Command and control ics book 1 chapter 1. Fire Officer Strategy and Tactics

• The officer must determine strategy, tactics, apparatus placement, and resource allocation upon arriving at a fire.
• Many officers make mistakes by misinterpreting cues or not forming a plan.
• Errors can lead to ineffective fire control, poor ventilation, increased rescue difficulty, and legal charges.
• To avoid negative outcomes, continuous education from experienced fire officers is crucial.
• An expert is an officer with extensive fire experience or someone who stays updated with training and new concepts.
• Experience comes from working full-alarm or multiple-alarm fires, not just minor incidents.
• Training is a lifelong endeavor that includes strategy, tactics, ICS, water supply, safety, building construction, and command and control.
• Simulation allows applying learned knowledge under pressure, building a synthetic experience base.
• Applying theoretical knowledge to real-world simulation is key to truly learning a subject.
• The book explains general processes for controlling incidents and provides specific information for common occupancies.
• It focuses on incident scene decision-making, memory development, and effective strategies and tactics.
• The book covers essential ICS functions, safety issues, resource allocation, and personnel accountability.
• Pre-incident planning and building construction knowledge are vital for fire officers.

Clues vs. Cues

• A clue is a hint or suggestion that might lead to a conclusion.
• A cue is an indicator or sign that certain conditions exist or will occur if conditions persist.
• Cues have a high degree of certainty based on experience and lessons learned.
• Incident commanders must recognize and correctly interpret cues when conducting a risk/benefit analysis.

Occupancy-Specific Information

• The book provides a foundation for effective decision-making and information on specific occupancy types such as single-family dwellings, garden apartments, strip shopping centers, vacant commercial buildings, lumberyards, small hotels and boarding houses, enclosed shopping malls, and transportation incidents.
• The book discusses occupancy-specific cues, cue-based predictions, incident management cues, strategies, and tactics.

Vacant Commercial Building Fire Scenario Solution

• Size-up: 25% involvement on the first floor, vacant building with potential floor/stair deterioration, possible vagrants, and open stair shafts, potential arson.
• Problems: Fire on the first floor, possible life hazard (vagrants), potential extension to the second floor.
• Water supply needs: 600 gpm for the first floor, 150 gpm to check extension to the second floor.
• Strategy: Rescue (primary search), confinement, extinguishment, ventilation.
• Tactics:
  • Attack the fire from the rear door, pushing the fire from unburned to burned areas with a portable master stream (600 gpm).
  • Advance a hoseline up the rear stairs to check for extension (150 gpm).
  • Ventilate horizontally on the first and second floors.
  • Shift to a defensive operation if the fire escalates or the building deteriorates.