1810 Ch 10 Overview

1. Strategic and Tactical
Considerations on the Fireground
4th Edition
Chapter 10 — Technical Operations

2. Overview/Introduction
‣ There are many special types of operations that can confront responding firefighters. These incidents will
often require the expertise of specially trained personnel to mitigate the problems found. However, the
initial responders will often face difficult decisions that will need to be made prior to the arrival of the
specialists or technicians. For this reason, this chapter looks at those special areas: hazardous materials
(hazmat) incidents, tank farm or refinery fires, terrorist incidents, dirty bombs, clandestine drug labs
(CDLs), and natural disasters. Each of these subjects is complex enough to fill a book of its own. This
chapter will present an overview of these important subjects. The initial actions at a scene are the keystone
of an operation. When performed correctly, the incident usually runs smoothly, and the problems that arise
can be addressed.
‣ Hazmat incidents can occur anywhere and at any time. The response time for a hazmat team can often be
too long for firefighters to await their arrival without attempting to mitigate a minor situation or one that
involves life-safety of civilians. This demands that firefighters have a basic understanding of hazmat. They
should be able to reference the Department of Transportation guidebook to identify the potential of hazmat
and initiate actions to mitigate the situation. This is especially important when dealing with tank farm or
refinery fires.
‣ Incidents involving terrorism are rare. Yet their occurrence will have a tremendous potential for a large
loss of life and injury. We must recognize the signs that identify these events and act accordingly. This is
especially true with the possibility of the detonation of a dirty bomb. Terrorism incidents will place
firefighters at the leading edge. CDLs pose not only the potential for explosion injuring emergency
responders, but the hazardous waste created can affect anyone who comes into contact with it.

3. Overview/Introduction Cont.
‣ Natural disasters can strike anywhere and anytime. Preparation is a key element in
attempting to address the many and varied problems that these disasters pose.
‣ We as initial responders must ensure that our actions do not complicate a situation that will
be difficult at best. We should know the protection provided by our turnout gear. Our
actions should be directed to minimize death or injury of civilians and firefighters alike.
‣ At the end of each section are size-up factors as well as strategic goals and tactical priorities
that need to be taken into account when confronted with fires or incidents in these
occupancies. These lists are not meant to be all-inclusive. Other factors can and will exist
that must also be considered.
‣ The strategic goals and tactical priorities are for both offensive and defensive attacks, as
well as nonintervention, with suggested considerations for implementing an incident
management system to meet the potential problems. The strategic goals and tactical
priorities that are noted are in response to some of the potential problems that may occur.
The suggested incident management positions do not mean that they must be used or that
using them is the only correct method. These are initial positions that should be considered.
Depending on the problems presented by each individual situation, the Incident
Commander (IC) can implement these or other incident management positions to deal with
the problems.

4. ‣ Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student
shall be able to
‣ Discuss the initial concerns at a hazardous materials incident.
‣ Set up initial exclusion zones at a suspected hazardous materials
incident.
‣ Identify the difference between evacuation and protecting in place.
‣ Discuss types of storage tanks at tank farms and refineries.
‣ Discuss fire extinguishment concerns at tank farms and refineries.
‣ Discuss boilover, slopover, and frothover at a burning storage tank.
‣ Discuss weapons of terrorism.
‣ Discuss the actions of the first-arriving officer at a suspected terrorism
event.
Learning Objectives

5. ‣ Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student
shall be able to
‣ Understand the stages of response at a suspected or confirmed terrorism
event.
‣ Discuss strategic considerations if confronted with a dirty bomb incident.
‣ Describe the protection provided by a firefighter’s personal protective
gear at a suspected dirty bomb incident.
‣ Discuss radiation exposure considerations for firefighters at dirty bomb
incidents.
‣ Discuss strategic considerations at an incident involving a clandestine
drug lab.
‣ Discuss the problems associated with natural disasters.
‣ Discuss the strategic considerations needed for a natural disaster incident.
Learning Objectives Cont.

6. Section Text Pages
Hazardous materials incidents p. 458
Tank farm/refinery fires p. 473
Terrorism incidents p. 484
Dirty bombs p. 494
Clandestine drug labs p. 501
Natural disasters p. 511
Chapter Content