By James Silvernail
It’s a simple fact that modern day structural firefighting requires a supplied water source for the control, containment, and extinguishment of structure fires. The most important action that occurs on the fireground is the timely placement of the initial handline/water stream in the correctly determined location with adequate flow volume. No action taken on the fireground saves more lives than the proper size attack line stretched to the correct location and placed into service at the proper time. Many simultaneous, supporting functions must occur to accomplish this goal, including establishing a permanent water supply. How does the fireground function of establishing a water supply rate on the priority scale of assignments? Where does it fit in the hierarchy of fireground importance?
The answer is, it is very important. However, it can depend on the situation and certain variables. The first major variable is resource availability. Coupled with the variables of time and capability–specifically booster tank size–this function may be immediate or slightly “deferred.” Let the circumstance dictate actions. The volume of fire will also dictate the desired fire flows that may overwhelm initial booster tank capacities not already connected to permanent water supply sources.
Does your agency allow you to conduct a “quick attack mode” on the interior of a structure prior to securing a permanent water supply? Many agencies will. This action requires coordination and is slightly risky if there is no effective game plan to coordinate efforts between companies for a smooth and timely transition from the booster tank to hydrant water. It is a simple matter of mathematics. If you desire to flow 150 gallons per minute (gpm) and your booster tank is 500 gallons, your blanket of protection is only 3.3 minutes.
The Coordinated Fire Attack and Tactical Decision Making
A coordinated fire attack should be exactly that: coordinated. Coordination requires tactical fireground decision making, which should be based on three basic fundamentals:
· Safety
· Efficiency
· Effectiveness.
Every action taken on the fireground should be based on establishing a system of safety for all firefighters operating at a particular event. The element of efficiency can be interpreted as making the most with the resources you have. Finally, you must make decisions that impact the event to achieve operational goals and to mitigate the situation effectively.
Do not perform tactical fireground decision making haphazardly; it should be a methodical process. No fire is the same; however, processes can be in place to provide a system and playbook to assist with organizing the chaos of a structure fire and also to guarantee operational consistency. The majority of the fire service has this playbook of tactics in hand and ready for implementation. But how often has it been tested and reevaluated for effectiveness? Has it been tested against your agency’s evolving capabilities?
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments, states that at structural fires, there shall be an established, uninterrupted water supply of a minimum of 400 gpm for 30 minutes with supply lines maintained by an operator. This mandate sounds simple. Often, we take this action for granted on the fire scene because the hydrant is in close proximity to the structure or many content fires can be controlled and extinguished with a few hundred gallons of water. These assumptions can lead to disaster if you do not have a coordinated plan of attack. Do not take these circumstances for granted.
Many effective tactical action plan/suggested operating guidelines have detailed mandates in relation to water supply. There are many ways to accomplish these tasks in a timely manner; it depends on the agency’s inherent circumstances. A common operating guideline for larger urban areas is to reverse out with the first- or the second-due engine, leaving plenty of room in front of the fire building for the ladder company. This is not practical or applicable for every fire department, however. More specifically, this may not be the tactic of choice for tight suburban neighborhoods/subdivisions or for agencies that operate with quint apparatus, which could have the duties of both pumping and laddering the structure.
The Challenge
Ideally in a perfect world, engines would perform all fireground functions associated with the delivery of water, including establishing a water supply. Ladder companies would perform rescues and all supporting actions that facilitate extinguishment, including gaining elevated access with aerial devices. However, many agencies, which include numerous suburban and even small fragments of urban areas, rely on companies that perform dual functions. These companies are more commonly known as “quint” apparatus, which possess a pump, hose (supply and attack), a booster tank, a complement of ground ladders, and an aerial device.
Unfortunately, it is not a clear-cut answer with the quint apparatus. Water supply is the most challenging function to coordinate for the quint system. Many of the SOPs for the quint concept detail assignment by arrival order. In many cases, the second- or third-arriving apparatus will be assigned the truck duties, regardless of apparatus type. If this is the case, is it still acceptable to allow the truck company to catch the hydrant and still be expected to perform truck work? This depends on staffing. The other wrench in the equation is the reverse out. In the situation where the quint is second due and expected to secure the water supply, is it efficient or wise to place your only detailed aerial device on the hydrant, away from the fire building? Overwhelmingly, the answer is NO! This is an obvious violation of our “safe, efficient, and effective” mandates, particularly the principle of efficiency.
Another challenge is the response area. In large urban areas with larger thorough fares and streets on a parallel grid system, the option of the reverse out is viable and easily accomplished. It may also be effective to detail the second-arriving engine to back into the scene and reverse a supply line to the nearest hydrant. Subdivisions and tight suburban roadways aren’t as easy and can hinder this application. Areas such as these aren’t perfect grids, and many suburban streets in subdivisions have cul-de-sac features, creating a one-way access and limiting options. Also, these long and tight stretching roadways make it extremely difficult for apparatus to back into the fire scene.
