Primary Search: Focus on the Floor
Search operations are a race against time to save lives. Mark van der Feyst reviews some considerations for firefighters when it comes to training primary search.
Search Operations
Firefighters search to save lives. Whether you’re on the engine or truck, conducting effective search operations is essential. On this page you’ll find articles, videos, and resources to help you conduct training on search, including civilian rescue, removal of down firefighters in Mayday situations, and more.
The Latest
Drawn by Fire: Policy Perplexity
How clear is your fire department's policy when it comes to search operations? Check out an illustration from Paul Combs.
Truck Operations: Work ‘The List’
Jonathan Patten explores the topic of truck company riding assignments and lays out basic functions as they relate to dismount procedures.
Fire and Training: Search in the Modern Environment
Douglas Cline looks at searching in the modern fire environment and considers some thoughts from David Rhodes on search training.
Must View
The Lack of Search Training Is Appalling
Saving lives is at the core of the fire service mission, yet there is a noticeable lack of skill when it comes to search operations. That must change.
Perspectives on Leadership: Search
Steve Shaw speaks with guest Grant Schwalbe about search, search culture, training on search, and how to plan for search.
More Search Operations
Survivable Space: Not Our Decision
Robert Ricci discusses the decision-making processes firefighters must employ and the difference between survivability and searchability.
Analysis of a Rescue as It Relates to the New FSRI Training Program
This article examines a rescue at a fire in a three-bedroom, two- bathroom, single-story house, similar in size and configuration to the ones used by FSRI.
Preplanning VES Operations: It’s All About the Details
Dennis Reilly provides suggestions on decisions fire departments can make before firefighters arrive on scene where they need to perform vent-enter-search.
Podcast: Talkin Tactics: Search
David Polikoff, Robert James (RJ), and Sam Villani from Capitol Fire Training talk about search, and the tactics around a successful search on today's fireground.
Fire Rescue Training: Do a Better Job of Teaching Search
The fire service can and must do a better job of teaching firefighters how to search, writes Grant Schwalbe.
VES: Not Always as Easy as Vent-Enter-Search
Recently, members of Charlotte (NC) Fire Department Tower 18 encountered heavy duty window screens while they attempted to VES.
Prioritizing the Search with Limited Staffing
How can firefighters prioritize the search when dealing with limited staffing and resources? Daniel Folks shares his department's approach.
Aggressive or Misunderstood? Searching Without a TIC
How many hours of training have you and your firefighters had on thermal imaging cameras (TICs)? Thomas Anderson takes a look at TIC use.
