Chapter 05- Foundations of Firefighting Tactics and Strategies
- 1. Foundations of Fire Fighting Tactics and Strategies Chapter 5
- 2. Objectives Describe the process of developing the fire fighting strategy and tactics involved in planning, locating, confining, extinguishing, and overhauling fires in buildings and other special fire situations Discuss the methods used for the determination of the proper fire operating mode: offensive, transitional, defensive, or non-attack mode
- 3. Objectives (cont’d.) Define the term size-up and explain the steps and factors involved in making a size-up Review the fire strategy and tactics used by firefighters and apply the fire behavior characteristics discussed in the text to the situations reviewed Describe difficult fire situations encountered by firefighters and the strategies and tactics they should use to resolve these situations
- 4. Introduction Learn about: Structure fires and fire behavior patterns most likely to be encountered How to apply fire behavior tactics Overall mission for fire incidents has three major components: finding the location of the fire, confining the fire, and extinguishing the fire Size-up : method used to identify problem(s) presented by the incident
- 5. Development of Strategy and Tactics Overall mission for firefighters responding to fire: Locate the fire Confine the fire Extinguish the fire Decision-making model : overall strategy on emergency incidents
- 6. Development of Strategy and Tactics (cont’d.) Figure 5-2 The five steps in the decision-making model
- 7. Attack Modes Offensive mode: make a direct attack on fire for purposes of control and extinguishment Transitional mode: shifting from offensive to defensive mode or from defensive to offensive mode Defensive mode: conducted on exterior of building to protect adjacent buildings from fire spreading
- 8. Attack Modes (cont’d.) Non-attack mode (passive approach): under certain circumstances, a fire attack may be too dangerous and incident command will choose to let the fire burn out without an attack Cannot be made without careful consideration and by making every effort to include the owner in the decision making process
- 9. Size-Up at the Incident Scene RECEO-VS Rescue Exposures Confinement Extinguishment Overhaul Ventilation Salvage
- 10. Construction Includes building components, materials, and extent of their fire-resistive abilities Five NFPA classifications Type I, II, III, IV, and V
- 11. Type I or Fire-resistive Construction Columns, beams, floors, walls, and roof made of materials classified as non-combustible Figure 5-4 Type I or fire-resistive construction
- 12. Type II or Non-combustible Construction Non-combustible and either protected or unprotected Figure 5-5(a) Type II or noncombustible construction
- 13. Type III or Exterior Protected/Ordinary Construction Exterior walls made of masonry materials Interior walls and materials permitted to be partially or wholly combustible Figure 5-6 Type III or ordinary construction
- 14. Type IV or Heavy Timber/Mill Construction Exterior walls are usually made of masonry and therefore are non-combustible Figure 5-7 Type IV or heavy timber/mill construction
- 15. Type V or Wood Frame Construction All major structural components can be made of combustible materials Figure 5-8 In Type V construction, all major structural components can be made of combustible materials
- 16. Occupancy or Use The building code that classifies buildings by their use Loss of lives in building fires is always a concern where large numbers of people gather
- 17. Apparatus and Staffing Standard operating procedure (SOP): specific information and instructions on how a task or assignment is to be accomplished Need to know manpower resources Number, type of pumping, and ladder capability
- 18. Life Hazard Primary search Aggressive primary search for victims during the first few moments after arrival Personal alert safety system (PASS) Small, motion sensitive unit attached to and worn with the SCBA by firefighters when entering an Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) environment
- 19. Terrain Structure can be built on land with different grade levels Careful pre-incident planning can help in reducing the time required to deal with terrain problems
- 20. Water Supply Can water be delivered in sufficient gallons per minute to suppress the number of BTUs being given off by the fire? Learn location of water lines of other jurisdictions or districts
- 21. Auxiliary Appliances Fire sprinklers have record of over one hundred years of being 90% to 98% effective in controlling fires Three types of water sprinkler application systems Wet pipe Dry pipe Deluge
- 22. Street Conditions Narrow streets, traffic congestion, double-parked cars, and construction work can severely impact fire operations Close coordination with public works and traffic departments can reduce such problems
- 23. Weather Extreme weather conditions can affect operations Rehabilitation system: Hydration Nourishment Rest and recovery Medical evaluation
