General Fire Suppression Operations

Section 2 - EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

PURPOSE:

To provide specific tactical level procedures used by the Incident Commander (IC) and followed by all members operating on the incident scene to secure strategic objectives by deploying and directing resources in a safe and effective manor.

PROCEDURE:

Establishing Command

• The first fire department Officer or Acting Officer to arrive at the scene of an alarm shall normally establish Command and take all necessary actions required to satisfy the functions of the IC until relieved of command or until the incident is mitigated and command is terminated.
  • At minor incidents such as routine EMS and auto accidents, the Officer in Charge (OIC) will use his/her unit designation for communications purposes, and shall be responsible to perform all Command functions.
• When the first officer to arrive is part of a Company (Engine or Quint) the Officer may deploy his/her crew appropriately and remain outside and establish a command or pass command to the next arriving officer.
  • Passing Command - If the situation warrants immediate actions that cannot be safely accomplished without the Officer, the Officer may elect to pass command to the next arriving officer and join his/her crew. The officer shall advise the dispatcher that he/she is passing command and reports the actions the crew is taking. The Dispatcher shall immediately advise the next due officer.
• Examples of actions taken by the first arriving Engine Company:
  • 3-person engine arrives first: The preferred method of entry shall be that the first arriving officer pass command and enter the structure guiding their personnel to make the initial fire attack. Providing the rescue arrives simultaneously with the first arriving engine the officer may establish command and stay outside with the driver operator and become the 2-out. Two or three firefighters (one or two from the rescue) shall enter the structure to attack the fire.
  • Sole 4-Person engine arrives first: 1 Firefighter and the Engineer can stay out and become the 2-Out. The Officer and the other Firefighter enter the structure to attack the fire and start the primary search. To comply with the 2-Out, the Engineer would be required to bunker out, don his/her SCBA and be immediately available to initiate rescue efforts.
    • Investigation Mode – These situations generally require investigation by the first arriving unit. Normally, the officer should go with his/her company to investigate while utilizing the portable radio to maintain Command. This is not an acceptable mode when there is a known IDLH.
      

Command Post (CP)

• The standard Command Position for the IC should be a stationary one located close to the entry point of the building with a view of two sides of the building if possible. The IC shall report the location of the CP, and any changes to that location to the dispatcher who shall announce the location on the radio. A Command vehicle should be utilized as the Command post when parking is available.
• One or more persons should be assigned to the CP to assist with accountability and resource tracking at all greater alarm incidents, where available.
• The IC shall utilize the appropriate command board(s) to track personnel and other resources as required.
• As a minimum ensemble, the IC shall identify himself/herself by wearing a helmet and Incident Commander’s vest or bunker coat.
  

Transferring Command

• This procedure should be performed face-to-face and shall include information about unit locations and assignments, what tactics have been implemented, and any recommendations to the new IC.
• The transfer of command is not complete until the Officer assuming command announces, “I have command,” and the locations and actions of assigned personnel are updated on the appropriate Command Board. The Officer assuming command shall notify the dispatcher that he/she has command ie: “Battalion-45 has command,” and the dispatcher shall announce: “Command Transferred to Battalion-45.”
• The arrival of a ranking chief officer on the fire ground does not mean that Command is automatically transferred to that officer.
  

Arrival Report

• The first unit or member on the scene shall provide a brief arrival report on the radio that includes:
  • Radio ID on the scene
  • Brief description of the building or event (number of floors, construction and occupancy type)
  • Description of situation found as seen when pulling up; i.e., nothing showing; fire showing from 2nd floor window Quadrant-D Side-A; white laminar smoke showing from open door 1st floor Side-A.
  • Announce the establishment of Command and location of the CP or the passing of command.
  • Initial actions to be taken
  • Announce mode of operations Offensive Operations, Defensive Operations or Investigative Mode
  • Request additional resources or reduce responding resources as needed.
    

Size-Up

The IC shall be responsible to see that a proper size-up is conducted on all incidents which shall include:

• A physical observation of all sides of the building or complex (may be done by Command or delegated)
• Review of any Pre-Fire Plans
• Consideration of all known and unknown conditions relating to the operations and safety of both members operating at the incident as well as any civilians involved.
  

Staging

Arriving units will report to the scene or stage based on the following direction, unless directed otherwise by Command.

