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Response and Size-Up

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Objectives

• Describe your role in assuring safe and efficient response to an emergency scene.

• Describe how to ride an emergency vehicle safely.

• Describe how to dismount an emergency vehicle safely.

• Describe how to shut off utilities.• Define and describe size-up.

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Introduction (1 of 2)

• Response– Series of actions that begin when a crew is

dispatched to an alarm and end with their arrival at the emergency scene

• Response actions include:– Receiving the alarm– Donning PPE– Mounting the apparatus– Exiting the station– Driving to the scene– Positioning/parking the apparatus– Dismounting the apparatus

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Introduction (2 of 2)

• Size-up– A systematic process of gathering information and

evaluating the situation– Begins at alarm receipt– Continues during response– Includes initial on-scene observations

• IC and company officers responsible for obtaining information to manage the incident– Fire fighters are involved in the process of gathering

and processing information.

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Response (1 of 2)

• Response begins with preparation for response.

• Ensure that PPE is complete, ready for use, and in good condition.

• Ensure PPE is in designated location.

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Response (2 of 2)

• SCBA– Conduct daily

inspection at beginning of each tour of duty.

• Recheck PPE and tools thoroughly after returning from each emergency response.

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Alarm Receipt (1 of 3)

• Process begins when an alarm is received at the fire station.

• Often a communications center dispatches individual units.• Most departments have both a primary and back-up

method of transmitting alarms.• Radio, telephone, or public address systems are often

used to transmit information.• Use of computer terminals and printers to transmit

dispatch messages increasing

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Alarm Receipt (2 of 3)

• Some fire departments use a system of bells to transmit alarms.– Outdoor sirens or horns may summon fire fighters in

volunteer or rural departments.– Most volunteer fire fighters receive dispatch messages over

pagers.

• Dispatch information will include:– Incident location– Type of emergency– Units due to response

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Alarm Receipt (3 of 3)

• Computer-aided dispatch systems often provide additional information.

• Telecommunicator provides additional information when available.– Sent in dispatch messages to later-responding units or

transmitted by radio while en route– Information can help in planning.

• Response to alarm should be prompt and efficient.– Walk briskly to the apparatus.– Do not run.– Shut off appliances.– Wait until apparatus doors are fully open before leaving.

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Riding the Apparatus (1 of 2)

• Don PPE before mounting apparatus.– Don SCBA after apparatus stops at scene.

• All equipment must be properly secured.• Be careful mounting apparatus.

– Steps are high and slippery.

• You must wear your seatbelt and/or harness.• Noise produced by sirens can damage hearing.

– Wear hearing protection.– Hearing protection devices often include radio and intercom

capabilities.

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Riding the Apparatus (2 of 2)

• During transport, limit conversation.– Listen for instructions and additional information.

• Consider factors that could affect the incident:– Time of day or night– Temperature– Location and type of incident

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Emergency Response

• Fire apparatus driver must exercise caution while driving.

• Never compromise safety for faster response time.• Fire apparatus drivers have special training.

– Fire apparatus drivers must always consider the actions of other drivers first.

• Personal vehicles– Fire fighters who respond in personal vehicles must follow

laws, regulations, and SOPs.– Some areas allow volunteer fire fighters to use colored lights

to request a right of way.

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Prohibited Practices

• Do not ignore departmental SOPs. • Do not unfasten your seatbelt. • Do not dismount until the vehicle comes

to a complete stop. • Never stand while riding. • Do not hold onto the side of a moving

vehicle. • Do not ride on the rear step.

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Dismounting a Stopped Apparatus

• Ensure apparatus comes to a full stop.

• Check for traffic before opening doors.

• Check for other hazards present– Downed power lines– Hazardous materials

• Grab a handrail and step down.

• Be careful when dismounting.

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Traffic Safety on the Scene

• Be aware—constantly!– Drivers may not see fire fighters

• Follow departmental SOPs for closing roadways.

• Highways are very dangerous.

• Use traffic cones or other devices.

• Wear reflective vests over PPE.

