Firefighting Tactics and Strategies

Study Notes

An incident action plan is necessary for effective operations.
Offensive/defensive strategy decision is based on risk-versus-benefit analysis.
Tactical decisions and task assignments are based on the overall strategy.
The primary strategic considerations are life safety, extinguishment, and property conservation.
Extinguishment is both an operational priority and a tactical objective.
When developing an incident action plan, it is best to categorize tactical objectives in terms of their relative importance as primary and secondary objectives.
Structural conditions bear heavily on the offensive/defensive decision.
The IC must consider what will be needed to conduct an offensive attack early in the plan development process.
Resources that are required to fight a fire offensively are different from those needed for a defensive battle.
Figure 3-1 charts time and resources versus occupant probability of survival in terms of structural stability, temperature, and smoke layer.
The offensive/defensive decision governs the entire operation in a fire incident.
Exterior hose streams can be used to soften the target prior to making entry for an offensive attack.
Master streams are generally considered defensive tools but can be used to support rescue efforts in large, complex structures.
The IC sets the objectives, decides on the tactics necessary to achieve objectives, and assigns units to complete the tasks associated with each objective.
Written incident action plans are required when an incident extends past a single operational period or if a unified command is established.
The incident action plan should cover all tactical and support activities required during the operational period.
The IC must follow up and request status reports after making assignments.
Fires in the home make up the vast majority of fires.
The process used to develop an incident action plan for a small residential fire is the same as that used for a large and complex fire.
There is a risk associated with any offensive operation, but the risk to firefighters is usually less in a single-family dwelling than it would be in a larger, more complex occupancy.
Modern residential buildings have lightweight construction.
The lightweight construction is not as sturdy as older buildings.
The lightweight construction is made up of truss roof and engineered floor construction.
In a fire, extreme caution should be used if the IC decides to vent the roof.
A stable platform should be provided before venting the roof.
Aerial, elevated platform, or roof ladder can be used to provide a stable platform.
The lightweight construction can collapse more quickly than older buildings.
Pre-planning is necessary to understand the building's construction.
Firefighters should be aware of the potential hazards of lightweight construction.
The involvement of lightweight construction should be considered when developing a firefighting strategy.