By Jonathan Patten
Photos by author except where noted
Not having a truck company in one’s fire department does not in any way indicate that firefighters can neglect the functions typically assigned to the truck. Regardless of the type of apparatus we ride, we are all assigned support functions or “truck work” from time to time. Order of arrival should help us anticipate what is needed or what comes next. An engine company, quint, or ladder company should have arrival assignments in place that address being first on scene and additional sets of assignments for arriving second, third, etc.
The mission of this article is to explore the topic of riding assignments and lay out some basic functions as they relate to dismount procedures.
Firefighters, Do You Know Your Job? Developing a Response Playbook
Having a Plan
Regardless of how your own truck company operates, the importance of having a plan prior to engaging in battle cannot be stressed enough. I recently asked a group of students in an aerial operations course a series of questions, beginning with: “If an engine on your side of town responds to a house fire tonight, who will be on the nozzle?” Most of the 17 engines in our city are currently staffed with three firefighters, and there were students in the class from all over the city. Each of the students unanimously agreed that the firefighter riding backwards would be on the nozzle.
Question 2: “Who will be the backup on the hoseline?” Again, they all agreed that it would be the company officer.
Question 3: “Who will pump the engine?” All agreed it would be the engineer.
Question 4: “Why don’t we just wait and see what we have when we get there then decide who does what?” I was then met with a few blank stares.
Even though these assignments are not written in policy, each of the students were on the same page and understood the plan. Their understanding of how our engines operate is due to their understanding of efficiency, the importance of having a plan, and that it just makes good sense. Any fire that broke out in our city that night would be met by firefighters with a comprehensive understanding of how engine companies operate.
If we treat our engine companies this way, why would we treat the truck company any different? The very nature of the truck company is nonlinear, and this often leads firefighters down the path of “Let’s just figure it out when we get there.” Without a plan, the truck company is just a firefighter delivery vehicle until they are told otherwise.
With the laundry list of tasks to be completed and objectives to be met, we can improve efficiency by establishing assignments based on riding position. It is as simple as this: If there is a door to be forced today, it goes to your seat position. If a search is needed, it goes to this seat and that seat. If a roof is to be opened, it will be you and you. Operating in this manner directly correlates to increased efficiency and speed and produces a better product for the safety and survival of our citizens. It also serves as an excellent accountability tool for me as a truck captain. Imagine if every truck company operated with riding assignments similar to those found in some major cities. Our fireground commanders could anticipate our next move as well as have a general idea of our location when they arrive on scene. To make more “sense” of how this can look, let us begin by discussing “The List” and the geographical work areas of a truck company.
The List
Consider the functions of the truck company as a list of all fireground support functions: everything but water, except for a firefighter assigned a pressurized water extinguisher. The list begins with forcible entry and search. Although these functions may be performed by an engine, the truck must ensure they are complete and do what is necessary to ensure the engine makes a successful attack. The truck company provides overwatch. As a truck company or support company, we should work through the list as the scene progresses until it is complete. A great truckman once told me, “If you’re riding the truck and you find yourself standing still, you’re missing something.”
The list:
- Forcible entry
- Access
- Emergency egress
- Search and rescue
- Fire areaAbove the fire area
- Both primary and secondary searches
- Ventilation in coordination with fire attack
- Ground ladders for rescue, access, and egress
- Windows
- Roof access
- Having the engine’s back
- Accessing the fire
- Moving hose
- Overhaul
- Open up for fire extension
- “Dig it out” so the engine can finish the job
- Open up for fire extension
- Salvage
- Tarps, floor runners, catchalls, chutes
- Utility control
- Gas, electric, water
- Scene lighting
- Both interior and exterior
- Air monitoring for carbon monoxide levels
- To determine the need for mask usage
- To find hidden pockets or contaminated living units that could affect citizens after we leave
The items on “The List” may be further split into primary and secondary truck functions. The primary functions are those things that need our immediate attention on arrival, the items of highest priority. These items are:
- Forcible entry, egress
- Search
- Ventilation
- Ladders
In the simplest of terms, we must gain access for the engine and the truck. We must determine if there are victims. When properly coordinated with attack, ventilation supports both fire attack and search. Ground ladder work as well as aerial operations complement and provide options for both the engine and the truck.
Additional items on “The List” may vary in their order based on the incident but primary truck functions will, for the most part, remain the same. Work “The List.”
Geographical Work Areas
The geographical work areas are used to help us understand truck company priorities and how we can split our team to best meet them. The areas are inside, outside, and topside.
