Fire Attack Operations Guide

• The standard operating guideline for fire attack operations was updated on 02/22/2022
• The purpose is to provide a framework for safe and effective fire attack operations
• This guideline applies to all Emergency Operations personnel

Arrival Report

• An arrival report must be communicated as per SOG 210-01 Communications
• The arrival report must include "Working Fire" if a working fire is present
• A "Working Fire” is defined as a fire requiring all first alarm units
• Declaring a "Working Fire” triggers notifications to:
  • Administration
  • Investigator
  • District Chief
  • Florida Power and Light (FPL)
• Additional resources, such as additional units, command staff, alarms, Florida Public Utilities (FPU), light and air units, and tenders, can be requested.

Water Supply

• When operating off tank water, the Driver Operator needs to monitor GPM flows and water levels
• The Driver Operator should not flow more than 200 GPM, unless using a mounted deck gun for a quick attack
• Mounted deck gun use, without an established water source, requires:
  • A nearby water source
  • A deployed hose line
  • Increased RPMs, and the deck gun aimed at the fire's seat prior to water flow
  • The deck gun should NOT flow for more than 20-30 seconds
  • Shall NOT be used when the fire's location is undetermined
  • Shall NOT be used when it could negatively affect a victim's survivability
• Driver Operator must advise the Incident Commander and interior firefighters when:
  • The tank water level is at 50%
  • The tank water level drops to 25%, indicating the need to evacuate
• Before laying supply lines to a hydrant, ensure it is functional and the water supply is available
• The Incident Commander can coordinate with the Fire Operations Officer for increased pressure when using hydrant water
• The Driver Operator should secure the water supply if the attack Engine is in an area with nearby hydrants
• A source Engine should supply the attack Engine if the LDH hose lay is greater than 500 feet
• The Driver Operator must advise the Incident Commander as to the location and type of water supply
• If no hydrants are available, the Incident Commander should request a tender for water supply
• Dispatch automatically assigns a second tender when one is required or requested for supplemental water
• The Incident Commander should also consider assigning a Water Supply Officer

Offensive Mode

• Offensive Mode, is an advance into the fire building by firefighters with hose lines or other extinguishing agents to overpower the fire
• Fire Rescue personnel must follow SOG 220-01 Personal Accountability and SOG 220-02 Two In-Two Out Rule
• The Incident Commander should select an Offensive Mode of operation when:
  • No Rescue profile exists
  • The fire remains controllable
  • There is no imminent structural failure or hostile fire event
• The Incident Commander should direct the placement of hose lines to:
  • Rescue (primary tactical priority)
    • Providing the best rescue chance
    • Protecting firefighters performing Rescue or Primary Search
    • Protecting occupant egress routes
    • Utilizing exterior water application in some cases to increase survivability
  • Exposure (protect exposures)
  • Confinement (confine the fire)
  • Extinguishment (extinguish the fire)
• Tactical priority of extinguishment requires:
  • Controlling most initial fires (one room) with a minimum of 150 GPM from a 1¾" hose line
  • Controlling larger fires (beyond the room of origin) with a minimum of 200 GPM from a 2½" hose line
  • The Booster line does not provide sufficient GPMs and should never be used for Fire Attack
• The initial Fire Attack hose line often has the most impact on the incident's outcome
• Recent NIST and UL research shows that the initial application of water into a fire compartment can:
  • Dramatically reduce heat within the flow path
  • Improve occupant survival
  • Create safer interior suppression conditions
• Initial exterior water application during an Offensive Mode is intended to cool the fire compartment, not extinguish the fire
• Exterior water application considerations:
  • The hose line should NOT be repositioned (avoiding time delay)
  • The water application must be deliberate and controlled
  • Wrong water application may over-pressurize the fire compartment and decrease survivability
  • Application should be directly into the fire compartment utilizing:
    • A solid or straight stream without nozzle movement
    • Directed into the ceiling
    • Applied for no longer than 15 seconds

Types of Hose Lines

• Fire Rescue utilizes the following types of hose lines:
  • Pre-connected
    • 1" Booster lines (NOT for Fire Attack)
    • 1¾" Cross lay(s)
    • 1¾" Front bumper line or Trash-line
    • 2½" Blitz-line
  • Static Hose Packs
    • 1¾" 100' High-rise Pack (Coil Pack)
    • 2½" Horseshoe Pack
• Static Hose Packs are for hose line stretches exceeding Pre-connected hose line limitations, allowing for rapid deployment
• A 2½" Horseshoe Pack may be used to extend a 2½" Blitz-line

