By Jason Moore
Firefighting demands unwavering dedication, resourcefulness, and adaptability. In recent times, however, fire departments have found themselves navigating an additional layer of complexity, the challenge of maintaining effective operations in the face of low staffing.
As fire departments grapple with the issue of limited staffing, a tight budget, and inadequate equipment, the importance of well-defined roles and responsibilities on the fireground has become increasingly paramount. By adhering rigorously to these protocols, firefighters can ensure a robust and efficient response to fires, even given the constraints of reduced personnel.
- The Effects of Staffing Levels on Critical Decision Making
- Suburban Fire Tactics: Accounting for Truck Functions in a Non-Truck World
- Firefighters, Do You Know Your Job? Developing a Response Playbook
- Throw Back to Basics: Riding Assignments
This article delves into strategies and approaches that can enhance fireground effectiveness even amid staffing challenges, ensuring that communities continue to be safeguarded and the noble mission of firefighting remains unscathed.
The Two-Minute Drill: Cultivating Adaptability
One invaluable approach for fire companies to cultivate adaptability in the wake of limited staffing is through the execution of the “two-minute drill.” This seemingly simple tactical exercise holds immense potential for preparing firefighters to tackle fires with precision, even when resources are scarce. Imagine a first-response engine arriving at a fire scene with just three or fewer firefighters on board. Their task? To assess the situation swiftly and initiate aggressive firefighting tactics, all within a tight two-minute timeframe from arrival.
To execute the two-minute drill with precision, the first-response engine pulls up to a scenario based simulated structure fire, prompting the crew to swiftly engage in a meticulously planned, systematic, tactical approach. As you perform this drill over time, you can enhance this scenario-based training by progressively incorporating additional challenges, such as the introduction of training smoke and potentially even live fire, further refining the crew’s ability to respond effectively to dynamic firefighting situations. Each member on the apparatus assumes a distinct role and responsibility, forming a cohesive unit that operates as a force multiplier. The effectiveness of this approach hinges on the prompt and efficient execution of individual tasks.
Within this coordinated framework, specific roles and responsibilities are allocated to different positions on the apparatus. These specific roles maximize the team’s performance to create an efficient and effective first-due company in a low-staff environment:
- The driver-operator is tasked with stretching the initial preconnect attack line, throwing a ground ladder, and then establishing a water supply beyond the booster tank. This could be a hydrant or an additional booster tank from a second- or third-due engine company.
- The officer assumes responsibility for crucial tasks like the scene size-up, conducting a 360
, and positioning themselves as baclup on the handline.
- The lone “backstep” firefighter engages by independently sizing up the situation while proceeding to the front door to gain access, if need be; checking for victims, fire, and layout; controlling the door; and ultimately taking position on the handline nozzle position for an assertive fire attack prepared by the driver-operator.
These distinct yet nontraditional roles are designed to ensure speed and efficiency on the fireground. Although these designated roles are well-defined, there’s always flexibility for each role to adapt, if necessary. Nevertheless, it’s imperative that each company addresses various types of scenarios where they could potentially deviate and have a prepared strategy for potential unexpected developments. This level of preparedness considers the unexpected factors that historical occurrences have educated us on, and which we could potentially face as the first-due company.
The two-minute drill serves as a comprehensive rehearsal of foundational fireground tactics and strategies, serving as the cornerstone of effective firefighting. With consistent execution and exposure to realistic variables, personnel gradually realize that a significant portion of the initial tasks required on the first-due fireground can indeed be accomplished within the stipulated two-minute timeframe.
This drill is adaptable to companies of varying staffing, whether comprised of three or only two firefighters. As the staffing numbers decrease from three down to two, each role takes on additional responsibilities in a cascading manner. For instance, in the scenario where staffing transitions from three to two members, the officer not only manages their primary duties but also takes on the responsibilities of proceeding directly to the entrance after conducting a size-up and 360. Subsequent to forcing the door, if necessary, the officer conducts check for potential victims, evaluates fire conditions, and surveys the layout, then potentially engages in tasks related to the handline.
Furthermore, this drill offers more than just a theoretical exercise. It provides firefighters with a tangible experience of operating within an environment characterized by limited personnel, an increasingly prevalent scenario in the evolving landscape of the fire service. As the demands on firefighters continue to evolve, this practice empowers them to navigate challenges efficiently, ensuring that even with fewer hands on deck, the response remains robust and effective.
The two-minute drill concept can be applied to various firefighting scenarios to ensure quick and effective responses, whether you are an engine or truck company. If a truck company (without a tank and pump) is the first unit on scene, the two-minute drill can be tailored to prioritize critical tasks such as initial search and rescue, raising portable ladders for rescue, vent-enter-search operations, roof operations, and providing ventilation. Regardless of type of apparatus, the drill should focus on quickly accomplishing the fireground fundamentals that have the greatest impact as a first-due company. While the more common residential structure fire scenario provides a crucially important and valuable training situation, the two-minute drill can be adapted to various other scenarios as well. Some might include top-floor apartment fires, commercial building fires, basement fires, vehicle fires near structures, and so on. The key is to simulate situations that require rapid and coordinated actions.
