Podcast
Questions and Answers
When evaluating risk versus gain at an incident, what factor introduces considerable complexity to the decision-making process, potentially leading to an unbalanced assessment?
When evaluating risk versus gain at an incident, what factor introduces considerable complexity to the decision-making process, potentially leading to an unbalanced assessment?
- The emotional investment that firefighters unknowingly place on the outcome of the operation. (correct)
- The adherence to pre-incident planning documentation and structural blueprints.
- The reliance on advanced technological tools, such as thermal imaging cameras.
- The standardization of incident command structures across different departments.
Effective risk management during incident size-up involves balancing life safety with potential losses. How can the tactical supervisor effectively contribute to bridging the tactical gap?
Effective risk management during incident size-up involves balancing life safety with potential losses. How can the tactical supervisor effectively contribute to bridging the tactical gap?
- Bypassing standard operating guidelines to expedite search and rescue efforts.
- Limiting scene-level communication to maintain radio channel integrity.
- Continuously assessing the risk-benefit ratio and communicating observations to the Incident Commander. (correct)
- Authorizing interior operations for marginal gains to boost team morale.
What key strategy enables more effective team operations and faster problem-solving during incidents?
What key strategy enables more effective team operations and faster problem-solving during incidents?
- Relying strictly on technological advancements to identify potential issues.
- Excluding emotional investment from all decision-making processes.
- Fostering strong teamwork so everyone utilizes diverse experiences to aid in problem-solving. (correct)
- Strict adherence to SOGs, with minimal deviation to maintain consistency.
In the context of prioritizing actions at a fire incident, what does the term 'moderate victim profile' typically imply regarding resource allocation and operational strategies?
In the context of prioritizing actions at a fire incident, what does the term 'moderate victim profile' typically imply regarding resource allocation and operational strategies?
When confronted with conflicting reports regarding fire conditions from interior crews and the Incident Commander's external observations, which course of action is the MOST critical for ensuring firefighter safety and operational effectiveness?
When confronted with conflicting reports regarding fire conditions from interior crews and the Incident Commander's external observations, which course of action is the MOST critical for ensuring firefighter safety and operational effectiveness?
What strategy ensures the incident action plan promotes effective resource utilization and responder safety?
What strategy ensures the incident action plan promotes effective resource utilization and responder safety?
What underlying objective is achieved by refining incident size-up through continuous tactical considerations like attack locations and hydrant positions?
What underlying objective is achieved by refining incident size-up through continuous tactical considerations like attack locations and hydrant positions?
In what ways can an IC increase situational awareness to improve decision-making?
In what ways can an IC increase situational awareness to improve decision-making?
How does the 'Senior Nose' concept enhance the effectiveness of initial incident response?
How does the 'Senior Nose' concept enhance the effectiveness of initial incident response?
What is an important method for maintaining the focus of the emergency response amid dynamic conditions?
What is an important method for maintaining the focus of the emergency response amid dynamic conditions?
How should Incident Commanders (ICs) use a building's construction type and characteristics to maximize their strategic advantage and improve operational safety?
How should Incident Commanders (ICs) use a building's construction type and characteristics to maximize their strategic advantage and improve operational safety?
How can Incident Commanders improve the accuracy of pre-incident size-up for buildings in their jurisdiction?
How can Incident Commanders improve the accuracy of pre-incident size-up for buildings in their jurisdiction?
What approach should IC's take to balance the collection of data, making tactical decisions, and managing resources?
What approach should IC's take to balance the collection of data, making tactical decisions, and managing resources?
How can fire departments enhance their ability to effectively manage incidents, considering current nomadic assignments and variations in company staffing?
How can fire departments enhance their ability to effectively manage incidents, considering current nomadic assignments and variations in company staffing?
What actions can Incident Commanders take to effectively incorporate the principles of survivability profiling (SP) into operational strategies?
What actions can Incident Commanders take to effectively incorporate the principles of survivability profiling (SP) into operational strategies?
How should an Incident Commander respond to a house fire with a confirmed occupant?
How should an Incident Commander respond to a house fire with a confirmed occupant?
