NFPA1081 Standard Additional NFPA Standard

Inc ipie nt Indust ria l Fire B rigade M e mbe r NFP A 600 Standard on Industri al Fi re Bri gades
5.1.2.3 Respond to a facility emergency, gi ven the necessary equi pment and
facility response procedures, so that the team member arri ves i n a safe manner.
(A ) Requi site Knowl edge. Facility layout, special hazards, and emergency Knowledge Objectives
response procedures. After compl eti ng thi s chapter, you will be abl e to:
(B ) Requi site Skill s. The ability to recogni ze response hazards and to safel y use • Descri be your rol e i n ensuring safe and effi cient response to an emer
each pi ece of response equipment provi ded. gency scene.
• Descri be how to ri de an emergency vehi cl e safel y.
Adva nce E xte rior Indust ria l Fire B riga de Me mbe r • Descri be how to di smount an emergency vehi cl e safel y.
NFPA 1081 contains no Advanced Exteri or Industrial j ob performance requi re - • Descri be how to shut off utili ti es.
ments for thi s chapter. • Defi ne and descri be si ze -up.

Inte rior S truct ura l Indus t ria l Fire B riga de Me mbe r

7.2.1 ( A) Requi si te Knowl edge. Pri nci pl es of conducti ng i ni ti al fi re si ze -up;
Skills Objectives
pri nci pl es of fire streams; types, design, operati on, nozzl e pressure effects, and After compl eti ng thi s chapter, you will be abl e to perform the foll owi ng skill s;
flow capabiliti es of nozzl es; precauti ons to be foll owed when advancing hose li nes • Mount an apparatus safel y.
to a fire; observable resul ts that a fi re stream has been correctl y applied; dangerous • Di smount from an apparatus safel y.
buildi ng conditi ons created by fi re; princi ples of exposure protecti on; potenti al
long-term consequences of exposure to products of combusti on; physi cal states of • Transport equipment safel y.
matter i n whi ch fuel s are found; common types of acci dents or inj uri es and thei r
causes; and the appli cation of each si ze and type of handli nes, the rol e of the
backup team in fi re attack si tuati ons, attack and control tech ni ques, and exposi ng
hi dden fi res.
 Your fire brigade is dispatched to a report of fire in a building that processes chemicals. As you get
ready to respond to the scene, the emergency dispatcher indicates that she has re ceived several
alarm activations and two calls from employees reporting active fires burning inside the structure.
1. What should be some of your primary response concerns as you travel to the scene in the
first-due apparatus?
2. What should be your first actions as a fire b rigade member when you arrive on the scene?
3. What should be the key elements of your incident size-up?
4. What are your b asic fire-ground ob jectives for controlling the emergency?

observations made by indiv idual b rigade members will help

them anticipate necessary actions and provide brigade leaders
with needed informat ion.

Introduction Response
Trained brigade members must be ready to respond to an
Response involves a series of actions that begin when a crew emergency at any time during their tour of duty. This process
is d ispatched to an alarm and end with their arrival at the begins by ensuring that personal protecti ve equi pment
emergency incident. Response actions include receiv ing the (PPE) is co mp lete, ready fo r use, and in good cond it ion.
alarm, donn ing p rotect ive cloth ing and equip ment, mount - This includes checking that g loves, protect ive hood, and
ing the apparatus, and t ransport ing equ ip ment and personnel flashlight are ready for immed iate use. At the beg inning of
to the emergency incident quickly and safely . each tour of duty, place PPE in its designated location, which
Because brigade members must be ready to react imme- may be your ass igned rid ing pos it ion o n th e apparatus
diately to an alarm, p reparat ions for response should begin (►Figure 10-1).
even befo re the alarm is soun ded . These p rep arat ions Conduct an inspection of the self-contained breath ing
includ e checking personal equ ip ment, ensu ring the fire apparatus (SCBA) at the beginning of each tour of duty or
apparatus is ready, and making sure that all equ ip ment car- during drill days (►Figure 10-2). The air supply should be
ried on the apparatus is ready for use. Brigade members 90% of full pressure, the face piece clean, and the personal
should also be familiar with their response area, kno w the alert safety system (PASS) operable. Also check the avail-
build ings und er th eir p rot ect io n, and u nderstand their ability and operation of your hand light and any hand tools
brigade's standard operat ing procedu res (SOPs). you might require, based on your assigned posit ion on the
Response actions fo r the apparatus d river also include team (►Figure 10-3). Recheck personal protective equip-
considering road and traffic conditions, determin ing the best ment and too ls tho rough ly when y ou retu rn fro m each
route to the incident, identify ing nearby hydrant locat ions or response. This will help ensure that your gear and equ ip-
water sources, and select ing the best position for the appa- ment will be funct ional fo r the next alarm.
ratus at the incident scene.
Size-up is a systematic process of in formation gathering Alarm Receipt
and s ituat ion evaluat ion th at beg ins when an alarm is The emergency response process begins when an alarm is
received . Size -up cont inues du ring response and in cludes received by your dispatch center. Brigade members should
the in it ial observations made upon arrival at the incident be familiar with the d ispatch method or methods used by
scene. Size -up info rmat ion is essential fo r determin ing the their brigade. Brigades may be alerted by radio, pager, p lant
appropriate strategy and tactics for each situat ion and is alarm, o r so me other method.
ongoing throughout the ent ire incident.
The Industrial Fire Brigade Leader is ultimately responsible
for obtaining the necessary information to manage the emer-
gency incident. Each brigade member should also be involved
in the p rocess of gathering and processing in formation. The
 Response and Size -Up 271