Do not overlook the option of the first-arriving apparatus dropping a determined amount of bundled attack line at the structure and laying into the hydrant (reverse out). The key to this tactic is having the apparatus configured with an adequate amount of hose and the right hose loads. Our biggest enemy is the reliance on the preconnected attack line, which typically is 200 feet to 300 feet in length. Often, the other loads are taken for granted. It is obvious that the preconnects will not work for this type of application. Examples of these hose loads include prebundled sections of attack line configured in a horseshoe, supplied by a static load of 2½- or 3-inch forwarded supply line. The length of this static load should be determined by the agency’s needs and estimated stretches through the preplanning process.
As stated earlier, much of our apparatus is no longer configured for this application. Our industry has fallen in love with the preconnected attack line because of its ease to deploy on most structure fires. Unfortunately, the word most is not the same as all, and relying on the preconnect all of the time can lead to disaster. Second, the fire industry has striven to become more efficient, creating apparatus that can perform multiple functions. This leads to the “cramming” phenomenon, placing more tools, such as rescue equipment, on the apparatus. This scenario leads to higher and smaller hosebeds, sacrificing the hose load options. On an aerial device, especially a rear-mounted device, these loads are almost completely out of the question because of the available space and the size of the hosebed.
The Straight Lay
Even though the reverse lay is still an option, most suburban applications have turned to the straight lay. The reasons for favoring the straight lay include limiting response area characteristics (cul-de sacs and tight streets, limited hose load alternatives and hose capacity, and the types of apparatus detailed to the incident, such as quints.
Most SOPs will give first-due engine or any first-arriving apparatus with a pump (including quint apparatus) the option to secure the water supply or defer it to the second-arriving company. There are situations and circumstances that will dictate to the first company that it lay in and catch the hydrant or defer to the next-arriving company.
Tactical Decision: To Lay-in
There are instances when a first-due company officer should make the decision to stop at the hydrant before arriving at the fire building and forward lay his own supply line. Circumstances will dictate actions. The first circumstance is a visible, heavy-fire condition that will require copious amounts of water and heavy fire power, i.e., master streams. If a defensive attack, or even a transitional attack, is imminent, the first-due company will be required to flow large handlines or master streams. Remember, it is all about mathematics. Even at 250 gpm, a 500-gallon booster tank will last only two minutes! The company officer anticipated this and initiate an aggressive response, including establishing a permanent water supply.
In general, time is a weighing factor in this decision-making process. Fire flows in relation to booster tank capacities should be considered. Another consideration is the availability of the next-arriving apparatus. Good company officers possess a keen situational awareness and are constantly monitoring their surroundings. If resources are limited or if the next incoming apparatus is delayed or unavailable, the company officer should be aware of this situation, act accordingly, and establish his own water supply.
Tactical Decision: Defer
Many SOPs and standard operating guidelines will allow the first-arriving company to defer the water supply function to the next arriving unit. Circumstances that could influence this decision include the urgency of initial actions (specifically line placement), staffing of the company, and the availability of the next-arriving company.
There are functions on the fireground that are extremely time sensitive and require urgency. Stopping the apparatus, connecting a supply line, and then laying in necessitates time, enough time to delay line placement. In certain situations, such as in a rescue or when persons are trapped, the attack line cannot be hindered. If the next company has no delay and is expected within normal arriving parameters, it would be more efficient and effective for the second-arriving company to establish the water supply while the attack is being immediately initiated.
Another variable is staffing. It may not be efficient in an urgent situation to remove a member from a company, place him at the hydrant, and expect him to initiate the elected attack mode. With a three-member company, this is immediately impossible. One member will be operating the apparatus, one member will be stationed at the hydrant awaiting orders to flow, and the remaining member (the officer) will begin the stretch. All principles of safety, effectiveness, and efficiency are violated in this scenario.
Final Note
Anticipate the unknown, and never assume the ordinary. Have and understand safe, effective, and efficient SOPs/guidelines, but be prepared to be flexible. A good company officer will monitor fireground traffic during the response, look for alternative water sources, and assess alternative routes to approach the scene. Some structure fires will require more than one water source, especially in defensive operations where master streams will be used and aerial devices will be supplied. Also be prepared in the instance of water supply failure. Hydrants are not 100 percent, and water mains can fail, break, or freeze. Options are a must.
BIO
JIM SILVERNAIL is a battalion chief with the Metro West Fire Protection District of St. Louis County, Missouri. He is the author of Suburban Fire Tactics (Fire Engineering), an instructor at the St. Louis County Fire Academy, and a member of MO-TF1.