In the context of applying size-up principles for search and rescue in a building fire, what does the term 'SIGNAL' refer to?
In the context of applying size-up principles for search and rescue in a building fire, what does the term 'SIGNAL' refer to?
What are the reasons for the increased chances of having confirmed victims trapped during instances of structural fires?
What are the reasons for the increased chances of having confirmed victims trapped during instances of structural fires?
How can incident commanders and fire officers effectively address internal communications challenges during emergency operations to enhance team coordination and situational awareness?
How can incident commanders and fire officers effectively address internal communications challenges during emergency operations to enhance team coordination and situational awareness?
To effectively lead teams, how can incident commanders build relationships with team members?
To effectively lead teams, how can incident commanders build relationships with team members?
What is the MOST appropriate way for a first-arriving company officer to communicate information during initial radio reports?
What is the MOST appropriate way for a first-arriving company officer to communicate information during initial radio reports?
When can a Incident Commander maximize discretionary time benefits during an incident?
When can a Incident Commander maximize discretionary time benefits during an incident?
Following a response to an incident, what information should be included in the review process?
Following a response to an incident, what information should be included in the review process?
At what stage of an incident can the ongoing mental process of size-up occur?
At what stage of an incident can the ongoing mental process of size-up occur?
What negative attribute can be a giveaway to an officer not performing a mental size-up?
What negative attribute can be a giveaway to an officer not performing a mental size-up?
What conditions are considered with Size-Up?
What conditions are considered with Size-Up?
What is one of the most common problems on the fireground?
What is one of the most common problems on the fireground?
When communicating on the fireground, what should be avoided?
When communicating on the fireground, what should be avoided?
Upon arriving alone at a one-store duplex with an attic fire, what plan should be enacted?
Upon arriving alone at a one-store duplex with an attic fire, what plan should be enacted?
When performing a lap, what are you looking for?
When performing a lap, what are you looking for?
If the victim is a baby, where can they be found?
If the victim is a baby, where can they be found?
In what order should priorities be considered when determining incident actions?
In what order should priorities be considered when determining incident actions?
In a fire with high heat exposure and thick smoke, is it right to assume the fire has died down from lack of heat?
In a fire with high heat exposure and thick smoke, is it right to assume the fire has died down from lack of heat?
If units are unable to communicate with Incident Command, what should they do?
If units are unable to communicate with Incident Command, what should they do?
When should Incident Commanders attempt to understand tactical assignments?
When should Incident Commanders attempt to understand tactical assignments?
In the context of establishing an Incident Command Post (ICP), which of the following is the MOST critical for ensuring operational effectiveness and safety?
In the context of establishing an Incident Command Post (ICP), which of the following is the MOST critical for ensuring operational effectiveness and safety?
When performing personnel accountability reports, what is the MOST effective method?
When performing personnel accountability reports, what is the MOST effective method?
What can lead to better integration of size up and increased chances of success during incidents?
What can lead to better integration of size up and increased chances of success during incidents?
What is the MOST critical aspect of integrating pre-planning with realistic on-site training for Incident Commanders?
What is the MOST critical aspect of integrating pre-planning with realistic on-site training for Incident Commanders?
How might you describe the relationship between victim profiling (VP) and survivability profiling (SP)?
How might you describe the relationship between victim profiling (VP) and survivability profiling (SP)?
In a building known to have balloon-frame construction, which action demonstrates effective integration of construction knowledge into fireground tactics?
In a building known to have balloon-frame construction, which action demonstrates effective integration of construction knowledge into fireground tactics?
How does the application of Sun Tzu's 'Art of War' principles enhance incident command effectiveness?
How does the application of Sun Tzu's 'Art of War' principles enhance incident command effectiveness?
What refinement to traditional incident command practices does Chief Stephen Marsar advocate for enhancing risk assessment?
What refinement to traditional incident command practices does Chief Stephen Marsar advocate for enhancing risk assessment?
A fire crew is tasked with performing a search-and-rescue operation in a known victim location. Which type of communication should be avoided?
A fire crew is tasked with performing a search-and-rescue operation in a known victim location. Which type of communication should be avoided?
