1810 Ch 1 PowerPoint.pptx

Strategic and Tactical
Considerations on the Fireground
4th Edition
Chapter 1 — Preparation

Learning Objectives (1 of 2)
1.1 Discuss the behavior of fire.
1.2 Understand the benefits of training for the firefighter,
company officer, and the fire department.
1.3 Discuss the benefits of preplanning.
1.4 Understand how to calculate needed fire flow.
1.5 Recognize the duties of both company and chief
officers.

Learning Objectives (2 of 2)
1.6 Identify the traits of a person with command presence.
1.7 Identify and discuss the 16 Firefighter Life Safety
Initiatives.
1.8 Understand the safe operation of fire department
apparatus.

Behavior of Fire (1 of 2)
‣ Question to ask students:
‣ What are the dangers associated with backdrafts,
how do they form, and how can they be prevented?

Behavior of Fire (2 of 2)
‣ Fuel, oxygen, and heat are required to produce fire and
are represented as the fire triangle.
‣ A fire will cease to exist if any one of the three sides is
removed.
‣ Removal of fuel is typically not an option.
‣ Covering or smothering may remove oxygen.
‣ Cooling agents are used to reduce heat.

Fire Tetrahedron (1 of 2)
‣ A fourth method for extinguishing a fire is to interrupt the
chemical reaction of fuel, oxygen, and heat with an
extinguishing agent.
‣ This is referred to as the fourth side of the triangle.
‣ The fire triangle becomes a fire tetrahedron.
‣ Define the three sides of the fire triangle and their role in
fire behavior. Also describe the “fourth side of the
triangle” and its mechanism of action.

Fire Tetrahedron (2 of 2)
‣ Define the three sides of the fire triangle and their
role in fire behavior. Also describe the “fourth side of
the triangle” and its mechanism of action.

Classes of Fires
‣ In the United States, fires are categorized into five
classes: A, B, C, D, and K.
‣ This system is used to identify the type of fire
extinguisher needed.

Class A Fires
‣ Involve ordinary combustible materials: wood, paper,
textile, etc.
‣ Commonly extinguished with water, water plus an
additive, or fire extinguishers.
‣ Typical additives are Class A foam and high expansion
foam.
‣ Class A extinguishers are marked with a green triangle
containing the letter A.

Class B Fires
‣ Involve flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum
greases, tars, oils, solvents, lacquers, alcohols, and
flammable gasses.
‣ Extinguished using foam and fire extinguishers.
‣ Class B extinguishers are marked with a red square
containing the letter B.

Class C Fires
‣ Involve energized electrical equipment.
‣ Dry chemical and carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are
utilized.
‣ Class C extinguishers are marked with a blue circle
containing the letter C.

Class D Fires
‣ Involve combustible metals.
‣ Water should not be used because it can result in
explosion.
‣ Purple K and other specialized fire extinguishers should
be used.
‣ Class D extinguishers are marked with a yellow star
containing the letter D.

Class K Fires
‣ Involves cooking appliances with vegetable oils, animal
oils, or fats.
‣ Fought with special fire extinguishers that are generally
found in commercial kitchens.
‣ Class K extinguishers can be used simultaneously with
hood suppression systems found in commercial kitchens.
‣ Class K fires should not be confused with Purple K fire
extinguishers, which are designed for Class C fires.
‣ Class K extinguishers are marked with a black hexagon
containing the letter K.

Spread of Heat
‣ Heat is generated when a combustible material comes in
contact with a heat source-if oxygen is present, the
material will burn.
‣ Heat can spread to other materials and areas.

Methods of Heat Transfer
‣ Heat can be transferred through direct contact with
flames, as well as:
‣ Conduction
‣ Convection
‣ Radiation

Conduction
‣ Heat is transferred through direct contact of materials.
‣ Material with greater temperature will transfer heat to
material with lower temperature.
‣ Ease of fire spread depends on the combustibility of the
materials involved.

Convection
‣ Heat is transferred by a gas or liquid.
‣ Movement of heated air currents can spread fire to
uninvolved areas.
‣ Staircases are a ready path for air currents to spread fire
to upper floors.
‣ Proper use of ventilation can prevent fire spread by
convection.

