

Water source?

SZ’s, TRA’s and Escape Routes in the area

Fuel Type’s

Fire Behavior both current and predicted at time of impact

Available Resources

Skills, knowledge and abilities of crew

Other values and lives at risk in area – Risk vs. Gain

A structure’s ability to withstand fire – short term or long term

UNDEFENDABLE

Inadequate Defensible Space

No SZ’s, TRA’s or adequate Escape Routes Available

Significant Sustained Fire Runs

Extreme Fire Behavior

Frequent Spotting

25% Involvement or ¼ roof Involvement

Topography location

STRUCTURE TRIAGE CATAGORIES

STRUCTURE DEFENSE TRIAGE CATIGORIES

Not Threatened

Threatened Defendable

Threatened Non-Defendable

NOT THREATENED• SZ’s and TRA’s are present and construction

features and/or defensible space make it unlikelythat the structure will ignite during initial fire front impact

THREATENED DEFENDABLE

• SZ’s and TRA’s are present but construction, lack of defensible space, or other challenges require firefighters to provide structure defense tactics.

TREATENED NON-DEFENDABLE• No SZ’s or TRA’s are present

• Structure has challenges that does not allow firefighters to commit to stay and protect the structure or value

STRUCTURE DEFENSE TACTICS

Primary tactical actions: Check and Go

Prep and Go

Prep and Defend

Secondary Tactical actions: Fire Front Following

Bump and Run

Anchor and Hold

Connect the Dots

Tactical Patrol

CHECK and GO

Rapid Evaluation

Defendable or not Check for Occupants Extreme Fire Behavior, compressed time,

inadequate defensible space or lack of resources prohibit safe Structure Defense actions

NO TRA’s or SZ available Structure Triage category: Threatened Non-

defendable

STEN/TFLD familiarize with area, map area, assign resources

Stay mobile for rapid withdrawal

Leave area before fire cuts off escape routes

PREP and GO

Some preparation of the structure may be safely

completed prior to resources leaving the area

Structure triage category: Threatened defensible or

threatened-non defensible

NO TRA OR SAFETY ZONES

Leave before escape routes are compromised

PREP and DEFEND

A tactic used when Safety zones, escape routes and

TRA’s are present and adequate time exists to safely

prepare a structure for defense prior to fire front

impact.

Structure triage category: Non Threatened or

Threatened defensible

Remember – Non Threatened homes do not need

an engine protecting them

Prep and Defend

FIRE FRONT FOLLOWING

A defensive tactic utilized as the fire front passes

through an area allowing resources to defend

structures while staying behind the fire front

Typically used under extreme fire conditions when

resources can’t work in front of the fire

Resources engage in perimeter control, extinguish

hot spots and spot fires and search for and assist

victims

Fire Front Following

BUMP and RUN

Resources move ahead of the fire front in the spotting

zone to extinguish spot fires, hot spots and defend

structures

Defensive tactic when fire front impact is imminent

Offensive tactic when resources are steering the fire to

an established end point

May involve direct attack with hand lines and firing

operations.

Bump and Run

ANCHOR and HOLD

A tactic we seldom use

For more of an urban setting (Urban Conflation)

Tactic utilizing control lines and large water streams from

fixed water supplies

Primary mechanism of fire spread is STRUCTURE TO

STRUCTURE in common neighborhoods or commercial

areas

Goal is to defend exposures, stop structure to structure

ignitions, reduce ember production, and extinguish

structure fires

Anchor and Hold

TACTICAL PATROL

On many incidents, 50-80% of structure loss occurs after

the fire front passes and resources move on.

Tactical patrol is used when a threat remains to

structures after fire front passage due to residual

burning, ember cast, and islands of unburned vegetation

Crews MUST thoroughly check areas around structures

and values for any heat or hazards that could cause

further damage and mitigate them

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

Full PPE

Parking

Keep engine running

Keep lights on when driving in smoky conditions

Don’t operate under power lines

Watch clearances

Retardant drops and helicopter bucket work

Stay out of:• Saddles• Chimneys• Chutes• Box canyons• Heavy Fuels

WUI Watch Outs Poor access and egress

Poor roads conditions

Bridge load limits

Wooden siding and Shake roofs

Inadequate Water Supply

Strong Winds

Extreme Fire Behavior

Power lines

Propane tanks and HazMat threat

Natural fuels within 30ft. or closer to structures or values

Structures or values in chimneys, box canyons, narrow canyons, or on steep slopes

Panic during an evacuation

ENGINE CONSIDERATOINS

Engine Captain must do a 360 walk around (whole crew)

This is not for time!!

Recon and deploy only if needed

Back into position when possible

Keep windows rolled up and doors closed

Use the structure or value as a barrier

Always maintain ¼ tank of water

Keep an Engine protection line when possible

Top off tank whenever possible

Throw a ladder whenever possible (homeowners)

CONSIDERATIONS STAY MOBILE!!

Structures and values are just another fuel type

Bump an Run works the best during IA

Simply put, it’s like “Herding” or “Pushing” fire through and/or around Values and moving to the next

If you are going to burn, take small bites to create a buffer between you and the fire front

Good fuels modification and other small things can make a huge difference

Be offensive don’t just sit and wait

Crews work great for numerous options

Dozers are awesome

Helos work well for hot spotting and recon

Fixed wing can buy time

Sprinklers can work wonders for numerous reasons

CONSIDERATIONS

Divisions are responsible for all Values at Risk within the Division even after structure groups/branches are established

Do not engage Structures that are more than a ¼ roof involvement or 25% total involvement

Re-engage as soon as you can when using fire front following, you can get back in the fight sooner than you think

If time allows create you own signage, include number of primary an secondary buildings and hazards

Identify and label access and egress routes

Have we mentioned STAY MOBILE!!