Tactical Safety: D is for Delay, Not Done

D is for Delay, Not Done

by Ray McCormack

The economic downturn in the fire service results in brownouts that roll and company closures that stick. For many, delays in reaching the fire scene have now become routine. A late arrival does not disqualify us from the game. Our work is not done- it is only exacerbated- and our on-scene response to elevated conditions must first be recognized as becoming the new standard; and tactics modified so that we can attempt to successfully counter our delay in service delivery.

Vigilant, and due vigilance, are the watch words of the day to tune firefighters into the increasing level of danger coming their way through exposure to fire born out of fun, frustration and arrival delays. You can increase your awareness all you want, but if you do not incorporate tactical modifications, you will be done on the fire ground. We will be saving less property and lives.

When we are late, we must deal with the additional requirements of more fire, more damage, more stress, more everything. Are you able to step up your game and use options that keep the incident from tipping?

Have you really taken a good look at how you operate? Can you place two lines into operation quickly? Is it organized and efficient? It is not completely about the numbers, it is about what the numbers do when they get there. Multi-tasking vs. rigid positioning is one way to use firefighters more effectively. Is there a better order to your multi-tasking? We will always be challenged on the fireground, it is up to each firefighter to step up to the challenge and overcome it-and fight the good fight. It is when we do not try to win that we stand to lose more than just an individual battle.

Have our tactics changed? Do they need to? Your tactics may need to change if:

· Your handline is aimed at windows in stable buildings as priority one.
· Your firefighters circle around but never enter the building.
· Your people are wide-eyed upon hearing basic tenants of firefighting.
· You stretch uncharged hoselines up to the second floor of a home because it causes less fatigue.

Fire extinguishment can always be refined and adjusted. The problem is many do not see gradients of adaptation, only radical change. Adjusting how we operate under delayed conditions will demand more efficiency and creativity, not less firefighting. We may adapt our operations, but our protection level for the public and the suppression forces should never waver under tactical safety.

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Tactical Safety: If Only Everyone Was A Firefighter

If Only Everyone Was a Firefighter

By Ray McCormack

What an amazing world, country, state, city, town, we would have if everyone was like us- firefighters. First is the can-do spirit instilled in firefighters that spark initiative and bravery for the completion of tasks big and small; ordinary to extraordinary. The leadership of our first line supervisors that guide and assist us in the safe fulfillment of the daily mission. The overall supervision and accountability of our battles by our commanders, and the passion for quality, reliability, and loyalty that separates us from everyone else that just shows up. We are different… and that is a good thing.

No one said that we are perfect and we can live without perfection because that was never the goal. Some believe it is and beat the drum over and over playing the same unreachable tune. The problem is the song gets played out and the results stay the same. If you want better results you need a more simple message and a delivery that delivers.

Firefighters have admirable traits but we also have faults. Like fires we are both uniquely different and similar too. We are a portion of the general population that has chosen a field of endeavor that many exalt and few dare tread: the fire service. This work is not for everyone and it is a lot more than a heroism-fulfillment fix as some would have you believe.

You need certain physical properties for fire to survive just as firefighters have specific needs. One need is recognition-the most underutilized “Thank You” in the fire service- so simple yet so hard for many to utter. Is it jealousy? It shouldn’t be; what it is without a doubt is a character flaw in those who hold it back. Tell someone that they did well. Recognition of someone else does not diminish you it makes you a bigger person.

What the rest of the world could learn from us would improve all aspects of business and interpersonal relationships. We come together from different 'everythings' and still get the job done. The fire service is the lead organization in catastrophic event control and stabilization. That is because our systems-approach to events and small work-group intimacy gives us a unique ability to maintain control while developing solutions quickly to multi faceted problems.

We aid the brightest, the largest, the weakest, anyone who needs us without filling out any forms or checking quotas. We truly provide service to all who ask without asking for anything in return. Our service transcends public service role modeling because we give more than anyone ever asked for. Our heroes are real people who have gone beyond themselves in thought and action to inspire and guide us.

Have great pride in knowing you do not stand alone and you part of something that many admire and trust in. Know your job as this will help to optimize your effectiveness as well as protect you. Speak up over the din of the naysayers who look to devalue your work and stay tactically safe.

Thank you for all you do and are willing to do

Keep Fire in Your Life

Sincerely

Ray McCormack

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Coming Soon

We are in the process of re-inventing the way we do blogs at Urban Firefighter Magazine. Look for some updates in the very near future as well as the return of Tactical Safety.

