How Well Do You Understand Fire Suppression Philosophies and Operations?

Study Notes

Fire suppression operations vary greatly between different fire departments and even different shifts within the same department.
This can lead to inconsistencies in victim survivability and property conservation.
Safety-First Fire and Rescue (SFFR) prioritizes emergency medical services over fire suppression.
SFFR has an "extreme safety" culture that avoids risks whenever possible.
SFFR uses a staffing and deployment model where every firefighter is proficient in every task on the fireground.
Lack of resources, commitment, or understanding of fire operations can lead to the "jack of all trades, master of none" philosophy in some departments.
Firefighters must learn operational philosophies on the fly when changing shifts or stations.
Operational inconsistencies can lead to a lack of opportunity for firefighters to achieve an expert level of understanding.
Experience comes from doing things the same way over and over and observing how outcomes are influenced by decisions and actions.
The battle cry of "peace is everyone goes home" prioritizes firefighter safety but may not always consider the needs of victims and property.
Some suburban fire departments prioritize EMS over fire operations due to a belief that most calls are EMS-related.
Some departments are uncomfortable with aggressive fire operations and focus on doing their best without putting firefighters in unsafe situations.
Chiefs may lack understanding of fire operations and leave it up to shift commanders and company officers to figure it out.
Departments with operational inconsistencies in fire suppression tactics are not as committed to operational preparedness.
Fire departments should have a systematic approach to preparation and problem-solving at fire events for consistent and predictable fire suppression and rescue capabilities.
Fire-first philosophies prepare for fire, train for fire, and understand the difference between sensible aggression and reckless aggression.
Departments that don't value preparing for fire and managing risks are putting firefighters in a position to fail.
Risk management in fire departments looks a lot like FFR from the street, but functional fire companies are set up to control threats to firefighters and fire victims.
Fire companies that take pride and ownership in everything they do are capable of delivering exceptional emergency medical care.
It's important to define what works best with the resources provided and manage risks to deliver capabilities as a unified team.