With the evolving understanding of fire attack strategies, the two-minute drill can incorporate discussions about the importance of quick knockdowns, transitional attacks, and working effectively with limited staffing. It is crucial to emphasize the use of tactics that maximize efficiency and effectiveness in these scenarios. The two-minute drill is a versatile training tool that can be adapted to various firefighting scenarios, fostering rapid decision-making, efficient communication, and effective coordination among team members. It’s important to regularly update and refine the scenarios based on the latest studies and practices to ensure that firefighters are well-prepared for a wide range of situations.
Mitigating Risks Through Defined Roles
Of course, the challenge of low staffing unavoidably heightens the risk factor for firefighters. In light of this, the steadfast adherence to predetermined roles and responsibilities on the fireground becomes imperative. Each firefighter must adeptly execute their designated tasks, ensuring seamless functionality without reliance on others to bridge any gaps.
- DeStefano: The “Fireground Five”
- Fireground Pump Operations: Mastering the Panel
- The First-Due Engineer
- Knapp: The 360-Degree Size-Up
This approach significantly reduces confusion and streamlines operations. When everyone knows their role inside-out, the risk of miscommunication or mismanagement diminishes. Firefighters become part of a well-oiled machine, where each cog performs its function with precision, thereby minimizing the potential for errors that could have dire consequences in the high-stakes environment of firefighting.
Beyond the Two-Minute Drill: Strategies for Resource Optimization
While the foundation provided by the two-minute drill is strong, fire companies can further enrich their strategies to optimize resources in reduced staffing scenarios. In low-staff environments, it becomes vital to prioritize tasks with the highest impact. Among these tasks, driver-operators emerge as pivotal and influential figures on the fireground. The days of mere pump panel oversight are long gone. For instance, in a low-staff environment, the role of the driver-operator extends beyond conventional thought of staying close to the pump or only letting the firefighter stretch the initial handline. An essential step is for the driver-operator to lead the charge in stretching the handline. This action ensures that the backstep firefighter can promptly assess their surroundings and the structure, quickly reaching the front door for immediate forcible entry, if necessary, and conduct checks for victims, fire, and layout.
This approach allows the firefighter to genuinely comprehend their surroundings, rather than succumb to tunnel vision or become engrossed in the process of stretching a line and donning their mask. We’ve all experienced the phenomena of task distraction when firefighters have to stretch a line. By expeditiously reaching the front door, firefighters have a better chance of positively impacting any victims they might encounter along the egress path at the door or just inside the doorway. Additionally, this quick action enhances their ability to assess the fire’s location and the structure’s layout. The underlying idea is to guarantee that the firefighter reaches the door as quickly as feasible, assuring that we can get to any potential victim; this both increases the victim’s chances of survival and also our opportunities to assess the fire’s location and the layout of the surroundings before conditions get worse. It’s essential for firefighters to physically absorb and internalize these intricate details, as they lead the way at the nozzle of the handline.
Prioritizing tasks based on their impact and aligning them with the available personnel enables fire companies to optimize the use of resources while maintaining operational efficiency. Through this strategic approach, the fire service maximizes its ability to effectively combat fires even in the face of constrained staffing levels. A streamlined fireground is one that can address these responsibilities concurrently. Yet, when dealing with reduced staffing scenarios, it’s essential to be judicious in selecting the most crucial task of the moment.
Maintaining a Proactive and Optimistic Mindset
Your company’s training mindset and habits play a pivotal role in shaping our performance on the fireground, particularly in the context of low-staff situations. We must understand that the foundation of our effectiveness rests on rigorous and consistent training that prepares us to operate seamlessly even with reduced personnel. A core principle that can help guide your training philosophy throughout the two-minute drill is placing emphasis on the “big five,” namely:
- Lines
- Ladders
- Force
- Search
- Vent
These duties are preassigned to the designated riding positions allowing greater efficiency in carrying out the tasks. In addition, they all play a massive contributing role in our greatest mission—to save lives. These fundamentals can form the bedrock of any training curriculum. Mastering these basics is crucial for every member of your team. Whether seasoned veterans or new recruits, we are all held to the same standard of attaining a master level of proficiency in these areas.
This commitment to the “big five” ensures that, regardless of staffing constraints, each firefighter possesses the essential skills to make a significant impact on the fireground. Mastery in deploying hoselines guarantees efficient fire suppression, safeguarding both lives and property. Proficiency in ladder work is essential for quick and safe access to various parts of the structure and enhancing search and rescue operations. Skillful forcible entry and ventilation techniques are vital for swift access and effective fire control. Finally, the art of search and rescue, conducted with precision, can mean the difference between life and tragedy.
Your company’s unyielding dedication to training on the “big five” ensures that even in low-staff situations, you can respond effectively and decisively. This comprehensive approach can equip your team to adapt to dynamic scenarios and make informed decisions under pressure. Through continuous training and unwavering commitment to mastering the basics, you can forge a cohesive and capable team that can rise above the challenges posed by reduced staffing levels, ultimately ensuring the safety of our communities and the success of our mission on the fireground.
Jason Moore is a 19-year veteran of the fire service and a captain in the City of Graham (NC) Fire Department, currently overseeing the training and safety division. He has worked globally as an emergency services contractor with the U.S. Department of Defense and State Department in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kwajalein Islands. He has an associate of applied science degree in fire protection technology and in addition holds various certifications.