(Figure 10-2) C onduct an inspection of your SC BA at the beginning of each

tour of duty.

( Figure 10 -1) Check y our PPE and plac e it in the designat ed location for y our
riding position or work area.

Rad io , telephone, or public add ress systems are o ften

used to transmit info rmat ion to fire brigades, and the use of
co mputer terminals and p rinters to t rans mit dispatch mes -
sages is increasing . So me fire brigad es may use outdoor ( Figure 10-3) Check the tools assigned to your riding position or function.
s irens o r ho rns to su mmo n b rig ade memb ers t o an
emergency.
Dispatch messages contain varying amounts of useful
in fo rmat io n , b ased on what th e d is pat ch er learns fro m
Brigade Member Tips
the caller. At a min imu m, the d ispatch in fo rmat ion will Volunteer brigade mem bers who are not assigned to specific tours of
include the location of the incident, the type of emergency duty or riding posit ions should check PPE, SC BA, and ass oci ated
(vehicle fire, structure fire, medical call), and the units that tools and equipment on a regular basis so that they are ready for use
are due to respond. Co mputer-aided d ispatch systems often whenever there is an emergency response. After each use, all PPE
provide add itional in formation about the building or prem- should be carefully checked before it is put aw ay.
ises on the d ispatch p rintout.
As addit ional in format ion beco mes available, the
teleco mmunicator will include it in d ispatch messages to
lat er-respond ing un its or adv ise the respond ing un its by
radio while they are en route. Each additional piece of infor - objective is to respond quickly, without injuring anyone or
mat ion can help responding b rigade members plan strate - causing any damage. Follow established procedures to ensure
gies and prepare themselves for the incident. that stoves, faucets, and other equip ment and app liances at
When an alarm is received , t he response shou ld be the station or work area are shut off or tended to by other
prompt and efficient. Responding brigade members should workers. Wait until the apparatus doors are fully open before
walk bris kly to the apparatus. Th ere is no need to run; the leaving the station.
272 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A N D P R A C T I C E

Mounting Apparatus

When m ounting (climbing aboard) fire apparatus, always hav e at Fasten your seatbelt and then don any other required safety equip-
least one hand firmly grasping a handhold and at least one foot firmly ment for response, such as hearing protection. Eye and face protec -
plac ed on a foot surface. M aint ain the one hand and one foot tion are required for seating areas that are not fully enclosed.
placem ent until you are seated.

Riding the Apparatus 2. Fasten you r seatbelt and th en don any other requ ired
Don PPE befo re mount in g th e apparatus. Do not att emp t to safety equipment fo r response, such as hearing protec-
dress wh ile the apparatus is on the road. Wait unt il you tion. Eye and face p rotection are required for seating
dismount at the incident scene to don any protective cloth ing areas that are not fully enclosed. (Step 2)
that is not donned prior to mount ing the apparatus. Don All brigade members must be seated in their assigned rid-
SCBA only after the apparatus stops at the scene, unless the ing positions with seatbelts and/or harnesses fastened before
SCBA is seat-mounted. the apparatus begins to move. To minimize the potential for
All equip ment should be properly mounted, stowed, or inju ry, brigade members should be in their seats, with
secured on the fire apparatus. Any unsecured equip ment in seat-belts secured, whenever the vehicle is in mot ion. Do not
the crew co mp art ment can be dangerous if the apparatus unbuckle a seatbelt to don any clothing or equip ment while
must stop or turn quickly. A fly ing tool, map book, or PPE the apparatus is en route to an incident.
can seriously in jure a b rigade member. The no ise p roduced by sirens and air horns can have
Be carefu l when mount ing and d is mounting apparatus. lo ng -t erm, d amag ing effects on you r hearing . If you r
The steps on fire apparatus are often h igh and can be s lip - brigade p rovides hearing protection for personnel rid ing on
pery. Follow the steps in (Skill Drill 10-1) to mount an fire apparatus, use it. These devices often include rad io and
apparatus properly. interco m capab ilit ies so that brigade members can talk to
1. When mounting (climb ing aboard ) fire apparatus, each other and hear in format ion fro m the d ispatcher o r
always have at least one hand firmly grasping a hand- Incident Co mmander (IC).
hold and at least one foot firmly p laced on a foot During transport, limit conversation to the exchange of
surface. Maintain the one hand and one foot p lace ment pertinent info rmat ion. Listen for instructions fro m the IC,
until you are seated. (Step 1) your b rig ade leader, and fo r add it ional in format ion abou t
 Response and Size-U p Z73

