1. Firefighters Support Foundation
Vehicle Fires
Assessment and Response
v1.0 v1

2. Permission
Permission is granted to reproduce or distribute this material so long as the Firefighters Support Foundation is credited as the source v1

3. About FSF
The Firefighters Support Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose primary mission is to develop, produce and distribute training programs to firefighters, EMTs, Search & Rescue personnel, and Emergency Management professionals. All of our programs are distributed free of charge. v1

4. Accompanying Video
This PowerPoint presentation accompanies the video presentation of the same title. v1

5. Larry Holloman, Presenter
Battalion Chief, Retired, Winston-Salem, NC Fire Department, 30 Years
Part Time Fire/Rescue Training Coordinator
Forsyth Technical Community College
State Certified Level II Instructor
State Certified Fire Officer III Instructor
State Certified Educational Methodology Instructor
State Certified Fire & Life Safety Educator
NIMS Certified Instructor v1

6. SCENE SIZE UP v1

7. SCENE SIZE UP PRIORITIES ARE THE SAME FOR ANY INCIDENT. 1. LIFE SAFETY
2. INCIDENT STABILIZATION
3. PROPERTY CONVERSATION
THESE PRIORITIES ARE FOR LAW, EMS AND FIRE
LIFE/SCENE SAFETY MUST BE YOUR #1 PRIORITY AT ALL TIMES.
THE FIRST ARRIVING UNIT SHOULD FOCUS ON ENTIRE AREA AND INCREASE AWARENESS. v1

8. SCENE SIZE UP (2) HAZARDS/OBSTACLES
1. BYSTANDERS, PEDESTRIANS, TRAFFIC, OTHERS.
2. EXPOSURES
3. LEAKING FUELS, INVOLVED AND UNINVOLVED
FIRST ARRIVING UNITS MUST INSURE THE SAFETY OF ANY AND ALL BYSTANDERS, PEDISTRIANS AND OTHERS THAT MAY BE IN THE DANGER ZONE.
ALWAYS CHECK THE AREA FOR ANY EXPOSURES. THESE MAY INCLUDE VEHICLES AND/OR BUILDINGS. v1

9. SCENE SIZE UP (3)
LEAKING FUELS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN, BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL IGNITION AND POSSIBLE SPREAD TO SURROUNDING AREA. LOOK FOR ANY LEAKS AND KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM ALL THE FLUIDS THAT ARE LEAKING, UNTIL THEY CAN BE IDENTIFIED.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD ESTABLISH A PERIMITER THAT MAY BE EXPANDED OR CONTRACTED IF AND WHEN NECESSARY.
REMEMBER NOT TO RESTRICT ACCESS FOR OTHER ARRIVING RESPONDERS. v1

10. SCENE SIZE UP (4)
IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF VEHICLE TO HELP DETERMINE POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF THE INCIDENT.
IDENTIFICATION TO INCLUDE: CAR, BUS, OR SOME TYPE OF TRANSPORT VEHICLE. THIS MAY INCLUDE THE CONTAINER THAT IS TRANSPORTING A PRODUCT. PICK UP TRUCKS MAY CARRY UNKNOWN CARGO
USING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK WILL HELP IDENTIFY THE PRODUCT AND PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR POTENTIAL HAZARDS, PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE. v1

11. EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOKv1

12. SCENE SIZE UP (5)
IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN FIRE, NOTE THE AREA THAT IS INVOLVED. THIS MAY BE THE ENGINE AREA, PASSENGER AREA, TRUNK AREA, UNDERCARRIAGE OR IF IT IS A VEHICLE TRANSPORTING PRODUCT, MAY BE THE CONTAINER.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL SHOULD APPROACH THE INVOLVED VEHICLE WITH EXTREME CAUTION. IF A VICTIM IS VISIBLE, A PORTABLE EXTINGUISHER MAY BE USED TO CONTAIN THE FIRE WHILE VICTIM ACCCESS IS DETERMINED. v1

