Rapid Prevention

Rapid PreventionRapid Prevention

Washington Township Fire Washington Township Fire DepartmentDepartment

Rapid Prevention

•You've carefully thought out all the angles.

•You've done it a thousand times.

•It comes naturally to you.

•You know what you're doing, its what you've been trained to do your whole life.

•Nothing could possibly go wrong, right ?

Rapid Prevention

Think Again.

Chris Forkner

Rapid Prevention

Goals and IntroductionGoals and Introduction

• To better understand fire ground fatalities and To better understand fire ground fatalities and injuries.injuries.

• To facilitate and implement personal To facilitate and implement personal accountability and awareness to reduce your accountability and awareness to reduce your chances of injury or death.chances of injury or death.

• Help with better decision making so that Help with better decision making so that rapid intervention wont have to be used at rapid intervention wont have to be used at all.all.

• Standardization of working fire assignments Standardization of working fire assignments within the department as well as mutual aid & within the department as well as mutual aid & automatic response.automatic response.

Rapid Prevention

Goals and IntroductionGoals and Introduction

• Program will be Program will be focused on three focused on three key areas.key areas.– Current trends, and Current trends, and

basic fireground basic fireground realities.realities.• Revising fireground Revising fireground

assignmentsassignments

– Self awareness and Self awareness and survival skills.survival skills.

– Rapid Intervention Rapid Intervention Teams.Teams.

Rapid Prevention

Current TrendsCurrent Trends• Overall number of fires are Overall number of fires are

down.down.• Today’s fires are burning hotter Today’s fires are burning hotter

than in the past.than in the past.– More synthetics in More synthetics in

construction & furnishings.construction & furnishings.– Pre-fabricated lightweight Pre-fabricated lightweight

trusses, held together with trusses, held together with gussets that fail after a brief gussets that fail after a brief exposure to 800-1000 exposure to 800-1000 degrees F. Resulting in degrees F. Resulting in quicker collapse.quicker collapse.

– Buildings are less fire Buildings are less fire resistant.resistant.

– Due to declining number of Due to declining number of fires, firefighters have less fires, firefighters have less fire ground experience.fire ground experience.

Rapid Prevention

Current TrendsCurrent Trends• Young officers with less live Young officers with less live

fire experience.fire experience.– Inability to “read” the fire Inability to “read” the fire

building.building.– Inability to read signs of Inability to read signs of

flashover and building flashover and building collapse.collapse.

– Inability to have a “command Inability to have a “command presence”.presence”.

• Live fire training in acquired Live fire training in acquired structures. structures. – Lack of good burns, all burn Lack of good burns, all burn

building type evolutions.building type evolutions.

• Personal protective gear is Personal protective gear is better than it ever has been better than it ever has been before.before.

Rapid Prevention

StatisticsStatistics

Rapid Prevention

Statistics Statistics

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Statistics Statistics

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StatisticsStatistics

Rapid Prevention

Motor Vehicle AccidentsMotor Vehicle Accidents

• MVC’s 11.8% of MVC’s 11.8% of fatalities for 1990-fatalities for 1990-20002000– Wear your seatbelt.Wear your seatbelt.– Approach Approach

intersections with intersections with caution.caution.

– Implement driver’s Implement driver’s training programs.training programs.

– In-charge people In-charge people look after your folks.look after your folks.

Rapid Prevention

Cardiac ArrestCardiac Arrest• 1990-2000 Statistics 1990-2000 Statistics

cardiac arrest was cardiac arrest was responsible for 43.9% of responsible for 43.9% of fatalities.fatalities.

• Overexertion & Strain was Overexertion & Strain was responsible for 46.6% as responsible for 46.6% as the immediate cause of the immediate cause of fatal injury.fatal injury.– Consider placing an Consider placing an

AED with the RIC or at AED with the RIC or at the command post.the command post.

– Have the support on Have the support on scene to rehab working scene to rehab working members.members.

Rapid Prevention

StatisticsStatistics

• Since 1977 Since 1977 Firefighter deaths Firefighter deaths are down 38%.are down 38%.