the incident over the radio. The veh icle operator's attention When a veh icle is in mot ion , ev ery one aboard must be
should be focused on d riv ing the apparatus safely to the seated and belted in an approved rid ing posit ion.
scene of the incident.
The ride to the incident is a good time to consider any Dis mou nting a Stopp ed Apparatus
relevant factors that could affect the situation. These factors When the apparatus arrives at the incident scene, the driver
could include the time of day or n ight, the temperatu re, the will park it in a location that is both safe and functional. Wait
presence of precipitation or wind, as well as the location and until the vehicle co mes to a comp lete stop before dismount -
type of incident. Using the time to think ahead will help you ing. Always check for traffic before opening doors or stepping
mentally prepare for various possibilities. out of the apparatus. During the dismount, watch fo r other
hazards, such as ice and snow, downed power lines, or haz-
Emergency R esponse ardous materials, that could be present.
The fire apparatus operator must always exercise caut ion Be carefu l when d is mount ing apparatus. The in creased
when d riv ing to an in cident . Fire apparatus can be very weight o f PPE and adv erse cond it ions can cont ribute to
large, heavy, and difficult to maneuver. Operat ing an emer- slips, st rains, and sprains. Use hand rails when moun t ing
gency veh icle without the proper regard fo r safety can o r d is mo u n t in g t h e ap p aratus . Fo llo w t h e s t eps in
endanger the lives of both the brigade members on the vehicle (►Skill Drill 10-2) to d ismount an apparatus safely.
and civ ilian d riv ers and ped estrians. A lt hough th e impu lse 1. Beco me familiar with your rid ing position and the
to respond as speedily as possible is understandable, nev er safest way to dismount. (Step 1)
co mp ro mise safety fo r a faster response t ime. 2. One hand should always be g rasping a handhold , and
Brigade members who drive emergency veh icles must one foot should always be placed firmly on a flat sur
have special driver training, be familiar with co mpany policy, face when leav ing the apparatus, especially on wet or
SOPs, and know the laws and regulat ions that app ly to potentially icy roadway surfaces. (Step 2)
emergency response. Many jurisdictions require a special
driver's license to operat e fire app aratus. The ru les that Traffic Safety on th e Scen e
apply to emergency vehicles are very specific, and the driver An emergency incident scene presents several risks to brigade
is legally responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle at members in addition to the hazards of fighting fires and per-
all times. forming other duties. One of these dangers is traffic, particularly
An emergency vehicle must always be operated with due when the incident scene is on a street or highway. Traffic safety
regard for the safety of everyone on the road. Although most should be a major concern for the first-arriving units because
states and provinces permit drivers of emergency vehicles to approaching drivers might not see emergency workers or realize
disregard specific t raffic regu lations when responding to how much room brigade members need to work safely.
emergency incidents, apparatus operators must consider the The first unit or un its to arrive at the incident scene have a
actions of other drivers before making such a decision. For dual responsibility . Not only must the brigade memb ers
example, traffic laws require other drivers to yield the right of focus on the emergency situation facing them, but they must
way to an emergency vehicle. There is no assurance, however, also consider approaching traffic, including other emergency
that other drivers will do so when an emergency vehicle vehicles, and other, less obvious hazards. Always check for
approaches. The apparatus driver must also anticipate what traffic before opening doors and dismounting from the appa-
routes other units responding to the same incident will take. ratus. Wat ch out fo r traffic wh en wo rking in the street.
Brigade members who respond to emergency incidents in Follo w depart mental SOPs to close streets quickly and to
personal vehicles must follo w the specific laws and regula- block access to areas where emergency operations are being
tions o f their state o r p rov ince and fo llo w d epart mental conducted.
SOPs and regulations. Brigade members driv ing their pri-
vately o wned vehicles to the p lant in response to an emer-
gency must follow all applicable state and local regulat ions. Brigade Member Safety Tips
Prohibite d Practic es • D o not attempt t o m ount or dis mount a moving v ehic le.
For safety, SOPs o ften proh ib it specific act ions du ring • Do not remov e your s eatbelt until the apparat us comes t o a
response. As not ed p rev ious ly , b rigad e memb ers must complete stop.
• Do not stand directly behind an apparat us that is back ing up.
remain seated with seatbelts securely fastened while the
Stand off to one side where the driv er can see y ou in the rear-view
emergency vehicle is in motion. Never unfasten your seatbelt mirror. All fire apparatus s hould hav e work ing, audible alarms when
to ret rieve or don equ ip ment . Do not d is mount the appara tus in reverse gear.
until the veh icle co mes to a co mp lete stop.
Never stand up wh ile rid ing on apparatus . Do not ho ld
on to the side of a moving veh icle o r stand on the rear step.
 274 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I GA D E : P R I N C I PL E S AND PR A C T I C E

