Officers Training Officers

Strategy & Tactics and Rapid Entry Search

Student Performance Objectives

Today’s presentation will provide the attendee with an introduction to several concepts that should enhance emergency scene performance on the fireground.

Overview

• Command Sequence• Strategy• Tactics• Tasks• Reading Smoke• Handling the

MAYDAY Photo by Bob Bartosz

We will risk a life to save a life;

we will use considerable caution

to protect savable property;

we will not risk a life to save what is already

lost.

Command Sequence

Step by step decision making process of incident management

• Performing size – up– (The Thinking Phase)

• Determining strategy & selecting tactics– (The Planning Phase)

• Implementing the action plan– (The Action Phase)

Strategy

Loosely defined as “what has to be done to solve the problem”

»Broad Goals

»Overall plan to control the operation

Three Strategies

Offensive

Defensive

Transitional

Offensive – coordinated, aggressive interior attack

• Adequate resources

• Predict benefits worth risks

• Necessary support functions

Defensive – fight the fire with minimum risk

• Risk too great for benefit

• Insufficient resources• Maximize safety• Stay out of collapse

zone• No entry made

• Contain fire in area of present involvement

• Protect exposures• Loss of building

probable• Master stream

operation

Transitional - switching from one operational mode to the other

Defensive to Offensive

– No entry made until additional resources arrive

– Begin interior attack

Offensive to Defensive

– Confine fire until rescue can be completed

– Protect exposures

National Fire Academy Incident Priorities

PRIORITY

Life Safety

Incident Stabilization

Property Conservation

BENCHMARK

All Clear

Under Control

Loss Stopped

Lloyd Layman’s Strategies

R-E-C-E-O

-VS-

Rescue

Exposures

Confinement

Extinguishment

Overhaul

Ventilation-Salvage Photo by Carlos Alfaro

Tactics

The execution of the Strategic Plan

Tactics deals specifically with selecting, placing, and operating:

PERSONNEL, HOSELINES, LADDERS

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

Engine Company Tactics

• NOZZLE SELECTION

• HANDLINE SELECTION

• HANDLINE PLACEMENT

• TACTICAL HOSE MANAGEMENT Photo by Carlos Alfaro

Principal role of the engine company is

to:

• Locate,• Confine, and • Extinguish the

fire. Photo by Carlos Alfaro

Select the appropriate nozzle and handline based on:

Required fire flow (L x W/3)

Staffing

Attack Mode (Offensive, Defensive, Transitional)

Handline Selection

• 1 3/4” minimum for interior fire attack.

• Rules of thumb:– Up to three rooms involved, 1 3/4”.– Three or more rooms involved, 2.5” or

larger.– Commercial occupancy 2.5” or larger.– High rise, 1 3/4” w/solid stream or 2” +.– Solid Stream for “Black Fire”

Handline Placement

Handlines are placed to accomplish one of three goals:

Protect occupants

Protect means of egress

Attack and extinguish fire, including extension

3-Line Concept

• 1st line – Attack

• 2nd line – Back up / Exposures (Int. or Ext.)

• 3rd line – Back up/Extension Prevention

Tactical Hose Management

• Fully stretch drag loads before flaking shoulder loads.

• Un-needed hose should not be stretched into a building.

• Additional hose should be flaked outside of the entrance.

Special Service Tactics

• Ladders• Overhaul• Ventilation• Entry• Rescue• Salvage• Utilities

Photo by Carlos Alfaro

Ladders & Ventilation

“Prepare” the building for entry by engine

company and search teams.

Ladder Selection & Placement

Quick Select Method

Choose the ladder that has the same first digit

as the floor you are trying to reach.

(Example: Need to reach a 2nd story window, choose a 24 or 28’ ladder. Need to reach the roof of a 3 story building, choose a 35’ ladder.)

Ventilation

Vent for two reasons:

fire

life

(Battalion Chief John Norman, FDNY)

Venting for life begins as soon as a life hazard is realized.

May intensify the fire.

Venting for fire is delayed until attack teams and resources are in place.

