1. Foundations of Fire Fighting Tactics and Strategies
Chapter 5
Page101
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2. Objectives
Describe the process of developing the fire fighting strategy and tactics involved in planning, locating, confining, extinguishing, and overhauling fires in buildings and other special fire situations
Discuss the methods used for the determination of the proper fire operating mode: offensive, transitional, defensive, or non-attack mode 2
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3. Objectives
Define the term size-up and explain the steps and factors involved in making a size-up
Review the fire strategy and tactics used by firefighters and apply the fire behavior characteristics discussed in the text to the situations reviewed
Describe difficult fire situations encountered by firefighters and the strategies and tactics they should use to resolve these situations 3
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4. Introduction Learn about:
Structure fires and fire behavior patterns most likely to be encountered
How to apply fire behavior tactics
Overall mission for fire incidents has three major components: finding the location of the fire, confining the fire, and extinguishing the fire
Size-up: method used to identify problem(s) presented by the incident 4
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5. Development of Strategy and Tactics
Overall mission for firefighters responding to fire:
Locate the fire
Confine the fire
Extinguish the fire
Decision-making model: overall strategy on emergency incidents 5
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8. Development of Strategy and Tactics (cont’d.)
Figure 5-2 The five steps in the decision-making model
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9. Attack Modes
Offensive mode: make a direct attack on fire for purposes of control and extinguishment
Transitional mode: shifting from offensive to defensive mode or from defensive to offensive mode
Defensive mode: conducted on exterior of building to protect adjacent buildings from fire spreading 9
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10. Attack Modes (cont’d.)
Non-attack mode (passive approach): under certain circumstances, a fire attack may be too dangerous and incident command will choose to let the fire burn out without an attack
Cannot be made without careful consideration and by making every effort to include the owner in the decision making process 10
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12. Size-Up at the Incident Scene
RECEO-VS
Rescue
Exposures
Confinement
Extinguishment
Overhaul
Ventilation
Salvage 12
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13. Construction
Includes building components, materials, and extent of their fire-resistive abilities
Five NFPA classifications
Type I, II, III, IV, and V 13
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14. Type I or Fire-resistive Construction
Columns, beams, floors, walls, and roof made of materials classified as non- combustible
Figure 5-4 Type I or
fire-resistive construction
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15. Type II or Non-combustible Construction
Non-combustible and either protected or unprotected
Figure 5-5(a) Type II or noncombustible construction
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16. Type III or Exterior Protected/Ordinary Construction
Exterior walls made of masonry materials
Interior walls and materials permitted to be partially or wholly combustible
Figure 5-6 Type III or ordinary construction
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17. Type IV or Heavy Timber/Mill Construction
Exterior walls are usually made of masonry and therefore are non- combustible
Figure 5-7 Type IV or heavy timber/mill construction
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18. Type V or Wood Frame Construction
All major structural components can be made of combustible materials
Figure 5-8 In Type V construction, all major structural components can be made of combustible materials
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19. Occupancy or Use
The building code that classifies buildings by their use
Loss of lives in building fires is always a concern where large numbers of people gather 19
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20. Apparatus and Staffing
Standard operating procedure (SOP): specific information and instructions on how a task or assignment is to be accomplished
Need to know manpower resources
Number, type of pumping, and ladder capability 20
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21. Need to Know Resources

22. Life Hazard Primary search Personal alert safety system (PASS)
Aggressive primary search for victims during the first few moments after arrival
Personal alert safety system (PASS)
Small, motion sensitive unit attached to and worn with the SCBA by firefighters when entering an Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) environment 22
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23. Terrain Structure can be built on land with different grade levels
Careful pre-incident planning can help in reducing the time required to deal with terrain problems 23
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24. Water Supply
Can water be delivered in sufficient gallons per minute to suppress the number of BTUs being given off by the fire?
Learn location of water lines of other jurisdictions or districts 24
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25. Auxiliary Appliances
Fire sprinklers have record of over one hundred years of being 90% to 98% effective in controlling fires
Three types of water sprinkler application systems
Wet pipe
Dry pipe
Deluge 25
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26. Street Conditions
Narrow streets, traffic congestion, double- parked cars, and construction work can severely impact fire operations
Close coordination with public works and traffic departments can reduce such problems 26
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27. Narrow Streets

28. Weather Extreme weather conditions can affect operations
Rehabilitation system:
Hydration
Nourishment
Rest and recovery
Medical evaluation 28
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29. Rehab Unit