Erich Roden
Publisher and Editor, Urban Firefighter Magazine

Urban Renaissance

The politicians in my town use to marvel at the renaissance underway downtown and in other parts of the City. Unfortunately, the recession has curbed much of it. Factories were becoming lofts; vacant lots were becoming new private and multiple dwellings; and streets were getting needed face-lifts. Yet, it's still the same town: same people, and the same fires...Urban Firefighter Magazine has just experienced its own renaissance too.

You may have noticed that the site has changed. We recently formed a partnership with Pennwell in order to expand Urban Firefighter Magazine. It only made sense for us to get a face- lift of our own to give you the very best of what Pennwell's fire group , FDIC and Urban Firefighter Magazine has to offer. Let us know what you think!

We want to thank everyone for their support during the launch of Urban Firefighter Magazine; The response has been humbling and far exceeded our expectations. If you are new to Urban Firefighter Magazine, welcome. Please delve into the magazine and website and keep the feedback coming. There are many more things in store as we grow and we especially thank Pennwell for all of their support!

Best,

Erich Roden
Publisher and Editor

Tactical Safety: Entry-Level Firefighters

The fire service’s weekly safety column

Examining firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate.

Entry Level Firefighters

By Ray McCormack

All firefighters are not created equally, and that is a problem. Fire academies utilize curriculum based upon standards of training, however, they are not carbon copies of each other and even classes within the same institution will vary. This is accepted because base-knowledge for firefighting and firefighter development hinges upon known and accepted operational principles and regional aspects of needs. Academies strive to accomplish a difficult task, graduating firefighters. These newly created firefighters still have much to learn and absorb. Training does not end at rookie school; it continues, as there are different levels of training for different stages of firefighter development.

Skill development requires time and repetition to adhere properly; this process is started in the academy but must continue afterwards. For some firefighters it does, for some it does not and for the lucky few, training simply becomes a part of their routine. It is important to remember that we do not wish our firefighters to stay at the entry level beyond that limited time period.

Like any training schedule that must cover many topics, some topics will be covered amply while others will receive only cursory treatment. Academic schedules are tight and heavy: structured with the addition burden of including mandated educational tracts. One recent study complained that operational learning took up too much time.

If we do not obsess over operational function, then what level will our firefighters be at when they graduate? Could we reach a level below entry level? Yes, we could. We would develop Non-entry level firefighters who could help with tasks, except entry. What level of “fire service” will we be able to provide to others when we do not understand or haven’t learned how to perform entry level firefighting?

Looking at this study: if an academy wants to spend more time on non operational course development items, it will have to cut somewhere. Are you willing to eliminate or shorten training on PPE, or SCBA, or RIT, or any other life preserving operational tactic? Core training on firefighting is not negotiable. We can never ignore the reality of our profession no matter what the current climate or additional learning items are placed on the list.

If your vision is 20/20, you can see that entry-level training on firefighting practices does not contain deductable subjects, if you want your new firefighters to be safe and effective. Ongoing training based on entry level firefighter skills never gets old; it is the foundation on which all advanced training rests. We must make sure that what firefighters are learning at the entry level provides maximum tactical safety so that they are prepared when fire happens.

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Tactical Safety: That's Wrong, Maybe

The fire service’s weekly safety column

Examining firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate.

That’s Wrong, Maybe

By Ray McCormack

It was recently reported that students who took mathematics exams were receiving partial credit for incorrect answers. Most of us have never experienced such exams, especially dealing with what most people would consider a cut and dry topic. Two and two does equal four, but if you said five you can still earn points. How is that possible? Well, it depends not only on how things are graded, it depends upon on how one arrived at the answers. We would never allow this in the fire service or on the fireground!  Are you sure? Even firefighter entrance exams have employed this gradient.

I have always followed the tactic that the hoseline should be charged with water outside the fire area. Most would consider this a reasonably prudent operational directive and should not negatively impact on your extinguishment goal. The only rallying cry I hear against it becomes when the fire is above the first floor and you ask that the line be charged at ground level – translation- the line is heavy now.

So what happens if you stretch the hoseline correctly without service-interrupting kinks and call for water? And place your nozzle team inside the fire area while awaiting water? Is the operation wrong? Well no, it is only partially wrong if we follow the first rule. The problem with something that is only partially wrong is it may be just wrong enough to tip the scale in favor of getting you or others into real trouble.

