21. Truck Company Operations

Truck Company Operations in Firefighting

• The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to provide tactical guidelines for the operation of a Truck Company within the Command structure of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District.

• Truck Companies were first designated to complete important tasks such as forcible entry, ventilation, and search and rescue at the scene of a structural fire.

• These guidelines act as a procedural and tactical guide for those individuals assigned Truck work at the scene of any emergency.

• Truck Company functions should include ventilation, entry, search and rescue, laddering, set up of auxiliary scene lighting, utility control, elevated master streams, overhaul, property conservation, and victim extrication.

• The S.O.P. sets forth a standardized approach to assigning responsibility for the completion of specific types of Truck company functions for the most frequently encountered fire situations.

• Engine companies should detail a firefighter to perform ventilation, utilities control, and exterior search while the remainder of the first-arriving crews initiate the fire attack.

• If the first arriving engine company has a 3-person crew, outside duties such as stretching lines, forcible entry, and in some cases outside vent and fire attack can be accomplished under the direction of the company officer.

• The Rescue crew should begin Truck Company functions, reporting progress to the Incident Commander if the Rescue unit reaches the scene before the Truck Company.

• The Two-Team System allocates four firefighters to the Truck Company, with two teams of two firefighters: the inside team and the outside team.

• The inside team concentrates their efforts on forcing entry opposite the fire for the fire attack team, search for victims, assisting the fire attack crew in locating the fire, ventilating, determining extension, and opening up to cut off that extension.

• The outside team concentrates their efforts on outside venting beginning at the main body of the fire and working back toward the point of entry, securing utilities (particularly gas and electric), making a secondary point of entry, roof ventilation, and aerial use if required.

• The Porch Roof Team enters a room, removes all glass, and clears the entire window, then checks the floor and ceiling before closing the door to allow the room to ventilate well so a search can begin.

• The Porch Roof Team's job is to provide venting for the Engine Company by opening one window opposite the hose crew's advance, while the rescue team picks a bedroom opposite the porch roof operation on the second floor and ladders to search other bedrooms.Firefighting in Private Dwellings

• Private dwellings pose unique challenges to firefighters due to their varied layouts and potential for hazardous conditions.

• Bedrooms may exist on both floors of a duplex, and interior access to attic spaces is often difficult or non-existent.

• A rapid build-up of heat and smoke in confined areas can pose a significant threat to occupants, making coordinated search and rescue efforts critical.

• In some areas, buildings originally constructed as one or two-family dwellings have been converted into multiple dwellings without appropriate safeguards, leading to additional risks.

• The first arriving Truck and Rescue Companies are responsible for forcible entry, ventilation, and search of both the fire floor and floors above.

• The first Truck Company on the scene will institute an "inside/outside team" concept that will attack on different levels of a private dwelling simultaneously.

• The Truck Company Officer is responsible for directing the "inside team" and coordinating activities with portable radios.

• Forcible entry is necessary to gain access to the interior stairs and conduct a search of lower floors.

• The Rescue Crew will assume Truck Company outside functions in the absence of a Truck Company, but will split duties with the driver assisting the outside team and the passenger assisting the inside team in the presence of a Truck Company.

• Aggressive leadership by the officer is critical to conducting a successful inside attack, with a primary focus on search and rescue of those occupants who have a chance of survival.

• During sleeping hours, a heavy emphasis must be placed on bedroom search.

• The "outside team" is responsible for laddering the building, making V.E.S., reporting the location of fire to IC, and controlling utilities.

Truck Company Operations in Firefighting

• The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to provide tactical guidelines for the operation of a Truck Company within the Command structure of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District.

• Truck Companies were first designated to complete important tasks such as forcible entry, ventilation, and search and rescue at the scene of a structural fire.

• These guidelines act as a procedural and tactical guide for those individuals assigned Truck work at the scene of any emergency.

• Truck Company functions should include ventilation, entry, search and rescue, laddering, set up of auxiliary scene lighting, utility control, elevated master streams, overhaul, property conservation, and victim extrication.

• The S.O.P. sets forth a standardized approach to assigning responsibility for the completion of specific types of Truck company functions for the most frequently encountered fire situations.

• Engine companies should detail a firefighter to perform ventilation, utilities control, and exterior search while the remainder of the first-arriving crews initiate the fire attack.

