Truck Company Operations

Truck Company Purpose

• The main role of the truck company is to assist the fire attack- the engine company
• Proper truck operations contribute to a safer operational environment by performing:
  • Search and rescue, ventilation
  • Laddering, and utility control

Apparatus Positioning

• Adopt a mindset of "Position, Don't park," prioritizing strategic placement.
• Leave space to allow the truck take up a good position
• Understanding the capabilities of the apparatus is crucial for positioning the aerial.
• In narrow streets, consider short-jacking to effectively deploy the aerial.
• Always extend outriggers before rotating the aerial.
• When approaching the scene, consider:
  • Turntable position, potential overhead obstructions
  • Parked vehicles, trees, and the target that needs to be reached

Apparatus Placement Factors

• Apparatus placement hinges on the task at hand for the truck company.
• Upper floor rescues and egress operations are particularly important when deciding placement.
• Scrub Area refers to any area accessible by the ladder; more scrub means accessing more windows and roof area.

Collapse Zones

• Collapse zones extend 1 ½ to 2 times the height of the building.
• If the necessary distance cannot be achieved, stop short or pull past the building for optimal positioning.
• Placing the turn table is key to securing the position

Mount Platform Reach

• Mid Mount Platforms have the greatest reach from either side
• Rear Mounts have the greatest capabilities and reach from either side and rear

Rear Mount Disadvantages

• Usable length is decreased, as the mount is over the front, equaling the truck's length.

Mid Mount Advantages

• Provide a clear view out the windshield
• Facilitates spotting the turn table more easily
• Lower center of gravity improves driving and handling.

Mid Mount Disadvantages

• Less forgiving due to safety overrides
• Dead spots due to the cab and mounted accessories.
• Limited shallow angles.
• Placing the turntable square to the target complicates platform work, as access doors are at the platform's corners.
• The ideal truck position is in front of the building; this allows access to at least two sides of the roof.

Commercial Occupancies

• Position the truck at the building's corner during commercial occupancy incidents
• Proactive placement of a second truck is crucial in evolving incidents
• A good position allows forethought to the incident commander if the fire transitions to a defensive operation.
• Staging down the street is an inappropriate spot for the second truck

Fireground Functions

• All fireground functions should be undertaken with the following deductive assumptions:
  • Occupied until proven otherwise, search any searchable spaces
  • Safest means to search is in conjunction with fire attack
  • Offensive fire attack and search should be supported with coordinated ventilation
  • Upon unoccupied building determination offensive attack should be based on experienced judgment and risk assessment

Hierarchy of Truck Company Functions

• Top 10 truck company functions:
  • Forcible entry/exits
  • Search and rescue
  • Ventilation
  • Recon
  • Placement of ground ladders
  • Elevated master streams
  • Utility control
  • Salvage
  • Overhaul
  • Rapid intervention
• Completing or considering the first seven tasks within 5-10 minutes of arriving at an incident is the benchmark for a truck company
• Conditions drive tactics

Second Truck Functions

• Position on the side of the building opposite the first truck to effectively distribute equipment.
• Consider entry as not just getting in, but also how to exit; planning for evacuations is key.
• Door control is the primary consideration once entry is established.
• A rapid intervention team (RIT) creates ingress and egress points to enhance building safety, streamlining response and operations.

Search & Rescue Primary Function

• Search and Rescue is the primary function of the truck company
• A clear is only called when the building have been checked safely
• As a general rule, any spaces without heavy fire showing should be considered searchable.
• Command should be notified of a primary all clear once all areas have been cleared.

Search Types

• Search types include:
  • Oriented search
  • Split search
  • Right or Left standard search
  • Rope assisted search procedure (RASP)
  • Vent enter isolate search (VEIS) or Window Search
• It is a red flag if you are unable to see your feet in a large occupancy, take in what's around you.

