Tactical Support: Ventilation and Fire Control

• Tactical support activities aid in fire control and rescue through forcible entry, ventilation, and access.
• Fireground confusion often arises from inadequate support functions, not water application.
• Command should ensure timely and effective support to aid nozzle operations.
• Lack of support, not water, is a common cause of failure.

Ventilation Purposes

• To prevent mushrooming.

• To gain and maintain entry.

• Vertical ventilation is most effective when directly over the fire in interior situations.

• Coordinate ventilation with fire attack, providing it before attack lines are in place.

• Use portable radios for communication between engine and ladder companies.

• Fires burn through roofs naturally.

• Defensive ventilation occurs when the fire burns through the roof on its own, typically in the best location.

• Ladder companies should position ventilation holes to support rescue and fire containment.

• Incorrectly placed vent holes can channel and expand the fire.

• Ventilating alters interior conditions.

• The interior sector is the best position to gauge ventilation needs.

• Coordinate efforts between interior and roof positions.

• Avoid directing hose lines down ventilation holes.

• "Candle moth" syndrome can overwhelm roof personnel with fire and smoke.

• Use roof lines only to protect personnel and external areas, unless Command calls for a coordinated roof attack.

• Effective topside ventilation helps roofs stay intact longer.

• Command should deem the situation marginal if ladder crews can't ventilate due to fire or roof conditions.

• Hose line crews can potentially operate inside longer than ladder crews can stay on the roof.

• Abandoning the building a bit early is better than too late.

Bowstring/Arched Roof Policy

• If fire is in the attic/truss space and it is safe, quickly search then implement a defensive strategy.
• If crews can't find the fire but it is safe, quickly search and implement a defensive strategy.
• If fire involves a room with no attic extension, use a quick, aggressive, offensive strategy.

Residential Tile Roof Policy

• Firefighters should not go on tiled roofs for interior/attic fires in single-family homes.
• Evaluate fire conditions before committing personnel to structures with lightweight truss construction.
• Forcible entry is a trade-off between more speed and damage.
• The more critical the fire, the less forcible entry damage matters.
• If you must attack from the unburned side, bypass lock picking and force entry.
• Access provision often determines if a fire can be stopped and extinguished.
• Access activities include pulling ceilings and exposing concealed spaces to attack hidden fires.
• These operations damage the building and must be timely and well-placed.
• Open up and cut off the fire if it is working inside a concealed space.
• Be cautious of premature opening of doors, holes, and access points.
• Proper timing requires communication between engine and ladder crews.