Continuing Education
for the Fire Fighter
Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
Fire Control
Module 2
Chapter 17
Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Describe situations that
may require suppression
of Class C fires.
Identify hazards
associated with
suppressing Class C fires.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Compare methods
used to suppress
fires in
stacked and piled
Describe actions materials, small
associated with unattached
suppressing Class structures, and Compare types of
D fires. trash containers. ground cover fires.
Explain actions Summarize the
taken when main influences
suppressing a on ground cover
vehicle fire. fire behavior.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Describe
protective Summarize
Describe clothing and safety
elements that equipment principles and
influence used in fighting practices when
ground cover ground cover fighting ground
fire behavior. fires. cover fires.
Identify the Describe
parts of a methods used
ground cover to attack
fire. ground cover
fires.
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SUPPRESSION OF CLASS C FIRES REQUIRES
KNOWLEDGE OF ENERGIZED EQUIPMENT.
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WARNING
Before initiating
fire suppression
activities, stop
the flow of
electricity to the
device involved.
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CLASS C FIRES MAY OCCUR AROUND
DELICATE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.
Multipurpose
Require use dry-chemical Require
Must not
of Halotron® agents may considerable
include water
type agents be chemically cleanup
reactive
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TRANSMISSION LINES AND EQUIPMENT CAN
BE DAMAGED AND START FIRES.
Reduce risk of shock by current in the ground
• Cordon off circle with radius equal to distance between
power poles where line contacts earth
• If ground cover fire starts – Wait for fire to burn away
from point of contact before attempting extinguishment
• For maximum safety – Only utility personnel should cut
power lines
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WARNING
Assume that all
power lines are
energized until
the power
company informs
you otherwise.
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FIRES IN ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMERS ARE
RELATIVELY COMMON.
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UNDERGROUND TRANSMISSION LINES CAN CREATE
EXPLOSIONS WHICH REQUIRE FIREFIGHTERS REMAINING A
SAFE DISTANCE AWAY.
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WARNING
Only personnel
who are properly
trained and
equipped for
confined space
entry should enter
a utility vault.
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COMMERCIAL HIGH-VOLTAGE INSTALLATIONS
REQUIRE SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE.
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CAUTION
Before cutting into walls
and ceilings that may
contain electrical wiring or
gas piping, verify with the
Incident Commander that
electrical and gas utilities
have been shut off.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS THAT ARE PRESENT AT
CLASS C FIRES.
Ventricular Respiratory
Cardiac arrest
fibrillation arrest
Involuntary
Surface or
muscle Paralysis
internal burns
contractions
Damage to Ultraviolet arc
joints burns to eyes
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SEVERAL FACTORS INFLUENCE THE
SERIOUSNESS OF AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK.
Path of electricity
through body
Degree of skin
Frequency
resistance
Length of
Available voltage
exposure
Available current
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YOU SHOULD KNOW THE GUIDELINES FOR
ELECTRICAL EMERGENCIES.
Short circuit may
weaken other wires
Wear full protective
clothing, use only tools
with insulated handles
Guard against shocks,
burns, eye injuries
Establish exclusion zone from electrical arcs
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YOU SHOULD KNOW THE GUIDELINES FOR
ELECTRICAL EMERGENCIES.
Stay at least 10 feet (3
m) away from power
Wait for utility company Use lockout/tagout
lines when raising or
to cut any power lines devices
lowering ladders or
aerial devices
Do not touch vehicle, Do not use solid and Use fog streams with at
apparatus in contact straight streams on fires least 100 psi (700 kPa)
with electrical wires in energized equipment on energized equipment
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YOU SHOULD KNOW THE GUIDELINES FOR
ELECTRICAL EMERGENCIES.
Be aware live wires
When wires down –
outside of field of view
Heed any tingling
may be in contact with
sensation felt in feet and
mesh or rail fences,
back away
energizing them
Remain inside vehicle or
Maintain large safety apparatus in contact with
zone around downed power lines – Jump clear
wires if you must leave; keep
both feet together
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YOU SHOULD KNOW THE GUIDELINES FOR
ELECTRICAL EMERGENCIES.
If inside – Put or
place feet together;
hop or shuffle out of
area
Do not walk or crawl
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CAUTION
To exit a ground
gradient area,
keep both feet in
contact with each
other and hop or
shuffle out of the
affected area.
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SUPPRESSING CLASS D FIRES CAN PRESENT
UNIQUE PROBLEMS.
Courtesy of NIST
Burning at
extremely high
temperatures Reactive to water
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SUPPRESSING CLASS D FIRES REQUIRES
UNDERSTANDING CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS.
• Extinguishing agents
Manually shoveled or scooped onto
Applied using Class D extinguisher
• Emit brilliant white light
Only diminishes when ash layer covers
• Do not assume extinguished when flames not
visible
• May be extended time before area, substance
cools to safe levels
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VEHICLE FIRES ARE AMONG THE MOST
COMMON TYPES OF FIRES.
May be result of
collision, Require full PPE,
malfunction, including SCBA
intentional act
Generate toxic,
nontoxic Fuel sources
smoke/vapors
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YOU SHOULD KNOW VEHICLE INCIDENT SIZE-
UP CONSIDERATIONS.
• Decide if traffic diversion required
• Follow DOT guidelines to protect scene
• Determine if victims are in vehicle, if require
extrication
• Determine if vehicle on fire or leaking fuel
• Confirm type of fuel, select appropriate
extinguishing agent
• Avoid components under constant pressure
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YOU SHOULD KNOW VEHICLE INCIDENT SIZE-
UP CONSIDERATIONS.
