BY TOM BRENNAN
The firefighter who can think logically for the longest period of time on the structure fireground is the one who will be the most successful, the safest, and the most efficient. He is also the one in all probability who is on his way to being a defined leader-to Command!
The “computer under the helmet” must start functioning as early as possible. If you are a volunteer, that generally is during all your conscious minutes in your district. You then become more focused as the information of the alarm is received, and certainly when getting your assignment through whatever system is used in your department.
In the paid sector, your computer must start running at the start of the shift. Your focus begins with the roll call (the what?).
The Truck Company
Truck officer. The truck boss must decide lots on the way about the position of the apparatus at the reported structure fire.
If the truck officer, you are to remain basically calm and quiet for the “run,” except for a few things. You must regulate the speed of the vehicle through the chauffeur, and you must determine the route to the emergency. To the thinking officer, this will depend on many things, such as Where is the other truck coming from? Is it delayed? Where is the probable first-to-arrive engine company? In front of you? You have the problem half licked!
Then gather additional data from whatever communication device “talks” to you in the cab-eyes, ears, radio, computer, tactical channel on the portable radio. Decide what is nonsense and what information should be passed on to the driver and to the team behind you, especially if the “act” will change.
Some of these data include the following: fire above the reach of portable or aerial devices; top-floor fire in a combustible building; split building (usually a multiple dwelling) where a front fire location will tax all the resources on and in the truck; and a fire in the rear of the building, which will put alternate entry points of portable ladders on a delay for sure and certainly make the aerial useless other than for access to the roof.
The heavy thinking here goes to the member assigned outside ventilation: Do I have a fire escape to that occupancy? Do I need to take a ladder with me? What size will I need?
None of this taxing thought process should get jump-started in front of the burning building. I have run into lots of “salts” that say, “We (usually I) like to decide that on arrival.” Nonsense! That is a copout and a tactic used by officers who really do not actually know what they want.
Team members. But, what about the team? Team members’ thinking can begin only if the officer conducts a roll call and gives out the thoughtful and planned assignments to each on-duty member.
Chauffeur. The chauffeur should know he is driving that day and should be ready to begin that “act” with the acronym BIGSOC (see last month’s column) or whatever.
Forcible entry. The firefighter (there should be two firefighters, but today is today in the fire service) assigned forcible entry can now begin to check the tools. Are the hand tools “married” and accessible? What is their condition? Clean? Manicured? In place? What about the secondary tools-the maul and duckbill padlock buster or whatever you use in the case of hardened padlocks? The hydraulics may be called for in forcing entry to any place that is locked or if the area of the fire’s location is blocked or if the opening needed is nonexistent.
Vertical ventilation. Getting your personal equipment in the proper position will prevent confusion, collisions, and lots of noise should an alarm come in during the first 15 minutes of your shift. Where are the roof tools of choice? What is their condition? What about the cutting tools? Are the saws topped off with fuel? Is the fuel supply in the safety cans replenished? What about the condition of the blades or chains? Start them!
A great vertical ventilation wizard should have access to at least a halligan and a great six-foot hook and an ax-not to be taken all at once but to be selected according to what is burning, where the fire is on arrival, and where it may possibly go soon.
Outside ventilation (really alternate entry, search, exit, and then vent). The person assigned this position should know about the assignment as soon as possible. In all probability, he will be working initially with the chauffeur for a time. That “coupling” has a dialogue all its own. Where is the extra halligan tool? What do I want to marry it with? Fire escape-a hook! Aerial or portable entry-perhaps an ax will balance better. All this is set in minutes and can be done only at roll call.
Roof position on the run. Where am I going? Peak roof, private? Flat roof, multiple dwelling? Commercial? Industrial? Mixed occupancies? How can I get there? Are there attached occupancies? Fire escapes? Is a portable ladder all I need? Aerial? Will I take the saw? Do I prepare to cut the roof at this one, or should I take the tools to search below the roof after opening all I can?
This is just the beginning of the arrival brain bashing of one of the team members. How can anyone expect this to be ready “before his foot hits the asphalt” if the computer is not warmed and massaged at roll call?
TOM BRENNAN has more than 36 years of fire service experience. His career spans more than 20 years with the Fire Department of New York as well as four years as chief of the Waterbury (CT) Fire Department. He was the editor of Fire Engineering for eight years and currently is a technical editor. He is co-editor of The Fire Chief’s Handbook, Fifth Edition (Fire Engineering Books, 1995). He is the recipient of the 1998 Fire Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award. Brennan is featured in the video Brennan and Bruno Unplugged (Fire Engineering/FDIC, 1999).
