Continuing Education
For the Fire Fighter
Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
Fire Control
Module 1
Chapter 17
Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Describe direct
attack, indirect
Describe initial attack, Explain actions
factors to combination taken when
consider when attack, and gas attacking
suppressing cooling belowground
structure fires. techniques. structure fires.
Summarize Describe safety
considerations considerations
taken when that must be
making entry. identified for
upper level
structure fires.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Discuss methods of Explain considerations
fire control through taken when deploying,
exposure protection supplying, and staffing
and controlling master stream
building utilities. devices.
Describe steps taken
when supporting fire
protection systems at
protected structures.
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SELECTING STRATEGIES AND COORDINATING
RESOURCES IS BASED ON THREE PRIORITIES.
Courtesy of Bob Esposito
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OFFENSIVE SUPPRESSION STRATEGIES USUALLY
ENTAIL INTERIOR OPERATIONS.
Factors that help
Objective
determine tactics
Rescue and/or
Value
extinguishment
Time
Size
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DEFENSIVE SUPPRESSION STRATEGIES ARE
SELECTED BASED ON SEVERAL FACTORS.
Sufficient Offensive
resources strategy
No threat to Occupants Property is Danger of
are not would
occupant are not not structural
available for endanger
life exists savable salvageable collapse
offensive lives of
strategy firefighters
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DEFENSIVE SUPPRESSION STRATEGIES WORK TO
ISOLATE OR STABILIZE THE INCIDENT.
Courtesy of Chris Mickal
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DEFENSIVE STRATEGIES ARE EMPLOYED WHEN
CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE PRESENT.
Excessive volume of fire
Structural deterioration
Risk outweighs benefit
Unfavorable wind conditions
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STRATEGIC TRANSITIONS DURING
SUPPRESSION MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME.
Defensive to offensive
Offensive to defensive
• Follow guidelines during
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RESOURCE COORDINATION IS IMPORTANT
DURING SEVERAL POINTS OF FIRE ATTACK.
Victim
recovery Forcible entry
efforts
Search and
Cause
rescue
determination
operations
Loss control Ventilation
Control of
utilities
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CORRECT HOSELINE SELECTION IS IMPORTANT
FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION OPERATIONS.
Fire conditions and other factors
Critical for efficiency, safety
For interior – Dictated by area involved, fire load
(Continued)
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CAUTION
A hoseline no
smaller than
1½-inch (38
mm) should
be used on an
interior fire.
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NOZZLE SELECTION IS BASED ON SEVERAL
CONSIDERATIONS FOUND ON SCENE.
Interior fire attack Exterior attack
Courtesy of Ron Jeffers
Water
Nozzle
pressure,
reaction
water quantity
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YOU SHOULD KNOW THE CONSIDERATIONS FOR
HOSELINE USE AND PLACEMENT WHEN MAKING
ENTRY .
Factors used to
Decision made by Place to protect
place
• IC • Firefighters • Wind direction
• Supervisor • Occupants and velocity
• Property • Building
conditions
• Initial fire
location
• Location of
occupants
• Exposures
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THERE ARE SEVERAL TASKS EVERY MEMBER
SHOULD PERFORM BEFORE ENTRY.
Conduct quick size up
Maintain high situational awareness
Be aware of pre-entry considerations
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YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MAY
NEED TO FULFILL YOUR ROLE DURING ENTRY.
Interior fire crew needs tools,
equipment to:
• Open interior doors
• Check concealed spaces for fire
extension
• Make an emergency exit
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THE FIREFIGHTER ASSIGNED TO THE NOZZLE
SHOULD DO SEVERAL TASKS.
Open nozzle fully to Bleed air from
Check pattern setting
ensure adequate flow hoseline
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CAUTION
DO NOT open the
door until you
have a charged
hoseline and are
ready to control
the conditions
encountered.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTS ABOUT MAKING
ENTRY TACTICS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.
When making If fire is ventilation
When opening
interior attack on controlled, door is
door
structure fire opened
Traditional
Wind creates
guideline – Attack
airflow patterns
from unburned
within structure
side
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THERE ARE SEVERAL GENERAL TACTICS FOR
MAKING ENTRY THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.
Wind creates airflow patterns within structure
Directly increase
fire expansion and Attack with wind to
cause firefighter back
casualties
Determine best
entry point based
upon wind
direction
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DIRECT ATTACK USES WATER MOST EFFICIENTLY
ON FREE-BURNING FIRES.
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INDIRECT ATTACK IS USED WHEN ENTRY IS NOT
POSSIBLE DUE TO INTENSE HEAT.