• Follow department SOPs for establishing scene
protection
• Isolate vehicle from or eliminate ignition source
• Stabilize vehicle
• Control downed power lines
• Address additional hazards
• May need to use defensive techniques
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VEHICLE FIRE ATTACK REQUIRES
KNOWLEDGE OF SEVERAL CONCEPTS.
Basic attack procedures
Be aware of extraordinary
hazards
Conduct overhaul to check for
hidden fires
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FIRES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE VEHICLE
REQUIRE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES.
Passenger
compartment
Engine or trunk Undercarriage
compartment
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ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES MAY BE
APPARENT BY CERTAIN VISUAL INDICATORS.
Vehicle
logos
Distinctive Fuel-
vehicle specific
profiles logos
Special
fuel ports
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CAUTION
There may be
no visual
indicators that a
vehicle uses an
alternative fuel
source.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL TACTICS TO CONSIDER
AT ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE FUEL FIRES.
• Park apparatus minimum 100 feet (30 m) from incident
• Approach from uphill and upwind, if possible
• Approach from 45-degree angle to vehicle
• Wear full PPE including SCBA
• Use nonsparking extrication tools
• Do not use flares
• Deploy backup hoseline
• Select extinguishing agent specific to type of fuel or
battery pack
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NATURAL GAS IS USED IN ONE OF TWO
FORMS AND HAS SPECIFIC PROPERTIES.
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LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS IS THE THIRD
MOST COMMON VEHICLE FUEL TYPE.
Characteristics Expansion rate
May be Tactics for
marked with incidents
logo involving
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ELECTRIC ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES
SHOULD HAVE VISIBLE INDICATORS.
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WARNING
Do not cut or contact
any orange, blue, or
yellow color-coded
electrical cables or
components in
electric or hybrid
electric vehicles.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ALTERNATIVE
FUEL TYPES THAT MAY BE PRESENT.
Ethanol/methanol
• Gasoline blends
Biodiesel
• Blend of liquids made from natural plants and diesel
Hydrogen
• Used in some areas, mostly concept stage
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STACKED AND PILED MATERIALS PRESENT
UNIQUE SUPPRESSION CONSIDERATIONS.
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SMALL UNATTACHED STRUCTURES ARE
FOUND IN ALL JURISDICTIONS.
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CAUTION
Chemicals used in the
production of some illegal
drugs are extremely toxic
and volatile. Incidents
involving them may require
the assistance of trained
hazardous materials
personnel.
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TRASH CONTAINER FIRES VARY IN SIZE AND
CREATE TOXIC COMBUSTION PRODUCTS.
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GROUND COVER FIRES VARY IN SIZE, LOCATION,
AND CAUSES.
Size May occur Causes
Number of
Vary greatly different Natural
places
Human
Characteristics Influences
Different
than Fuel
buildings
Topography
Weather
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WARNING
Ground cover fires can
be deadly to
firefighters even if
they are working in
very light fuels or
working during the
overhaul phase of an
operation.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF GROUND
COVER FIRES FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD KNOW.
Ground Surface Crown
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GROUND COVER FIRE BEHAVIOR IS INFLUENCED
BY FUEL AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS.
Categorized based on Factors affecting
location burning
• Subsurface • Fuel size
• Surface • Compactness
• Aerial • Continuity
• Volume
• Fuel moisture
content
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GROUND COVER FIRE BEHAVIOR IS AFFECTED
BY CERTAIN WEATHER FACTORS.
Wind Temperature
Relative
Precipitation
humidity
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GROUND COVER FIRE BEHAVIOR IS
INFLUENCED BY TOPOGRAPHY.
Steepness of slope
Aspect
Local terrain features
Drainages
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FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
PARTS OF A GROUND COVER FIRE.
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WILDLAND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
IS DIFFERENT FROM STANDARD STRUCTURAL
TURNOUT CLOTHING.
• Must meet NFPA®
1977
• NFPA® 1500
establishes
minimum
• Agencies may
also provide
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GROUND COVER FIRES MAY BE ATTACKED
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.
Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center
Indirect
• Varying distances
• Allow unburned fuel to self
extinguish
• Used against fires too hot, big
for direct
Direct
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SIZE-UP INFORMATION AT GROUND COVER
FIRES INCLUDES SEVERAL CATEGORIES.
Fire Incident
Fire type Exposures
location access
Weather Wind Wind
Topography
conditions direction velocity
Visibility Resources
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THE LECS CONCEPT CAN HELP SITUATIONAL
AWARENESS BE MORE EFFECTIVE.
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THE TEN STANDARD FIRE FIGHTING ORDERS CAN
ALSO BE USED AT GROUND COVER FIRES.
Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts
Know what the fire is doing at all times
Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire
Identify escape routes and safety zones, and make them known
Post lookouts when there is possible danger
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THE TEN STANDARD FIRE FIGHTING ORDERS CAN
ALSO BE USED AT GROUND COVER FIRES.
Be alert, keep calm, think clearly, and act decisively
Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor, and
adjoining forces
Give clear instructions and ensure that they are understood
Maintain control of your forces at all times
Fight fire aggressively, providing for safety first
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THERE ARE OTHER NON-FIRE HAZARDS YOU
SHOULD BE AWARE OF AS WELL.
Unstable
Animals Insects
hazard trees
Electrified Electrical
Explosives
fences power lines
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THERE ARE OTHER NON-FIRE HAZARDS YOU
SHOULD BE AWARE OF AS WELL.
Hazardous Rolling or Pits or
materials falling debris shafts
Animal traps Lightning Heart failure
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SUMMARY
Firefighters need to know how to safely and
effectively attack and extinguish fires involving
structures, vehicles, stacked and piled materials, and
ground cover.
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