This chapter discusses special operations firefighters may encounter, including hazardous materials incidents, terrorism events, clandestine drug labs, and natural disasters. It emphasizes the importance of initial responders taking appropriate action prior to the arrival of specialized personnel. Size-up factors, strategic goals, tactical priorities, and incident management considerations are provided for each scenario to help responders address potential problems and minimize risks to civilians and firefighters. The chapter aims to give firefighters a basic understanding of these complex situations so their initial actions do not complicate the response and can help mitigate minor incidents when specialist assistance may be delayed.

1. Course Overview
Strategic and Tactical
Considerations on the Fireground
4th Edition

2. Course Description
‣ This curriculum covers multiple company operations, logistics,
strategy, use of mutual aid services and operations at complex
buildings. The course is intended for officers who may be in
command of fires and other emergencies involving close
coordination and maximum use of large amounts of personnel
and equipment. Risk management planning and critical thinking
skills are stressed.

3. Chapter 7
‣ Chapter 7 discusses specific types of structures, fires, or operations with which a
firefighter may be confronted. These occupancies, situations, or types of fires have
specific dangers that have had deadly results.
‣ At the end of each section are size-up factors as well as strategic goals and tactical
priorities that need to be considered when confronted by fires in these occupancies.
These lists are not meant to be all-inclusive. Other factors can and will exist that also
must be considered.
‣ The strategic goals and tactical priorities are for both offensive and defensive attacks,
with suggested considerations for implementing an incident management system to meet
the potential problems. The strategic goals and tactical priorities noted are in response to
some of the potential problems that may occur. The suggested incident management
positions do not mean to suggest that they must be used or that using them is the only
correct method. These are initial positions that should be considered. Depending upon the
problems presented by each individual situation, the Incident Commander can implement
these or other incident management positions to deal with the problems.
Chapter Overview

4. Chapter 7
‣ Understand the special occupancies discussed and the types of fires that
may confront firefighters.
‣ Identify pertinent characteristics of these occupancies.
‣ Recognize the 13 points of size-up that pertain to these special
occupancies.
‣ Recognize the strategic considerations for these special occupancies.
‣ Understand the incident management considerations of special
occupancies.
Learning Objective

5. Chapter 8
‣ Chapter 8 discusses health care and high-risk occupancies. Hospitals,
nursing homes, assisted living facilities, penal institutions, and schools have
occupants who typically cannot assist themselves should a fire occur in
these facilities. The elderly and the very young will require assistance from
firefighters should a fire occur.
‣ Houses of worship and public assembly buildings, when occupied, can have
a large number of occupants who may not be familiar with the building.
‣ Mass casualty incidents (MCIs) will tax fire and emergency medical
systems in their quest to save lives and minimize injuries.
‣ School incidents include firefighters’ responsibilities at violent situations
created by individuals that the police refer to as “active shooters,” meaning
those who have shot, killed, and injured students, both at schools and on
college campuses. Active shooter incidents now have been extended to
other venues, including the workplace, movie theatres, and other locales.
Chapter Overview

6. Chapter 8
‣ At the end of each section are size-up factors as well as strategic goals and
tactical priorities that need to be considered when confronted with fires in these
occupancies. These lists are not meant to be all-inclusive. Other factors can and
will exist that also must be considered.
‣ The strategic goals and tactical priorities are for both offensive and defensive
attacks 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.
‣ The MCIs contain suggested size-up factors, strategic considerations, and
incident management system solutions.
Chapter Overview Cont.

7. Chapter 8
‣ Understand the special occupancies discussed and the types of fires that
may confront firefighters.
‣ Identify pertinent characteristics of special occupancies.
‣ Recognize the 13 points of size-up that pertain to special occupancies.
‣ Recognize the strategic considerations for special occupancies.
‣ Understand the incident management considerations of special
occupancies.
Learning Objective

8. Chapter 9
‣ Chapter 9 discusses commercial buildings, warehouses, strip and enclosed malls,
supermarkets, lumberyards, and high-rise buildings. These occupancies can present
specific dangers to firefighters.
‣ At the end of each section are size-up factors as well as strategic goals and tactical
priorities that need to be considered when confronted with fires in these occupancies.
These lists are not meant to be all-inclusive. Other factors can and will exist that also must
be considered.
‣ The strategic goals and tactical priorities are for both offensive and defensive attacks, 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 upon the problems
presented by each individual situation, the Incident Commander (IC) can implement these
or other incident management positions to deal with the problems.
Chapter Overview

9. Chapter 9
‣ Understand the occupancies discussed and the types of fires that may
confront firefighters.
‣ Identify pertinent characteristics of these occupancies.
‣ Recognize the 13 points of size-up that pertain to these occupancies.
‣ Recognize the strategic considerations for these occupancies.
‣ Understand the incident management considerations of these
occupancies.
‣ Be able to identify the basic components needed in an operational
guideline for high-rise fires.
‣ Have a basic understanding of high-rise building systems.
‣ Identify the specific components of a high-rise command system.
Learning Objective

10. Chapter 10
‣ 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.
Chapter Overview

11. Chapter 10
‣ 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.
‣ 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.
Chapter Overview Cont.

12. Chapter 10
‣ 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.
Chapter Overview Cont.

13. Chapter 10
‣ 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 Objective

14. Chapter 10
‣ 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 Objective Cont.

15. Chapter 11
‣ 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.
Chapter Overview

16. Chapter 11
‣ 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.
‣ 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.
Chapter Overview Cont.

17. Chapter 11
‣ 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.
Chapter Overview Cont.

18. Chapter 11
‣ 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 Objective

19. Chapter 11
‣ 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 Objective