Dismounting Apparatus

Become familiar with your riding position and the s afest way to Maintain the one hand and one foot placement when leaving the
dismount. apparatus, especially on wet or potentially icy roadw ay surfaces.

One of the most dangerous work areas for brigade mem- an apparatus comprise the crew assigned to that vehicle and
bers is on the scene of a highway incident, where traffic can take d irect ion fro m their brigade leader, who ensures that
be approaching at high speeds. Place traffic cones and other their actions coord inate with the overall p lan. A brigade
warn ing devices far enough away fro m the incident to slow member who arrives at the scene independent of an appara tus
approaching traffic and direct it away fro m the work area. All must report to the IC and receive an assignment to a
brigade members working at highway incidents should wear company o r crew under the supervision o f a brigade leader.
high-visibility safety vests, as well as their normal PPE. Many Brigade members who take act ion on their o wn, without
fire brigades have specific SOPs covering required safety regard to SOPs, the co mmand stru cture, o r th e st rateg ic
procedures for these incidents. plan, are freelancing. Th is type of activ ity, whether it is done
by indiv idual brigade members, groups of b rigade members,
Arrival at the Incident Scene or full co mpan ies, is unacceptable. Freelancing cannot be
tolerated at any emergency incident. The safety of every per-
Fro m the mo ment that brigade members arrive at an emer- son on the scene can be compro mised by b rigade memb ers
gency incident scene, SOPs and the structured incident man - who do not wo rk with in the system.
agement system must guide all act ions. Brigade members Brigade members should not respond to an emergency
should always work in assigned teams (companies or crews) incident scene unless they have been dispatched or have an
and be guided by a strategic p lan for the incident. Teamwork assigned duty to respond. Unassigned units and individual
and disciplined action are essential for the safety of all brigade personnel arriv ing on the scene can overload the IC's ability
members and the effective, efficient conduct of operations. to manage the incident effectively. Individuals who simp ly
The co mmand structure p lans, coo rdinates, and directs show up and find something to do are likely to comp ro mise
operat ions. Brigad e members respond ing to an incident on their o wn safety and create mo re problems for the co mmand
 Response and Size -Up
275

Teamwork Tips
Teamw ork is a hallm ark of effective fireground operations. Training and
teamw ork produce effectiv e, coordinated operations. Unassigned
individual efforts and freelancing c an dis rupt the opera tions and
endanger the liv es of both brigade m embers and civilians.