Radiation
‣ Heat rays from a fire travel in straight lines in all
directions from a fire.
‣ Rays continue until heat is dissipated or they meet an
object that may absorb the heat and ignite.
‣ Exposed buildings can be protected by cooling with water
streams.

Stages of Fire
‣ The five stages of fire are:
‣ Ignition
‣ Growth
‣ Flashover
‣ Fully developed
‣ Decay

Ignition Stage
‣ Initial stage where fuel, oxygen, heat, and the uninhibited
chemical chain reaction come together.

Growth Stage
‣ Stage where fire develops.
‣ Dependent on the amount of fuel and oxygen available.
‣ Contents of the room become heated as the temperature
of the fire increases.
‣ Greater fire department response is required.

Flashover Stage
‣ The transition between the growth stage and a fully
developed fire.
‣ Characterized by the simultaneous ignition of the surface
area of combustible materials in the fire space.
‣ Temperatures estimated at 900 to 1100 degrees F.

Fully Developed Stage
‣ Occurs when all combustible materials are involved in the
fire.
‣ Heat will be at a maximum.
‣ Temperatures can exceed 2000 degrees F.

Decay Stage
‣ Occurs when the oxygen or fuel sources diminish.
‣ Large volumes of smoke containing carbon monoxide are
produced.
‣ A lack of oxygen can create a smoldering state that might
lead to a backdraft or “smoke explosion.”

Multiple Growth and Decay Stages
(1 of 4)
‣ An outside fire may have sufficient oxygen to burn freely.
‣ The burning of a fire in an enclosed structure is
dependant on fuel and oxygen.
‣ A fire in a structure during growth stage is called fuel-
limited/controlled.
‣ A ventilation-limited/controlled fire occurs as the burning
increases.

(2 of 4)
‣ The oxygen level reduces below 21 percent.
‣ The initial decay stage occurs once the oxygen level gets
below 16 percent.
‣ A pulsing action of smoke may appear as the decaying
fire draws in more oxygen.
‣ If more air is unable to be pulled in, the fire will self-
extinguish.

(3 of 4)
‣ A second growth stage can occur and transition the fire
to flashover.
‣ After flashover, the fire is burning more than can be
supported by the entrained air.
‣ If the fire is not vented, but is venting, it will enter the fully
developed stage.
‣ If additional ventilation openings are created, the third
growth stage can occur.

(4 of 4)
‣ The fire will remain ventilation-limited unless:
‣ Additional oxygen is made available.
‣ The fire becomes fuel-limited.
‣ Suppression is initiated and water is applied to the
fire.

Rollover
‣ The fire or flame front often observed rolling in front of
burning materials.
‣ A fuel-rich air can get pushed ahead of a fire.
‣ When it comes into its flammable limits, it burns.
‣ Fire appears to be rolling along at ceiling level 10 to 20
feet ahead of the main fire.

Flashover
‣ The ignition of combustibles in an area heated by
convection, radiation, or both.
‣ Combustibles are heated to their ignition point and ignite
almost simultaneously.
‣ Warning signs include intense heat, fog streams turning
to steam, and smoking of unburned articles.
‣ To reduce likelihood, lower temperatures using ventilation
and water.

Backdraft
‣ A rare explosion created as a developing fire creates air
deficient in oxygen.
‣ Explosive gases build up and high temperatures turn fuel
into ignitable vapors.
‣ Sudden oxygen entry causes the gases to ignite, readily
causing a violent explosion.
‣ Ventilation is the first priority in prevention.

Training (1 of 2)
‣ Who benefits from training?

Training (2 of 2)
‣ Backbone of fire department
‣ Helps increase speed of an operation
‣ Enhances proper execution while reducing injuries
‣ Benefits everyone (firefighter, company officer, fire
department, and the community)
‣ A firefighter who arrives at an emergency unprepared can
be faced with life-and-death situations and will find
themselves under extreme stress to perform the
necessary duties.

