Continuing Education
for the Fire Fighter
Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
Fire Control
Module 3
Chapter 17
Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Explain fireground roles
and responsibilities a Describe hazards that
firefighter II may need to may be present at fires
coordinate. in underground spaces.
Discuss the process of List safety precautions
establishing and that should be taken at
transferring Command. flammable/combustible
liquid fire incidents.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Recognize methods
used when Compare methods
coordinating used to suppress
operations at a bulk transport Control a
property protected vehicle fires and pressurized
by a fire suppression flammable flammable gas
system. gas incidents. container fire.
Explain ways to use Establish Incident
water to control Command and
Class B fires. coordinate interior
attack of a structure
fire.
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FIREGROUND OPERATIONS REQUIRE SPECIFIC
KNOWLEDGE OF PRIORITIES AND TACTICS.
Emergency • Life safety
incident • Incident stabilization
• Property conservation
priorities
• Rescue
• Exposures
• Confinement
Tactics • Extinguishment
• Overhaul
• Ventilation
• Salvage
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FIREFIGHTER II DUTIES INCLUDE KNOWING THE
PRINCIPLES OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.
Apply to recognize Listen to Depends on open
changes, predict firefighters communication of
effects around you crew – Not a vote
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FIRST-ARRIVING ENGINE COMPANY ACTIONS
CAN VARY DEPENDING ON THE DEPARTMENT.
Deploy
Establish Make initial Communicate
available
Command size-up situation
resources
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THE FIRST-ARRIVING ENGINE COMPANY PERFORMS
SCENE EVALUATION AND TAKES ACTION BASED ON THAT
INFORMATION.
May lay supply line if
smoke, fire visible
Assess using evaluation
questions
Request additional
resources
Protect exposures if no
obvious life safety concerns
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ACCOMPLISH THESE PRIORITIES AFTER SIZE-UP
AND A 360-DEGREE SURVEY IS COMPLETE.
Intervene
Protect
Initiate
Operate
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THE SECOND-ARRIVING ENGINE COMPANY
ADDRESSES WATER SUPPLY FIRST.
Factors that determine need to
pump hoselines from hydrant
• Size, quantity of hoselines
• Distance from hydrant to scene
• Available water pressure
Perform other tasks as
assigned by IC
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FIREGROUND SUPPORT COMPANIES PERFORM
TASKS DICTATED BY THE SITUATION.
Initially
• Check outside for victims
• Raise ladders
• Force entry for simultaneous interior attack, search and
rescue
Search
• Not put firefighters at risk of severe injury, death
• May begin in areas likely inhabited
• Conduct systematically
• Priority areas
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FIREGROUND SUPPORT COMPANIES PERFORM
TASKS DICTATED BY THE SITUATION.
May assist engine Blitz attack – Must be
company in fire attack coordinated
• Accompany hose
team
• Place ground
ladders, set up
lighting, other
exterior functions
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A RAPID INTERVENTION CREW/TEAM MUST
MEET BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
Number needed established by SOPs
Two or more members wearing
complete PPE, respiratory protection
Equipment
Stop other duties immediately if
deployed
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A RAPID INTERVENTION CREW/TEAM REPORTS
TO THE IC AND PERFORM TASKS AS ASSIGNED.
Sizing up Completing
Staging
possible paths 360-degree
equipment
of egress survey
Removing Monitoring
Clearing
barriers to radio traffic for
windows
egress distress calls
Illuminating
Placing ladders Opening exits
building
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CAUTION
Do not allow
additional assigned
duties to prevent
you from deploying
in your primary
rescue capacity
when working as a
RIT/RIC member.
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A CHIEF OFFICER OR INCIDENT COMMANDER MAY
ASSUME EITHER COMMAND OR ANOTHER ROLE ON
SCENE.
May choose if-
• Incident well organized
• Made progress toward stabilization
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ESTABLISHING DIFFERENT COMMAND OPTIONS
SHOULD BE PERFORMED ACCORDING TO LOCAL
SOPS.
Nothing showing Fast attack
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SOME SITUATIONS REQUIRE YOU TO NAME THE
INCIDENT AND ESTABLISH THE INCIDENT
COMMAND POST.
Combat command
Formal command
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TRANSFERRING COMMAND SHOULD BE DONE
CORRECTLY TO AVOID CONFUSION.
Communicate face-
to-face or over radio
Brief relieving officer
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THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY FACTOR FOR FIRES IN
UNDERGROUND SPACES IS RECOGNITION OF
INHERENT HAZARDS.
