INCIDENT OFFICER: DON`T FORGET THE BASICS
BY TOM GARRITY
Firefighting remains a dangerous profession. According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) statistics for 1994 (the most recent available), there were 100 firefighter deaths; most died on the fireground, and the dwelling or apartment fire was the deadliest structure fire.
Even the most “routine” fires can turn deadly. Recently three firefighters died in Pittsburgh at what appeared to be a routine fire, as did three more firefighters in New York City.
Routine fires may statistically be the most dangerous to firefighters. Why? Because of their frequency. When we do things routinely, it is easy to become complacent. We cut corners for the sake of expediency, and usually everything turns out okay. But if the unexpected occurs, and there is no margin for error, someone gets hurt–or worse.
Firefighters know there are inherent risks on the job. Few firegrounds are textbook perfect, and none are completely safe. Thus everyone on the fireground–from the firefighter to the incident commander–must make sure the fireground is as safe as possible. One measure you can take is to ensure that the risks you take are commensurate with the benefits you gain. Don`t needlessly take risks. A second measure, and the point of this article, is directed toward the incident commander: Don`t forget about the basics. Your ICS, accountability system, and personal protective equipment must go hand in hand with your basic operating procedures to ensure a safe fireground.
SIX QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
The recent deaths in Pittsburgh and New York City caused me to review my own operations–not just in terms of objectives (extinguishment, victim search and removal) but in terms of the process. Was the operation fundamentally sound? Did we cover all the bases? Did we respond quickly to fire conditions and still allow a margin of error for the unexpected? When I evaluated my own routine fires, I found there was room for improvement.
Following are six basic questions you should ask after each fire. They address six tactical considerations that often are neglected but that should be part of every interior fire attack.
Were all companies given specific orders? Most cities have a multiple fire company automatic dispatch for a dwelling or multiple-occupancy dwelling fire. In Philadelphia, a tactical box (two engines, two ladders, and a battalion chief) is dispatched for a dwelling fire; a full box assignment (four engines, two ladders, and two battalion chiefs) is dispatched for a multiple-occupancy dwelling fire. The officer of the first-arriving unit, in most cases the first-due engine, assumes the role of incident commander until the chief arrives. The IC must give specific orders to all companies going in service. He must assign them to specific sectors and know their operating positions at the scene at all times. He can verify via portable radio that companies understand their assignments and are in position.
Companies that are not needed immediately should respond to a staging area or take a hydrant and stand by. Companies going into service without specific orders invite chaos, and a chaotic fireground is a dangerous one.
Did you receive a report on conditions in the rear? Fire conditions in the rear can differ dramatically from those in the front. In urban areas, a city block of buildings may be sandwiched side by side for several hundred feet. Light smoke may be showing in the front while a heavy fire condition exists in the rear.
In Philadelphia, SOPs for a “routine” fire in a row or semidetached dwelling are for the first- and third-due engines and first-due ladder to take the front while the second- and fourth-due engines and second-due ladder take the rear. In high-crime areas, property owners take extreme security measures to keep people from the rear of their property. Thus we know that it might take some time for firefighters to gain access to the rear and give a report.
The first-in ladder officer often can get a quick look at the rear through the front. For example, if conditions permit and the fire is on an upper floor, he may be able to walk through the first floor to look at the rear, or an adjoining property might afford him access to the rear.
The grading may be different from front to rear. What appears to be a two-story building might actually be a three- or four-story building from the rear. Such information can be critically important to the IC.
Even when the fire appears to be confined to the front, don`t forget to ladder the rear. It may be needed for firefighter and victim egress.
Were there two independent water supplies? Most veteran firefighters can recall at least one occasion where the first-in engine suffered a loss or interruption of the water supply due to a frozen or vandalized hydrant, pump failure, or driver/engineer inexperience. If the water supply is interrupted after fire attack has begun, the problem must be solved quickly. If a second water supply is not readily available, the fire will quickly gain headway and force you from offensive to defensive mode. The best solution is to always require another pumper to obtain a second hydrant, ideally on a second water main, and stretch in. While this backup work is rarely glamorous, it could save the day if the backup water is needed.