- 24. Exposures Using water by running it down side of exposed building, coating it with water Water spray can protect against movement of heated air currents and direct flame impingement Use large water appliances to reduce or redirect air currents and to cool threatened building surfaces
- 25. Area and Height Indicates maximum potential fire area Height of building raises issues of whether the fire department has necessary ladder lengths to reach upper building areas Height may provide exposure hazard to nearby buildings Impacts use of master streams
- 26. Location and Extent of Fire The lower the fire, the more serious the threat of fire is to the building Fire below grade such as a basement fire, are hotter, and generally more complex
- 27. Time May determine life-threatening situation Time of day impacts time required for a fire apparatus to arrive Morning and evening traffic peaks can double the response time
- 28. Special Concerns Personnel accountability report (PAR): reports on location/condition of personnel Personnel accountability system (PAS): determines entry/exit of personnel Rapid intervention team or crew (RIT/RIC): assignment of group for rapid deployment of reports on personnel in trouble/missing
- 29. Fire Behavior in Specific Occupancies Different procedures need followed for various types of buildings Important to understand essential differences of building methods and building types when evaluating how to approach a fire
- 30. Building Construction Methods and Occupancy Types Platform construction method: floors built separately from outer walls and ceiling and floor area serves as fire block to stop movement of hot fire gases between floors Balloon frame method of construction: obsolete construction method where wood studs run from foundation to roof and floors are nailed to studs
- 31. Single-Story Family Dwellings of the Past 1940s – 1950s Plastered walls covering wood/wire mesh which was painted/covered with heavy paper or cloth Bare wood, rugs, linoleum, wool carpets Bare wood to upholstered furniture with cotton, wool, or leather Rooms poorly insulated with single-paned windows Fire load was low and the rooms were well ventilated
- 32. Today’s Residential Properties Better insulation and increase in fire load More plastics Interior fire fighting hotter Decreased time to flashover Has become much more dangerous in these occupancies
- 33. Multiple-family Dwellings Vary from city to city Figure 5-16 Open attic and truss construction
- 34. Mercantile Fires Strip malls made as cheaply as possible Barely meet code requirements Fire originating in one store of a strip has good chance of communicating to others Can extend into cockloft area and once there, will move horizontally with little or no resistance Roof ventilation is important
- 35. Hotel Fires Not designed with fire safety in mind Older hotels built with open stairways and rooms off of corridors with transoms HVAC units can circulate hot fire gases throughout the building if unit is not protected with fire dampers Not equipped with an eyebrow Designed to prevent or inhibit fire and smoke from lapping into the upper floor(s) in a multistory building
- 36. Industrial Occupancies Vary considerably due to manufacturing processes Tenant factory/loft building Potential for a fast-spreading fire is high Newer manufacturing buildings constructed using concrete tilt-up construction Provide open void spaces where fire gases can accumulate
- 37. Churches Similar construction Large hanging ceilings or cocklofts lead to church’s destruction If steeple present, collapse is likely Life safety record for church fires is good
- 38. Schools Fire drills usually constructed Significant improvement in the use of fire-resistant construction materials in new schools Some schools use modular classrooms
- 39. Basement Fires Good location for storage of combustible items Can become fully developed and present a very hot, smoky fire situation where visibility is limited Long hoses may be required Possibility of gas ignition
- 40. Attic Fires Burn upward Respond quickly to proper vertical ventilation Should be attacked as fast as possible As little water as possible should be used
- 41. Flat Roofs Attic space is approximately three feet deep and provides open space between underside of roof and top side of ceiling Always work with wind at your back or side from where the wind is blowing: windward side Keeps smoke and hot gases downwind
- 42. Peaked Roofs Encourage the use of aerial ladders Roof ladder also used if aerial not possible Vent hole cut as close to the ridge as possible without damaging the underlying rafters Should be made on leeward side
- 43. Carport/Garage Carport: freestanding structure open on all sides Carport itself is not serious fire problem because it is constructed using a minimum amount of combustible materials Flammable liquid fires common Garage One-story: line inside house to prevent extension of the fire into this area Two-story: direct attack on garage and line upstairs
- 44. Summary Understand basic principles of fire fighting and characteristics of fire behavior Three efforts: Locate the fire Confine the fire Extinguish the fire Determine type of attack necessary