fire and emergency services company officer — lesson 20 fire and emergency services company...

Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer — Lesson 20

Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer, 4th Edition

Chapter 20 — Incident Scene Operations

Fire and Emergency ServicesCompany Officer

20–2

Learning Objectives

1.Recall each of the elements of the Layman Decision-Making Model.

2.Select facts about the application of size-up theory to three specific time periods.

3.Recognize condition indicators that may be present at a structure fire.

(Continued)


20–3

Learning Objectives

4.Identify facts about operational implementation.

5.Define various operational modes.

6.Select facts about various operational modes.

7.Recall facts about apparatus placement and positioning at structural fire scenes.

(Continued)


20–4

Learning Objectives

8.Select from a list guidelines for positioning apparatus at wildland fire scenes.

9.Identify considerations for positioning apparatus at hazardous materials incidents.

10. Recall facts about positioning apparatus at high-rise incidents.

(Continued)


20–5

Learning Objectives

11. Select from a list guidelines for the placement and positioning of apparatus at technical rescue incidents.

12. Identify considerations for positioning apparatus at aircraft incidents.

(Continued)


20–6

Learning Objectives

13. Choose correct facts about positioning apparatus at medical incidents.

14. Identify the incident termination activities of the Company Officer.


20–7

Layman Decision-Making Model

• Emergency scene priorities– Life safety– Isolate and/or resolve problem– Property conservation

(Continued)


20–8


• RECEO-VS– Rescue

– Exposures

– Confinement

– Extinguishment

– Overhaul

– Ventilation

– Salvage (Continued)


20–9


• Rescue – Identifies the fire safety aspect of emergency incident priorities– Safety requirements– Evacuation– Shelter in place

(Continued)


20–10


• Exposures – The need to limit an emergency incident to the property or area of origin

• Confinement – The need to confine an emergency incident to the smallest possible area within property of origin

(Continued)


20–11


• Extinguishment – The activities needed to resolve an emergency incident

• Overhaul – The activities that restore an incident scene to a condition that is as nearly normal as possible

(Continued)


20–12


• Ventilation — The activities that control or modify the environment– Fire suppression– Hazardous materials– Timing floats– Mechanisms– Types– HVAC

(Continued)


20–13


• Salvage – All actions taken to protect structures and contents from preventable damage


20–14

Size-Up Application

• Preincident

• On arrival

• During the incident


20–15

Size-Up Application: Preincident

• Use preincident plans if available

• Before an alarm, note:– Traffic– Weather– Construction

(Continued)


20–16


• While responding, note:– Time of day — Weather, occupants’

activities, traffic– Building preplan if available– Likely fire behavior– Information from telecommunications

(Continued)


20–17


• On arrival– Condition report/arrival report – Communicate plan to all on-scene

personnel via radio and formally assume command.

– Answer the question, “Can the resources at the scene and en route handle this situation?”

(Continued)


20–18


• Phoenix model simplified:– Risk a lot to save a lot.– Risk a little to save a little.– Risk nothing to save nothing.


20–19

Size-Up Application: During the Incident

• Phase between arrival and resolution

• Duration may be a few minutes or much longer.

• As situation worsens or improves, initial decisions may not remain valid.

• Constant reassessment is critical.


20–20

Size-Up Application: Condition Indicators

• Vary widely depending on type of incident

• Include structural fire indicators:– Smoke– Air track– Heat– Flame color


20–21

Structural Fire Condition Indicators: Smoke

• Color and density

• Volume and location

• Height of the neutral plane


20–22

Structural Fire Condition Indicators: Air Track

• Movement of fresh air toward base of fire and of smoke and heated air out of compartment

• Velocity and direction

• Pulsations

• Noise


20–23

Structural Fire Condition Indicators: Heat

• Blackened glass

• Crazed glass

• Blistered paint

• Sudden heat buildup


20–24

Structural Fire Condition Indicators: Flame Color

• Yellow

• Reddish-orange

• Light yellow to clear

• Blue


20–25

Operational Implementation: Goals and Objectives

• Strategic goals

• Tactical objectives


20–26

Operational Implementation: Command Activities

• Nothing showing

• Fast-attack

• Command– Combat command– Formal command– Correct transfer of command


20–27

Operational Implementation: Operational Modes

• Offensive

• Defensive

• Transitional


20–28

Offensive Operational Mode

• Structure fire variables

• Nonfire rescue incidents


20–29

Defensive Operational Mode

• Justifications at structural fire incidents

• Use at rescue incidents

• Should not be attempted concurrently with offensive mode

(Continued)


20–30

Defensive Operational Mode

• At rescue incidents– Use when likelihood of victim survival is low.– Conduct slowly and carefully without putting

personnel in undue risk.