Firefighter Benefit
‣ Training helps new members learn basic skills.
‣ Training helps senior members keep their skills sharp.
‣ Training helps reduce errors.
‣ Training helps firefighters gain confidence in themselves
and assume further responsibilities.

Company Officer Benefit
‣ Better control over operations
‣ Frees up officer to assume greater responsibility
‣ Creates a more pleasant relationship between officer and
firefighters because well-trained firefighters enable the
officer to have less fear of emergencies

Department Benefit
‣ Efficiency of fire department is recognized by the citizens
it protects.
‣ Training improves community relations.
‣ Training keeps morale at a high level, contributing to
pleasant working conditions.

Preparation Is Required (1 of 3)
‣ Exercises must be challenging.
‣ Reading from a text is boring!
‣ An officer needs to prepare well to ensure the goals of
the training exercise will be attained.
‣ An officer can maintain interest in the subject by asking
questions and seeking input from all participants.

‣ Training permits mistakes to be made in a nonemergency
setting.
‣ Training exercises can be stopped to point out and
correct procedures.

‣ Questions to ask students:
‣ What are “performance standards” or “timed
evolutions”?
‣ Why would time frames be used in these evolutions?
‣ What performance standards or timed evolutions are
used in their individual departments?

Performance Standards (1 of 2)
‣ Establish performance standards or timed evolutions for
engine and truck/ladder companies; trainees utilizing that
criteria will be better prepared to handle the varied
problems that occur at an incident scene.
‣ Start with basic evolutions and then add more complex
additional functions.
‣ The entire evolution must be specific and documented.

Performance Standards (2 of 2)
‣ There should be a maximum amount of time to complete an
evolution.
‣ Speed alone should not be the determining factor; safe
operations and adhering to the entire performance standard
must be judged.
‣ Videotaping evolutions is an excellent training and feedback
tool.
‣ Company officers should take note of the time it takes to
complete an evolution. For example, noting how long it takes
to place a master stream will aid in assigning tactical
operations in a real emergency.

Cross-Training
‣ Fire departments should regularly schedule training
involving multiple units, including specialized units such
as heavy rescue and hazardous materials.
‣ Hands-on training provides an opportunity to better
understand how the various units function, allowing an
emergency scene to operate smoothly.
‣ Train routinely with mutual-aid departments.
‣ Enable members to develop friendships and share
experiences, benefiting each department when called
upon to work together in future incidents.

Preincident Planning (1 of 2)
‣ Why should fire departments conduct building
inspections and preplan buildings?
‣ What is the benefit to the fire department from
preplanning?
‣ What is the benefit to the property owner?
‣ What is the benefit to the firefighter?

Preincident Planning (2 of 2)
‣ Provides information.
‣ Is a method of gathering facts about a building or a
process within a building.
‣ Lets a fire department evaluate conditions and situations
prior to an emergency.
‣ Fire departments that utilize preplanning can mean the
difference between success or failure at an emergency
incident.
‣ Preincident planning allows fire departments to anticipate
potential problems and analyze possible solutions.

Preplanning Responsibility (1 of 3)
‣ Preplanning responsibility starts with the fire chief.
‣ A chief officer should be assigned to oversee the
preincident planning programs.
‣ This permits standardization and continuity of all
preplans.

‣ Target hazards for which preincident plans should be
prepared; include buildings or processes:
‣ That pose a high threat to life safety of those who
work in the building or facility and to those who live
nearby
‣ That would create safety problems for firefighters and
other emergency responders
‣ That could create a conflagration hazard
‣ That would present unusual and demanding
situations for responding firefighters

‣ That have a high frequency of fires
‣ That would have a large economic impact on the
community
‣ Consult historical data, as well as national and local
statistics.
‣ This analysis assists in determining potential problems.