RASP (Rope Assisted Search Procedure)

• Consists of a 150' long, 3/8" rope woven with Kevlar and reflective thread.
• Small cone attachments every 25' indicates the distance from the tie-off point.
• 3 25' taglines are included in the bag to maintain connection to the main rope.
• If a victim is found, the team leader should immediately alert the team leader, who should voice over the radio followed with a CAN report including intended actions for removal.
• Flexing a third guy over to assist search ( have a definite job for him to do.)
• VEIS should be in the forefront of your mind when:
  • Ingress/egress is blocked rooms
  • Rooms are the only searchable space
  • There is verified intel of a victim in the room.

Fireground Ventilation

• If the Incident Commander (IC) orders a withdrawal from the roof, all interior companies below the collapse area must be removed.
• According to IFSTA, a textbook hole is 4'x4', but with contemporary fuels and larger BTU loads a 4'x8' hole is ideal.
• A vent hole should take less than 90 seconds to cut from the time you step on the roof.
• 2 members per saw minimum for residential structures.
• The ridge is the most stable area of the roof above the eaves.
• Commercial flat roofs necessitate more personnel and equipment; a benchmark is 4-6 minutes.
• Vent as close to the fire as possible to prevent lateral extension.
• Wherever possible, ladder should be built on buildings opposite the fire in residential structures,
• Solar panels will have a shutoff switch near the electrical components. Panel will not de-energize the array.
• Older homes often have half stories or knee walls with steep roofs exceeding 45 degrees.
• Knee walls are problematic as they create additional void spaces.
• Vertical ventilation of large commercial or multi-dwelling occupancies should be a collaborative truck company effort.
• It may be best for engineer to stay on the turntable if conditions are evolving rapidly.

No-Go Ventilation Factors

• Ventilation should not be conducted when the structure is fully involved, the interior is not classified as IDLH, and occupants are unlikely to be displaced after extinguishment.
• Ventilation is also not advised where imminent roof collapse is possible or in multi-story buildings lacking a top floor or attic engagement.

Increased Caution

• Signs of increased caution include:
  • Smoke seeping through shingles
  • A steep or unwalkable roof
  • Heavy fire involvement in void spaces
  • Low or zero visibility on the roof

Positive Pressure Attack

• Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) is typically used after fire is under control.
• Effective PPV requires an outlet of sufficient size nearest to the fire compartment.
• Delay for 15–60 seconds to allow smoke to clear.

Roof Report

• A roof report, like a 360-degree assessment, should provide critical data on the roof's integrity, current conditions, any unusual issues, its stability, along with needs and recommendations.
• For apartments and commercial buildings, the first truck engineer should report after laddering, and provide info to command without fully stepping on the roof.

Rescue/Survivability Profile

• The most important piece of the 360 assessment is the Rescue or Survivability Profile
• The body’s tolerance is limited to 160 degrees Fahrenheit dry heat and 130 degrees Fahrenheit moist heat for brief durations.
• Humans can survive on 15% oxygen or less for 4 to 6 minutes.
• A 45-minute SCBA cylinder lasts an average of 20-25 minutes of working time before the low air alarm activates.
• Large windows typically indicate living rooms rather than bedrooms.
• Bedrooms are commonly found opposite the front door in apartment units.
• Ground ladders with heat sensors are preset to 300F for activation; a blackened or triggered ladder needs retesting.
• Street gas flows can reach 60 psi, although the meter reduces it to approximately 0.5 psi (residential).

Mayday Statistics

• Most Mayday events (18.3%) involve personnel lost or separated from the hoseline.
• 83% involve the 1st or 2nd arriving unit
• RITs account for 7.9% of mayday rescues.
• 53% of Maydays happen between midnight and 0600, 70% occur at night
• 51.8% of maydays occur between 20 and 35 minutes after the incident has began
• 31% of mayday situations are not reported as mayday situations
• Situational awareness is the best preventative measure against mayday situations
• The key to hallway stretches relies on the ability to work without being on air.
• The stairwell stretch is utilized when smoke and/or fire conditions are present on the fire floor at the stairwell door.
• The hoseline should be connected to the standpipe two floors below the fire floor.