control o r p rocess valves is one of the important tasks that

brigade members may perform. Most brigades have written
SOPs that define when the u t ilit ies are to be shut o ff.
Although this responsibility is often assigned to a particu lar
company, crew or p lant maintenance utilit ies personnel, all
brigade members should know how to shut off an operat ing
area's electrical, gas, and water service. When shutting down
(Figure 10-4) There should be a designated location on the fire apparatus for utilities, brigade members must be aware of potential impacts
brigade members to deposit their PATs. to any plant or facility processes that may be operating and
must fo llo w facility lockout/tagout procedures.
There are several reasons to disconnect electrical and gas
utilities to a burning building or process area. If faulty electrical
staff. All personnel must operate within the established sys- equipment or a gas service caused the fire, shutting off the
tem, reporting to a designated supervisor under the direction supply will help alleviate the problem. Disconnecting electri-
of the IC. cal serv ice can also prevent problems such as short circuits
and electrical arcing that could result from fire or water dam-
Personnel Ac countability Sy ste m age. Shutting down gas service eliminates the potential for
A personnel accountability system should be used to t rack exp losion due to damaged, leaking , o r ruptured gas pip ing.
every brigade member at every incident scene. The system Controlling utilit ies is particularly impo rtant if brigade
maintains an updated list of the brigade memb ers assigned memb ers need to open walls or ceilings to look fo r fire in
to each vehicle or crew and tracks each crew's assignment at the void spaces, to cut ventilation holes in roofs, or to pene-
the fire scene. If any brigade members are reported missing, trate through floors. Because these spaces often contain both
lost, or in jured, the accountab ility system can identify who electrical lines and gas pipes, the danger of electrocution or
is missing and their last assignment. explosion exists unless these utilit ies are d isconnected.
Different fire brigades use various types of accountability For exa mp le, a brigade member using an axe to open a
systems. Consult your SOPs for mo re specific info rmat ion void space could be electrocuted if the tool contacts ener-
about the system that is being used and always follow the gized elect rical wires. Brigade members operat ing a hose
required procedures. could be injured if the water conducts electricity back to the
Many fire b rigades use a personnel accountability tag nozzle. Brigade members can als o be electrocuted by coming
(PAT) to track individual brigade members. An accountabil- in contact with wires that have been pu lled loose or exposed
ity tag generally includes the brigade member's name, ID by a structural collapse.
number, and photograph and may include add itional in for - Gas pipes in walls, ceilings, roofs, o r floors can also be
mat ion, such as an individual's med ical h istory, med ications, inadvertently damaged by brigade members. A po wer saw
allerg ies, and other factors. Brigade members who respond slicing th rough a gas p ipe can cause a rap id release o f gas
to an incident on an apparatus deposit their PATs in a desig - and create the potential fo r an exp losion. A structural co l-
nated location on the vehicle ( Figure 10-4). The PATs are lapse can ruptu re gas lines o r create leaks in the st ressed
then collected fro m each veh icle and taken to the co mmand Piping-Controlling utilities also allev iates the risk of an
post. Brigade members who respond direct ly to the scene additional fire or exp losion. Before any utility service is shut
must report to the co mmand post to receive an assign ment off, it should be coord inated with facility operat ions or
and deposit their PATs. maintenance personnel to prevent an upset condition that may
create another h azardous s ituat ion . Shutt ing o ff elect rical
Controlling Utilitie s service eliminates potential ignition sources that could cause
Controlling utilities is one of the first tasks that must be an explosion if leaking gas has accumulated. Shutting off the
accomp lished at many major event working fires. Operating gas supply will p revent any fu rther leakage. Th e electrical
Z7 G I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S AND P R A C T I C E

A utility co mpany rep resentative should be called to

interrupt po wer fro m a remo te locat ion , such as a ut ility
pole or substation . Th is may be necessary if the outside
wires have been damaged by fire, if brigade members are
working with ladders or aerial apparatus, or if an exp losion is
possible. In many facilities, qualified technicians are dis -
patched automatically to all working fires. So me utility co m-
panies can interrupt the serv ice to an ent ire p lant fro m a
remot e locat ion in response to a fire brigade request. Be
aware that emergency generato rs or other back-up power
sources may be feed ing power into a bu ild ing or area when
the main power sources are shut off.

Gas Service
Natural gas or liquefied propane (LP) gas are used for heating,
cooking, and industrial processes. Generally, natural gas is
(Figure 10 -5) The electric service usually has an exterior meter connected to delivered through a network of underground pipes. LP gas is
above-ground utility wires. usually delivered by a tank truck and stored in a container on
the premises. In so me areas, LP gas is d istributed fro m one
large storage tan k th rough a local netwo rk of underground
pipes to several facility build ings or process areas.
supply must be d isconnected at a location outside the area A single valve usually cont ro ls the natu ral gas supply to
where gas might be p resent. Interrupt ing the power at a a build ing, although large industrial build ings may have
remote location allev iates the ris k of an elect rical arc that several valves. This valve is generally located outside the
could cause a gas exp losion. building at the ent ry po int of the gas pip ing . Natural gas
If there is a serious water leak inside the bu ild ing, shut service has a distinctive pip ing arrangement. In older build -
off the water supply to prevent elect rical prob lems and to ings, the shut-off valve fo r a natu ral gas system may be in
help min imize add itional water damage to the structure and the basement.
contents. Shutting off the water supply to a fire -damaged The shut-off valve for a natural gas system is usually a
build ing is o ften necessary to control leaking p ipes, wh ich quarter-turn valve with a locking device so it can be secured
could cause mo re wat er damage th an the water that was in the off position (▼ Figure 10-6). When the handle is in line
used to fight the fire. with the pipe, the valve is open; when the handle is at a right
angle to the pipe, the valve is closed.
Electrical Service The valve for an LP gas system is usually located at the stor-
Electric delivery service arrangements depend on the pro- age tank. The more common type of LP gas valve, however, has
viding utility co mpany (which may be an in-plant generated
electrical service) and the age of. the system. The most com-
mon installation is a service drop fro m above-ground utility
wires to the electric meter, which is mounted on the outside of
the building ( Figure 10-5). Other electric sendee instal-
lat ions in clude underg round connect ions, ins ide meters,
and multip le services or separate electric meters for different
tenants or areas inside a bu ilding.
Fire brigades must work with their site maintenance ut il-
ity personnel to identify the d ifferent types of electric serv -
ices and arrangements used and the proper procedures for
dealing with each type. Often, a main disconnect switch can
be operated to interrupt the po wer. Most p lants will train
brigade members to identify and operate shut-off devices on
typical installations. Shutting off large systems that involve
high-voltage equip ment should be done by personnel quali-
fied to do so with the proper PPE.
Figure 1 0-6) A typical natural gas service includes a pressure-reducing
valve and a gas meter along with the shut-off valve.
 R es p o n s e a n d S i z e - U p 277