Were apparatus positioned properly? Company officers focus on company level operations. With fire and smoke showing, their priority is getting into service as quickly as possible. While experienced firefighters and officers understand how their activities affect the fireground as a whole, members with less experience may fail to consider the placement of their apparatus in relation to the overall fireground operation. If your apparatus placement restricts the use of another operating company, you might force that company to take an unnecessary risk, creating an unsafe condition.
If a pumper stops directly in front of a three-story dwelling, the ladder company might not be able to use the main ladder for ventilation, rescue, or roof access. A pumper that stops in the middle of a street instead of curbside to hook up to a hydrant might block access for special equipment such as a medic unit.
Were the correct ladders and hoselines used? The 134-inch handline is the workhorse of the fire service and is appropriate for most interior attacks. When a three-story row dwelling is vacant, of questionable structural integrity, and fully involved, an exterior defensive attack with master streams is in order. Use the heavy streams to darken the fire from a safe distance. When smoke and fire are knocked down, you can reevaluate structural conditions and decide if interior work is appropriate.
Ladder selection is equally important. Although it may not be required to raise a ladder to the roof at every structure fire, at least one ladder company should be ready and able to do so. Always make sure the ladder truck has access to the building in case the aerial or bucket is needed. In most cases, the fastest, easiest, and safest access to the roof of the involved building is with the aerial assigned to the front, so leave the street in front of the building open for the first-due ladder. Be aware of overhead wires and trees–they may factor into apparatus placement decisions.
Even under the best conditions, the rear of the building is usually more difficult to access and ladder. If you can reach the roof from the front, in the rear you`ll need portable ladders high enough to reach the top windows for ventilation and rescue. You should even ladder vacant buildings with all broken windows. Ladders provide a means of victim rescue, ventilation, and firefighter access and egress.
An often-overlooked point to make about vacant structures: When firefighters are operating inside, raise ladders to all floors–even if the ladders are not needed for rescue or ventilation. Sometimes interior stairs are missing, and the ladder to the window may be a cut-off firefighter`s only means of egress.
Did everyone wear the proper protective equipment? Almost every department has a story about how protective equipment saved a firefighter`s life. And sadly, there are stories of how failure to turn on a PASS device or use SCBA has contributed to a death.
According to the NFPA, during the past 10 years, 173 firefighters died in structures, not including 31 who died while working on a roof or ladder. Of the 173, only 13 were wearing PASS devices and only seven turned them on.
Your gear can prevent not only immediate injuries such as burns and lacerations but also long-term injury from smoke. The synthetic materials common in today`s house fires produce products of combustion associated with heart disease and cancer. Wear your SCBA, and use all the personal protective equipment provided.
The fire is out, all the occupants are accounted for, the scene was well-managed, and the safety officer reports no injuries. Now evaluate how well you used your companies, apparatus placement, hoseline and ladder choices, water supply, and protective equipment. Did you cover the basics?
These ideas are not new, but they are proven. They are the results of previous fire service professionals` using their experiences to improve fireground operations and safety. Continue that tradition, and don`t forget the basics. n
TOM GARRITY is a 21-year veteran of the Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department, where he currently is a battalion chief. He has a master?s degree in public safety administration from St. Joseph?s University and is an assistant professor of fire science at Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania.
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Were all companies given specific orders? (Photos by Ralph C. Huttick, Jr.)
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Did you receive a report on conditions in the rear?
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Were there two independent water supplies?
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Were apparatus positioned properly?
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Were the correct ladders and hoselines used?
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Did everyone wear the proper personal protective equipment?
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When firefighters are operating inside a structure, ladder all upper floors. Ladders are used not only for rescue but also for firefighter access and egress.