How can a first-arriving company officer most effectively leverage pre-incident knowledge during the initial size-up of a commercial structure fire?
How can a first-arriving company officer most effectively leverage pre-incident knowledge during the initial size-up of a commercial structure fire?
What strategy BEST integrates knowledge of potential fire behavior with the realities of on-scene observations to enhance responder safety?
What strategy BEST integrates knowledge of potential fire behavior with the realities of on-scene observations to enhance responder safety?
With what strategic adjustments might a Battalion Chief respond to traffic-related delays of first-due units in order to effectively manage a structure fire?
With what strategic adjustments might a Battalion Chief respond to traffic-related delays of first-due units in order to effectively manage a structure fire?
In the context of size-up, what does it mean to use your "senior nose"?
In the context of size-up, what does it mean to use your "senior nose"?
How should the Incident Commander adapt communications based on a crew's description of a challenging interior fire?
How should the Incident Commander adapt communications based on a crew's description of a challenging interior fire?
What IMMEDIATE action should an Incident Commander take upon realizing a significant mismatch between interior crew reports of fire conditions and their own external view?
What IMMEDIATE action should an Incident Commander take upon realizing a significant mismatch between interior crew reports of fire conditions and their own external view?
How can first-arriving officers improve critical information transfer? (Complete the sentence: A first-arriving officer should ...)
How can first-arriving officers improve critical information transfer? (Complete the sentence: A first-arriving officer should ...)
How does effectively integrating incident pre-planning influence risk management during an active fire?
How does effectively integrating incident pre-planning influence risk management during an active fire?
What is the LEAST effective strategy for integrating the NIOSH 5 into fireground operations to improve decision-making?
What is the LEAST effective strategy for integrating the NIOSH 5 into fireground operations to improve decision-making?
In establishing an Incident Command Post (ICP) for a hazmat situation, what consideration demonstrates advanced understanding of incident management principles?
In establishing an Incident Command Post (ICP) for a hazmat situation, what consideration demonstrates advanced understanding of incident management principles?
Why is color the least reliable predictor of fire progression and heat conditions?
Why is color the least reliable predictor of fire progression and heat conditions?
What decision exemplifies sophisticated dynamic risk assessment in structural firefighting when lightweight trusses are identified?
What decision exemplifies sophisticated dynamic risk assessment in structural firefighting when lightweight trusses are identified?
What is the MOST crucial adaptation to the FPODP model to account for today's fire dynamics?
What is the MOST crucial adaptation to the FPODP model to account for today's fire dynamics?
How is a rapid intervention crew supposed to adapt given a low or moderate victim profile?
How is a rapid intervention crew supposed to adapt given a low or moderate victim profile?
How can tactical supervisors most effectively reduce the risk of the NIOSH 5 impacting incident outcomes?
How can tactical supervisors most effectively reduce the risk of the NIOSH 5 impacting incident outcomes?
In an offensive operation, what factor would be MOST essential when determining collapse hazards?
In an offensive operation, what factor would be MOST essential when determining collapse hazards?
When transitioning from offense to defense strategies, what component isn't important for radio communication?
When transitioning from offense to defense strategies, what component isn't important for radio communication?
At a known hazmat incident, why is a low amount of communication better among units?
At a known hazmat incident, why is a low amount of communication better among units?
At a house fire, what is the proper amount of time the crew has to operate under 'zero visibility' before a change in tactics is given?
At a house fire, what is the proper amount of time the crew has to operate under 'zero visibility' before a change in tactics is given?
Why is The Art of Reading Smoke by Chief Dave Dodson considered required for Incident Commanders?
Why is The Art of Reading Smoke by Chief Dave Dodson considered required for Incident Commanders?
During your shift, you are dispatched to a two-story residential fire on main street. On scene, dispatch reports heavy smoke but does not state whether everyone is out or not. What should be done first?
During your shift, you are dispatched to a two-story residential fire on main street. On scene, dispatch reports heavy smoke but does not state whether everyone is out or not. What should be done first?
When communicating a CAN (Conditions, Actions, and Needs) report what specific information is vital, yet often overlooked according to the lesson?