Documentation (1 of 2)
‣ The preplanning process begins with an on-site survey.
‣ The responsibility for gathering information is usually assigned to
the first-due engine or truck company.
‣ Site survey data can be stored:
‣ On large index cards for easy reference
‣ In a booklet consisting of multiple pages
‣ In a database that can be printed out at the time of the alarm
‣ On a palm-sized or handheld computer
‣ Combination of an index card system that is backed by a
booklet

Documentation (2 of 2)
‣ Quality is the important concern. An overwhelming
amount of data can be counterproductive.
‣ The booklet method can contain a section on fire
department concerns. It can include information on
standpipes, building renovations, etc.
‣ Phone numbers and emergency contact personnel can
change.
‣ Responders should review and update the information
during site visits.

Considerations (1 of 2)
‣ Analysis of each situation merits questions:
‣ How will we be able to protect building occupants and
those in threatened exposures?
‣ What evacuation plans have been formulated?
‣ Are there other means by which occupants can be
protected, such as lateral evacuation or protecting in
place?
‣ Are there protective systems in the building?

Considerations (2 of 2)
‣ On-site survey should consider how construction features
and protective systems impede or assist the fire
department once a fire occurs.
‣ Another benefit derived from preplanning is that
command decisions can be made under nonemergency
conditions. This reduces the stress on the Incident
Commander during an emergency.

Resource Utilization
‣ Preplan should consider the availability of resources.
‣ Anticipate reduced staffing and develop alternate
strategies.
‣ Preplan should address utilization of outside agencies,
i.e., police and Red Cross, and the specific duties
expected of them.

Considerations
‣ Development and utilization of an incident management
system that all agencies use is instrumental in dealing
with large-scale incidents.
‣ Anticipating specific problems allows prior thought and
research on the part of the individuals who may assume
specific roles in the command system.

Disaster Planning
‣ There are certain facilities where, should an emergency
occur, there could be a direct impact on the surrounding
community.
‣ These include chemical plants, refineries, testing labs,
and large water purification plants.
‣ These sites will require large-scale plans with multi-
agency planning and community input.
‣ The preplan should take into account any special
equipment required and mutual-aid response.

Plan Review
‣ Review of the preplan with the personnel of the affected
facility is a positive step.
‣ Facility personnel can be utilized as technical specialists
that can assist the Incident Commander during an
emergency.

Testing the Plan (1 of 2)
‣ Implementation of the preplan during a simulated
exercise assists in adjusting the plan as needed.
Consider:
‣ What worked well?
‣ What needs to be adjusted?
‣ What problems did the fire department encounter?
‣ If the community was involved in the exercise, did
they have any problems?
‣ Did the plant or facility find any discrepancies in the
plan?

Testing the Plan (2 of 2)
‣ Encourage the addition of contingency plans for
foreseeable problems and their incorporation into the
exercises.
‣ Review the plan annually to see if any modifications are
needed.

Needed Fire Flow (1 of 4)
‣ How do we know how much water will be required to
control and extinguish a fire?
‣ Is anyone familiar with the needed fire flow formula
taught at the National Fire Academy?

‣ The Incident Commander at a fire scene needs to know
how much water will be needed for effective fire control.
‣ This is best accomplished during the preplanning stage.
‣ When preplanned information is available to the initial
Incident Commander upon arrival at an incident, strategic
and tactical decisions can be made more readily and
accurately.

‣ To determine needed fire flow during preplanning
requires the application of a fire flow formula to conditions
observed during an inspection of the premises.
‣ When fire flow information is not available, the National
Fire Academy (NFA) formula allows for quick
calculations.
‣ The NFA formula provides a starting point for deciding
the amount of water required at an incident scene.

‣ NFA formula:
‣ Fire flow = length × width ÷ 3
‣ Example:
‣ Single family dwelling 60 ft × 20 ft and one-story high
‣ 60 × 20 ÷ 3 × 1 = 400 gallons per minute (gpm)
‣ 100% involvement = 400 gpm
‣ Quick-calculation formula indicates that, if the dwelling were fully
involved, 400 gpm would be required to effectively control the fire.