• Level-1 Staging: The default staging level until a level-2 staging area is initiated.
  • Chief Officers and EMS Officers shall report directly to the scene unless directed otherwise.
  • First arriving pumping unit reports to the scene
  • Second arriving unit shall normally establish a water supply unless otherwise directed by the IC.
  • All other first alarm units respond to the scene and report directly to the command post for assignment unless otherwise directed by the IC.
• Level-2 Staging: Formal location(s) designated by Command for all greater alarm units to report to and await assignment.
  • Chief Officers and EMS Officers shall report directly to the scene unless directed otherwise.
  • The first officer to arrive at staging will become the Staging Officer and manage the staging process until formally replaced.
  • Units in staging should park in a unified manner that facilitates their immediate deployment, or allows their vehicle to remain unmoved should the crew be deployed on foot. If vehicles are staged in the street, they should be parked on the same side of the street, and Law Enforcement requested to provide traffic control.
  • Crews shall remain with their vehicle for a rapid deployment.
  • Units at staging and enroute may be assigned to a non-fire ground radio channel. The staging officer shall monitor both the staging channel and the fire ground channel when this occurs.
    

Risk Management

• The following Risk Management principles shall be utilized by the Incident Commander:
  • Activities that present a significant risk to the safety of members shall be limited to situations where there is a potential to save endangered lives
  • Activities that are routinely employed to protect property shall be recognized as inherent risks to the safety of members, and actions shall be taken to reduce or avoid these risks.
  • No risk to the safety of members shall be acceptable when there is no possibility to save lives or property.
• The incident commander shall evaluate the risk to members with respect to the purpose and potential results of their actions in each situation.
• In the situations where the risk to fire department members is excessive, as defined above, activities shall be limited to defensive operations.
  

Incident Action Plan (IAP)

A verbal or written plan that establishes the overall strategic decisions and assigned tactical objectives for the incident.

• The Incident Commander shall be responsible for developing and/or approving an IAP. The plan shall be communicated to all staged and assigned members at an incident.
• The IAP shall include such key strategic decisions as offensive verse defensive operations, as well as include any tactical level or task level assignments in support of achieving the strategic level objectives.
  

Modes of Operations

The IC shall determine which mode of operation members will be operating in and communicate that direction to everyone staged and assigned to the incident.

• Investigative Mode – Actions that are intended to determine if there are any emergency conditions requiring the services of the fire department. This mode of operation is only used when there are no known IDLH atmospheres.
• Offensive Operations – Actions generally performed in the interior of involved structures that utilize a direct attack on a fire to control and extinguish the fire.
• Defensive Operations – Actions that are intended to control a fire by limiting its spread to a defined area, avoiding the commitment of personnel and equipment to dangerous areas.
  • No member shall enter any building or hazardous area that has been designated by Command as defensive operations for any reason unless approved by Command. Once designated, this mode does not change even after the fire is out, unless approved by Command.
• Command may authorize both Defensive and Offensive modes when members are operating in large or multiple buildings, in which case Command must ensure adequate supervision for the safety of all the crews operating in the different modes.
  

Organizational Structure

The incident Commander shall develop an organizational structure to effectively manage the incident utilizing the following:

• The basic components of the Command structure include four levels:
  • Strategic Level – Incident Command
  • Control Level – Section Chiefs
  • Tactical Level – Divisions and Groups
  • Task Level – Unit, Companies and Crews
• The most basic structure for a routine incident involves only two levels. The role of Command combines the strategic, control and tactical levels. Companies report directly to Command and operate at the task level.
• In more complex situations, Command will group crews to work in Divisions and Groups. These supervisors operate at the tactical levels, directing the work of several crews within their divisions or groups. Command continues to operate at the strategic level, determining and directing the overall strategy to deal with the incident.
• The development of the Operations Section Chief at the control level is normally reserved for very large incidents involving 20 or more companies or crews.
• When assigned, Divisions and Groups shall be identified on the radio by the following standards:
  • Geographical Assignments
    • Division-A (Side-A of the building or area)
    • Division-1 (first floor of a building)
    • Roof Division
    • Lobby Division
    • Basement Division
  • Functional Assignments
    • Staging Group
    • Ventilation Group
    • Medical/Rehab Group (Unit if under Logistics Section Chief)
    • Extrication Group
    • Evacuation Group
    • Search and Rescue Group
      

Tactical Priorities

The following bench marks represent critical functions that need to be satisfied at most fire incidents in order to mitigate the emergency. Command will be required to promptly assign and direct resources to accomplish each function based on the specific needs of the incident. Those functions and associated completions include:

• Command must decide, based on the size-up and available resources, which actions will need to be accomplished and in which order. Life safety is always the first priority. The following represents the primary priorities listed in order of importance Command must follow:
  • Search, Rescue and Ventilation – The activities required to find, protect, remove, and/or treat the occupant(s) while introducing clean fresh air in the area to improve the occupant(s) chances of survival as well as improve the conditions for the rescuers to operate in.
  • Fire Control – The activities required to locate, contain, control, and extinguish the fire.
  • Property Conservation – The activities required to stop or reduce additional loss to property.