a distinctive handle that indicates the proper rotation direction

to open or close the valve. To shut off the flow of gas, rotate the Managing Information
handle to the fully closed position. The size -up process requires a systematic approach to man-
A gas valve that has been shut off must not be reopened aging information. Emergency incidents are often compli-
until the system p ip ing has been inspected by a qualified cated, chaotic, and rap idly changing. The IC must loo k at a
person. Air must be purged fro m the system and any pilot co mp licated situ at ion, ident ify th e key factors that app ly,
lights must be re-ign ited to prevent gas leaks. and develop an action p lan based on known facts, observa-
tions, realistic expectations, and certain assumptions. As the
Water Service operation unfo lds, the IC must continually rev ise, update,
Water service to a building can usually be shut off by clos ing supplement, and reprocess the size-up in format ion to ensure
one valve at the entry point. Many systems are piped to allow that the plan is still valid o r to ident ify when the p lan needs to
the water service to be turned off at the connection between be changed.
the utility p ipes and the build ing's system. Th is underground Size-up is based on two basic categories of information:
valve is outside the building and can be operated with a facts and probab ilit ies. Facts are dat a elements that are
special wrench or key. When shutting off water service, accurate and based on prior knowledge, a reliable source of
ensure that this will not effect the supply to the fire protection information, or an immediate, on-site observation. Probabilities
system. are factors that can be reasonably assumed, p redicted, or
expected to occur, but are not necessarily accurate.
Size-up Often, the init ial size-up is based on a limited amount of
factual information and a larger amount of probable info r-
Size-up is the process of evaluating an emergency situation to mat ion. It is refined as more factual information is obtained
determine what actions need to be taken. It is always the first and as probable informat ion is either confirmed or rev ised.
step in making p lans to bring the s ituat ion under cont rol. Effective size -up requires a co mb ination of train ing, experi-
The initial size-up of an incident is conducted when the first ence, and good judg ment.
unit arrives on the scene and determines the appropriate
actions for that unit or units. Conducting a 360-degree Facts
walk-around of the incident during the init ial size -up Facts are bits of accurate information obtained from various
provides a crucial b ig picture v iew and can reduce the chance sources. For example, the communications center will provide
of surprises as the event progresses. some facts about the incident during dispatch. A preincident
Init ial size -up is often conducted by the first-arriving plan will contain many facts about the structure. Maps, man-
brigade leader, who serves as the IC until a higher -ran king uals, and other references p rovide addit ional in formation.
officer arrives and assumes co mmand. The IC uses the size-up Plant or facility operat ions personnel should be ut ilized as
to develop an in it ial p lan and to set the stage fo r the actions early into the incident as possible to provide access condition
that follow. information that may affect firefighting operations. Individuals
As more co mplete and detailed info rmat ion beco mes with specific train ing, such as the building engineer or a utility
available, the IC will improve both the in itial size -up and the representative, can add specific information. A seasoned
init ial plan. At a major incident, the size -up process might brigade leader will build a bank of information based on expe-
continue through several stages. The ongoing size-up must rience, training, and direct observations.
consider the effect iveness of the in itial p lan, the impact The initial dispatch informat ion will contain facts such as
brigade members are having on the problem, and any chang- the location and nature o f the situat ion. The d ispatch info r-
ing circu mstances at the incident. mation could be very general ("a building repor ted on fir e in
Alt hough b rig ade lead ers usu ally p erform s ize -up , the v icinity of Central Shops") or very specific ("a smoke alarm
brigade members must understand how to fo rmu late an activation in room 3102 of the Chemical Process Building").
operat ional p lan , ho w to gather and process in format ion, The time of day, temperature, and weather conditions are
and ho w th is in fo rmat ion can ch ange p lans du ring the other factors that can easily be determined and incorporated
operation. If there is no brigade leader on the first arriv ing into the initial size -up. Based on these basic facts, a brigade
unit, a brigade member cou ld be responsible for assuming leader might have certain expectat ions about the incident.
co mmand and conduct ing the preliminary s ize -up unt il an For examp le, whether a building is likely to be occupied or
officer arrives. Ind ividual brigade members are often as ked unoccupied, whether processes are running , and whether
to obtain in format ion o r to repo rt their observat ions for traffic will delay the arrival o f add it ion al un its may be
ongoing size-up. Brigade memb ers should routinely make inferred fro m the time of day. Weather condit ions such as
observations during incidents to maintain their personal snow and ice will delay the arrival of fire apparatus, create
awareness of the situat ion and to develop their personal operat ional p rob lems with equ ip ment, and requ ire add i-
competence. tional b rigade members to perfo rm basic functions such as
 V" AOICES OF EXPERIENCE
call came in as a reported wall fire in the
south end of one of our warehouses."