When communicating a CAN (Conditions, Actions, and Needs) report what specific information is vital, yet often overlooked according to the lesson?
Under what circumstances should they be reported? (Complete the sentence: "You feel uncomfortable. Listen to your instincts, because they are generally correct. ...")
Under what circumstances should they be reported? (Complete the sentence: "You feel uncomfortable. Listen to your instincts, because they are generally correct. ...")
How does the IC use the 360-degree method of assessment to improve situational awareness during an operation?
How does the IC use the 360-degree method of assessment to improve situational awareness during an operation?
What strategic approach aligns with distributed command as a fire officer assumes their role at a scene?
What strategic approach aligns with distributed command as a fire officer assumes their role at a scene?
As part of interior firefighting, what is a watch out for a Mezzanine?
As part of interior firefighting, what is a watch out for a Mezzanine?
What strategic benefit does a first-arriving officer gain from delegating tasks when arriving on-scene?
What strategic benefit does a first-arriving officer gain from delegating tasks when arriving on-scene?
What is the MOST critical indicator that should prompt an Incident Commander to declare a mayday situation?
What is the MOST critical indicator that should prompt an Incident Commander to declare a mayday situation?
During a fire, what is the FIRST step an officer should take for interior size-up?
During a fire, what is the FIRST step an officer should take for interior size-up?
Command says '...you're not seeing what I'm seeing. The order has been given; back your company out of the building...' what should you do?
Command says '...you're not seeing what I'm seeing. The order has been given; back your company out of the building...' what should you do?
What is the FIRST indicator an arriving officer should check when approaching a structure fire?
What is the FIRST indicator an arriving officer should check when approaching a structure fire?
The IC notices smoke is getting progressively darker, more turbulent, and pressurized, what does he/she do?
The IC notices smoke is getting progressively darker, more turbulent, and pressurized, what does he/she do?
For a multi-story residential structure fire, if a primary search is complete, does that mean subsequent floors don't have to be searched?
For a multi-story residential structure fire, if a primary search is complete, does that mean subsequent floors don't have to be searched?
How could size-up improve operations during a situation while ascending past the first floor?
How could size-up improve operations during a situation while ascending past the first floor?
What does is meant when one of Sun Tzu's lessons is applied to training a firefighter?
What does is meant when one of Sun Tzu's lessons is applied to training a firefighter?
What potential consequence arises from failing to integrate pre-planning data with on-scene observations during size-up?
What potential consequence arises from failing to integrate pre-planning data with on-scene observations during size-up?
What critical factor is often overlooked that can significantly impact the outcome of firefighting operations in nomadic assignments?
What critical factor is often overlooked that can significantly impact the outcome of firefighting operations in nomadic assignments?
A fire incident involves conflicting reports: interior crews report decreasing fire intensity, while the Incident Commander observes increasing smoke volume and density. Which action is MOST critical for the Incident Commander to undertake?
A fire incident involves conflicting reports: interior crews report decreasing fire intensity, while the Incident Commander observes increasing smoke volume and density. Which action is MOST critical for the Incident Commander to undertake?
At a structure fire, a seasoned IC observes a critical mismatch between interior crew reports ('making good progress') and deteriorating external conditions (increasing turbulent smoke). What action best reflects integration of 'The Art of Reading Smoke' to ensure safety?
At a structure fire, a seasoned IC observes a critical mismatch between interior crew reports ('making good progress') and deteriorating external conditions (increasing turbulent smoke). What action best reflects integration of 'The Art of Reading Smoke' to ensure safety?
What is the MOST significant implication of tunnel vision during fireground operations, underscoring the importance of the 'tactical gap'?
What is the MOST significant implication of tunnel vision during fireground operations, underscoring the importance of the 'tactical gap'?
An Incident Commander (IC) is managing a fire in a commercial structure with lightweight truss construction. What decision demonstrates the MOST sophisticated dynamic risk assessment according to fire dynamics?
An Incident Commander (IC) is managing a fire in a commercial structure with lightweight truss construction. What decision demonstrates the MOST sophisticated dynamic risk assessment according to fire dynamics?
