This document outlines the division of labor concept for structuring firefighting operations. It describes how an incident commander coordinates engine and truck company functions. The engine company is responsible for obtaining a water source, setting up pumps, advancing hose lines into structures, and fulfilling the life safety priority through extinguishment. The truck company conducts search and rescue operations through ventilation and forcible entry. Proper apparatus positioning and coordination of company tasks are essential to safely and effectively battling structure fires.

1. 4
Company
Operations

2. 4
Learning Objectives (1 of 7)
• Compare the division-of-labor concept
as used in industry to company-level
deployment.
• Describe structural firefighting functional
assignments.

3. 4
Learning Objectives (2 of 7)
• Enumerate engine and ladder company
fire-ground functions and tasks.
• Analyze tactics for the first-arriving fire
company in relation to life safety.

4. 4
Learning Objectives (3 of 7)
• Apply engine and ladder company tasks
to coordinating and controlling
company-level deployment.
• Explain the importance of company
unity to incident organization and
accountability.

5. 4
Learning Objectives (4 of 7)
• List situations where splitting companies
may be acceptable.
• Evaluate the positive and negative
aspects of pre-assigning tasks, tools,
and fire-ground positions.

6. 4
Learning Objectives (5 of 7)
• Assess proper and improper ventilation
methods in regard to achieving the
operational priorities of life safety,
extinguishment, and property
conservation.
• Given the fire and victim locations,
determine the best vent location.

7. 4
Learning Objectives (6 of 7)
• Describe safe and efficient positioning
of apparatus.
• Apply engine and ladder company tasks
at a structure fire.

8. 4
Learning Objectives (7 of 7)
• Analyze company operations at a
structure fire scenario.
• Develop an incident action plan utilizing
engine and ladder company functional
assignments.

9. 4
Overview (1 of 2)

10. 4
Overview (2 of 2)
• Primary responsibility is to work within
the overall incident action plan.
– Freelancing cannot be tolerated.
– First-in units can go to work quickly using
SOPs.
• Allows IC time to evaluate options while
maintaining control

11. 4
Division of Labor Principle (1 of 3)
• Basis for the Industrial Revolution
• Developing job skills in a concentrated
area allows greater productivity.
• “Jack of all trades, master of none”—
overcome by developing a high level of
expertise in a limited number of tasks

12. 4
Division of Labor Principle (2 of 3)
• Stresses need for pre-assigning duties
– Fire fighters should be cross-trained.
– Ensures that everyone is familiar with what
will be expected of them

13. 4
Division of Labor Principle (3 of 3)
• Divides tasks into functional areas:
– Command responsibilities
– Engine company tasks
– Truck company tasks
– Emergency medical services (EMS)
– Special operations
– Support services

14. 4
Engine Company Operations
• Performing rescue operations
• Establishing a water supply
• Advancing and operating hose lines

15. 4
Engine Company Tasks (1 of 4)
• Usually first to arrive
– First-in officer initiates the attack.
– Provides a means of moving water from a
water supply to the fire
• Life safety is the first priority.
– Victims and fire fighters

16. 4
Engine Company Tasks (2 of 4)
• Life safety objectives
– Place attack lines in position
– Provide safe evacuation routes
• Conduct a cursory search
– Occupants may only need direction and
guidance.

17. 4
Engine Company Tasks (3 of 4)
• Position hose lines or remove
occupants?
– Difficult decision based on:
• Immediate danger to the occupants
• Available staffing and resources
• Time before additional resources arrive
• Extent of fire involvement
• Equipment available to perform rescue

18. 4
Engine Company Tasks (4 of 4)
• Life safety is top priority.
• IAP directs resources towards
evacuation of endangered occupants.

