Photo by Tony Greco
How familiar are you with your fire department’s standard response procedures and your role in firefighting operations at select incident types? This next series of drills from Forest Reeder challenges firefighters to consider their “typical” actions and roles in a given fireground scenario. Each member of the company has specific assignments to be completed and each are reliant and interdependent on the others.
Download the individual drills below, or check out our comprehensive drill section.
The Fireground Playbook: Fire Alarm Investigation
Discuss the roles and responsibilities of each company member during response to an activated fire alarm.
The Fireground Playbook: Vehicle Fire Attack
Your company will discuss the roles and responsibilities of each member for vehicle fire attack operations.
The Fireground Playbook: Roadway Safety Zones
Roadway operations are among the most hazardous types of responses for firefighters. Discuss proper apparatus positioning, coordinating efforts with other public safety agencies, and more.
The Fireground Playbook: Primary RIC Duty Questions
Review your crew tool assignments and department policies for size-up and functions of the rapid intervention crew (RIC).
The Fireground Playbook: Safety Considerations for Defensive Operations
In this fire training drill, discuss these operations and review department procedures for defensive/exterior operations.
The Fireground Playbook: Interior Hazard Safety Zone
Discuss accountability, communications, and continual size-up as well as decision-making responsibilities for operating on the inside.
The Fireground Playbook: Strategy Determination
Use your local definitions for each fire attack strategy to discuss the initial implementation of each type and what your priorities are for each strategy.
MAD Training and Response Solutions
Forest Reeder began his fire service career in 1978 and retired as fire chief of the Tinley Park (IL) Fire Department in 2021. He has worked extensively in the areas of instruction, firefighter safety, and officer development and earned his Master of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration in 2004. He is the author of Fire Department Incident Safety Officer 4th edition (2025) and co-author of Fire Service Instructor Principles and Practices, now in its 3rd edition. Forest presents nationally on fire service leadership, safety, and instructor development. He was inducted into the Moraine Valley Community College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020 and awarded the Distinguished Alumnus award in 2021. In 2008, he received the ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year, considered to be the highest recognition for fire service instructors in the nation.
