THE ROLE OF THE APPARATUS OFFICER
It is 0300 hours on a cold November morning when an alarm comes in for a smoke condition reported in a residential neighborhood. The firstarriving engine reports a row of five attached, three-story, frame tenements with light smoke showing from the middle building’s cockloft.
The dispatch assignment is three pumpers, two truck companies, one battalion chief, and one deputy chief. The third-due engine, in the rear, reports visible fire showing at the windows of the top floor. Suddenly, the front windows break, revealing a working fire on the top floor.
The first two pumpers begin stretching lines for the fire attack and the truck companies begin search and rescue and vent duties. As the truck company begins roof ventilation, members report that the fire is welladvanced in the cockloft. It is obvious to the incident commander that the fire is extending rapidly to the exposures on both sides. A second alarm immediately is transmitted, dispatching two additional pumpers, one truck, the rescue company, and an additional battalion chief.
With evacuation of residents underway along with attempts to stop the fire in the exposures by venting the roof, pulling ceilings below, and stretching the necessary hoselines, the chief’s resources quickly are depleted. Realizing additional companies will be needed for relief, as well as to assist if the fire extends further, the chief requests a third alarm, starting two more pumpers and one additional truck on their way to the fire. With the arrival of the third-alarm units, 12 pieces of apparatus are on the scene. Some are operating, and others are staged for relief and assignment.
Fortunately, as the incident expanded beyond the first alarm, several staff officers and outside agencies responded to assist and support the incident commander (IC).
OPERATING WITHIN ICS
One of the major goals of the incident command system (ICS) is to divide the task of controlling a fire or emergency incident into manageable sectors. As a major fire or haz-mat incident grows in complexity and additional alarms and resources become necessary, the IC should be prepared to expand the incident command system to meet the needs created by the emergency.
The optimal span of control, or normal number of units a commander is expected to supervise, is five; the maximum is seven. The number of companies responding to a singlealarm fire usually will not exceed these limits. However, when greater alarms are necessary, additional apparatus and outside agencies will respond and quickly can overwhelm the IC’s ability to control all units efficiently. When this occurs, the IC can reduce his span of control to a manageable level by delegating some functions, such as logistics, liaison, and operations, to subordinate commanders.
Chief Alan V. Brunacini in FIRE COMMAND (NFFA, Quincy, MA, 1985) states the following about support personnel: “Support personnel represent areas of responsibility from within the fire and rescue services and from outside agencies that routinely respond to the fire alarms. They provide services which are often critical to firefighting operations. For example, they can provide utility control, water supply, mechanical repair, special equipment, technical consultation, and welfare services. It is important that these services be integrated into the overall command system. “
Apparatus and logistics. The logistics sector assists the IC by taking responsibility for identifying material needs and securing the services and supplies necessary to carry out the mission. The apparatus officer can be a valuable asset by assuming these duties. A large-scale operation cannot be sustained without the facilities, services, and materials provided by the logistics function.
Apparatus management is an intrinsic part of the incident command team. Staging, resources, mechanical repair, water supply, and safety (relative to apparatus operations) are all areas of concern the apparatus officer can address in a systematic way.
Fireground duties. The apparatus officer should wear full personal protective clothing while operating on the fire scene, as safety is of paramount importance. An appropriate helmet marker or vest will help identify the apparatus officer’s function.
To properly manage the apparatus and equipment resources on the scene, it is first necessary to obtain an accurate listing of units that have responded or are en route. This information usually can be obtained from the alarm dispatcher or communications center.
The best method for locating all units is to circulate around the fireground and chart and list each unit’s location and function. Which apparatus are involved in duties such as fire attack, water supply, aerial-up, and ladder pipe operating and which are clear and available should be recorded for each unit. Be sure to differentiate between companies that are completely staffed and staged for assignment and those whose apparatus are available but whose personnel are already engaged in the operation. Also, note if any apparatus are blocked in, causing them to be unavailable for reassignment.
A metallic clipboard with a clear, erasable surface that accepts grease pencil is most helpful for the apparatus listing, as it will resist the effects of water spray and can be erased for the next incident. The chart should fit in your turnout coat pocket, as you often will need both hands to perform other fireground functions.
(Photo by Martin Valenti.)
When your observations are complete, return to the command post and advise the IC of any apparatus that are uncommitted, staged, and available for redeployment as well as any other pertinent information acquired while circulating around the scene. Having such data available is vital for managing apparatus resources on the fireground.
Apparatus monitoring and repair. Locating and charting the apparatus provide excellent opportunities to look for early signs of mechanical problems, such as overheating and low oil pressure. While on this tour, ask the operators if they are experiencing any problems or difficulties. By promptly attending to apparatus malfunctions you observe on the scene, you can prevent costly damage to vehicles. For example, reducing the discharge volume of a pumper experiencing damaging cavitation will correct a serious problem; or, a pumper that is overheating can be cooled down with the auxiliary cooler or additional ventilation or, if necessary, be replaced by a substitute pumper listed as “uncommitted” on the apparatus survey.