19. 4
Truck Company Operations
• Conduct primary search
• Rescue trapped victims
• Ventilate
• Force entry
• Ladder the building
• Check for fire extension
• Access concealed spaces

20. 4
Truck Company Tasks (1 of 3)
• “Ladder company” = “truck company”
• Aerial device not necessary at every fire
or in every department
– Still necessary to have truck company
functions assigned

21. 4
Truck Company Tasks (2 of 3)
• Responsible for a wide variety of tasks
– Staffing is crucial.
• Activities are limited during defensive
attacks.
– Elevated master streams

22. 4
Truck Company Tasks (3 of 3)
• Low-staffing situations
– May need to assist engine company
• Not the most effective use of personnel

23. 4
Rescue
• Indirect activity for engine companies
– Hose lines between victims and the fire
• Direct activity for truck companies
– Ventilate
– Primary search, remove victims
– Ladder building

24. 4
Control and Coordination (1 of 3)
• IC coordinates all activities.
• Truck companies work in areas above
the fire.
• Engine company works at controlling
the fire.

25. 4
Control and Coordination (2 of 3)
• If the fire is not controlled, truck
companies need to be notified to
evacuate.
– Retreat protected by engine company

26. 4
Control and Coordination (3 of 3)

27. 4
Safety and Control
• Operating units must work as groups.
– First-in truck company is exception to the
rule
• Permissible to split into separate crews

28. 4
Company Unity (1 of 2)
• It is not freelancing when a crew is split
into separate teams.
– Each crew should have a team leader.
• Other exceptions
– Inside/outside crew
– Must comply with two-in/two-out rules

29. 4
Company Unity (2 of 2)
• Operator may remain at apparatus.
• Company should remain together
whenever possible.
• Company unity facilitates accountability.
– Officer can verify safety of crew.

30. 4
Quint/Quad Companies
• Multi-function apparatus
– Engine and truck company operations
– Staffing may or may not be sufficient.
• Dictates tasks able to be performed
• Activities covered by SOPs

31. 4
Ventilation (1 of 3)
• One of the IC’s most important tactical
considerations
– Given a high priority
• Can have a positive effect on all three
fire-ground priorities

32. 4
Ventilation (2 of 3)
• Can adversely affect all three priorities
– Fire stream placed into a vent opening
– Venting in the wrong location
• If inadequate, an offensive attack rarely
will be successful.

33. 4
Ventilation (3 of 3)

34. 4
Apparatus Positioning
• Company commander’s concern
• Directly related to company’s
assignment
– Must be consistent with objective
• Should keep fire zone accessible and
safe

35. 4
Pumping Apparatus (1 of 4)
• Positioning should be addressed in
SOPs.
– Residential fires: locate directly in front of
house
– Depends on the layout of hose bed
• SOPs allow more discretion.

36. 4
Pumping Apparatus (2 of 4)
• Used to lay attack lines
– Positioned close to curb line
• Side discharges = aligned with entry point
• Rear discharges = forward of entry point

37. 4
Pumping Apparatus (3 of 4)
• SOPs may specify separate water
supplies.
– Attack pumper configuration
• First engine company at front of building,
second engine company provides supply

38. 4
Pumping Apparatus (4 of 4)

39. 4
Aerial Apparatus
• Aerial device use
– Obtain a safe operating angle
• Aerial device not being used
– Parked out of way but close to entry point
• Access to tools, ladders, and other equipment

40. 4
Common Positioning Errors (1 of 3)
• Aerials placed under wires
• Unsafe and unstable positions
• Not allowing enough room to extend the
outriggers
• Apparatus/staff cars blocking access to
the fire area or front of the building

41. 4
Common Positioning Errors (2 of 3)
• Pumpers placed where pre-connected
attack lines are difficult to lay
• Blocking streets or fire hydrants
– Large-diameter hose

42. 4
Common Positioning Errors (3 of 3)
• Not securing essential attack positions
• Positioning where they cannot be
quickly repositioned
– Dead ends
• Responding through the fire area
– Causes unnecessary congestion

43. 4
Summary (1 of 3)
• The IC improves efficiency by
coordinating activities
– Division-of-labor concept
• Engine company
– Basic fire department unit
– Primary duty is to apply water

44. 4
Summary (2 of 3)
• Engine company tasks
– Obtaining a water source
– Setting up and engaging pumps
– Advancing hose lines into structure
– Fulfills life safety priority by extinguishing
fire
• Building becomes much safer.
• Checks areas for victims

45. 4
Summary (3 of 3)
• Truck company responsibilities
– Gaining entry
– Laddering building
– Controlling fire spread
– Evacuating occupants
– Conducting primary and secondary
searches