W
systems.
hen responding to incidents, the industrial fire brigade may have several
advantages. The first is a better than average response time, and another
benefit is an intimate knowledge of the buildings and their fire protection

A call came in as a reported wall fire in the south end of one of our warehouses. As we
responded to this event, each of us knew exactly the location and potential hazards
associated with the warehouse. It was built pre-WWI, and its structural elements were
wood frame with metal sheeting on the exterior.
As the officer in charge, I responded with the command vehicle and was first on location.
Fire and smoke were visible fro m a louvered attic vent on the south side of the building.
I conducted a 360-degree walkaround of the building as part of my size-up. I reported
the situation to the incoming responding units and let them know that we had a wall
fire that had extended into the attic space and were commencing an offensive attack on
the fire. I passed command to the next incoming unit, and with one handline attacking
the fire at street level, another brigade member and I took a hand-line into the attic space
and started pulling the wall to get ahead of the fire and prevent it from spreading further.
We were successful and actually stopped the fire fro m spreading into the attic space
before it generated enough heat to fuse a sprinkler head.
We were successful because of our quick response time. We had water on this fire in
about three minutes. We conduct training with all of our local fire departments and are
integrated into the IMS system and communicate using the same terminology. This
relationship and pre-work aided tremendously in this response. While inside fighting fire
and communicating our actions to the IC, the incoming city brigade vented the roof and
provided support to our personnel fighting the fire.
As expressed, the industrial fire brigade needs to leverage very fast response times and
knowledge of their structures to operate efficiently and effectively. Our value to those
agencies is to minimize in juries, damage, and production interruption to the best of our
abilities. The warehouse fire is a great example of this.

Ran dy J. Krause
Boeing Fire Department
Seattle, Washington
 Respons e and Size -U p
279

Brigade Member Tips The occupancy of a building is also critical info rmat ion.
An apartment build ing, a cafeteria, maintenance garage, an
Maintenanc e pers onnel can often provide valuable information office build ing, a warehouse filled with concrete blocks, and
about a structure and its mec hanical systems. a chemical manufacturing plant all present br igade members
with d ifferent sets of prob lems that must be addressed.
The size of the fire and its locat ion with in the building
help det ermine hose line placement and v entilat ion sites.
stretching hose lines and raising ladders. St rong winds can The fire's locat ion is also crit ical in determin ing which
cause rapid extension o r spread o f a fire to exposed build - occupants are in immed iate need of rescue. For examp le,
ings. High heat and humid ity will affect b rigade members' someone directly above a burning o ffice should be rescued
performance and may cause heat casualt ies. immed iately , but a person at the opposite end o f the bu ild ing,
An experienced brigade leader will also have a basic far fro m the fire, is probab ly not in immed iate danger.
kno wledg e of th e facility and th e b rigad e's av ailab le Direct v isual observations will give the best info rmat ion
resources. The brigade leader may remember the types of about the size and location of a fire, part icularly when co m-
occupancies, construction characteristics of typical bu ild - bined with information about the building. Visible flames
ings, and specific in format ion about part icu lar bu ild ings ind icate where the fire is located and how intensely it is
fro m prev ious incidents or preincident p lanning v isits. burning but might not tell the who le story. Flames iss uing
A preinci dent plan can be especially helpfu l during fro m on ly one window suggest that the fire is confined to
size-up because it contains sign ificant in fo rmat ion about a that roo m, bu t it cou ld also b e sp read in g t hrough vo id
structu re. A p rein cident p lan gen erally p rov id es d etails spaces to other parts o f the build ing.
about a building's construction, layout, contents, special haz- Often, the location of a fire with in a building cannot be
ards, and fire p rotection systems. Chapter 22, Preincident determined fro m the exterior, part icularly when v isibility is
Plann ing, contains specific info rmat ion about the contents obscured by smoke ( ▼ Figure 10-7). An experienced brigade
and develop ment o f such p lans. member will observe where smo ke is visib le, ho w much and
Basic facts about a build ing's size, layout, construction,
and occupancy can often be observed upon arrival, if they
are not kno wn in advance. The b rigade lead er must con -
sider th e s ize, h eight , and const ruct ion o f th e bu ild ing
during the s ize -up . Th e act ion p lan fo r a s ing le -story ,
wood -frame tempo rary o ffice on an acre o f land will b e
quite different than that for a mu lt i-story chemical p rocess -
ing facility in the midd le of a large plant .
The age of the building is often an important consideration
in size-up because building and fire safety codes change over
time. Older wooden buildings may have balloon-frame con-
struction, which can provide a path for fire to spread rapidly
into uninvolved areas. Floor and roof systems in newer build -
ings use trusses for support, which are susceptible to early fail-
ure and co llapse. The weight of air condit ioning o r heat ing
units on the roof may also contribute to structural co llapse.
A plan for rescuing occupants and attacking a fire must
consider in formation about the building layout, such as the
number, locations, and construction of stairways. The plan
for a bu ild ing with an open stairway that connects several
floors might have keeping the fire out of the stairway as a
prio rity . Th is enab les brigade members to use the stairway
fo r rescue and p reven ts the fire fro m sp read ing to other
floors. Ladder placement, use o f aerial o r ground ladders,
and emergency exit routes all depend on the building layout.
Any special factors that will assist or hinder operat ions
must be identified du ring size-up. For examp le, bars on the
windo ws will limit access and co mp licate the rescue o f
trapped victims, but firewalls and sprinkler systems will help (Figure 10 -7) It can be difficult to determine the location and extent of the fire
to confine or ext inguish a fire. inside a building.
280 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S AND P R A C T I C E