Figure 1-13 To calculate fire flow for a single-
family dwelling 60 feet long by 20 feet wide.
Used with permission of Michael DeLuca

Multistory Structures (1 of 2)
‣ In multistory buildings, if more than one floor in the
building is involved, fire flow is based on the area
represented by the number of floors actually burning.
‣ Example:
‣ Fire flow for a two-story building with similar
dimensions to the one in the previous example would
be:
‣ 60 × 20 ÷ 3 × 2 (floors) = 800 gpm if fully involved

Multistory Structures (2 of 2)
‣ If other floors in a building are not yet involved, but are
threatened by possible extension of the fire, they should
be considered as interior exposures, and 25 percent of
the required fire flow of the fire floor should be added for
exposure protection for each exposed floor above the fire
door to a maximum of five interior exposures.

Figure 1-14 A charge of 25 percent will be calculated
for each floor above the fire floor up to a maximum of
five floors. Used with permission of Michael DeLuca

Exterior Exposures (1 of 5)
‣ If exterior exposures are being exposed to fire from the
original fire building, 25 percent of the actual required fire
flow for the building on fire should be added to provide
protection for each side of a building that has exterior
exposures.

Figure 1-15
If exterior exposures are being threatened by fire from the original fire building, 25 percent
of the actual required flow for the building on fire should be added to provide protection for
each side of a building that has exposures. Used with permission of Michael DeLuca.

‣ Example:
‣ From our previous one-story dwelling with exposed
exterior structures on two sides of the fire building:
‣ 60 × 20 ÷ 3 × 1 = 400 gpm
‣ 2 exposures: 400 gpm × (25% × 2) = 200 gpm
‣ Total fire flow required = 600 gpm

‣ If the exposure becomes involved in the fire, the
exposure(s) should then be treated as a separate fire
area and calculated separately, then added to the
required fire flow for the original fire area.
‣ Remember-the quick calculation is an estimation of the
water needed to control the fire.
‣ The formula is geared toward an offensive attack, and its
accuracy diminishes with fire involving more than 50
percent of a structure and with defensive operations.

‣ Firefighting is not an exact science.
‣ The quick-calculation formula cannot be expected to
determine the exact gpm that will be specifically required
for full fire control.

Available Water Supply
‣ Available water flow must be known.
‣ Type and location of water supplies should be specified.
‣ Provide exact locations if using hydrants or drafting sites.
‣ If a tender operation is used, determine how many will be
needed to ensure a constant water supply.

Determining Type of Attack (1 of 3)
‣ Once the required fire flow has been determined, the
capability of available resources will determine the
strategy and tactics needed to control the incident.
‣ If the fire flow capability of available resources exceeds
the required fire flow, an interior attack on the fire can
usually be made.

‣ Before this can be implemented, the Incident Commander
should consider:
‣ Do existing conditions allow sufficient safety for the
firefighters on an interior attack?
‣ Are there sufficient firefighters on scene?
‣ Is the fire area accessible?
‣ How many hose-lines and firefighters are needed?
‣ Where is the best location from which to attack the fire?
‣ What support activities are needed (ventilation, forcible
entry, etc.)?

‣ If the fire flow requirements exceed the fire flow capability
of available resources, a defensive mode of operation is
usually required.
‣ The Incident Commander must recognize that situations
occur where nothing can be done to save the involved
building. In these circumstances, exposure protection
becomes the primary objective.

Selection of Hose-Line
•
•
inch hose-line flows approximately 250 gpm.
‣ We can estimate the number of hose-lines and resources
needed to control the fire.
‣ If control is not achieved within a reasonable period of
time, the amount of water may have to be increased or a
defensive attack may need to be implemented.
‣ If immediate knockdown of the fire takes place, the
amount of water being applied can be reduced to
minimize water damage to the structure and contents.

The Fire Officer (1 of 12)
‣ How do local fire departments select their fire
officers?
‣ What are the requirements for becoming a fire officer
in the local fire departments?

‣ Company officer
‣ Among the most critical members of a fire department
‣ Direct link for the firefighters between middle and
executive management
‣ Must accomplish the goals of the department while
looking out for the well-being of their firefighters
‣ Has to get work accomplished through others
‣ Management style is not as important as being
consistent
‣ Leads by example

‣ Company leader
‣ Respect and admiration is gained through many
individual qualities:
‣ Ability to adapt to changing situations
‣ Quick thinking
‣ Good communication skills
‣ Ability to remain calm in critical situations
‣ Ability to frame orders clearly and concisely, and
give, not yell, the orders

‣ Common sense
‣ Some are born with it.
‣ It can be developed.
‣ Think Before You Act!
‣ Take the time to “Stop, Step Back, and Think” before
acting.