Search

Move rapidly

Close interior doors

Stay in contact with reference

Search with a partner

Use tools and lightsPhoto by Carlos Alfaro

Do not compromise the protective “membrane” of the compartment that

surrounds you while you are conducting search operations.

Requires a commitment of resources to areas most likely to contain victims.a. bedrooms

b. interior travel routes

(hallways & stairs)

c. outside the structure

Narrowing the Search

• Where were victims were last seen?

• Cries for help heard?

• Is the structure

occupied or not?

Photo by Morningside VFD

Rapid-Entry-Search (RES)

Advantage - search personnel enter structure from safe atmosphere (outside), search small areas (sometimes single rooms), then exit.

Disadvantage - often conducted ahead of hoseline on “fire” side of structure. If PPV goes in service, entry point can become exhaust port for PPV.(Must coordinate)

Must be coordinated with Incident Commander.

RES should only be used when

probability of finding victim is high!

Tasks

Labor intensive activities that work to satisfy either:

Layman’s “RECEO(SV)” or NFA’s “LIPs”

Life Safety, Incident Stabilization, Property conservation (Strategies)

Specific activities that firefighters engage in to satisfy tactics

• Advancing handlines

• Throwing ladders

• Operating nozzles

• Operating pumps

• Using tools and

appliances

Reading Smoke

Familiarize yourself with

The Art Of Reading Smoke

Handling the MAYDAY!

Standardized Survival Actions

of a Lost/Disoriented

Firefighter

1. STAY CALM! Conserve your air supply.2. Stay with your partner (or crew).3. Initiate a “MAYDAY” provide CANA

• C – Conditions

• A – Actions

• N – Needs

• A – Air

4. Activate PASS

5. Monitor radio/Update • Turn off PASS to communicate!• Reactivate PASS after!

6. Use flashlight to signal

7. Use tools or debris to alert rescuers

8. Attempt to locate an exit/area of refuge• Move toward visible light• Listen for audible sounds• Search walls for windows/doors• Search for a hoseline (read couplings)• Attempt to locate a lifeline

9. Go down steps unless in a basement or sub-floor.

10. Assume defensive posture• If lying down, do not muffle your pass

alarm• Protect facepiece with gloved hands

Handling the MAYDAY!

Standardized Actions of a Rapid Intervention Team in

Locating and Removing

a Lost/Disoriented Firefighter

Pre-plan structure and fire conditions upon arrival

– Prolonged burn time/heavy fire conditions– Smoke/water showing through walls– Inadequate ventilation (potential for rapid

fire development)– Sagging floors, bulging walls, localized

interior collapse– 2 or more floors involved– Unprotected steel

Fireground Preparations

1. Proactive ladders (Always place more ladders than you think you will need)

2. *Four-side scene lighting/Entry point lighting

3. Back-up/Safety Lines

4. Proactive softening of the structure

Response to the MAYDAY

1. Monitor Radio communications

2. RIT is not rapid (Phoenix/Seattle trials)

3. Consider personal limitations• Don’t become a victim yourself• Officers know your people!

4. Personnel Discipline• Those closest may assist• Those not closest need to get out of the way!• Fire Attack must continue

5. Look for signals• Activated PASS Alarm• flashlight beams• banging on walls and floors

6. *Check exterior walls and corners*

7. RIT Team Concept• “AWARE”

• Air

• Water

• A Radio

• Extrication plan

Three or more teams

• RIT #1 – Recon & Search• Locate downed/lost member

• Establish traceable means of access to victim

• Determine additional needs

• RIT #2 – Stabilization/Removal• Provide equipment & personnel requested

• Begin extrication process

• RIT #3 – Support Team– Provide external

support

– Provide personnel to support

Photo by Morningside VFD

The successful rescue of a downed firefighter is dependent upon a well-

defined rescue action plan that is continually updated.

Wrap Up

• Be Vigilant, Stay Focused.

• Think before you act.

• Use all of your resources.

• Conduct a “gross decon” after exiting and prior to removing air source.

• Think Strategically,

•Act Tactically