• However the rate However the rate of deaths per of deaths per 100,000 incidents 100,000 incidents is up.is up.

• So in reality our So in reality our problems are going problems are going up.up.

1 ¾” Fire? Staffing issues?

Rapid Prevention

Back to the Basics?Back to the Basics?

• Why did we leave Why did we leave them in the first them in the first place?place?

• It’s the It’s the fundamentals that fundamentals that carry us through carry us through successfully.successfully.– Firefighter SafetyFirefighter Safety– Civilian SafetyCivilian Safety– Stop the ProblemStop the Problem– Conserve PropertyConserve Property

20 minutes later. Time checks at regular intervals?

Rapid Prevention

Back to the Basics?Back to the Basics?

• Risk vs. Benefit Risk vs. Benefit • What benefits are to What benefits are to

be gained by be gained by committing committing firefighting personnel firefighting personnel into a certain tactical into a certain tactical operation under operation under certain conditions?certain conditions?

• Slow down and take Slow down and take in what’s going on…in what’s going on…the emergency is the emergency is overover once we arrive. once we arrive.

Rapid Prevention

Back to the Basics?Back to the Basics?

• TacticsTactics– AttackAttack– SearchSearch– Back-upBack-up– VentilationVentilation– ExposuresExposures– ExtensionExtension– OverhaulOverhaul– SalvageSalvage

Oxygen cylinder explodes at “bread & butter” trailer fire.

Rapid Prevention

Building ConstructionBuilding Construction

• Understanding the Understanding the elements that building elements that building components are likely components are likely to fail.to fail.

• Understand the effects Understand the effects of gravity on the fire of gravity on the fire building.building.

• Peaked roof operations.Peaked roof operations.• Parapets wallsParapets walls• The forces of nature on The forces of nature on

the structure.the structure.

Rapid Prevention

Building ConstructionBuilding Construction

• Type I - Fire ResistiveType I - Fire Resistive• Type II – Non-Type II – Non-

Combustible/Limited Combustible/Limited CombustibleCombustible

• Type III – Type III – Ordinary/Brick-and-Ordinary/Brick-and-JoistJoist

• Type IV – Heavy Type IV – Heavy TimberTimber

• Type V – Wood-FrameType V – Wood-Frame• Type VI – Hybrids ????Type VI – Hybrids ????

Rapid Prevention

Building ConstructionBuilding Construction

Chili’s Restaurant

Rapid Prevention

Building ConstructionBuilding Construction

Go ahead, have it your way!

Rapid Prevention

Building ConstructionBuilding Construction

Rapid Prevention

ALERT FIRE BOX 14-7ALERT FIRE BOX 14-7

Rapid Prevention

E-321 ARRIVEDE-321 ARRIVED

HEAVY SMOKE SHOWING

Rapid Prevention

7 MINUTES AFTER 7 MINUTES AFTER ARRIVALARRIVAL

MAYDAY IS CALLED

2 FIREFIGHTERS ARE DOWN

Rapid Prevention

Rapid Prevention

These are TGI beams,These are TGI beams,Before a Fire.Before a Fire.

Rapid Prevention

This is what’s left after a This is what’s left after a little fire impingement.little fire impingement.

Rapid Prevention

This is where they This is where they should be hanging.should be hanging.

Rapid Prevention

And this is what happens And this is what happens when they are gone.when they are gone.

Rapid Prevention

Rapid Prevention

Rapid Prevention

Rapid Prevention

TGI beams are used on a TGI beams are used on a lot of modern residential lot of modern residential

construction.construction.

Rapid Prevention

Rapid Prevention

Rapid Prevention

THIS COULD BE YOUR THIS COULD BE YOUR NEXT FIRE.NEXT FIRE.

BE BE CAREFUL!!!CAREFUL!!!

