Today’s fireground is a topic of much debate in the fire service. The discussion usually revolves around two sides of a coin–the fire-and-buildings side, and the firefighter-and-tactics side. Having been actively involved in the fire service since the mid-1980s, it’s easy for me to see that some things have changed–but it’s just as easy to see that some things have remained the same–both for good reason!
The bottom line: The modern fireground has not snuck up on us! We’ve been aware of the changes that have been taking place for years, and adapting along the way. When you break it all down, and apply the changes to how we’re doing business on the fireground, we’re doing a pretty good job staying current.
Fires & Buildings
Fires: Modern-day combustibles burn quicker and hotter! Chief Vince Dunn (FDNY, ret.) produced a video in 1988 titled Flashover. Way back then, the chief was educating the fire service on the “modern” fuel issue. If you took one thing away from that video–and it’s a video that every firefighter working today should have seen by now–it’s that you have about 2 seconds (5 feet) to get out of a room about to flashover–or you probably won’t survive. Why? Because the fuel burns quicker and hotter, the super-heated environment builds up inside, and when it’s ready to let go, it will. Fireground tactics have a drastic impact on that environment and our ability to operate in it.
Net sum: We have less time to do things.
Buildings: For years, there has been a constant push to do more with less. In the area of building construction, structural components have become smaller and, in a perfect world, stronger. We’ve seen a transition from dimensional lumber to trusses, from ordinary brick construction to lightweight steel construction. We’ve also seen a rise in energy costs, with a resultant change that buildings are better insulated (including doors and windows).
When it’s a clear, sunny day and the building is not on fire, these changes in construction and insulation characteristics are a good thing. When there’s a fire in the building, however, you better understand the differences and factor them in to your overall fireground operations. Basically, we have a shorter timeframe to get things done on the fireground. Size-up was, and still is, the first and most important operation you must perform when you arrive. It’s also the first and most important step in each operation you perform on the fireground, whether it’s stretching a line, forcing a door, conducting a search, laddering a window or venting the roof.
Net sum: A burning building won’t hold up as long as it used to, and the interior environment will continue to get worse until you do something about it.
Firefighters & Tactics
Firefighters: The fire service is a subsection of society; it always has been and it always will be. Every firefighter is different. For every one that’s ambitious, there’s one that’s lazy. For every one that likes wrenches, there’s one that likes video controllers. For every one that will step up, there’s one that will step back. Using percentages, about 20% strive to be the best, 20% could care less as long as they get paid, and 60% will do what you ask and be swayed more by the 20% that has their ear than by anything else. (If you don’t agree with these percentages, use your own numbers: 10/10/80, 5/5/90, etc. The overall idea still holds true.)
Net sum: We’ll always have heroes and zeros, but the majority of firefighters are blue-collar workers simply trying to get by, make a living and do a good job.
Fireground tactics: Here’s where you really have to put all of the other factors in perspective. The reality of the modern fireground is that for all of the things that have changed, a successful fireground operation is still the result of properly applied fireground tactics based on an accurate and ongoing size-up.
Net sum: See below.
Today’s Truck Work
So what’s all of this have to do with truck work on the modern fireground? Everything! In previous articles, we’ve gone over the basic skills. The only way to remain proficient at them is to practice them over and over. You may never use a skill on a real fire, but you may need to use it today–that’s what makes training and practice so important.
Let’s quickly review our approach to basic truck work as it relates to all of the discussion in the fire service regarding research studies and fireground tactics.
Truck size-up: Every individual on the fireground should perform a couple of size-ups: an individual readiness size-up while responding and on arrival, and an overall fireground size-up that marries dispatch and response information with the conditions found on arrival. It’s pretty tough to get things going in a positive direction if these two critical size-ups are not completed.
Truck assignment: As a member of a truck company, you bring a certain set of skills to the fireground. In addition to the above size-ups, you should be sizing up the fireground based on the truck company skills you will need to perform. Having a solid grasp on truck skills is part of it, but applying the current fireground information is key to performing them successfully.
Forcible entry: The modern-day security challenges at most occupancies have not changed. Sure, some occupancies are more heavily fortified than they used to be, but that’s why you’re supposed to stay current (by reading, learning and getting out in your district). When you arrive on the fireground, perform forcible entry like you always have. It is a critical component of all successful fireground operations. Modern research results reinforce one critical aspect of forcible entry: Control the door!
Search: This is always a controversial topic: Do we do it or not? The answer is obvious, but the timing may not be. The decision to enter and/or advance the search must incorporate actual, overall fireground conditions, victim information (reported, known or confirmed), and progress of other tactical operations.
Today’s search isn’t any different than the past. The advent of the thermal imaging camera has given us a slight advantage, but the overall operation still involves accurately sizing up the situation and advancing the search while factoring in the other operations. The decision to vent or not to vent during a search (or as part of a Vent-Enter-Isolate-Search operation) still factors in the same variables: environment, victims, the advance of the attack line and overall progress. For departments that have dedicated truck companies, searches will be simultaneous with the advancement of the attack line. For departments that operate off of engine companies, search will still be tied to the advancement of the hoseline.
Laddering: It’s nice to see a resurgence in laddering on the fireground, a tactic that has been a staple of many departments but also a matter of continual debate due to staffing shortages. In this world of doing more with less, some departments have begun to use ladders to vent (in an effort to save steps more than anything else). This tactic is beneficial, but it must be coordinated with other fireground activities.
Ventilation: Venting is as integral to fireground operations as advancing a hoseline. In the early days of firefighting, if you didn’t vent then you couldn’t make the push with the line. On today’s fireground, with the technological advances in turnout gear and SCBA, you can easily get yourself in trouble if you don’t pay attention. It’s not the fire’s fault and it’s not the gear’s fault–it’s your fault if you don’t process the information.
Using the old Coke bottle analogy, if there is only one way in, then there is only one way out. Shake the bottle up and pop the top and see what I mean. Of course, when you’re dealing with refreshments it’s not a big deal, but turn the discussion to the fireground and consider the effects of a modern-day living room (with all the furnishings) burning in an unvented structure. Coordinated ventilation is key to making a quick and successful advance and knockdown.
History, and today’s research, shows that if you vent without a line in position you will accelerate and expand the fire. Timing is something that we need to understand better. If the line is moving forward, toward the fire, as the venting is taking place, then we’ve coordinated our efforts and things should get better quickly. If the vent takes place before the line is ready, the fire will likely increase. If the line moves in and the vent is delayed, then the engine company will take an increased beating and may not be able to make the push.
Coordinated efforts have always been, and continue to be, the key to successful fireground operations.
Other duties: There are plenty of other important truck duties that take place on the fireground but the above few are the ones that are truly impacted by the fire, the building, the engine companies, and the proficiency level of the truck crew.
Stay the Course!
In today’s world, information moves at the speed of light. We live in sound bites and are all guilty of only reading the headlines. It really is essential to understand that the modern fireground has not snuck up on us! Firefighters and departments all over the country have been keeping pace with society and technology. What is news to some is nothing more than ongoing daily professional knowledge to others.
Stay current, don’t get too caught up in the hype, and keep it simple!