An Incident Commander (IC) notes that the dispatcher missed relaying critical information about a confirmed victim during dispatch. Given this context, which action represents the MOST effective integration of team communication and situational awareness?
An Incident Commander (IC) notes that the dispatcher missed relaying critical information about a confirmed victim during dispatch. Given this context, which action represents the MOST effective integration of team communication and situational awareness?
A battalion chief arrives at a working structure fire and finds the first-arriving company officer heavily involved in fire attack. How can the chief MOST effectively use this situation to develop the first officer and bolster command?
A battalion chief arrives at a working structure fire and finds the first-arriving company officer heavily involved in fire attack. How can the chief MOST effectively use this situation to develop the first officer and bolster command?
What is the MOST critical way to improve communication at incidents, ensuring adherence to safety, strategy, and scene control?
What is the MOST critical way to improve communication at incidents, ensuring adherence to safety, strategy, and scene control?
An Incident Commander notices a battalion chief's instructions to their subordinates are unclear, creating confusion. To rectify this, the IC should:
An Incident Commander notices a battalion chief's instructions to their subordinates are unclear, creating confusion. To rectify this, the IC should:
What is the MOST appropriate method for tactical supervisors to improve situational awareness and accountability, reducing the risk of NIOSH 5 alignment?
What is the MOST appropriate method for tactical supervisors to improve situational awareness and accountability, reducing the risk of NIOSH 5 alignment?
A fire officer who is asked to perform the 360° size-up around a commercial building cannot, due to congestion. What would be an appropriate action to gain as much intel about the situation as possible?
A fire officer who is asked to perform the 360° size-up around a commercial building cannot, due to congestion. What would be an appropriate action to gain as much intel about the situation as possible?
In a rapidly evolving incident, what parameter should be reported during a victim's SIGNAL assessment?
In a rapidly evolving incident, what parameter should be reported during a victim's SIGNAL assessment?
Which choice accurately aligns with the teachings of warfare, as proposed by Sun-Tzu?
Which choice accurately aligns with the teachings of warfare, as proposed by Sun-Tzu?
An Incident Commander is faced with a situation where a report about a smoke condition is not provided by a first arriving company. What should the IC do to correct the situation?
An Incident Commander is faced with a situation where a report about a smoke condition is not provided by a first arriving company. What should the IC do to correct the situation?
Why is it vital to assess a crews capability during training and incident pre-planning?
Why is it vital to assess a crews capability during training and incident pre-planning?
The Incident Commander (IC) encounters a situation of low visibility and the interior team still hasn't been able to find the source of the fire. What is the BEST course of action to take?
The Incident Commander (IC) encounters a situation of low visibility and the interior team still hasn't been able to find the source of the fire. What is the BEST course of action to take?
What scenario best illustrates the application of the 'You're Not Seeing What I'm Seeing' principle in firefighting, promoting proactive safety?
What scenario best illustrates the application of the 'You're Not Seeing What I'm Seeing' principle in firefighting, promoting proactive safety?
What fire fighting strategy involves a lot of risk to save savable lives?
What fire fighting strategy involves a lot of risk to save savable lives?
It is determined that there are trapped victums inside the building. What form of communication should not be used?
It is determined that there are trapped victums inside the building. What form of communication should not be used?
Flashcards
What is Size-Up?
What is Size-Up?
Mental process to gather information, assess risk/gain, resources, options, and create an IAP.
What is an arrival report?
What is an arrival report?
After a mental size-up, the initial radio report by the first-due unit.
What is Situational Awareness (SA)?
What is Situational Awareness (SA)?
IC's situational awareness using reality as a benchmark for progress.
Define size-up
Define size-up
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Define arrival report
Define arrival report
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What is Situational Awareness?
What is Situational Awareness?
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IOCAN Meaning:
IOCAN Meaning:
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What is pre-planning?
What is pre-planning?
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What is FPODP?
What is FPODP?
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What is FIRST?
What is FIRST?
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Roof Report:
Roof Report:
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What are Victim Profiling (VP) and Survivability Profiling (SP)?