Rapid Prevention

Incident Size-UpIncident Size-Up• Don’t ignore incident Don’t ignore incident

size-up.size-up.– It’s everyone's It’s everyone's

responsibility.responsibility.• Proper size-up begins at Proper size-up begins at

the time of call and the time of call and continues throughout continues throughout the whole incident.the whole incident.

• Be personally Be personally accountable for accountable for monitoring and monitoring and communicating communicating changing conditions.changing conditions.

Rapid Prevention

Incident Size-UpIncident Size-Up

• What do we have? What do we have? – ConstructionConstruction– OccupancyOccupancy– Fire location & Fire location &

extent, smoke extent, smoke conditions, life conditions, life hazards. hazards.

Rapid Prevention

Incident Size-UpIncident Size-Up

• Where is it going?Where is it going?– Fire travelFire travel– Smoke travelSmoke travel– Inside and outside Inside and outside

conditionsconditions

Rapid Prevention

Incident Size-UpIncident Size-Up

• Where are the Where are the people?people?– How do we get How do we get

them?them?– How do we protect How do we protect

them?them?– How do we get them How do we get them

out?out?– Where are the Where are the

firefighters?firefighters?• Who’s who, what, and Who’s who, what, and

where?where?

Rapid Prevention

Incident Size-UpIncident Size-Up

• What do we need to do?What do we need to do?– OffensiveOffensive– DefensiveDefensive

COAL TWAS WEALTHSCOAL TWAS WEALTHS

Construction, Occupancy, Construction, Occupancy, Appliances & Staffing, Life Appliances & Staffing, Life Hazard, Terrain, Water Hazard, Terrain, Water Supply, Auxiliary Supply, Auxiliary appliances & aids, Street appliances & aids, Street Conditions, Weather, Conditions, Weather, Exposures, Area, Location Exposures, Area, Location & Extent of Fire, Time, & Extent of Fire, Time, Height, Special Height, Special Considerations Considerations

Rapid Prevention

Fire BehaviorFire Behavior

• Get enough GPMs to override the BTUs Get enough GPMs to override the BTUs – Do we have enough initial resources & the Do we have enough initial resources & the

resources to deliver it?resources to deliver it?

• Specific incidents where proper water Specific incidents where proper water application had a direct outcome to the application had a direct outcome to the incident.incident.– 2323rdrd Street collapse in Manhattan, NY, 17 October Street collapse in Manhattan, NY, 17 October

1966, which killed 12 firefighters. “Only Herculean 1966, which killed 12 firefighters. “Only Herculean efforts of the firefighters pushing back the fire with efforts of the firefighters pushing back the fire with 2 ½ inch hand lines allowed rescue teams to reach 2 ½ inch hand lines allowed rescue teams to reach the trapped firefighters…” preventing the loss of the trapped firefighters…” preventing the loss of many more lives.many more lives.

Rapid Prevention

Fire BehaviorFire Behavior

– Commercial Building fire, 12 March 1987, in Commercial Building fire, 12 March 1987, in which the Detroit, MI Fire Department lost which the Detroit, MI Fire Department lost three firefighters. “In an odd set of three firefighters. “In an odd set of circumstances, an officer and a firefighter circumstances, an officer and a firefighter were killed by the collapse of a fire wall, and were killed by the collapse of a fire wall, and another officer was killed in a fall from a another officer was killed in a fall from a third floor window after being trapped by third floor window after being trapped by rapid fire spread.” The article points out that rapid fire spread.” The article points out that if it were not for aggressive fire stream if it were not for aggressive fire stream application by an additional engine company application by an additional engine company this tragedy would have been greater. this tragedy would have been greater.

Rapid Prevention

Changing Fire Changing Fire ConditionsConditions

• Rollover-precursor to flashover, Rollover-precursor to flashover, flashes of fire in the heated smoke.flashes of fire in the heated smoke.

• Flashover-total room involvement Flashover-total room involvement caused by thermal re-radiation, caused by thermal re-radiation, simultaneous ignition of the area.simultaneous ignition of the area.