Courtesy of Dick Giles
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COMBINATION ATTACK USES STRATEGIES FROM
BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT ATTACK.
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GAS COOLING IS A WAY OF REDUCING HEAT
RELEASE FROM THE HOT GAS LAYER.
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FIRES IN UPPER LEVELS OF STRUCTURES CAN
PRESENT UNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS.
Structures lacking
standpipes
Structures with
Use of elevators
standpipes
Can require large
numbers of
personnel
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BELOWGROUND STRUCTURES FIRES MAY
OCCUR IN RESIDENTIAL BASEMENTS.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT MAY
CONTRIBUTE TO BASEMENT FIRES.
Spaces
• Totally unfinished, partially finished, completely finished
Fuel loading
Age of exposed joists
Hidden path for fire
Use of lightweight construction materials
Life safety hazards created
Initial size-up important
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WARNING
Basement fires
weaken the main
floor of a
structure creating
a constant danger
of structural
collapse.
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FLOOR ASSEMBLIES OVER BASEMENTS MAY
COLLAPSE BEFORE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVE.
Courtesy of NIST
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CAUTION
Thermal imagers
(TI) will not always
provide an
accurate
assessment of
structural integrity
of the floor
system.
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RESIDENTIAL BASEMENT FIRES CAN PRESENT
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.
Access
1½- to 1¾-inch (38 mm to 45 mm) hoseline
Enclosed stairwell
may act as flow path May not provide If ventilation limited
enough cooling to Added ventilation
overcome venting may result in
gases flashover
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BELOWGROUND FIRES CAN ALSO OCCUR IN
COMMERCIAL BASEMENTS AND SUBFLOORS.
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EXPOSURE PROTECTION DEPENDS ON
LOCATION AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
Interior Exterior
• Closing doors, • Remove
other openings endangered
• Proper use of persons, property,
ventilation items
• Passive forms • Apply protective
spray between fire
and exposure
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CONTROLLING BUILDING UTILITIES HELPS
CONTROL THE FIRE AND LIMITS DAMAGE.
Sources
Must be
disconnected when
fire in structure
Commercial power
supply
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CONTROLLING BUILDING UTILITIES HELPS
CONTROL THE FIRE AND LIMITS DAMAGE.
Courtesy of Ron Moore and McKinney (TX) FD
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WARNING
Solar panels
generate current
whenever there is a
light source
(sunlight, moonlight,
artificial lighting)
and are always
energized.
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CONTROLLING BUILDING UTILITIES HELPS
CONTROL THE FIRE AND LIMITS DAMAGE.
Courtesy of Ron Moore and
Wind
McKinney (TX) FD
turbines
Fuel-powered generators
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CONTROLLING BUILDING UTILITIES HELPS
CONTROL THE FIRE AND LIMITS DAMAGE.
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CAUTION
Natural gas that
leaks underground
in wet soil can lose
its odorant and
become difficult to
detect without
instruments.
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CONTROLLING BUILDING UTILITIES HELPS
CONTROL THE FIRE AND LIMITS DAMAGE.
Water
Liquefied petroleum gas
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SUPPORTING FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS IS
ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SEVERAL STEPS.
Connecting Shutting a Stopping
to FDC control the flow
valve from a
sprinkler
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DEPLOYING MASTER STREAM DEVICES REQUIRES
AN UNDERSTANDING OF SEVERAL
CONSIDERATIONS.
Situations deployed in
Main uses
Proper placement
Effective for exposure protection to other structures
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SUPPLYING MASTER STREAMS CAN BE
ACCOMPLISHED IN SEVERAL WAYS.
Nothing less than two 2½-inch (65 mm) hoselines
Temporarily with one 2½-inch (65 mm) hoseline while adding others
Third line may be needed
Operation consumes great quantities of water
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CAUTION
Added water
weight from
master stream
operations
increases the
potential for
structural collapse.
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STAFFING MASTER STREAM DEVICES USUALLY
REQUIRES TWO FIREFIGHTERS.
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ELEVATED MASTER STREAMS ARE USED FOR
UPPER STORIES IN MULTISTORY BUILDINGS.
Courtesy of Chris Mickal
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SUMMARY
Attacking fires early in development is an important
aspect of a successful fire fighting operation. In
addition, selecting and applying the most effective
fire attack strategy and tactics are also important.
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SUMMARY
Failing to do any of these things can result in a fire
growing out of control, an increase in fire damage
and loss, and possibly in firefighter injuries.
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