30. Exposures
Using water by running it down side of exposed building, coating it with water
Water spray can protect against movement of heated air currents and direct flame impingement
Use large water appliances to reduce or redirect air currents and to cool threatened building surfaces 30
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31. Area and Height Indicates maximum potential fire area
Height of building raises issues of whether the fire department has necessary ladder lengths to reach upper building areas
Height may provide exposure hazard to nearby buildings
Impacts use of master streams 31
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32. Location and Extent of Fire
The lower the fire, the more serious the threat of fire is to the building
Fire below grade such as a basement fire, are hotter, and generally more complex 32
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33. Time May determine life-threatening situation
Time of day impacts time required for a fire apparatus to arrive
Morning and evening traffic peaks can double the response time 33
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34. Special Concerns
Personnel accountability report (PAR): reports on location/condition of personnel
Personnel accountability system (PAS): determines entry/exit of personnel
Rapid intervention team or crew (RIT/RIC): assignment of group for rapid deployment of reports on personnel in trouble/missing 34
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35. Building Construction Methods and Occupancy Types
Platform construction method: floors built separately from outer walls and ceiling and floor area serves as fire block to stop movement of hot fire gases between floors
Balloon frame method of construction: obsolete construction method where wood studs run from foundation to roof and floors are nailed to studs 35
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36. Balloon Framing

37. Platform Construction

38. Fire Behavior in Specific Occupancies
Different procedures need followed for various types of buildings
Important to understand essential differences of building methods and building types when evaluating how to approach a fire 38
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39. Single-Story Family Dwellings of the Past
1940s – 1950s
Plastered walls covering wood/wire mesh which was painted/covered with heavy paper or cloth
Bare wood, rugs, linoleum, wool carpets
Bare wood to upholstered furniture with cotton, wool, or leather
Rooms poorly insulated with single-paned windows
Fire load was low and the rooms were well ventilated 39
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40. Today’s Residential Properties
Better insulation and increase in fire load
More plastics
Interior fire fighting hotter
Decreased time to flashover
Has become much more dangerous in these occupancies 40
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41. Multiple-family Dwellings
Vary from city to city
Figure 5-16 Open attic
and truss construction 41
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42. Mercantile Fires Strip malls made as cheaply as possible
Barely meet code requirements
Fire originating in one store of a strip has good chance of communicating to others
Can extend into cockloft area and once there, will move horizontally with little or no resistance
Roof ventilation is important 42
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43. Strip Mall Fires

44. Hotel Fires Not designed with fire safety in mind
Older hotels built with open stairways and rooms off of corridors with transoms
HVAC units can circulate hot fire gases throughout the building if unit is not protected with fire dampers
Not equipped with an eyebrow
Designed to prevent or inhibit fire and smoke from lapping into the upper floor(s) in a multistory building 44
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45. Hotel Fires

46. Industrial Occupancies
Vary considerably due to manufacturing processes
Tenant factory/loft building
Potential for a fast-spreading fire is high
Newer manufacturing buildings constructed using concrete tilt-up construction
Provide open void spaces where fire gases can accumulate 46
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47. New England Mill

48. Churches Similar construction
Large hanging ceilings or cocklofts lead to church’s destruction
If steeple present, collapse is likely
Life safety record for church fires is good 48
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49. Schools Fire drills usually constructed
Significant improvement in the use of fire- resistant construction materials in new schools
Some schools use modular classrooms 49
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50. Basement Fires Good location for storage of combustible items
Can become fully developed and present a very hot, smoky fire situation where visibility is limited
Long hoses may be required
Possibility of gas ignition 50
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51. Basement Fires

52. Attic Fires Burn upward Respond quickly to proper vertical ventilation
Should be attacked as fast as possible
As little water as possible should be used 52
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53. Attic Fires

54. Flat Roofs
Attic space is approximately three feet deep and provides open space between underside of roof and top side of ceiling
Always work with wind at your back or side from where the wind is blowing: windward side
Keeps smoke and hot gases downwind 54
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55. Peaked Roofs Encourage the use of aerial ladders
Roof ladder also used if aerial not possible
Vent hole cut as close to the ridge as possible without damaging the underlying rafters
Should be made on leeward side 55
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56. Carport/Garage Carport: freestanding structure open on all sides
Carport itself is not serious fire problem because it is constructed using a minimum amount of combustible materials
Flammable liquid fires common
Garage
One-story: line inside house to prevent extension of the fire into this area
Two-story: direct attack on garage and line upstairs 56
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57. Summary
Understand basic principles of fire fighting and characteristics of fire behavior
Three efforts:
Locate the fire
Confine the fire
Extinguish the fire
Determine type of attack necessary 57
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