Truck Company Operations

Truck Company Purpose

• The main function of the truck company is to support fire attack and the engine company

Truck Operations

• Make the scene safer
• Search and rescue
• Perform ventilation
• Laddering tasks
• Remove utilities

Apparatus Positioning

• Adopt a "Position, don't park" mindset
• Leave adequate space for the truck
• Prioritize understanding the apparatus capabilities for aerial positioning
• Use short-jacking for aerial placement on narrow roadways

Aerial Considerations

• Do not rotate the aerial to the side if outriggers aren't extended
• Be aware of turntable positioning
• Look for overhead obstacles, and the intended target

Apparatus Placement Factors

• Placement depends on the task
• Prioritize upper floor rescue and egress operations
• Placing the turntable is key

Scrub Area Defined

• Any area accessible by the ladder
• Greater scrub area means more window and roof access

Collapse Zone Distance

• Collapse zones range from 1 1/2 to 2 times the building height

Apparatus Types

• Mid Mount Platforms: have the best reach from either side
• Rear Mount: have the best reach from either side and rear
• Rear Mounts: Disadvantage is that they eat up length equal to the truck's length
• Mid-Mounts: advantages include a clear windshield view, turn table spotting, and a lower center of gravity for driving and handling
• Mid-Mounts: disadvantages include limited shallow angles, less forgiving safety overrides, and dead spots

Turntable Placement

• Turntable placement square to the target makes platform work difficult because access doors are in the corners

Ideal Truck Positioning

• Position the truck in front of the building where at least 2 sides of the roof may be accessed

Commercial Occupancies

• Place the truck at the building corner
• Good second truck position supports transition to a defensive operation
• Staging down the street is an inappropriate position for the second truck

Fireground Function Assumptions

• Assume occupancy, search all spaces
• Coordinate offensive fire attack and search with ventilation
• Base offensive attack upon unoccupied building determination on experience and judgment

Truck Company Function Hierarchy (1-7)

• Forcible entry/exits
• Search and rescue
• Ventilation
• Recon
• Ground ladder placement
• Elevated master streams
• Utility control

Truck Company Function Hierarchy (8-10)

• Salvage
• Overhaul
• Rapid intervention

Truck Company Benchmark

• Completing or considering the first seven tasks within 5-10 minutes of arrival

Second Truck Positioning

• Position on the building side opposite the first truck for effective equipment dispersal

Entry Considerations

• Entry should include a means of exit for needed evacuations

Door Control

• Door control is essential after entry

RIT Team's Role

• Create ingress and egress points to improve building safety for responders

Search and Rescue Priority

• Search and Rescue is the primary function
• Spaces without heavy fire should be considered searchable
• Notify command after clearing all areas

Search Types

• Oriented search
• Split search
• Right or Left standard search
• Rope assisted search procedure (RASP)
• Vent enter isolate search (VEIS) or Window Search

Large Occupancy Warning

• Not being able to see your feet in a large occupancy is a dangerous red flag

RASP Rope Specs

• Kevlar-woven, reflective 3/8" rope, 150' long
• Cones every 25' mark distance from tie-off
• Includes three 25' taglines for main rope connection

Victim Discovery Protocol

• Alert team leader who radios a CAN report including removal plans

Search Assistance

• Flex a third member to assist with a definite job

VEIS Priority

• Keep VEIS in mind when: Ingress/egress is blocked, Rooms are the only option, Known intel of a victim located in a specific room/space

Ventilation Protocol

• Withdraw all interior companies below if IC orders roof withdrawal due to collapse risk

IFSTA Textbook Hole Size

• 4'x4'

Vent Hole Size

• 4'x8' hole is deemed minimum size

Ventilation Time

• Vent hole should take less than 90 seconds from the time you step on the roof

Residential Saw Team

• 2 members per saw

Stable Roof Area

• The ridge above the eaves is the most stable area

Commercial Roof Ventilation

• Commercial flat roofs will require more personnel and equipment
• Expect 4-6 minutes as a benchmark

Ventilation Tactics

• Vent as close to the fire as possible to prevent lateral extension

Residential Ladder Positioning

• Position the ladder on the building side opposite the fire if possible

Solar Panel Safety

• Solar panels have a shutoff switch near the ele panel, but they will not de-energize the array

Half Stories and Knee Walls

• Older homes usually have half stories or knee walls with roofs steeper than 45 degrees

Knee Walls Hazard

• Knee walls can create additional void spaces

Large Occupancy Ventilation

• A vertical ventilation truck company should function as one in a large commercial or multi-dwelling occupancy

Engineer Positioning

• If conditions are changing rapidly it may be best for the engineer to stay on the turn table

No-Go Ventilation Reasons

• Fully involved structure
• Interior cannot be classified as IDLH
• Occupants are unlikely to be displaced after extinguishment
• Imminent roof collapse over a large area
• Multi-story buildings with no top floor or attic involvement

Signs of Increased Cation

• Smoke seeping through shingles
• Steep or unwalkable roof
• Heavy fire involvement in void spaces

Roof Visibility

• Low or zero visibility on the roof

Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV)

• Use PPV when “fire under control” is achieved in order to be effective, ensure an outlet is located close to the compartment
• Wait 15 to 60 seconds for the smoke to clear

Roof Report Contents

• The roof report is like a 360, including: Roof integrity, Found conditions, Existing issues, Stability, Needs, and Recommendations

First Truck Engineer Tasks

• First truck engineer laddering apartments and commercial buildings should provide report
• They may not step fully on the roof, and ascend and provide info to command

360 Assessment Priority

• Rescue or Survivability Profile

Heat Tolerances of the Body

• The body can only tolerate 160 degree dry heat and 130 degree moist heat for a short amount of time

Oxygen Tolerance of the Body

• Humans can only survive with 15% oxygen or less for 4 to 6 minutes

SCBA Duration Estimate

• 45 minute SCBA lasts 20-25 minutes under working conditions
• Use this to calculate search personnel needs in 20-25 minute scenarios

Large Windows

• Large windows are not bedrooms but living rooms

Bedroom Location

• Bedrooms generally located opposite the front door of apartment units

Ground Ladder Heat Sensors

• Ground ladders heat sensors are preset to 300F, if one is blackened or triggered the ladder must be retested

Street Gas Pressure

• Gas flows from the street as high as 60 psi but the meter itself reduces it to approximately 0.5 psi (res)

Mayday Cause

• 18.3% are lost or separated from the hoseline

Mayday Unit Involvement

• 83% involve 1st or 2nd arriving unit

Mayday Rescue Credit

• Rapid intervention team accounted for 7.9% of rescues

Mayday Time of Day

• 53% occur from midnight to 0600, with 70% occurring at night

Mayday Scene Time

• 51.8% occur between 20 and 35 minutes on scene

Mayday Reporting

• 31% of Mayday situations were not reported as Mayday situations

Situational Awareness

• Situational awareness is our best preventative method against a mayday situation

Hallway Stretch Key

• Ability to work without being on air

Stairwell Stretch

• Perform stairwell stretch with smoke or fire on the fire floor at the stairwell door

Hoseline Attachment

• Attach the hoseline to the standpipe 2 floors below the fire floor