Search, Rescue and Ventilation

• Search, rescue and ventilation are the top priority for the IC on a fire incident. It must be conducted as soon as possible on all fire scenes where entry is possible and when there is a possibility of saving a life. Search and rescue is so important, that it may be conducted prior to establishing a 2-out. This is only permissible when a known life safety conditions exists. Our goal is to protect all occupants and maintain rescuer safety.
• With the threat of fire conditions rapidly worsening, locating and controlling the fire may be the best way to support search and rescue efforts. In most cases, stopping the spread of the fire will leave more areas in the building where occupants may survive and provide rescue crews with more time to find them. The primary search should be started at the same time as the fire attack, unless rescue crews are able to safely conduct it sooner. The fire attack crew(s) should assist in conducting a primary search when possible as they move through the building to locate the fire.
• Any search crew exposed to fire conditions shall be protected by a hand line, if possible.
• Search crews shall utilize a safety guide rope, search line, or hose line when operating in any commercial building, or large area to provide a means to find their way out.
• Crews entering for search and rescue shall utilize the most appropriate search pattern (left or right hand) that affords them the quickest means to locate the seat of the fire and search back towards their entry point. Exceptions shall be reported to Command or the Sector Officer.
• Search crews shall be comprised of a minimum of two personnel. Depending on the area to be searched, it may be advisable that one person maintains a position at the entry point of the room, while one rescuer conducts the actual search. This technique requires the two rescuers to maintain verbal contact at all times.

Ventilation

• Providing prompt and effective ventilation is critical in most fires to improve the interior conditions encountered by crews entering for search and rescue, and fire control, as well as for any occupants trapped. Proper ventilation can also reduce the spread of a fire.
• Command must approve all ventilation efforts.
• The different types of ventilation include:
  • Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) – The use of a gas driven fan to pressurize the building and force the smoke and heated gases out.
  • Vertical Ventilation – Usually involves crews on a roof cutting a hole directly over the fire, or opening up skylights, vents, or other natural openings.
  • Horizontal Ventilation – The opening of windows, doors or walls at the same level as the fire.
• Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) is a very effective method to ventilate the interior of a structure by introducing a rapid flow of fresh air at a single entry point and controlling the exit of heated smoke and gases at or near the area involved in fire. Before starting PPV, the following must be completed:
  • Command approves the use of PPV
  • Interior crews are informed when ventilation is started
  • The effects of the ventilation are carefully observed so it can be stopped if it has negative impact on the fire control, search and rescue or the safety of members operating in the structure.
  • Have a charged hose line ready to attack the fire, if not already in use
  • Provide an exit opening at or near the fire area by opening or breaking a window or opening a door.
  • Providing additional openings will reduce the effectiveness of PPV and the breaking or opening of additional windows and doors should be avoided unless needed to directly support a rescue or fire attack.
• Vertical ventilation requires crews to operate on the roof of the structure involved in fire which is inherently dangerous given the possibility of roof collapse. Considering the fact that most buildings have wood truss roof systems, a rapid collapse of a roof under attack by a fire should be anticipated. Because of this, crews will not be allowed to operate on any truss roof that is exposed to fire.
  • Crews should never operate on the roof of any house or apartment building with an involved attic fire for purposes of ventilation or fire attack. Attic fires can be vented by opening up gable vents or gable ends from the safety of a ladder when gables are present.

Incident Scene Safety

• A Safety Officer shall be assigned by Command at all incidents involving a first alarm assignment or greater and at any incident involving hazardous materials or special operations.
• At any incident involving hazardous materials or special operations, a technical Safety Officer with the technical certification(s) being used shall be assigned, in addition to the incident scene Safety Officer.
• The Safety Officer has the authority to alter, suspend or terminate any unsafe practice. The Safety Officer must notify command of action taken.

Interior Operations

• Members operating in IDLH atmospheres or other hazardous areas shall operate in crews of two or more and shall be in communication with each other through visual, audible, or physical means or safety guide rope, in order to coordinate

their activities.

• Crews operating in the interior of a structure involved in a fire shall wear full protective clothing and utilize SCBA at all times until Command authorizes a change.
  • Prior to crews being authorized to remove their SCBA masks, Command will see that a proper air monitoring test is completed and the following conditions are meet:
    • CO Level below 35 PPM
    • Oxygen level above 19.5
    • Free of visible smoke and particles
• Company Officers shall maintain an ongoing awareness of the location and condition of all company members. Where assigned as a company, members shall be responsible to remain under the supervision of their assigned Company Officer.
• All interior crews operating in an IDLH atmosphere shall utilize a TIC when possible. Command will be informed by any crew entering without a TIC.
• Members of a hose crew shall utilize the hose line as a means to find their way out of the building with at least one member remaining in contact with the hose line, while all members maintain communications as defined in 2.15a.
• Crews operating in the interior of a building or any hazardous area shall have a minimum of one portable radio per Firefighter.