What are Victim Profiling (VP) and Survivability Profiling (SP)?
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What are Dodson's Signs of Smoke:
What are Dodson's Signs of Smoke:
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What are Interior firefighting 'watch outs'?
What are Interior firefighting 'watch outs'?
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What are good communication qualities:
What are good communication qualities:
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What are tactical points of opportunity (TPOS)?
What are tactical points of opportunity (TPOS)?
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What is the 360?
What is the 360?
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Smoke : Volume?
Smoke : Volume?
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IOCAN:
IOCAN:
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Study Notes
Size-Up, Risk/Gain Management, and Communications
- Size-up, risk management, and communication are intertwined, requiring officers to continuously share changing conditions from different areas of an incident to adequately assess risk.
- The most important thing to save is human life, and risk and gain are at odds for commanding officers, so communication is vital for balancing them.
Stages of Size-Up
- Training and pre-planning give the IC and tactical officers a framework to maximize discretionary time benefits.
- At shift change, situational awareness and analysis increase because many changing factors and variables are available.
- Dispatch minimizes any discretionary time and can cause auditory exclusion, tunnel vision, adrenaline dumps, high blood pressure and pulse, and limited information processing.
- The scene presents itself upon arrival, and visual stimuli are injected, such as the building itself, smoke, flames, responding companies, potential occupants, bystanders, law enforcement, and exposures
- Communications flood multiple frequencies with useless and critical information.
- The IC (incident commander) must remain ahead of the ever-changing event.
- Crews deploying are presented with thermal insult, trauma, asphyxiation, and cumbersome equipment (PPE & SCBA).
- Incident escalation causes increased physical and mental fatigue, as well as auditory exclusion and tunnel vision for personnel.
- Building structural integrity erodes due to demolition, gravity, hydraulic mining and forcible entry, with everything constantly changing.
- Conditions giving the illusion of stability are often dubious due to weakened structural members, water weight, and gravity.
- A review process begins once all members are safe, to identify what was done well and what could be improved.
Improving Practices
- It is important to learn, train, adjust, and repeat for constant size-up and communication.
- There are tools and pitfalls that can be learned to not repeat the past and prepare for future events.
Situational Awareness Overview
- Situational awareness (SA) has been used for over a century in the military and aviation fields
- Situational awareness may be defined as knowing where you are and what's going on around you.
- This awareness allows individuals and organizations to be more alert, informed, and make better decisions.
- SA includes the element of reality, kicking in after the initial scene size-up to assess if things are improving or worsening based on reality.
- While size-up tells individuals what is occurring, and SA utilizes reality to recognize when things are not improving.
- Elements of SA may include fire and smoke conditions, radio reports, and intuition
- Firefighters and commanders expect the incident to improve as the firefight progresses.
- Personnel should expect to see improvements in smoke lightness, volume, speed, and density as the attack is performed and water is applied at the fire seat
- Primary and secondary search radio reports should confirm progress or completion
- Building should be opened up, with salvage and fire overhaul initiated
- A lack of expected messages suggests that those tactics are not being employed, leading to complications
- An IC cannot assume situations are improving if there are no radio messages
Radio Reports
- The absence of reports could mean either nothing is occurring, or troops are extremely laser focused on tasks
- The IC should consider whether to prompt the troops
- What is considered to be a reasonable period of time for a report depends on the individual and department
- An IC getting reports of great headway but seeing no improvement in smoke and fire conditions indicates a disconnect from reality, requiring immediate alternative steps
- Tactical supervisors can effectively bridge this gap
Size-Up
- Size-up is the rapid mental gathering of information and strategic options
- It is also the most vital element to safe and effective operations
- A building being built on sand, without a plan, is representative of beginning operations without an accurate size-up
- arrival report occurs after a mental size-up and is the first radio transmission from the company/chief officers
Radio Communications
- Radio challenges include possibly limited information in a compressed timeframe
- Officers should strive to make the best decision with available information
- Size-up is not the same as an arrival report
- Thinking before talking on the radio is vastly superior to those who try to think out loud
- Officers should practice processing the situation before communicating over the radio to sound competent
