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rsFsr THE HANDS-ON TRAINING GUIDEFOR THE FIRE INSTRUCTOR

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ENGINE COMPANY OPERATIONS

TASK

The instructor will deliver the basic concepts of

engine company operations. The focus of this drill

is to allow the student to develop an improved

understanding of the various water-related tasks

involved in a firefighting operation and how they

are to be implemented on the fireground.

INTRODUCTION

The student should have a basic understanding of

their role in the fire department, and the role they

are to play during firefighting operations. In orderto better participate in the fireground operation,

the student should have an understanding of what

strategy is and how they fit in to the scheme.

They will receive information that will allow themto develop and understanding of the important rolethat fire department engine companies play during

firefighting operations.

COURSE OUTLINE

L A discussion of the importance of the opera-

tional modes available to the Incident Com-mander.

Copyright @ 2001 Intemational Society ofFire Service Instructors

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.

2. A discussion of the critical importance of

water source selection.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

Our review of the National Fire ProtectionAssociation Standard 1021. Standard forProfessional Fire Officers Qualifications makesabsolutely not reference to the actual conduct offirefighting operations. They make great mentionof how to manage a fire, how to establish com-mand, how to transfer command and etc. How-ever, they make no reference to a need for devel-oping those necessary skills to conduct a firefight-ing operation.

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

The Importance of Operational Modes

Perhaps the most important element in determin-ing the water delivery needs and the operationaldeployment style for a firefighting operation is theselection of the attack mode. In an earlier issue ofthe Instruct-O-Gram, we discussed some of thefactors that you must take into consideration inchoosing either an interior or an exterior attack.

Basically, you must weigh the challenge presentedby the fire against the resources and water supplythat are available.

Once you have decided the manner in which youintend to combat the fire, you can begin to developthe pieces of your firefighting pluzzle. This is thepoint at which my theory of BIG FIREiBIGWATER - Iittle fire/little water comes into play.It is simple really. Big water is delivered andsupplied through big hose and big appliances. Ithas a large demand for water. Little water isdeveloped through little hose, and has a muchsmaller requirement for water.

Instructor's Note: It is important to be able touse local examples of firefighting operations forthis session. You must bring the textbook to lifewith examples to which your students canrelate.

Let us broaden the explanation of the fire attackoperational modes at this time to include:

a The aggressive interior attack - TheCavalry Charge

a The Blitz and Move In style of attackwhere large caliber devices are used fromthe outside of the structure (s) to knock thefire down so that an interior attack can beattempted.

a The Blitz and Ponder Moving in method,where large caliber streams are used tobuy the Incident Commander time toweigh the dangers of moving into theburning structure (s).

a The Keep it to The Block of Originmethod where you realize that it willnever be safe enough to enter the bumingstructure (s). Your objectives revolvearound limiting the spread of the fire andconfining it to the smallest area possible.(building/block/community)

When Do I Attack on the Inside?

a Is the life at risk?

a Are there enough firefighters to do thejob?

a Are you carrying sufficient on-board watersupplies?

t Do we have an adequate, on-going watersource available?

a How quickly can we establish this source?

a Is it stupid to send people into theburning building you see in front ofyour eyes?

It is important to explain the importance of each ofthese to the student. It may keep them fromtraveling down a dangerous path.

When Do I Use a BlitzAttack?

a Heavy fire conditions

O Nearby exposures

a Adequate water supply

a Limited fire department staffing is avail-able

a No nearby mutual aid

How Do I Blitzthe Fire?

a Put pre-piped mater streams to work

a Stretch a quick supply line

a Stretch a quick large-size exterior attackline

a Do Not Enter the fire building until suchtime as the fire is knocked down and vourcrews have been assembled.

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Should We Switch from Blitz Mode to Enter theBuiAing Mode (defensive to offensive)?

a If the fire will go out without you havingto enter the building, then you might notwant to risk you people.

a What might happen if we do put aninterior line into service?

O Would it be stupid to send people into theburning building I seen in front of myeyes?

a What are the chances of safe success?

Safe success is the type of success where youbring everyone back to the fire station safely. Safesuccess is the price you have to pay for being safeand successful during your firefighting operations.You value your people over everyone else. Twofurther questions you must ask:

a Is the fire you are facing worth the priceyou might have to pay for a quick trip intothe smoke and flames?

a Do the negatives of the picture in front ofyour outweigh the positive impact of aninterior attack?

Each of these points must be consciously weighedand evaluated by the Incident Commander. you

must consciously answer these questions as part ofyour sizeup and evaluation ofrisk. The lives andsafety of your firefighters are at risk each time youmake these decisions. Decide wisely.

The Importance of Water Source Selection

A lack of water can doom a firefighting operationto failure. Each of the methods listed above willrequire the provision of a particular level of watersupply. As you can imagine, the bigger the fire,the greater will be the requirement for an adequatewater source to support your operation.

Some critical water supply questions must beanswered:

a How reliable is your water source? (wells,lakes, reservoirs, etc.)

a If you have a municipal water system,how efficient are your processing andtreatment facilities?

a Are these storage supplies sufficient foryour needs?

a Do you have enough hydrants?

a Have you surveyed your community fordrafting points?

a Are these sites mapped?

a Are the maps used?

a If you do not have a hydrant system, doyou have mobile water tankers?

a If you do not have mobile water tankers,do your neighbors have them?

a Do you have portable pumps?

a Do you have portable storage tanks?

Each of these forms a critical element in your fireattack program. The answers to these questionscan tell you how successful you might be incombating a variety of different sized fires.

Acknowledgment

This Instruct-O-Gram was created by Dr. Harry R.Carter, MIFireE, a municipal fire protectionconsultant from Adelphia, New Jersey. Dr. Carteris the First Vice President of ISFSI.

Student ReferenceFirefighting Strategy and Tactics - An Eight-Step

Method, Harry R. Carter, Ph.D.

Fire Protection Pablications, Ohahoma StateUniversity, Stillwater, OK, 1998