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Arrival at the Incident Scene

• Fire fighters work in assigned teams.– Companies or crews

• Teamwork and discipline are essential.• Apparatus-responding fire fighters make

up the crew assigned to that vehicle.• Independently-arriving fire fighters

report to IC to be assigned to a company or crew.

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Freelancing

• Dangerous practice of acting independently of command instruction

• Unacceptable and is not tolerated • The safety of each fire fighter at the scene

can be compromised by freelancing. • Do not respond to an emergency incident

unless you have been dispatched.

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Personnel Accountability System (1 of 2)

• Used to track every fire fighter at every incident scene – Maintains an updated list of the fire fighters assigned to each

vehicle or crew– Tracks each crew’s assignment

• Fire fighters deposit PATs in a location on the vehicle.– PATs are collected from each vehicle and taken to the

command post.

• Fire fighters responding directly to the scene:– Report to the command post to deposit their PATs and get

an assignment

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Personnel Accountability System (2 of 2)

• Personal accountability tags (PATs)

• Tag information may include:– Name – ID number – Photograph – Medical history

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Controlling Utilities• One of the first tasks that must be accomplished• Follow departmental SOPs• Task often assigned to a certain company or

crew.– However, all fire fighters should know how to shut off

building utilities.

• Controlling utilities prevents:– Electrocutions of fire fighters– Gas explosions– Unnecessary water damage

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Electrical Service

• Know what types of electrical drops and meters are in use in your area.

• Work with utility companies for specific training.• High-voltage systems require electric company or trained

personnel from premises to shut off electricity.

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• Call electric company to shut down power from a utility pole.

• Necessary if: – Outside wires are damaged by fire

– Working with ladders or aerial apparatus

– Risk of explosion exists

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Gas Service (1 of 2)

• Natural gas and LP gas used for heating and cooking– Natural gas delivered through underground pipes– LP gas stored in a tank on premises or through underground

pipes

• Valve for LP gas system is usually located at the storage tank.– Often has a distinctive handle that indicates direction to turn

to open or close valve– To close, rotate handle to fully closed position.

• Do not reopen system—call in utility.

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Gas Service (2 of 2)

• Usually a single valve for entire building

• Often located outside building

• May be in basement of older buildings– When handle is in-line

with piping, gas is on.– When handle is at a right

angle to the pipe, it is off.

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Water Service

• Can usually be shut off by closing one valve at the entry point

• There is usually also a valve inside the basement of the building where the water line enters.

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Size-up• Process of evaluating an emergency situation to determine what

actions need to be taken and what resources are needed to control an emergency

• IC uses size-up to develop initial plan• At major incidents, size-up might continue through several stages.• Ongoing size-up

• Fire fighters must understand how to:– Formulate an operational plan – Gather and process information – How this information can change plans during the operation

• Fire fighters often asked to obtain information or report observations for ongoing size-up

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Managing Information

• Information must be continually reassessed to ensure action plan is still valid.

• Two categories of information:– Facts– Probabilities

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Facts (1 of 5)

• Data elements that are accurate and based on prior knowledge, a reliable source of information, or an immediate, on-site observation

• Initial dispatch information contains facts.– Location – Nature of the situation

• Based on facts, an officer makes expectations about the incident:– Whether a building is likely to be occupied or unoccupied – Whether the occupants are likely to be awake or sleeping – Whether traffic will delay the arrival of additional units

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Facts (2 of 5)

• Weather conditions – Snow and ice delays the arrival of fire apparatus. – Strong winds can cause rapid extension or spread of a fire. – High heat and humidity may cause heat casualties.

• Preincident plan – Provides details about a building’s construction, layout, contents,

special hazards, and fire protection systems

• Basic facts about a building can be observed upon arrival.– Officer considers the size, height, and construction of the building. – Action plan for a single-story, wood-frame dwelling different than a

steel-frame high-rise tower

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Facts (3 of 5)

• Age of the building is another fact to consider. – Building and fire safety codes change over time.

– Balloon-frame construction can provide a path for fire spread.

– Newer buildings use trusses.

• Plan for rescue and attack considers information about the building layout and stairways.

• Special factors that will assist or hinder operations are identified. – Bars on windows

• Building occupancy is critical. – Office building has a different set of issues than a school.