• Backdraft-caused by combustion of a Backdraft-caused by combustion of a flammable gas-air mixture, the flammable gas-air mixture, the introduction of air into a confined introduction of air into a confined space containing combustion gases, space containing combustion gases, that are heated to their ignition temp.that are heated to their ignition temp.

Rapid Prevention

Accountability Accountability

• SOPs & SOGs SOPs & SOGs • ICSICS• Riding PositionsRiding Positions• Crew IntegrityCrew Integrity• Crew DisciplineCrew Discipline

Rapid Prevention

Personal Gear/Personal Personal Gear/Personal Accountability & Safety Accountability & Safety

EquipmentEquipment• Lost or disoriented.Lost or disoriented.• PASS Activation.PASS Activation.• PPE, Gloves, Hoods, PPE, Gloves, Hoods,

Helmet Straps, & Helmet Straps, & SCBA Masks.SCBA Masks.– Don’t view PPE as Don’t view PPE as

optional equipment!optional equipment!– Officers lookout for Officers lookout for

your people!your people!– Lookout for yourself!Lookout for yourself!

Rapid Prevention

Thermal ImagersThermal Imagers

• Remember to take them with you.Remember to take them with you.• Train with them regularly to Train with them regularly to

understand the way objects look on understand the way objects look on youryour camera. camera.

• Some objects may give false temp.Some objects may give false temp.• Does not monitor air temp.Does not monitor air temp.

Rapid Prevention

CommunicationsCommunications

• Don’t ignore communication problems or Don’t ignore communication problems or hazards.hazards.

• The fire ground is not the place to find The fire ground is not the place to find out you have an interoperability issue.out you have an interoperability issue.

• Relay important information to command.Relay important information to command.• Notify command immediately when there Notify command immediately when there

is a problem.is a problem.• Many hesitate to call for help, you can Many hesitate to call for help, you can

always downgrade the response if it’s not always downgrade the response if it’s not needed.needed.

Rapid Prevention

Staffing & Mutual AidStaffing & Mutual Aid

• Limiting or ignoring Limiting or ignoring resources.resources.– Bring enough equipment Bring enough equipment

soon enough so that all soon enough so that all fire ground tasks can be fire ground tasks can be accomplished.accomplished.

– Have mutual aid & Have mutual aid & automatic response automatic response where available.where available.

• If not for your If not for your customers. customers. DO IT FOR DO IT FOR YOUR PEOPLE!YOUR PEOPLE!

• Personality Based Personality Based Mutual Aid IS Mutual Aid IS WRONG!WRONG!

Rapid Prevention

Possible ChangesPossible Changes• Increased response initially on “good calls of Increased response initially on “good calls of

fires”.fires”.– Proposed change to add 2 Engines & Chief to all Proposed change to add 2 Engines & Chief to all

“A” and “B” assignments.“A” and “B” assignments.• Medic units assisting with sector & command Medic units assisting with sector & command

responsibilities.responsibilities.• Utilizing a back-up line.Utilizing a back-up line.

– Disciplined crew with extra “firepower” in the Disciplined crew with extra “firepower” in the event that the first line gets in trouble.event that the first line gets in trouble.

– This crew does not actively seek out fire it actively This crew does not actively seek out fire it actively monitors conditions and protects interior crews.monitors conditions and protects interior crews.

– Placement of additional crews within the action Placement of additional crews within the action area or a “forward staging area”area or a “forward staging area”

Rapid Prevention

Possible ChangesPossible Changes

• 20 Minute callout is given after the 20 Minute callout is given after the call is received; not upon crew’s call is received; not upon crew’s arrival or the mark of a working arrival or the mark of a working incident.incident.– This serves as an This serves as an accountabilityaccountability report. report.– As well as an As well as an airair reportreport.

• In charge people check on your people.In charge people check on your people.• People check on YOUR air!People check on YOUR air!• Have the crews in the “forward staging area” Have the crews in the “forward staging area”

relieve crews before the bell tolls.relieve crews before the bell tolls.