13. SCENE SIZE UP (6)
LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD FOCUS ON TRAFFIC CONTROL IN THE IMMEDIATE AND SURROUNDING AREA/AREAS OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLE. CONTROL TRAFFIC FLOW, BUT REMEMBER TO ALLOW ACCESS FOR OTHER RESPONDING UNITS.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SHOULD BEGIN PATIENT CARE, IF CONDITIONS PERMIT.
FIRE SHOULD BEGIN FIRE CONTROL AND EXTINGUISHMENT. v1

14. SCENE SIZE UP (7)
EVERY INCIDENT IS DYNAMIC. THE INCIDENT COMMANDER SHOULD CALL FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BEFORE THEY ARE NEEDED.
REMEMBER: “IT’S BETTER TO HAVE ‘EM AND NOT NEED ‘EM, THAN TO NEED ‘EM AND NOT HAVE ‘EM.”
THE INCIDENT COMMANDER SHOULD BE KEPT INFORMED OF RESOURCE NEEDS SO HE/SHE MAY REQUEST THEM. THIS WILL ALSO PREVENT DUPLICATION OF RESOURCES. v1

15. APPARATUS/VEHICLE PLACEMENT

16. APPARATUS/VEHICLE PLACEMENT
IF LAW OR EMS IS FIRST TO ARRIVE, LEAVE ACCESS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED WITH FIRE, VEHICLE PLACEMENT SHOULD BE AT LEAST 150 FEET BEHIND OR IN FRONT OF INVOLVED VEHICLE.
THE LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT WILL DETERMINE THE APPARATUS/RESPONSE VEHICLE PLACEMENT.
RURAL/RESIDENTIAL STREET: LIMITED ACCESS FOR RESPONSE VEHICLES. STREETS MAY BE CLOSED.
PARKWAY/INTERSTATE: BETTER ACCESS FOR RESPONSE VEHICLES. ONE LANE MAY BE BLOCKED. v1

17. APPARATUS/VEHICLE PLACEMENT (2)
LAW ENFORCEMENT
1. BEFORE OR BEHIND AT LEAST 150 ft.
2. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH THE AREA
EMERGENCY MEDICAL
2. MAY MOVE CLOSER FOR PATIENT ACCESS
FIRE
1. POSITION TO PROTECT OR SHIELD
2. LEAVE ROOM FOR EGRESS OR OTHER RESPONSE VEHICLES. v1

18. INCIDENT COMMAND
INCIDENT COMMAND SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRST ARRIVING UNIT.
LAW OR EMS MAY NOT REQUIRE ESTABLISHING COMMAND, BUT A SIZE UP SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED.
IF THE INCIDENT WARRANTS, UNIFIED COMMAND SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO MITIGATE THE INCIDENT. v1

19. FIRE ATTACK v1

20. FIRE ATTACK LAW ENFORCEMENT 1. FOCUS ON SCENE SAFETY
2. IF UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH WITH A PORTABLE EXTINGUISHER…… RESCUE ANY PERSONS TRAPPED
4. CONTROL TRAFFIC FLOW
5. CONTROL BYSTANDER ACCESS
6. HELP ESTABLISH A PERIMETER
EMERGENCY MEDICAL
2. PREPARE FOR VICTIMS v1

21. FIRE ATTACK (2) FIRE DEPARTMENT 1. FOCUS ON SCENE SAFETY
2. USE AT LEAST A 1 ¾ “ ATTACK LINE
3. ALWAYS MOVE IN AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE
4. BEGIN WITH A STRAIGHT STREAM
5. SWITCH TO FOG AS YOU PROGRESS
6. NOTE THE INVOLVED AREA: ENGINE, PASSENGER, TRUNK
7. ACCESS ALL CLOSED COMPARTMENTS
8. OPEN COMPARTMENTS FROM SIDE
9. ALWAYS PROP COMPARTMENTS OPEN v1