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Facts (4 of 5)

• Fire size and location help determine hose line placement, ventilation sites, and rescue priorities.– Direct visual observations are good but are not complete.– Flames issuing from only one window suggest fire is in just

one room, but it could spread through void spaces. – Smoke can obscure view of fire.

• Inside fire fighters can use observations and sensations to work safely. – A crackling sound may indicate the seat of the fire. – Blistering paint could indicate the fire is in the walls.

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Facts (5 of 5)

• IC needs to gather as many facts as possible.– Company officers report observations to IC – Each company has a unique view to report.– IC may request a reconnaissance report.

• An inspection and exploration of a specific area

• Progress reports – Regular progress reports from companies working in

different areas update information. – Enables IC to judge if an operational plan is effective

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Probabilities

• Factors that can be reasonably assumed, predicted, or expected to occur, but which are not necessarily accurate

• Use history and experience to predict future events.• Attack plan based on probabilities• IC quickly identifies the probabilities that apply to a

given situation.• Convection, conduction, radiation, smoke conditions,

and fire conditions enable IC to predict fire extension. • IC also evaluates the potential for building collapse.

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Resources• All of the means available to fight a fire or conduct

emergency operations– Requirements depend on the size and type of incident. – Availability depends on the capacity of a fire department.

• Basic resources are personnel and apparatus. • Firefighting resources usually defined as the numbers of

engine companies, ladder companies, special units, and command officers required to control a particular fire

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• Resources also include: – Water supply – Specialized equipment – Food and fluids for rehabilitation – Fuel for apparatus

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Water Supply

• Water supply is a critical resource. – In area without hydrants, water supply

could limit operations • Takes time to establish water supply from static

source • Limited amount of water can be delivered by

tanker shuttle.

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Mutual Aid Agreements

• Fire departments agree with surrounding jurisdictions to assist each other if a situation requires more resources than the local community has.

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Incident Action Plan• Outlines the steps needed to control the situation

– Based on information gathered during size-up

– Revised and expanded during incident

• Based on five basic fireground priorities:– Rescue victims

– Protect exposures

– Confine the fire

– Extinguish the fire

– Salvage property and overhaul the fire

• Saving lives is the highest priority.• Saving property is the remaining priority.• Priorities are not separate and exclusive. • Priorities guide the IC in making decisions.

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Rescue

• Always the highest priority!

• Need for rescue depends on:– Type of occupancy– Time of day– Degree of risk to the occupant’s lives

• Often the best way to protect lives is to extinguish the fire quickly.

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Exposure Protection

• Keep the fire spreading beyond the area of origin or involvement.

• Keep fire from spreading from structure of origin to an exposure.

• IC must sometimes weigh potential losses.

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Confinement

• Focus on confining fire to a specific area.

• IC defines a perimeter and plans operations so fire does not expand beyond the area.

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Extinguishment

• Depending on size of fire and the risk, IC mounts either:– Offensive attack– Defensive attack

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Offensive Attack

• Used with most small fires

• Fire fighters enter structure, seek out seat of the fire, and overpower it.

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Defensive Mode

• Used when fire is too large or dangerous

• Fire fighters are not in the building.

• Heavy streams operated from outside

• At times, fire is allowed to burn itself out.

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Salvage and Overhaul• Salvage

– Conducted to save property by preventing avoidable property losses

– Removal or protection of property that could be damaged during firefighting or overhaul

– Goal is to reduce smoke and water damage to structure and contents.

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• Overhaul– Process conducted to ensure the fire

is completely out

– Floors, walls, ceilings, and attic spaces are checked for signs of fire.

– Debris is removed and thoroughly doused.

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Summary

• Preparation for response begins long before an alarm is received.

• Fire fighters must adhere to safe operating practices when responding to an incident:

– Remain seated and wearing a seat belt.– Use caution when driving to ensure arrival on scene.– Be alert when dismounting on roadways.

• Fire fighters must understand how to size-up an incident.– Size-up determines incident action plan.

• Specific actions taken are based on incident priorities:• Rescue• Protect exposures• Confine fire• Extinguish fire• Salvage and overhaul

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