Rapid Prevention

Possible ChangesPossible Changes

• Propose a Propose a downgraded downgraded response on service response on service runs.runs.– Update a what’s “hot” Update a what’s “hot”

& “what’s not” policy.& “what’s not” policy.– First due crews First due crews

respond, Other crews respond, Other crews advance in on a advance in on a “cold” response.“cold” response.• Slow down after Slow down after

nothing showing.nothing showing.

Rapid Prevention

Mayday vs. Urgent Mayday vs. Urgent TransmissionsTransmissions

• Urgent or Emergency Urgent or Emergency TrafficTraffic– Demands radio silence and Demands radio silence and

the problem may be the problem may be remedied by the person remedied by the person making the call or those in making the call or those in the immediate area.the immediate area.

• Minor S.C.B.A. leakMinor S.C.B.A. leak• Minor entanglementMinor entanglement• Firefighters exiting Firefighters exiting

building on SCBA low-building on SCBA low-pressure alarmspressure alarms

• Investigate an active PASSInvestigate an active PASS• Investigation of an Investigation of an

unaccounted firefighterunaccounted firefighter

Rapid Prevention

Mayday vs. Urgent Mayday vs. Urgent TransmissionsTransmissions

• MaydayMayday– Demands radio silence, firefighters in Demands radio silence, firefighters in

immediate area can try to assist, immediate area can try to assist, activation of RIT required.activation of RIT required.• Lost FF on SCBA low-air alarmLost FF on SCBA low-air alarm• Difficult entanglementDifficult entanglement• Complete loss of SCBA airComplete loss of SCBA air• Lost FF due to confusing room Lost FF due to confusing room

configuration, vast room size, or collapse configuration, vast room size, or collapse cutting off the exitcutting off the exit

Rapid Prevention

Self-Rescue Scenarios Self-Rescue Scenarios

– EntanglementEntanglement– Wall BreachWall Breach– Think, not only Think, not only

forcible entry, but forcible entry, but FORCIBLE EXIT!FORCIBLE EXIT!

―Rope slideRope slide―Hose slideHose slide―Think and work on Think and work on

getting yourself getting yourself out!out!

―Ladder Bail-OutLadder Bail-Out

Just one Ladder on

the rig?

Rapid Prevention

Firefighter Removal Firefighter Removal Methods Methods

• Conscious Conscious • UnconsciousUnconscious

Rapid Prevention

Rescue ScenariosRescue Scenarios

• Floor CollapseFloor Collapse• Confined SpaceConfined Space• Above GroundAbove Ground• Below Ground Below Ground

LevelLevel

Rapid Prevention

Commanding RIT Commanding RIT Operations Operations

• Extra companies Extra companies neededneeded

• Different channel for Different channel for suppression suppression operationsoperations– Keep rescue ops on Keep rescue ops on

original channeloriginal channel

• Don’t abandon the Don’t abandon the firefightfirefight

• Have fresh crews Have fresh crews readyready

Rapid Prevention

Tools & EquipmentTools & Equipment

• RIT Staging List-1 Officer & 3 RIT Staging List-1 Officer & 3 Firefighters Min.Firefighters Min.– RIT Tarp (tool placement)RIT Tarp (tool placement)– S.C.B.A./face-piece (each member)S.C.B.A./face-piece (each member)– S.C.B.A.-complete w/face piece or RIT bagS.C.B.A.-complete w/face piece or RIT bag– Search Rope 200-ft. Team Search, Kevlar rope with tag lines & strobesSearch Rope 200-ft. Team Search, Kevlar rope with tag lines & strobes– Thermal ImagerThermal Imager– Attic LadderAttic Ladder– Hand Line (Separate water source?)Hand Line (Separate water source?)– Spare bottlesSpare bottles– Irons (Flat-Head Axe/Halligan)Irons (Flat-Head Axe/Halligan)– Hand LightsHand Lights– Stokes BasketStokes Basket– Portable RadiosPortable Radios– RIT Rope Rescue bag (Through the floor/window & ladder scenario)RIT Rope Rescue bag (Through the floor/window & ladder scenario)– Defibrillator Defibrillator – Get clipboard (stopwatch, reference sheets, graph paper)Get clipboard (stopwatch, reference sheets, graph paper)

Rapid Prevention

Items to know!Items to know!• PASS Device PASS Device • Buddy SystemBuddy System• Exiting with a hose Exiting with a hose

lineline– Coupling directionCoupling direction

• Operating without a Operating without a hose linehose line– VES?VES?