• Generally should not be attempted concurrently with offensive mode

• Shift from defensive to offensive mode may be referred to as transitional attack mode; do not confuse with transitional operational mode.


20–31

Transitional Operational Mode

• Necessitated by rapid change in hazard

• Must be orderly– Inform all personnel.– Keep units in place to protect withdrawal.– Track personnel and account for them.– Do not abandon hoselines unless absolutely

necessary.– Have rapid intervention crew ready.


20–32

Operational Implementation: Additional Resource Allocation

• IAP should anticipate need for additional resources.

• Resources may be:– Held in reserve– Used to relieve fatigued units– Assigned tactical objectives


20–33

Apparatus Placement and Positioning

• Goal is to get vehicles that need to be closest to operation into position.

• Can be applied to most types of incidents based on operational mode

• Placement of apparatus is always company officer’s responsibility.


20–34

Apparatus Placement and Positioning: Structural Fires

• Place vehicles that are directly involved in fire suppression where they can support operations.

• Position aerial devices for quick deployment.

• Place support vehicles in staging area.

• Place command vehicles where they will be out of the way but still provide good view of one or two sides of emergency scene.


20–35

Apparatus Placement and Positioning: Wildland Fires

• Use amber flashers on roadway or shoulder; mark front and rear with traffic cones.

• Park in a designated safety zone; do not leave unattended.

• Park on windward side of fire.

• Avoid blocking access ways with hoselines.

• Do not park next to or under hazards.

(Continued)


20–36


• Use wheel chocks when parked.

• Keep compartment and cab doors closed and windows rolled up.

• Ensure that fire hose bed covers are capable of protecting fire hose.

• Ensure that a fire protection hoseline is connected and available for rapid deployment.

(Continued)


20–37


• Maintain communication/coordination with the rest of the fireground organization.

• Lay supply hoselines only on road shoulders.

• Do not lock doors or leave the apparatus unattended.

• Place the air-conditioning system in recirculation mode.

(Continued)


20–38


• Leave the engine running and maintain a high engine idle to reduce stalling.

• Keep headlights turned on.

• Do not remove or deploy nonessential equipment from the apparatus.

• Remain on the burned side of the fireline.


20–39

Apparatus Placement and Positioning: Hazardous Materials

• Consider:– Danger to personnel– Type of hazard– Topography– Weather conditions

(Continued)


20–40


• Consider:– Incident location– Operational mode– Available resources– Level of training

(Continued)


20–41


• Park upwind and uphill whenever possible.

• Position away from downed power lines damaged. transformers, or escaping flammable gas.

• Place for easy and quick repositioning.

• Position so hoselines can protect route of egress.

• Consider slope of ground and wind direction.


20–42

Apparatus Placement and Positioning: High-Rise Incidents

• Factors– Limited ground-level access– Intermediate parking garage areas– Below-grade mechanical spaces– Windows that cannot be opened– Landscaping or other barriers– Limited street frontage– Building setbacks (Continued)


20–43


• First arriving company officer should:– Determine location and type of emergency.– Select appropriate operational mode.– Establish lobby command post.– Ensure initial apparatus placement

provides best access without creating barriers.

(Continued)


20–44


• Follow organizational policies.

• Unneeded apparatus should drop off equipment at base location and park at staging area.

• Apparatus at fire department connections should not block access to structure.


20–45

Apparatus Placement and Positioning: Technical Rescue

• Position rescue apparatus nearest to incident.

• Locate fire-suppression apparatus in staging area.

• Park between an incident and oncoming traffic when the incident is on or adjacent to a roadway or bridge.