22. SAFETY OF PERSONNEL CONSTANTLY MONITOR AREA, NOT JUST VEHICLE
CHECK FOR LEAKING FLUIDS
WATCH TIRES, THEY MAY EXPLODE
DISCONNECT AIR BAGS, PROTECT ALL PERSONNEL WORKING NEAR THE AIR BAGS.
GAS OPERATED SHOCKS MAY EXPLODE
BUMPERS HAVE SHOCKS THAT MAY EXPLODE
WATCH THE GENERAL STABILITY OF VEHICLE
BE AWARE OF THE SAFETY OF OTHERS NOT INVOLVED IN SUPPRESSION v1

23. VICTIMS CHECK AREA FOR VICTIMS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN EJECTED
PROTECT ALL VICTIMS STILL IN THE VEHICLE
EXTINGUISH FIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
START MEDICAL CARE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
NOTE ALL TRAPPED/PINNED VICTIMS
PREPARE FOR RESCUE/EXTRICATION
SECURE AND STABILIZE THE VEHICLE
TRANSPORT VICTIMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE v1

24. LARGE VEHICLES/CONTAINERS
SAME SCENE SIZE UP PRIORITIES
1. LIFE SAFETY
2. INCIDENT STABILIZATION
3. PROPERTY CONSERVATION
VEHICLE/APPARATUS PLACEMENT
1. IF CONTAINER IS LEAKING, PLACE THE VEHICLE/APPARATUS AT LEAST 500 FEET AWAY.
2. PROTECT AND SHIELD ALL PERSONNEL
3. PARK UPHILL AND UPWIND IF POSSIBLE v1

25. LARGE VEHICLES/CONTAINERS (2)
IF FLUID OR PRODUCT IS LEAKING
1. REMAIN AT LEAST 500 FEET AWAY
2. IDENTIFY FUEL OR PRODUCT USING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK
3. IF KNOWN, ELIMINATE IGNITION SOURCES
IF VEHICLE/CONTAINER IS ON FIRE
1. CREATE A BUFFER, AT LEAST 500 FEET REMEMBER: MORE IS BETTER
2. ESTABLISH A PERMITER
3. LEAVE ACCESS AND EGRESS AREA/AREAS
4. WAIT FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT v1

26. ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES
SAME SCENE SIZE UP AND PRIORITIES
1. LIFE SAFETY
2. INCIDENT STABILIZATION
3. PROPERTY CONSERVATION
LOOK FOR MARKINGS TO IDENTIFY FUEL TYPE
THERE ARE NO REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONAL VEHICLES
ALTERNATIVE FUELS MAY INCLUDE
1. BATTERY 2. LPG
3. CNG 4. GREASE v1

27. ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES (2)
LOCATE TANKS OR CONTAINERS
1. MOUNTED IN TRUNK
2. MOUNTED ON FRAME
3. BED OF PICK UP TRUCKS
REMEMBER TO CHECK FOR MARKINGS
1. DECAL ON TRUNK OR QUARTER PANEL
2. DECAL ON SIDE/QUARTER PANEL
3. DECAL ON WINDOW v1

28. FIRE ATTACK: ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES

29. FIRE ATTACK: ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES
FIRE DEPARTMENT
1. 1 ¾ SHOULD BE MINIMUM ATTTACK LINE
2. MOVE IN AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE
3. DEPENDING ON FUEL, DETERMINE FOG OR STRAIGHT STREAM
4. CONTROL FLAME BEFORE EXTINGUISHMENT
5. EXTINGUISH FLAME
6. ACCESS AND OPEN INVOLVED AREA/AREAS
7. CHECK AND SECURE ALL LEAKS v1

30. SUMMARY SAFETY IS ALWAYS FIRST AND ON GOING PRIORITY
BE CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE SURROUNDINGS
LOOK FOR ANY/ALL POTENTIAL HAZARDS/OBSTACLES
INSURE PROPER APPARATUS/VEHICLE PLACEMENT
CHECK AND HELP ALL VICTIMS
CONSTANTLY MONITOR YOUR OPERATION
MAKE CHANGES TO OPERATION IF NEEDED
MONITOR YOUR PERSONNEL FOR SAFE ACTIONS v1