‣ People skills.
‣ Determine how to bring out the best in each subordinate.
‣ Find the key to motivation-what drives each individual?
‣ Publicly praise good behavior.
‣ Privately criticize mistakes.
‣ Knowledge of district
‣ The officer should do a risk analysis of the unit’s response
district/community.
‣ The officer should draw upon the experiences of their
firefighters.

‣ Teamwork
‣ Chief officers don’t extinguish fires.
‣ Chiefs develop the basic strategy.
‣ Execution of the chief’s orders is the responsibility of
the company officers and firefighters.
‣ Success occurs when a total team effort is extended.
‣ The company officer’s duties on an emergency can
cover a wide spectrum. This can range from initial
Incident Commander to a division or group
supervisor.

‣ Training
‣ It is the backbone of every good organization.
‣ The more we train, the better we become.
‣ Riding assignments
‣ Assigning tools and basic tasks to firefighters
‣ Assigned at the start of each shift
‣ Some volunteer departments have assignments
established by the apparatus seat position. Seats
are numbered, and specific duties are assigned to
the firefighter riding in each seat.

‣ Responsibility
‣ The company officer is responsible for many areas,
such as training, physical fitness, and mental
readiness of the entire crew.
‣ The company officer determines route and regulates
speed of the apparatus on an emergency response.
‣ Everyone should have their personal protective
equipment on and be seated with seat belt secured
before apparatus leaves the station.
‣ Company officer will direct the positioning of
apparatus on scene.

‣ The company officer arriving on scene will complete a
scene/structure size-up.
‣ Consider secondary means of egress and share this
information with firefighters.
‣ Teamwork is enhanced by effective communication
between the company officer and firefighters.

‣ What should the company officer be looking for when
performing his or her size-up?

‣ Safety
‣ Safety is one of the, if not the, most important
responsibilities of a company officer.
‣ Implementation of safety in practice evolutions will
carry over to the emergency scene.
‣ Fire officers must ensure that everyone is wearing
full protective clothing when operating at an incident.

‣ What specific areas should a chief officer consider
when analyzing communications breakdowns that
are occurring at an incident scene?

The Chief Officer (1 of 11)
‣ What is expected of a chief officer at an incident
scene?

‣ Leader of a fire department
‣ Encompasses variety of ranks, such as battalion, district,
division, deputy, assistant, and chief of the department.
‣ Difference between a chief and a company officer
‣ A chief must assume responsibility for management
and leadership in the department.
‣ Experience learned as a company officer will be the
foundation that chief officers can build upon.
‣ They should lead by example.

‣ Orders given must be based upon what is best for the
community and the department as a whole.
‣ There should be no inclination toward favoritism.

‣ Personal development
‣ Chief officers must continue to expand their knowledge.
‣ Their knowledge base must be diverse.
‣ Knowledge
‣ Fire science
‣ Building construction
‣ Strategy and tactics
‣ Management
‣ Must control and manage themselves first.
‣ Be cognizant of poor communications.
‣ Ensure orders are understood.

‣ Delegation
‣ Chief officers must be able to manage their own time
effectively.
‣ Inability or refusal to delegate will overwhelm the chief
officer, leading to inefficiencies.
‣ Delegation is a major part of leadership.
‣ Trying to do everything alone is a recipe for failure.
‣ Use delegation as a tool for development, not as a means
of avoiding work.
‣ Decision making at emergency scenes can be learned by
company officers with the oversight of chief officers.