- Inaccurate reports, assumptions, and operations result in an adverse event
Preparing an Operation
- Begin operations long before the incident is dispatched and continuously emphasize them until units leave the scene
- Not exclusive to the IC, everyone must be sizing up so that they get an intuitive feel for the situation
- The IC should make it everyone's job
- The most common reason firefighters aren't sizing up is simply because they're too focused on the task at hand
- Accurate and continual size-up saves civilian and firefighter lives as well as minimizes losses
- Fire incidents must be appropriately sized up, for example the potential for mansard collapse etc
Field of View
- Adequate size-up cannot be performed at task levels, such as line stretching, breaching a door, searching, cutting a hole, donning an SCBA, or anything because personnel lack awareness
- As well as with little regard for anything beyond short distance, there is likelihood of blocked access to radio
- Tunnel vision comes into effect when only what's in front is seen, missing smoke and fire, construction, access points, victims, and hazardous materials warnings
- Auditory exclusion involves performing tasks with a face mask on and missing radio traffic missed due to background noise and external factors as well as the amount of work needing to be done
"Nothing Showing Means Nothing" Case Study
- In a winter morning in New Britain (CT), tones dropped for a structure fire where smoke was showing
- The location was in a densely populated area only a few blocks from the firehouse
- Nothing was verbally reported or provided in the CAD in MDT. Upon passing the 3-story building, no fire was noticed
- This particular occupancy contained a center front stairway which accessed apartments each configured with rooms aligned on every floor, as well as a rear common center hallway leading to a large wood porch
- Despite the arrival report ending which nothing showing, the attack plan was not altered. The apparatus was setup and shifted to pump gear and the nozzle firefighter was prepared to stretch
- Upon view of a side, the member saw a bystander pointing at the last second floor window, although still with no smoke or odor
- It was matter-of-factly noted by the individual that the back bedroom was on fire
- Confirming the claim revealed a window was blackened from soot due to the sealed-up apartment consuming the available oxygen and unable to generate smoke discharge and pressure
- Informing the IC/deputy chief provided instructions to stretch. Gaining access the stairway was clear of smoke
- Zero visibility was present upon attack, but the nozzle firefighter knew where to go as they had awareness from the tailboard of the building layout
- The ladder company, stationed outside, contacted the officer on a ground ladder on the side to vent, but was told to hold
- Eventually being told to vent put the attacking and nozzle team in direct line and attack, and resulted in the window being trimmed
Analysis of Case Study
- The nozzle firefighter had vision to see the window directly and opened to 10 feet across to the kitchen using a well designed approach and reach
- This then created an ideal flow for the front becoming an intake and the window as exhaust. Improved conditions enabled actions to dramatically enhance
- Controlling the openings within the building, and communicating resulted in better ventilation
- This highlights the importance of readiness because subtle signs were detectable otherwise
- Such operations depend on standard procedures such as unit and ridings
- Even a small thing can improve things
Training and pre-planning
- A lot of things can occur before anything is displayed through it
- This includes the officer sizing up the drill like technical skills, experience, attitude, training and so on
- The BC can learn the engine timing, such as water supply time etc
- Truck companies can be assessed on timing to get a vent hole on x roof.
- Station 109 was a known good house and reliable for things
- The trucks also are competitive and supportive. The supervisors assigned to the first roof etc
- Critical to assess what can happen when going into the apartment
- All plans can be derailed and so things such as how many cars, what about carports etc can come into play
- Pre plans should note things such as type of occupancy, construction, special utilities, etc
- It is good to consider local unique things such as floodings etc that can make accessing points hard
Before an incident
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It is important to be aware of weather, what can be impacted, short staffing, not normal people and any occupancy load changes
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Having pre plans that blend with on scene training creates a formidable edge
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Some considerations include attack locations, hydrant locations and places
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When things combine well to perform hands on training etc, it can become better
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Proper staffing starts there as well, like memorandums of understanding
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For example, it should be checked for certifications on what is done
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A story is told of the officer being told and not moving and then after the BC moved he changed after discussing his views and position
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