• Park close enough to the incident to ensure its equipment is readily available.

(Continued)


20–46

Apparatus Placement and Positioning: Technical Rescue

• Do not position so close to the incident that it exposes victims or emergency responders to vehicle exhaust, vibration, or noise.

• Allow access for ambulances and other emergency vehicles and normal flow of traffic when the incident is not in the roadway.

• Coordinate closely with on-scene law enforcement to address safety issues for emergency personnel, victims, bystanders, and other traffic.


20–47

Apparatus Placement and Positioning: Aircraft Incidents

• Standard emergency response for normal aircraft activities– Approaching– Landing– Taxiing– Taking off– Parked

• Unannounced emergency response — Onsite or offsite aircraft accidents that occur without warning (Continued)


20–48

Apparatus Placement and Positioning: Aircraft Incidents

• Federal Aviation Administration emergency levels– Alert I — Approaching aircraft in minor difficulty– Alert II — Approaching aircraft in major difficulty– Alert III — Aircraft involved in accident


20–49

Aircraft Incidents: Standard Emergency Response

• Aircraft crew notifies airport of emergency before landing.

• Apparatus assume predetermined runway standby positions

• Structural fire-fighting units– Communicate with air traffic control tower (ATCT)– Do not enter site until given permission

(Continued)


20–50


• Consider the slope of the ground and wind direction.

• Do not block the entry to or exit from the emergency site.

• Place and stagger several apparatus on the shoulder of a taxiway.

(Continued)


20–51


• Do not hinder the egress or rescue of persons from the aircraft.

• Place apparatus so that it can be repositioned easily and quickly.

• Place or position apparatus so that its hoselines can protect the route of egress from the aircraft.

(Continued)


20–52


• After aircraft is on ground and stopped– Communicate intentions to aircraft

commander or air traffic control tower.– Position hoselines to protect primary

escape route.– Surround aircraft with apparatus and

personnel; assist with evacuation slides.

(Continued)


20–53


• After aircraft is on ground and stopped– Apply a foam blanket if fuel is leaking.– Suppress the fire if fuel has ignited, and

push it away from the routes of escape.– Proceed with fire extinguishment from the

fuselage of the aircraft outward once rescue operations are complete.


20–54

Aircraft Incidents: Unannounced Emergency Response

• Emergency units dispatched to scene by most direct route

• Approach with caution to avoid hitting passengers or witnesses.

• Avoid damaging responding apparatus or equipment.

• Avoid running over aircraft debris.• Position apparatus to indicate perimeter of

debris field.


20–55

Apparatus Placement and Positioning: Medical Incidents

• Place apparatus and ambulances as close to incident as possible.

• Park units designed for patient transport to provide clear access to the loading door.

• Do not place apparatus so that it blocks entry to or exit from emergency site.

• Do not expose victims or responders to vehicle exhaust, vibration, or noise.

(Continued)


20–56

Apparatus Placement and Positioning: Medical Incidents

• Use amber flashers when parking on a roadway or shoulder; mark front and rear of apparatus with traffic cones.

• Position apparatus on side of road to protect the victim and emergency responders.


20–57

Incident Termination

• Equipment retrieval

• Scene release

• Medical evaluation

• Return to service

(Continued)


20–58

Summary

• On arrival, company officer must:– Remain calm in midst of chaos.– Quickly identify nature and scope of problem.– Develop and communicate an incident action plan.– Apply Layman decision-making model.– Deploy resources.– Select command activity– Determine operational mode.

(Continued)


20–59

Summary

• The company officer manages the incident until it has been terminated or command has been transferred.

• Terminating the incident involves:– Preparing unit to return to service– Returning control of property to the

owner/occupant


20–60

Discussion Questions

1. How do the elements of the Layman decision-making model (RECEO-VS) correspond to the emergency scene priorities?

2. How does the Phoenix risk assessment model correspond to the emergency scene priorities?

(Continued)


20–61

Discussion Questions

3. What are the three operational modes, and under what circumstances is it appropriate to use each of them?

4. What general principles of apparatus placement are applicable regardless of the type of incident?

fire and emergency services company officer — lesson 20 fire and emergency services company...

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