Inside: Firefighters assigned to the inside are responsible for the interior of the structure, with the highest prioritized tactical objective being search. The inside team’s piece of the list is:
- Forcible entry
- Search and rescue
- Have the engine’s back
This means assist them in making the fire and humping hose, if needed. Members should not walk past a kink; dig it out so the engine can get a good knock on the fire.
- Overhaul
- Salvage
- Interior utilities
In a nutshell: Get in, search, and ensure the attack engine is successful.
Outside: Obviously, it would be great to have a team operating in the outside position, but, due to staffing, it is often filled by a single firefighter. The outside position is responsible for:
- Forcible entry/egress
- Ladders (both ground ladders and aerials or towers)
- Entry/egress/vent, enter, search
- For rescue
- To assist the roof position, if necessary
- Look for search/ rescue targets of opportunity
- Control utilities
- Perform horizontal ventilation coordinated with fire attack
- Overhaul
In a nutshell: Provide additional egress options at both the ground level and above, look for an opportunistic grab, and establish a vent.
Topside: Initially, firefighters assigned this position are responsible solely for the roof. Due to staffing, some departments may delegate these responsibilities in an outside position.
- Ladders
- To the roof
- Roof report
- Vertical ventilation
- Don’t forget our natural vent points such as skylights and bulkheads
- Assess vent effectiveness
- Examine inaccessible sides of the structure, if possible
In a nutshell: Make the roof, report findings that will assist others, establish a vent, look off the sides of the building and in courtyards or ventilation shafts for hidden hazards and opportunities.
By splitting our crew to operate in these geographical work areas, we can address fireground priorities simultaneously. This is the value for us and our citizens in having riding assignments.
“The mark of a good truck company is its ability to prioritize and perform multiple tasks simultaneously.” —John Mittendorf-
A Common Concern
A common concern I have heard over the years from truck officers that are resistant to riding assignments or dismount procedures may tie their hands on the fireground. There has also been a concern that they cannot know what needs to be done until they arrive and get eyes on the scene. In truth, riding assignments provide an initial direction for our crews, a starting point, Plan “A.” An officer absolutely should have the option to adjust the split, keep the crew together, or make any adjustment necessary for the sake of mission success. Plan “A” or riding assignments should address our most common responses and most common fireground needs. We must also remember that although the fire scene is dynamic and there are many factors that will determine how the scene unfolds, what we do as the fire department is the same at every incident. We will always do the following or ensure these things have been done:
Force entry, attack the fire, search, ventilate, ladder (if going to the roof or multistory), overhaul, salvage.
Do these items look familiar? All but fire attack is part of “The List.” The fire department addresses these items on every fire. So the fact remains that we can make plans for the next fire.
“Does the concept of predetermined duties strip a company officer of the ability to designate specific duties at an incident? No. The concept of predetermined duties offers a starting point for company personnel but still allows an officer to reassign duties as an incident dictates.” —John Mittendorf
I personally consider John Mittendorf’s Truck Company Operations to be an outstanding resource for foundational knowledge of truck ops. He addresses many of the common concerns and questions those resistant to riding assignments may have in the very first chapter of his book.
Through my own reading and research, I have found that much is said about the topic of riding assignments. I occasionally hear this subject discussed on podcasts but there is much less to be found on the topic in fire service books. I periodically stumble on articles in fire service publications that explore the topic, but when it comes to actual books, the ones that come to mind are Truck Company Operations by John Mittendorf and The Functional Fire Company by Scott Thompson. Although there are others, I hope the future brings much more written on the topic of truck company operations as a whole and specifically the correct mindset, fireground flow, and order of operations and goals of the truck company.
There remains one last objection I continue to encounter when it comes to those resistant to riding assignments. Most of these company officers have not sufficiently tried it, nor have they taken the time to put together a plan that will work for their team and their response area. It truly is simple, but no, it will not work for you if you neglect to put in the work
If you are not operating in this manner, I challenge you to put in the work. You will be pleased with the outcome and so will your citizens. Work “The List.”
Jonathan Patten is a truck captain with the Arlington (TX) Fire Department, where he has served for 24 years. He began his fire service journey with the Rendon Volunteer Fire Department in 1996 and served in the Cleburne (TX) Fire Department from 1998 to 2000. He is a TCFP Instructor Level 2 and is a member of the Arlington Fire Department Training Committee as well as an adjunct instructor for Arlington Fire Training. He is the founder of Ladder Truck One LLC and is currently assigned to Truck 1-B at The Main Street Firehouse.