Expect
Equipment must be
atmospheric,
intrinsically safe
physical hazards
Plant, building
Use preincident
supervisors can
plans
provide information
Be ready with
prearranged plans
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LOCATION OF COMMAND FOR A FIRE IN AN
UNDERGROUND SPACE MUST BE OUTSIDE
THE HOT ZONE.
Near, not obstructing entrance
No entry until IAP developed,
communicated
Accountability officer, incident safety
officer tracks entering, leaving
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KEEP SOME LIMITATIONS IN MIND WHEN
ATTACKING AN UNDERGROUND SPACE FIRE.
Tire more quickly, consume air faster
Relieve before out of air
Effective-air management part of IAP
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YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT CLASS B FIRES
INVOLVE AND HOW THEY CAN BE CAUSED.
Flammable liquids
Involve Combustible liquids
Hydrocarbons
Further broken into
Polar solvents
Spill or leak resulting
from vehicle accident
Caused by Natural disaster
Opened valve
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CLASS B FIRES REQUIRE SPECIFIC ACTIONS.
Locate apparatus
Determine wind
upwind and uphill Establish perimeter
direction
of incident
Request hazardous
Report current Evacuate civilians in materials company
conditions affected area – Remain outside
hot zone
Establish water
supply – Deploy
attack hoselines as
required
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THERE ARE SEVERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO
FOLLOW AT FLAMMABLE, COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID
FIRE INCIDENTS.
Avoid standing in pools of fuel or runoff water
with fuel on top
• Protective clothing can absorb fuel
• Extreme danger if pool ignites
• Benzene known carcinogen
• Remove soaked PPE from service until cleaned
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WARNING
PPE soiled with
flammable and
combustible
liquids may
ignite when
exposed to heat.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO
FOLLOW AT FLAMMABLE, COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID
FIRE INCIDENTS.
Do not extinguish burning liquids
• Around relief valves or piping until leak
controlled
Be aware of increase
• In intensity of sound or fire from relief
valve
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THERE ARE SEVERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO
FOLLOW AT FLAMMABLE, COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID
FIRE INCIDENTS.
Recognize
conditions
created when
liquid heated in
closed
container
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YOU SHOULD WORK TO SUPPORT A FIXED
FIRE SYSTEM WHEN ONE IS PRESENT.
Recognize hazards particular to system
• Oxygen depletion
• Poor visibility
• Energized electrical equipment
• Toxic environments
Preincident plans contain
• SOPs
• Procedures for response units
• Building site plan
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THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF WATER-BASED
SYSTEMS THAT MAY BE USED.
Operation based
Automatic
on underground
sprinkler system
pipes, tanks
Standpipe
Foam system
system
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NONWATER-BASED SYSTEMS ARE ALSO
FOUND IN A VARIETY OF TYPES.
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WATER MUST BE COMBINED WITH OTHER
METHODS TO CONTROL CLASS B FIRES.
Mechanical tool
Cooling agent Crew protection
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WARNING
Only firefighters
who have
practiced using
hoselines for crew
protection should
do so during an
emergency.
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BULK TRANSPORT VEHICLE FIRES USE SIMILAR
TECHNIQUES TO THOSE APPLIED IN FLAMMABLE
FUEL STORAGE FACILITIES.
Similarities Differences
• Amount of fuel • Increased life safety
risks
• Possibility of vessel
• Reduced water supply
failure
• Difficulty in identifying
• Danger to exposures products, containing
• Force of collisions
• Instability of vehicles
• Location
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BULK TRANSPORT FIRES REQUIRE CONSIDERATION
OF TRAFFIC AND OTHER APPROACH TECHNIQUES.
Traffic passing
at near-
normal speeds
Determine
nature of Protect
cargo environment
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FLAMMABLE GAS INCIDENTS OCCUR IN ONE
OF SEVERAL DISTRIBUTION METHODS.
Distribution Cylinders Shipped, stored
systems marked as liquid (LNG)
• Pressure • Compressed • Subject to
ranges natural gas BLEVE
(CNG)
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DURING A FLAMMABLE GAS INCIDENT THE
FOLLOWING ISSUES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
Contact utility company immediately
Approach from, stage on upwind side
Wear full PPE
First concerns
• Evacuate
• Eliminate
Service connections may have been damaged
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WARNING
If gas is burning
from a broken gas
pipe, do not
extinguish the fire.
Provide protection
for exposures.
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SUMMARY
Coordinating fireground operations requires
knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of
each team present on-scene as well as effective
establishment and transfer of command.
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SUMMARY
When supervising
teams it is important
to understand the
unique considerations
required for attacking
not only structure
fires, but also Class B
liquids and gas fires.
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