Flow Path

• The flow path is the volume between an inlet and an exhaust that allows the movement of heat and smoke from a higher-pressure area within the fire area toward lower-pressure areas accessible via doors, windows, and other openings
• Firefighter operations in the flow path are at significant risk due to increased fire, heat, and smoke flow
• Limiting flow paths until fire suppression water is ready is important in limiting heat release and temperatures in a structure

Back-Up and IAP Reevaluation

• The Incident Commander should ensure the Back-Up hose line is the same size, length and capability as the Fire Attack hose line
• The Back-Up hose line's purpose is to protect firefighters performing Fire Attack, and is NOT a secondary attack line
• The Incident Commander must re-evaluate the IAP according to 200-02 Incident Command Sequence
• An Offensive Mode should achieve a quick effect on a fire, and the Incident Commander must predict and position crews ahead of the fire's path
• Order additional Fire Attack and Exposure hose lines based on Fire Conditions and Progress Reports
• The Incident Commander may permit ongoing operations based on structural failure evidence, particularly regarding truss and roof conditions

Defensive Mode

• Defensive Mode means conducting suppression operations outside the fire structure, using large-capacity fire streams between the fire and exposures to prevent fire extension
• The Incident Commander should choose a Defensive Mode of operation when:
  • There is no chance of saving a life
  • There is little chance of saving property
  • There are insufficient resources to implement and sustain an Offensive Mode of operation
• When operating in Defensive Mode:
  • Firefighters should be outside the collapse zone (1½ times the height of the structure)
  • The Incident Safety Officer should ensure the collapse zone is established and that firefighters are excluded
  • Tactical priorities should protect exposures and confine the fire
• Tactical priority of Exposure control generally requires:
  • Initial Exposure hose lines with a 2½" hose line flowing a minimum of 200 GPM
  • Exposure protection via:
    • Ground monitors
    • Mounted deck guns
• Ground monitors or mounted deck guns provide the greatest flow and safety to firefighters
• Ground monitors can be left unattended if in a collapse zone
• The Incident Commander may use elevated streams when the building (or part of it) is considered a loss and requires large water volumes
• Firefighters should NOT operate inside the structure when elevated streams are deployed
• The Incident Commander must re-evaluate the IAP according to 200-02 Incident Command Sequence
• Order additional Fire Attack and Exposure hose lines based on progress reports
• The Incident Commander should NOT allow any interior operations until the structure is evaluated for failure and deemed reliable, particularly regarding truss and roof evaluations

Control Zones

• Formal Control Zones may not be marked at every fire. All personnel should be aware that Control Zones still exist even if not marked
• Modern day fires produce harmful toxins, including Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN), etc
• Many toxins are colorless and/or odorless gases; refer to SOG 320-03 Atmospheric Monitoring
• Control zones defined on all fire types:
  • Exclusion Zone
    • Risks outweigh the benefit
    • Nobody (Fire Rescue, Law Enforcement, ISOs, civilians, and media personnel) is allowed in this zone due to dangerous conditions, regardless of PPE
  • Hot Zone
    • High-risk area
    • The immediate perimeter of any fire or combustion products, including smoke and soot
  • Warm Zone
    • Little-risk area
    • An area not in the immediate vicinity of any fire or combustion products
  • Cold Zone
    • No-risk area
    • An area outside of the hot and warm zone, ideally uphill and upwind

Overhaul

• Overhaul is exposing hidden fire and ensuring complete extinguishment
• Overhaul should follow the Incident Priorities of Life Safety, Incident Stabilization, Property Conservation, and Evidence Preservation (refer to SOG 200-01 Incident Command Sequence)
• Take precautions to preserve property and prevent further damage
• Overhaul should include total extinguishment of all smoldering fires and checking for and extinguishing all hidden fires and extension
• A Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) use useful during overhaul
• Blown-in cellulose insulation presents a major rekindle hazard, thoroughly check with blown-in cellulose insulation
• Mattresses and over-stuffed furnishings should be removed completely from structures after fire exposure