‣ Incident scene
‣ What is expected of a chief officer at an incident
scene?
‣ Leadership
‣ Direction
‣ Safe operating procedures
‣ Problem solving
‣ Common sense
‣ Unity of command

‣ Teamwork
‣ Dependability
‣ Initiative
‣ A positive attitude
‣ Enthusiasm
‣ Professional conduct
‣ Ability to adapt to changing situations

‣ At an incident, the chief, after surveying the scene by
doing a 360-degree walk-around, should establish a
position in front of the fire building from which to
command the incident.
‣ Resist the urge to get a “hands-on feel” for the
incident.
‣ The chief officer must rely on the company officer to
be his or her eyes and ears.
‣ The chief must interpret the verbal reports received
and compare them to what is observed.

‣ The chief must let it be known what is expected of the
company officer.
‣ It is the responsibility of the chief officer to train fire
officers and to assume the blame for their mistakes.

‣ Sectoring
‣ As fire increases in size or complexity, higher-ranking
chief officers will respond and often assume
Command of the fire.
‣ This will permit other chief officers to be assigned to
supervise various divisions or groups.
‣ Safety considerations
‣ The chief must ensure that no firefighters take
unnecessary chances that would endanger
themselves or others while attempting to control or
extinguish a fire.

‣ Specialization
‣ Needs to have an intricate knowledge of the
implementation of the command system.
‣ Needs to understand what can be accomplished with the
resources at their disposal.
‣ Needs to understand limitations of equipment and
apparatus.
‣ Handling of specialized areas, such as WMD and
hazardous materials, should be delegated to the
appropriate unit or agency.
‣ Incident Commander still retains control and overall
responsibility for the incident scene.

Command Presence (1 of 4)
‣ How does command presence or command
leadership have an impact at an incident scene?

‣ The ability to command a scene requires preparation and
development on the part of the Incident Commander.
‣ It is a demanding, autocratic position.
‣ The critical nature of an emergency scene does not
allow for decision making by committee.
‣ Leaders who exhibit confidence in themselves will gain
the confidence of their subordinates.

‣ Self-discipline
‣ Command presence must be developed.
‣ Leaders must have self-discipline.
‣ It is important to be precise, deliberate, and decisive.
‣ The officer who consistently shouts at an incident scene
is frowned upon.
‣ Visualize incident scenes
‣ Mentally place yourself in various locations, and visualize
various fire scenarios in your mind’s eye.
‣ Visualizing scenarios allows us to prepare for the
eventuality of certain occurrences.

‣ Utilize experience
‣ Draw upon what worked well in previous situations.
‣ The learning process
‣ Learn from the mistakes of others.
‣ Study texts, fire journals, and case studies.

Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives
(1 of 7)
‣ What are some basic acts of safety that must become
routine for all firefighters?

(2 of 7)
‣ 16 major initiatives created to reduce line-of-duty deaths
by 25 percent over five years and 50 percent within ten
years

(3 of 7)
1. Define and advocate the need for a cultural change
within the fire service relating to safety, incorporating
leadership, management, supervision, accountability,
and personal responsibility.
2. Enhance the personal and organizational accountability
for health and safety throughout the fire service.

(4 of 7)
1. Focus greater attention on the integration of risk
management with incident management at all levels,
including strategic, tactical, and planning
responsibilities.
2. Empower all firefighters to stop unsafe practices.
3. Develop and implement national standards for training,
qualifications, and certification that are equally
applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties they
are expected to perform.

(5 of 7)
1. Develop and implement national medical and physical
fitness standards that are equally applicable to all
firefighters, based on the duties they are expected to
perform.
7. Create a national research agenda and data collection
system that relate to the initiatives.
8. Utilize available technology wherever it can produce
higher levels of health and safety.
9. Thoroughly investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries,
and near misses.

(7 of 7)
1. Provide firefighters and their families access to
counseling and psychological support.
2. Provide public education with more resources and
champion it as a critical fire and life safety program.
15.Strengthen advocacy for the enforcement of codes and
the installation of home fire sprinklers.
16.Make safety a primary consideration in the design of
apparatus and equipment.