• Search LinesSearch Lines• Emergency Breathing Emergency Breathing

Procedures Procedures • Personal EscapePersonal Escape• Wall BreachWall Breach

Rapid Prevention

THE T.E.A.R PRINCIPLETHE T.E.A.R PRINCIPLE

• T-Team LeaderT-Team Leader• E-ExtricationE-Extrication• A-AirA-Air• R-RopeR-Rope

Rapid Prevention

TEAM LEADERTEAM LEADER

• Communicates progress and Communicates progress and receives orders from command.receives orders from command.

• Provides guidance to the team Provides guidance to the team members including the way out to members including the way out to the ffs dragging the downed ff.the ffs dragging the downed ff.

Rapid Prevention

EXTRICATIONEXTRICATION

• Carries irons or other tools Carries irons or other tools suspected to be of need.suspected to be of need.

• Carries wire cutters.Carries wire cutters.• Frees the downed ff from Frees the downed ff from

obstructions and restrictions.obstructions and restrictions.• Assists with the air bottle switch Assists with the air bottle switch

over and ff removal.over and ff removal.

Rapid Prevention

AIRAIR

• Carries an extra air supply, pack or Carries an extra air supply, pack or air bag (depending on the air bag (depending on the department).department).

• Ensures the downed ff has an Ensures the downed ff has an adequate air supply and switches the adequate air supply and switches the air supply if needed.air supply if needed.

• Helps remove the downed ff.Helps remove the downed ff.

Rapid Prevention

ROPEROPE

• Carries the search rope.Carries the search rope.• Deploys the search rope on the way Deploys the search rope on the way

in.in.• Picks up the search rope on the way Picks up the search rope on the way

out.out.

Rapid Prevention

Commercial/High-Rise Commercial/High-Rise StructuresStructures

• Multiple teamsMultiple teams• Staging areas Staging areas

within the within the structurestructure

• Multiple Multiple companies companies operatingoperating

• Greater potential Greater potential for getting lost or for getting lost or disorienteddisoriented

Rapid Prevention

Questions/CommentsQuestions/CommentsRemember safety isn’t just for the fireground.Remember safety isn’t just for the fireground.

Rapid Prevention

ResourcesResources

• Washington Twp. Standard Operating GuidelinesWashington Twp. Standard Operating Guidelines• Incident Management for the Street Smart Fire Incident Management for the Street Smart Fire

Officer. John F. “Skip” ColemanOfficer. John F. “Skip” Coleman• Firefighter Rescue & Survival. Richard Kolomay Firefighter Rescue & Survival. Richard Kolomay

and Bob Hoffand Bob Hoff• Firefighters’ 10 Deadly Sins on the Fireground. Firefighters’ 10 Deadly Sins on the Fireground.

David C. Comstock and Scott MaxwellDavid C. Comstock and Scott Maxwell• USFAUSFA• Special Thanks to Lt. Brad Schaefer for help the Special Thanks to Lt. Brad Schaefer for help the

use of portions from his powerpoint & utilization use of portions from his powerpoint & utilization of the T.E.A.R. principle. of the T.E.A.R. principle.

Rapid Prevention

ResourcesResources

• Special Thanks to Ch. Goldfeder for The Secret Special Thanks to Ch. Goldfeder for The Secret List and use of photos from his website that is List and use of photos from his website that is dedicated to firefighter safety and survival. dedicated to firefighter safety and survival. – firefighterclosecalls.com firefighterclosecalls.com

• And everyone else that contributed in one way or And everyone else that contributed in one way or the other that I have failed to mention.the other that I have failed to mention.