So if we follow this stretch back a bit further and kink the hoseline severely enough to restrict water flow, but charge the line outside the fire area, we still have a stretching error. How wrong is this stretch? Once again, we have an error, but we also have a built in safety factor in that we have complied with rule one. If we do not fix the problem (kink), and enter (problem two) the fire area we could be facing real trouble.

Staying outside the fire area until we have a good water supply is the solution. Wait a minute, you never mentioned that a good water supply was needed! If we are to enter the fire area with a charged handline, we should know what caliber ammunition our hose stream possesses. Granted you will find out soon enough when your extinguishment is stalled.

We could stretch this new testing analogy further and get to the nitty gritty for some in the fire service; and ask what number of firefighters adds up to a sound engine crew. A recent study said four was a number that added up: A nozzle team is two firefighters; A nozzle team of one does not constitute a team. Your team of one does get partial credit but will probably only achieve partial operational effectiveness, however. To really make this crew operationally effective at a mixture of fire events, add two or three more firefighters until the magic answer is reached.

We also need a firefighter to assist with the line’s advance at a minimum unless of course our nozzle firefighter has worn that hat also. It is reality that firefighting operations don’t always add up, but we must at least try to get to the effective solution whenever we can to make our extinguishments, especially the challenging ones, add up to being tactically safe.

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Tactical Safety: Bleeding Control

The fire service’s weekly safety column

By: Ray McCormack

Tactical Safety examines the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate.

Bleeding Control

Surprise! Bleeding control is not about emergency medical care. It is however, the midpoint of an series of checks that should be performed by the hoseline attack team so that they lessen their need for future medical care, or worse. Bleeding control is about removing the entrained air contained within your hoseline. It is also about where and when to perform this vital operational component of fire attack.

Remember, it is the little things that lead us down the tunnel of trouble. There are no little things when getting the hoseline into proper service. The cornerstone of all successful fire attack operations is the role of the engine company: The type of attack, appliance or hoseline chosen must be correct, as well as having proper integration at the fire’s seat. The knowledgeable use of hoselines (management) is extremely critical because hoselines bring us inside the fire building.

This interior attack capability not only allows for the seat of the fire to be hit most directly, it also provides: egress protection, search orientation and a rescue path. If your fire attack normally starts with outside streams into the fire building through windows, then bleeding control is not a factor; nor is inadequate flow, because you were in an outside safe zone when you started. When that line eventually goes interior, you must compensate for your new environment by having adequate flow which creates your best effort interior safe zone. This is one example of the importance of fully understanding fire attack. Having a properly charged hoseline for interior work is about flow rate. Nozzle technique now becomes the crux of operational tactical safety when we advance through the interior. You will have to do a lot more than just aim at windows now.

An initial LODD report of a charged handline in operation was further clarified later to report that an uncharged handline was deployed inside the fire building. To understand why such an event might occur, we have to examine several factors and mindsets: First, where do you believe the attack line should be bleed?  To develop a sound understanding of when and where to perform this operational check, you must first understand protective building features. Private homes should be considered the fire area because they rarely provide safety barriers to an uncharged hoseline and its crew. The fire area is an area that either contains fire, or includes an area of extension that does not provide reasonable safety.

Single story homes should be assigned the rule that entry with an uncharged hoseline is unacceptable. Why be so rigid? This proclamation when followed will go a long way in providing tactical safety for a future crew. By always insisting that the hoseline be charged before entry we are doing all we can for ourselves and others. Taking a charged hoseline into every house develops a fire-smart mentality that provides the best safety insurance we can buy and optimizes our effectiveness against sudden fire development.

If we enter a two-story home and the fire appears above the first floor, shouldn’t we just charge the line on the second floor or the stairway?  When an engine company gets into trouble because they have a dry line, then we really have a problem. If your size up was incorrect and fire is below you, will have a charged line ready to handle that oversight. The role of the engine company is to raise the safety level on the fireground, not lower it.

Firefighters should not call themselves such if they cannot stretch a charged hoseline up a flight of stairs. Period! The effort expended to complete that task is not a viable excuse in the face of professionalism, and understanding the principle of being covered for unexpected fire events.

A variation of hoseline bleeding control occurs when we operate in code-compliant multifamily dwellings and within protected stairways. Buildings that contain fire-rated doors and hallways allow us to stretch dry hoseline closer to the point of operation. Private homes typically do not provide such protection.

Bleeding a hoseline is simple stuff really; it is the location you choose to do it in that becomes the critical element. Placing your attack team inside the belly of the beast is bad policy. The biggest problem is you don’t always know that you are already inside. Bleed then proceed - toward tactical safety.

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