By: Ray McCormack
There is a scene in the movie Wall St. where the main character played by Michael Douglas walks up and down the center isle of the companies annual share holders meeting repeatedly proclaiming “greed is good.” Greed for him was about making money. Greed for firefighters is about getting the most you can out of a fire. For an engine company, it is all about getting the line. There is nothing wrong with wanting more out of the fires you go to. In fact it’s what you get out of a fire that counts. The more you get, the better you get. Your knowledge and skill levels develop quicker. This article deals with engine company operations at advanced fires where a command post and sectors have already been established and how to get the most out of such.
Fire Scene Survey
Your fire scene survey is of course a part of your fireground size up. What you’re observing initially however, is not the fire building, but apparatus placement and more importantly the availability of hoselines. During your survey look at what companies are hooked up to a positive water source and if they also have available hose. At a large scale fire you must take into account that distances between engine companies might be rather long; will the amount of hose they carry be enough for you to place a line into operation? When you arrive on the scene of a working fire and you’re not the first to arrive engine company, you get a different perspective of the operation. What line will you end up stretching? Will it be a supply line or an additional handline? A supply line may be needed for an auxiliary appliance or supplemental water. Placement of a subsequent hoseline may take you to an exposure, the floor above, or the fire floor. As a later arriving company you will be assigned by the IC to cover a particular area or situation. You’re apparatus may be some distance from the original fire building, and knowledge of a closer company’s available hose will save time and effort if you stretch off their apparatus. You can never go wrong by taking hose from your apparatus. This eliminates the possibility of having to back track to another apparatus when you find out that a close in apparatus is already stripped of hose. Plus, by taking your own hoseline you may only have to worry about supply depending upon your eventual deployment location. Survey apparatus for attack hose as well as supply hose. Remember if your stretch is ten lengths long, it can not be made up exclusively of small diameter hose. A stretch that long should be filled out with a larger hoseline to cut down on friction loss and excessive pump pressures. Try to pick a pumper that already has a positive water source to supply your line. Do not overload the closest pumper; remember three hoselines is a crowd.
Command Post Etiquette
When your company is assigned to stage at the command post, it’s best if just the officer makes contact with the Incident Commander (IC). The command post can be a busy place. The balance of the company should stage within sight of the command post and the company officer. Upon arrival at the command post the company officer should identify their unit and any relevant alarm assignment information to the IC. Such as: Engine 24 first engine on the second alarm. At escalating fires there may be several engine companies in reserve at the command post awaiting assignment. The company officer is also the company advocate. The officer should make sure they have the IC’s attention and then inform the IC that their engine company physically has a line with them and has identified a water source for it, should it be needed right away. Both your company number and that of the water source should be noted by the command post. There is the difference between reporting to the command post with no game plan and reporting for work. Being pro active and ready to work increases your odds of getting a line while increasing the safety level on the fireground.
After completing your fire scene survey you should have your company bring several lengths of hose with them to the command post. This line should be compatible with current fire conditions and follow your Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This hoseline will be connected to a pumper you’ve selected during your survey. Additional lengths of hose may be needed in addition to those you carried to the command post. That is to be expected. When the IC needs an additional line for the fire, which company do you thing they will pick? This is being a proactive engine company. You have saved reflex time by being ready and have displayed to the IC that you’re not only ready but more importantly thinking ahead.
Listening
Dispatch information and tactical traffic should be monitored at all times by someone at the firehouse. Having an idea of the status of a near by working fire is a great advantage should you respond to it. This is especially true for the company officer. There have been times when someone distant from the fire scene has picked up vital information that was missed by dispatch or others on the scene and later relayed back to command that had missed it. You can often tell the pace of a fire by radio traffic, some fires develop slowly and others what seemed routine suddenly explode with activity. Hearing additional alarms being transmitted or urgent requests as you respond may not make sense if the only time you’re hearing about the fire is on the apparatus. By listening, you’ll have a better idea of the problems you’re likely to encounter, allowing you to quickly develop a plan of action upon arrival.
Officers also need to listen to what is taking place at the command post and what other companies are reporting on the fireground. Reports of extension within a building may require an additional hoseline; the command post will be looking for you to get that assignment covered. By paying extra attention you can quickly assure the IC that you are up to speed on the request and already know the location where your line is needed. Not only does a conversation like that save time (because no one has to explain things to you) it shows the IC that you are aware of what is happening around you and increases the IC’s confidence in your ability to complete a task. However that being said you must complete the assigned task.
Stepping Up
The command post is an active location. When the IC gets a request from a sector it usually needs to be it filled quickly. Engine company officers that have shown previous eagerness and successful task completion at other incidents can have an advantage over others. Staying close to the command post so the IC can see you on occasion will help get you assigned. Engine companies may or may not be used strictly for engine work at fires. Assignments such as searches or overhaul may need to be filled. At large or prolonged incidents it is helpful for the engine to have a few hand tools available. There is nothing more frustrating then needing some simple task done and not having a pry bar handy. Having your company properly cross trained to accomplish such tasks will get you a piece of the action. ICs, especially those from departments where these types of assignments are generally handled by ladder companies, may need a reminder.
Company Pride
Company pride has many sources; the truest being derived from outstanding job performance. Walking up to the command post allows officers an opportunity to display company pride. An officer, who stands tall, makes eye contact and speaks clearly and concisely when they identify themselves stands a better chance of being remembered. Once you are assigned a task make sure it is done to completion and would pass muster of even the most critical eye. If you are working with another company, do not allow a poor performance on their part, even if you are out-ranked. Insist on making sure you will not be called back because you missed, or worse, ignored something. When the IC makes a special point of thanking you for your efforts there is no greater compliment. When the IC sees you at the command post the next time, you can be sure they will remember and try and put you to work. Some may say that by using these tactics you are jumping the line ahead of other companies. That assessment would be correct; the proactive company should be rewarded with an assignment.