Safe Operation of Fire Department
Apparatus (1 of 13)
‣ There is a legal responsibility placed on a fire department
for safe operation of fire apparatus.
‣ Excessive speed does not guarantee arriving in less time.
‣ An accident while responding places at risk:
‣ Those on the apparatus
‣ Pedestrians
‣ Drivers and passengers of other vehicles
‣ Those who placed the call for help

Apparatus (2 of 13)
‣ Driver training in America
‣ Five “seeing habits” identified
‣ Aim high in steering.
‣ Get the big picture.
‣ Keep your eyes moving.
‣ Leave yourself an out.
‣ Make sure they see you.

Apparatus (3 of 13)
‣ Aim high in steering.
‣ Look not only where we are, but where we will be.
‣ Our view should encompass as far ahead as we can
see.
‣ Changing lanes too often can confuse the drivers
trying to get out of the way.
‣ If traffic is gridlocked, consider a parallel roadway,
alternate route, or dispatch another company.
‣ Should a unit not be responding on the normal route,
they should notify other responding units of this
change.

Apparatus (4 of 13)
‣ Get the big picture.
‣ Know at all times where other vehicles are around
you.
‣ Anticipate the actions of aggressive drivers.
‣ Give yourself plenty of room in front of you.

Apparatus (5 of 13)
‣ Keep your eyes moving.
‣ Move your eyes up and down and from side to side.
‣ Anticipate the movements of people on sidewalks and
crosswalks.
‣ Elderly pedestrians may have impaired hearing or vision.
‣ Attempt to make eye contact with other drivers and
pedestrians.
‣ Beware of children chasing a ball or family pet into the
street.
‣ You must have complete control of the apparatus at all
times.

Apparatus (6 of 13)
‣ Leave yourself an out.
‣ Ensure there is enough space around your vehicle.
‣ Be aware of your apparatus’ braking distance.
‣ Driving time of a firefighter for an apparatus can be 10
hours a week or less.
‣ Adjust driving to road conditions or inclement
weather.

Apparatus (7 of 13)
‣ Make sure they see you.
‣ People may not notice a fire apparatus on the road.
‣ Warning devices can be problematic.
‣ Sirens are directional with sound intensity straight
forward.
‣ A siren’s range can be reduced by tall buildings,
intersections, and curves.

Apparatus (8 of 13)
‣ Airhorns’ effectiveness can be diminished if sounded
continuously.
‣ Sound systems, head phones, and cell phones can
prevent warning devices being heard.
‣ Drivers might panic, stop dead, or make a radical
move once they realize you are right behind them.

Apparatus (9 of 13)
‣ Intersection accidents
‣ Most serious accidents occur at intersections.
‣ SOGs should specify that all apparatus come to a
complete stop at a red light.
‣ The apparatus driver should remove their foot from
the accelerator when entering blind intersections.

Apparatus (10 of 13)
‣ Fixed objects
‣ Drivers frequently strike fixed objects.
‣ When backing an apparatus, the driver must be guided
even if the apparatus has an onboard camera.
‣ All members should dismount when backing.
‣ Drivers should be cognizant of the entire width and
length of their vehicle.
‣ Height must be considered when encountering low
bridges and tree limbs over streets.
‣ Drivers should know locations with inherent driving
hazards.

‣ Arriving at the scene
‣ Slow down as the apparatus nears the dispatched
location.
‣ Check for hydrants near the fire building.
‣ Slowing allows for the address of the incident to be
located.
‣ The front of the building should be reserved for the
first-due ladder truck.
‣ Should the engine and ladder enter from opposing
directions, the engine will need to stop short.

‣ Seat belt usage
‣ There is always the possibility of being killed or
injured in accidents.
‣ Not wearing seatbelts has lead to firefighters being
injured or killed in accidents in the past.
‣ No apparatus should move until all passengers have
their seatbelts fastened.

‣ Responsibility
‣ Firefighters should become courteous, defensive
drivers.
‣ We should never assume or demand the right of way.
‣ The company officer is responsible for the route taken
and the speed of the apparatus.
‣ Don’t compound an emergency situation by having an
accident and not arriving.
‣ We need to exhibit control at all times.
‣ By not arriving in a timely manner, we impact the lives of
those counting on us.

1810 Ch 1 PowerPoint.pptx

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