FIRE GROUND STRATEGY AND TACTICS

THE BASICS

DEFINITIONS I

STRATEGY: The broad Goal, the overallplan. What has to be done.

TACTIC: A specific measurable Objective.How will it be done.

TASK: a specific assigned activity. Who willdo it.

DEFINITIONS II

STRATEGY = Incident Commander. Decides the Goal (RECEO/REVAS)

TACTIC = Operations/Division Officer. Chooses objectives to reach goal (interior attack, roof ventilation, etc).

TASK = Group/Firefighters. Perform the functions to reach objective

Basic Fire Ground Strategy and Tactics

Lif e Saf ety Incident Stabil izat ion Property C onservat ion

IN C IDEN T PRIO RIT IES

Basic Fire Ground Strategy and Tactics

(Fire Attack) Strategy: The

Goal, what has to be done

Tactic: the objective,how will it be done

Task: the assigned activity, who will do it

Strategy = The Incident Commander

Tactic: The Operations/Division Officer

Task:: The Firefighters, perform the functions

Command SequenceThink! Plan! Act!

Think:: Size Up, Pre-Fire Plan, and Goal

Plan: Strategy and Tactics

Act: Implementation

Incident Commander

to Operations

to Firefighter/ Groups

Primary Factors to Determine Strategy

Rescue Exposures Confinement Extinguishment Overhaul

Ventilation Salvage

(FEMA)

Rescue Evacuation Ventilation Attack Salvage

(Fire Attack)

Questions To Ask

What do I Have? What am I doing What do I need? Where is it going? How do I control it? Who is in command?

Strategic Concepts In Firefighting (McAniff)

OFFENSIVE: Direct attack at seat of fire. Normally at Incipient Stage, this solves all problems.

OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE: An attack on the main body of fire, while taking measures to control extension.

DEFENSIVE/OFFENSIVE: A holding action,it keeps fire in reasonable bounds while more forces are called.

DEFENSIVE: Surround and Drown, protect the exposures.

INDIRECT: A Contained/Confined smoldering fire, where use of steam expansion is taken advantage of and there is no rescue.

General Principles of Firefighting (Norman)

Lacking sufficient manpower,rescue takes precedence.

Remove those in greatest danger first! With insufficient manpower to perform needed

tasks, perform those that protect the most first. When sufficient manpower is available

coordinate both rescue and fire attack. If there are no threats to occupants or no

occupants, Firefighters should no be unduly endangered.

Engine Company OperationsAggressive attacks are a necessity.Begin suppression as soon as possible.

Choose the proper operating mode

OFFENSIVE

DEFENSIVE

INDIRECT

Basic Fire Ground Strategy and Tactics

When a human life is at stake an interior attack is mandated.

1st hose line to worst case before worrying about other hose lines.

If attack stalled increase ventilation or water flow, or both. If not working CHANGE TACTICS!

When effective offensive attack is not possible or has not succeeded in 20 minutes, prepare defensive positions

When forced to defensive mode consider the possible effect of total structure involvement.

LOCATE CONFINEEXTINGUISH

“LET CIRCUMSTANCES DICTATE PROCEDURES…ERR ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY.”

Sources:IMS by NFPA

Fire Attack by Emergency Resources Inc.

Fire Officer’s Handbook of Tactics by John Norman

Strategic Concepts in Fire Fighting by Edward P. McAniff

DISCUSSION

•Residential Garage

•Car Fires

•Strip Mall/Deluge gun

•Mid-Rise/Outside balcony

•Nursing Home

The Plaza: 8220-8224-8228 Jog Rd. Boynton Beach

Q.A.S. Strategy and Tactics Exercise

Assisted Care Living Facility3 Story Building: Type 5P – Concrete and

wood – 1 hour. Ext. block walls, poured conc. Floors.

1st fl. 53,000 #ft (core style hallways)

2nd & 3rd flrs. @37,8000 #ft (center style hallways

Roof: Tile, wood truss/joist

Standpipes/Sprinklers

145 apartments

North West Entrance

North Side Plaza

North East Side Fire

Annunciator Panel North Side

Plaza Elevator

South West Entrance

South East Side Fire

West Side Center

West Side Center 2

FDC

Gas S/OKnox Box

Alarm Panel

Alarm Panel

Third Floor Landing

Hallway Smoke/Fire

Roof Access Part 2

3rd Floor Roof View

2nd Floor Roof Access

3rd Floor Roof Fire

Under Ground L.P.North East Corner

THE END