• If the first arriving engine company has a 3-person crew, outside duties such as stretching lines, forcible entry, and in some cases outside vent and fire attack can be accomplished under the direction of the company officer.

• The Rescue crew should begin Truck Company functions, reporting progress to the Incident Commander if the Rescue unit reaches the scene before the Truck Company.

• The Two-Team System allocates four firefighters to the Truck Company, with two teams of two firefighters: the inside team and the outside team.

• The inside team concentrates their efforts on forcing entry opposite the fire for the fire attack team, search for victims, assisting the fire attack crew in locating the fire, ventilating, determining extension, and opening up to cut off that extension.

• The outside team concentrates their efforts on outside venting beginning at the main body of the fire and working back toward the point of entry, securing utilities (particularly gas and electric), making a secondary point of entry, roof ventilation, and aerial use if required.

• The Porch Roof Team enters a room, removes all glass, and clears the entire window, then checks the floor and ceiling before closing the door to allow the room to ventilate well so a search can begin.

• The Porch Roof Team's job is to provide venting for the Engine Company by opening one window opposite the hose crew's advance, while the rescue team picks a bedroom opposite the porch roof operation on the second floor and ladders to search other bedrooms.Firefighting in Private Dwellings

• Private dwellings pose unique challenges to firefighters due to their varied layouts and potential for hazardous conditions.

• Bedrooms may exist on both floors of a duplex, and interior access to attic spaces is often difficult or non-existent.

• A rapid build-up of heat and smoke in confined areas can pose a significant threat to occupants, making coordinated search and rescue efforts critical.

• In some areas, buildings originally constructed as one or two-family dwellings have been converted into multiple dwellings without appropriate safeguards, leading to additional risks.

• The first arriving Truck and Rescue Companies are responsible for forcible entry, ventilation, and search of both the fire floor and floors above.

• The first Truck Company on the scene will institute an "inside/outside team" concept that will attack on different levels of a private dwelling simultaneously.

• The Truck Company Officer is responsible for directing the "inside team" and coordinating activities with portable radios.

• Forcible entry is necessary to gain access to the interior stairs and conduct a search of lower floors.

• The Rescue Crew will assume Truck Company outside functions in the absence of a Truck Company, but will split duties with the driver assisting the outside team and the passenger assisting the inside team in the presence of a Truck Company.

• Aggressive leadership by the officer is critical to conducting a successful inside attack, with a primary focus on search and rescue of those occupants who have a chance of survival.

• During sleeping hours, a heavy emphasis must be placed on bedroom search.

• The "outside team" is responsible for laddering the building, making V.E.S., reporting the location of fire to IC, and controlling utilities.

Guidelines for Fire Ground Operations of a Truck Company

• Under light smoke and heat conditions, an interior operation may be feasible but ladders are usually preferable for upper sleeping areas.
• Proper positioning of ladders based on outside size-up assures putting members into the bedrooms on the upper level.
• Visible indications of attic occupancy must be considered by the "outside team."
• Roof operations are critical in commercial structures but require consideration of several important points, such as the age and composition of the structure, and the availability of personnel.
• Ventilating the roof of a structure is effective but dangerous, and should be carried out safely if standard operating guidelines are followed.
• Crews need to be aware of the risks of roof operations and limit their exposure to any potential unwarranted risk.
• Vehicle placement is critical on the fire ground and the first arriving Truck Company must consider the placement of the Truck at the scene a priority.
• The Truck Company should evaluate if they will be the first fire unit to arrive at the scene and take up a position of best advantage for both fire attack and ladder placement.
• Rushing into the scene and placing the apparatus in the wrong location could cause problems further on in the incident, so staging options should be considered.
• Engine Company Officers should leave the front of the structure open for the placement of the Truck.
• Positioning the Truck should take best advantage of the elevated access based on the type of aerial device involved.
• Personnel assigned to “Truck” work are responsible for a number of important functions, including forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation of the structure, rapid intervention team for firefighter rescue, salvage and overhaul of affected fire areas, and elevated rescue of victims.

Test your knowledge of firefighting tactics with our quiz on Truck Company Operations and Firefighting in Private Dwellings. Learn about the roles and responsibilities of Truck Companies, including ventilation, entry, search and rescue, and property conservation. Discover the challenges posed by private dwellings and the importance of coordinated search and rescue efforts. This quiz is perfect for firefighters looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in the field.