4

Company

Operations

4

Learning Objectives (1 of 7)

• Compare the division-of-labor concept

as used in industry to company-level

deployment.

• Describe structural firefighting functional

assignments.

4

Learning Objectives (2 of 7)

• Enumerate engine and ladder company

fire-ground functions and tasks.

• Analyze tactics for the first-arriving fire

company in relation to life safety.

4

Learning Objectives (3 of 7)

• Apply engine and ladder company tasks

to coordinating and controlling

company-level deployment.

• Explain the importance of company

unity to incident organization and

accountability.

4

Learning Objectives (4 of 7)

• List situations where splitting companies

may be acceptable.

• Evaluate the positive and negative

aspects of pre-assigning tasks, tools,

and fire-ground positions.

4

Learning Objectives (5 of 7)

• Assess proper and improper ventilation

methods in regard to achieving the

operational priorities of life safety,

extinguishment, and property

conservation.

• Given the fire and victim locations,

determine the best vent location.

4

Learning Objectives (6 of 7)

• Describe safe and efficient positioning

of apparatus.

• Apply engine and ladder company tasks

at a structure fire.

4

Learning Objectives (7 of 7)

• Analyze company operations at a

structure fire scenario.

• Develop an incident action plan utilizing

engine and ladder company functional

assignments.

4

Overview (1 of 2)

4

Overview (2 of 2)

• Primary responsibility is to work within

the overall incident action plan.

– Freelancing cannot be tolerated.

– First-in units can go to work quickly using

SOPs.

• Allows IC time to evaluate options while

maintaining control

4

Division of Labor Principle (1 of 3)

• Basis for the Industrial Revolution

• Developing job skills in a concentrated

area allows greater productivity.

• “Jack of all trades, master of none”—

overcome by developing a high level of

expertise in a limited number of tasks

4

Division of Labor Principle (2 of 3)

• Stresses need for pre-assigning duties

– Fire fighters should be cross-trained.

– Ensures that everyone is familiar with what

will be expected of them

4

Division of Labor Principle (3 of 3)

• Divides tasks into functional areas:

– Command responsibilities

– Engine company tasks

– Truck company tasks

– Emergency medical services (EMS)

– Special operations

– Support services

4

Engine Company Operations

• Performing rescue operations

• Establishing a water supply

• Advancing and operating hose lines

4

Engine Company Tasks (1 of 4)

• Usually first to arrive

– First-in officer initiates the attack.

– Provides a means of moving water from a

water supply to the fire

• Life safety is the first priority.

– Victims and fire fighters

4

Engine Company Tasks (2 of 4)

• Life safety objectives

– Place attack lines in position

– Provide safe evacuation routes

• Conduct a cursory search

– Occupants may only need direction and

guidance.

4

Engine Company Tasks (3 of 4)

• Position hose lines or remove

occupants?

– Difficult decision based on:

• Immediate danger to the occupants

• Available staffing and resources

• Time before additional resources arrive

• Extent of fire involvement

• Equipment available to perform rescue

4

Engine Company Tasks (4 of 4)

• Life safety is top priority.

• IAP directs resources towards

evacuation of endangered occupants.

4

Truck Company Operations

• Conduct primary search

• Rescue trapped victims

• Ventilate

• Force entry

• Ladder the building

• Check for fire extension

• Access concealed spaces

4

Truck Company Tasks (1 of 3)

• “Ladder company” = “truck company”

• Aerial device not necessary at every fire

or in every department

– Still necessary to have truck company

functions assigned

4

Truck Company Tasks (2 of 3)

• Responsible for a wide variety of tasks

– Staffing is crucial.

• Activities are limited during defensive

attacks.

– Elevated master streams

4

Truck Company Tasks (3 of 3)

• Low-staffing situations

– May need to assist engine company

• Not the most effective use of personnel

4

Rescue

• Indirect activity for engine companies

– Hose lines between victims and the fire

• Direct activity for truck companies

– Ventilate

– Primary search, remove victims

– Ladder building

4

Control and Coordination (1 of 3)

• IC coordinates all activities.

• Truck companies work in areas above

the fire.

• Engine company works at controlling

the fire.

4

Control and Coordination (2 of 3)

• If the fire is not controlled, truck

companies need to be notified to

evacuate.

– Retreat protected by engine company

4

Control and Coordination (3 of 3)

4

Safety and Control

• Operating units must work as groups.

– First-in truck company is exception to the

rule

• Permissible to split into separate crews

4

Company Unity (1 of 2)

• It is not freelancing when a crew is split

into separate teams.

– Each crew should have a team leader.

• Other exceptions

– Inside/outside crew

– Must comply with two-in/two-out rules

4

Company Unity (2 of 2)

• Operator may remain at apparatus.

• Company should remain together

whenever possible.

• Company unity facilitates accountability.

– Officer can verify safety of crew.

4

Quint/Quad Companies

• Multi-function apparatus

– Engine and truck company operations

– Staffing may or may not be sufficient.

• Dictates tasks able to be performed

• Activities covered by SOPs

4

Ventilation (1 of 3)

• One of the IC’s most important tactical

considerations

– Given a high priority

• Can have a positive effect on all three

fire-ground priorities

4

Ventilation (2 of 3)

• Can adversely affect all three priorities

– Fire stream placed into a vent opening

– Venting in the wrong location

• If inadequate, an offensive attack rarely

will be successful.

4

Ventilation (3 of 3)

4

Apparatus Positioning

• Company commander’s concern

• Directly related to company’s

assignment

– Must be consistent with objective

• Should keep fire zone accessible and

safe

4

Pumping Apparatus (1 of 4)

• Positioning should be addressed in

SOPs.

– Residential fires: locate directly in front of

house

– Depends on the layout of hose bed

• SOPs allow more discretion.

4

Pumping Apparatus (2 of 4)

• Used to lay attack lines

– Positioned close to curb line

• Side discharges = aligned with entry point

• Rear discharges = forward of entry point

4

Pumping Apparatus (3 of 4)

• SOPs may specify separate water

supplies.

– Attack pumper configuration

• First engine company at front of building,

second engine company provides supply

4

Pumping Apparatus (4 of 4)

4

Aerial Apparatus

• Aerial device use

– Obtain a safe operating angle

• Aerial device not being used

– Parked out of way but close to entry point

• Access to tools, ladders, and other equipment

4

Common Positioning Errors (1 of 3)

• Aerials placed under wires

• Unsafe and unstable positions

• Not allowing enough room to extend the

outriggers

• Apparatus/staff cars blocking access to

the fire area or front of the building

4

Common Positioning Errors (2 of 3)

• Pumpers placed where pre-connected

attack lines are difficult to lay

• Blocking streets or fire hydrants

– Large-diameter hose

4

Common Positioning Errors (3 of 3)

• Not securing essential attack positions

• Positioning where they cannot be

quickly repositioned

– Dead ends

• Responding through the fire area

– Causes unnecessary congestion

4

Summary (1 of 3)

• The IC improves efficiency by

coordinating activities

– Division-of-labor concept

• Engine company

– Basic fire department unit

– Primary duty is to apply water

4

Summary (2 of 3)

• Engine company tasks

– Obtaining a water source

– Setting up and engaging pumps

– Advancing hose lines into structure

– Fulfills life safety priority by extinguishing

fire

• Building becomes much safer.

• Checks areas for victims

4

Summary (3 of 3)

• Truck company responsibilities

– Gaining entry

– Laddering building

– Controlling fire spread

– Evacuating occupants

– Conducting primary and secondary

searches