When the apparatus officer notices an unusual sound or other indication of malfunction, quickly ceasing the operation and replacing the unit may avoid catastrophic failure or expensive major repair. However, this substitution requires coordination to avoid long, dangerous interruptions in water supply.
Performing minor repairs to apparatus while they are operating often will help keep them in service or enable them to return to quarters without assistance. In locations where municipal apparatus mechanics are unavailable, attempting to reach an outside vendor could pose a serious problem. Holidays, nights, and weekends are especially difficult times to locate a mechanic. If the apparatus officer has a mechanical background and is familiar with the unit, a small selection of hand tools can keep apparatus operating until it can report to the shop.
Fireground safety. One of the apparatus officer’s greatest concerns on the fire scene should be the safe use of apparatus and equipment. For example, an aerial device operating on an excessive incline or soft ground, at low angles, under an excessive load, or that is overextended requires immediate corrective action.
(Photo by Ron Jeffers.)
Carefully observe pump pressures when evaluating the operation. Excessive discharge pressures, especially on large-diameter supply lines, which are rated and tested only to 200 psi, should be corrected immediately. A burst length or disconnected coupling on an LDH supply line could be disastrous to firefighters or civilian onlookers nearby.
Managing resources. Monitoring apparatus fuel usage and requesting mobile refueling are essential during long-duration pumping evolutions. This detail easily can be overlooked, which could seriously affect the operation as fuel supplies become depleted.
Coordinating the replenishment of breathing air cylinders, either by shuttling to a compressor location or requesting the services of a mobile cascade system, requires vigilance to keep all members continuously supplied with this vital commodity.
During flammable liquid incidents, it is critical to coordinate a continuous supply of foam concentrate to maintain the required application rate. In addition to requesting outside resources, the apparatus officer should be aware of local foam supplies to maintain the operation.
(Photo by Ron Jeffers.)
In colder climates, the response of a spreader truck with rock salt or sand can reduce the number of fireground injuries caused by slipping on ice.
Requesting lighting units or portable generators as nightfall approaches could enhance fireground safety.
Equipment evaluation. The fireground also affords the apparatus officer an excellent opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the tools, apparatus, and equipment in use. First-hand observations can help the officer recognize shortcomings and take remedial action. For example, a massive hose cleanup operation at two recent haz-mat incidents indicated a need for, and resulted in the purchase of, portable hose washers to facilitate this process in the future.
Assuming other duties. It is not uncommon for the apparatus officer to perform the duties of other positions for the good of the operation. On occasion, when a critical need has to be addressed immediately, the apparatus officer might have to supervise a firefighting sector. If this occurs, a request for relief should be made as soon as possible so the logistics function will not suffer. In some instances, the apparatus officer could prove invaluable, such as for establishing and supervising the gross decontamination of apparatus, hose, and equipment after a haz-mat incident.
Water supplies. Another important responsibility of the apparatus officer is securing and coordinating additional water supplies by using long stretches of large-diameter hose or possibly establishing a tanker shuttle. Water main maps and drafting locations are extremely valuable for locating suitable sources of sufficient quantities of water.
By conducting a survey of available apparatus with regard to their hoseloads, uncommitted units can be dispatched to the fire scene to augment the water supply. Direct supervision of this sometimes complicated evolution is essential; otherwise, it could prove to be slow or ineffective.
Coordinating pickup of units pom multiple-alarm fires. Assisting in the pickup of companies from major incidents is one area where coordination greatly increases efficiency and can directly affect members’ health. During this phase of the fire, the IC is concerned primarily with completing extinguishment, performing proper overhaul, ensuring personnel safety, determining cause, and rehabilitating personnel. Having the apparatus officer coordinate the fast, efficient pickup of units no longer needed at the scene allows the IC to concentrate on the previously mentioned duties.
Many departments still use the old system of returning companies in the reverse sequence of their response. This often leaves the companies who did the bulk of the work—the initial firefighting—with the arduous task of picking up all the hose and equipment. Ihe later-arriving companies, called on the second and third alarms, often leave without assisting.
A more desirable method is to use uncommitted companies, coupling them with units that need assistance picking up long supply lines. In essence, this “shrinks” the fire scene and, by employing several companies, increases the speed of pickup anil companies’ return to duty. The community then benefits by getting its units back in service more quickly.
Using this procedure also can have a positive impact on members’ health by reducing the individual physical labor involved in pickup. This team concept is especially important since the use of LDH for water supply and the wearing of full bunker gear are both quite routine.
With literally several million dollars’ worth of apparatus and equipment operating on the fireground, the services of an apparatus officer are necessary and justified. The major cost of repairs or the serious liability resulting from a minor problem left unattended or the accidental misuse of the equipment might be prevented by having qualified personnel on the scene.
Proper staff support will help ensure that the IC, whose paramount concern is controlling the fire, will not have to become personally involved in replacing an overheating pumper or locating a large water main for adequate supply. It is far better to be proactive and address errors and omissions before they become problems than to be reactive following a major malfunction.
(Photo by author.)