Communications

• All members shall utilize clear text, or plain language while communicating over the radio.

REFERENCES:

National Incident Management System (NIMS) March 1, 2004; NFPA 1500

FS Form

Basic Offensive Plan

1. Take command
2. Do primary search
3. First line – fast, aggressive, interior attack
4. Second line – back-up first/cover internal exposure and react
5. Pump water
6. Provide support activities
7. Quickly evaluate success
   

Many times offensive/defensive conditions are clear cut and Command can quickly develop a decision that relates to that mode. In other cases, the situation is marginal and Command must must initiate an offensive interior attack, while setting up defensive positions on the exterior.
The effect of the interior attack must be evaluated and the attack abandoned if necessary. Mode changes can develop almost instantly or can take an extended time. Command must be aware and responsive to such mode changes.
Command must consider the most dangerous direction of fire extension particularly as it affects rescue activities, confinement efforts, and exposure protection. Command must then allocate resources based upon the fire spread evaluation. Always have plan “B” mind (think about where will this fire be in 5 minutes).
In some cases, the most effective tactical analysis involves an evaluation of what is not burning rather than what is actually on fire. The unburned portion represents where the fire is going and should establish the framework for fire control requirements. Offensive fires should be fought from the interior UNBURNED SIDE. Companies must take special precautions to prevent “candle moth” syndrome, where the company is drawn to the fire and willing to make a direct attack from the involved side of the building. This will generally drive the fire, smoke and heat back into the building, hindering rescue efforts and decreasing survivability of victims. Damage to the structure is also dramatically increased in these cases. Initial attack efforts must be directed toward supporting the primary search, if possible the attack line should be between the victims and the fire to protect avenues of escape.
Determine fire location and extent before starting fire operations, if possible. Avoid operating fire streams into smoke unless it is utilized for room temperature regulation. Command cannot lose sight of the very simple and basic fire ground reality that at some point the fire forces must engage the fire and fight. Command must structure whatever operations are required to put the WATER ON THE FIRE. The rescue/fire control/exposure problem is solved in the majority of cases by a fast, strong, well-placed attack.
Effective fire control requires that water be applied directly on the fire or directly into the fire area. Command must establish an attack plan that overpowers the fire with actual water application. Where fires involve concealed spaces (attics, ceiling areas, construction voids, etc.) these areas must be opened and fire streams operated into them. Early identification and response to concealed space fires can save the structure. Officers who hesitate to open up because they don’t want to beat up the building, many times must attempt an hour later to hold the fire to the neighborhood of origin.
The attack plan must take into consideration the seven sides of a structure: top, bottom, front, back, both sides and the interior. The plan must concentrate on the most dangerous directions and avenue of fire extension and provide a means to stop the fire in that direction. The remaining sides are then considered in order of danger.

Defensive Operations

1. Take command
2. Evaluate fire spread/write off lost property
3. Identify key tactical positions
4. Prioritize fire streams
5. Provide big, well-placed streams
6. Pump water
7. Quick determination on addition resources
8. Surround and drown
   

The decision to operate in a defensive mode indicates that the offensive attack strategy has been abandoned for reasons of personnel safety, and the involved structure has been conceded as lost (written off).
The announcement of a change to a defensive mode will be made as EMERGENCY TRAFFIC and all personnel will withdraw from the structure and maintain a safe perimeter. Communications Center will sound alert tones and repeat the Emergency Traffic message. The Incident Commander will in addition, designate one unit to operate their air horn device for a period of approximately 15 seconds with 10 short blasts. Command will then complete a PAR.
Interior lines will be withdrawn (or abandoned if necessary) and repositioned when changing to a defensive mode. Lines should be backed away to a position, which will protect exposures. The first priority in a defensive operation is to protect exposures. The second priority may be to knock down the main body of the fire. This may assist in the protection of exposures but does not replace it as a first priority.
Master streams are generally the most effective tactic to be employed in defensive operations. When the exposure is severe and water is limited, the most effective tactic is to put the water on the exposure, once the exposure coverage is established, attention may be directed to knocking down the main body of fire and thermal-column cooling. The same principles of large volume guidelines should be employed.
The completion of bringing the fire under control is reported utilizing a radio report of “FIRE UNDER CONTROL”. It is the responsibility of Command to transmit this report to dispatch. This time will be recorded by dispatch. “Fire Under Control” means the forward progress of the fire has been stopped and the remaining fire can be extinguished with the on-scene resources; it does not mean the fire is completely out.