what color it is, how it moves, and even how it smells. A the structure o r to other exposed buildings. Using these
burning pot of food, an overheated elect rical motor, or burn - probabilities, the IC can p redict what is likely to happen and
ing wood all have d istinctive odors. develop a plan to control the situation effectively.
Inside a bu ilding, brigade members can use their obser- The IC must also evaluate the potential for co llapse of a
vations and sensations to help them work safely and effec - burning structure. The build ing's construction, the location
tively. If s moke limits visibility, a crackling sound or the and intensity of the fire, and the length of time the structure
sensation of heat co ming fro m one d irect ion may indicate has been burning are all factors that must be considered. If
the seat of the fire, wh ich is the main area o f the fire. the possibility of collapse exists, ris k management dictates
Blistering paint and s moke seeping through cracks can lead that the IC order brigade members out of the building before it
brigade members to a hidden fire burn ing with in a wall. occurs.
Advanced technology, such as thermal imaging cameras, can
be even mo re effect ive in identifying h idden fires. Resources
The IC needs to gather as much factual informat ion as Resources include all o f the means that are availab le to fight a
possible about a fire. Because the IC o ften is located at a fire o r conduct emergency operations at any other type of
co mmand post outside the build ing , b rigade leaders are emergency incident. Resource requ irements depend on the
requested to report their observations fro m d ifferent loca- size and type of incident. Resource availab ility depends on
tions. A co mpany that is operating a hose line inside the the capacity of a fire brigade to deliver brigade members, fire
build ing can report on interior condit ions, while the ventila- apparatus, equ ip ment , wat er, and other items that can be
tion crew on the roof will have a different perspective. The used at the scene of an incident .
IC may request that a brigade leader o r a brigade member A fire brigade's basic resources are personnel and equip-
prepare a reconnaissance report. Th e reconnaissan ce ment. Firefighting resources are usually defined as the num-
report is the inspection and exp lorat ion of a specific area to bers of crews, equip ment, and command officers required to
gather info rmat ion for the IC. The IC assembles, interp rets, control a particu lar fire. An IC should be able to request the
and bases decisions on this informat ion. requ ired nu mb er o f crews and kno w that each un it will
Regular progress reports fro m co mpan ies working in d if - arrive with the approp riate equ ip ment and the necessary
ferent areas update information about the situation. Progress b rigad e memb ers to perfo rm a standard s et o f fun ct ions at
reports enable an IC to judge whether an operational plan is the emergency scene! The IC usually will have a good idea of
effect ive or needs to be changed. the number and types of crews availab le to respond, how they
are staffed and equipped , and ho w long th ey should take to
Probabilities arrive. This informat ion might have to be updated at the
Probabilities refer to events and outcomes that can be pre- incident, particularly in facilit ies served by volunteer brigade
dicted or anticipated, based on facts, observations, common members, because the nu mber of brigade members available
sense, and p rev ious exp eriences. Brigad e members fre - to respond may vary at d ifferent t imes.
quently use p robab ilit ies to ant icipate o r predict wh at is Water supply is another crit ical resource. Water supply
likely to happen in various situations. The attack plan is also is generally not a p rob lem in most p lants with brig ades.
based on probabilit ies, p redict ing where the fire is likely to Water supply cou ld limit operat ions in a p lant without
spread and ant icipat ing potential prob lems . hydrants or with a limited or malfunct ion ing water supply . It
An IC must be able to identify the probabilit ies that apply t akes t ime to est ab lish a water supp ly fro m a st at ic
to a given situation quickly. Fo r example, a late night fire in a source, and the amount o f water that can be delivered by a
warehouse that is on ly occasionally occup ied du ring the shuttle is limit ed . In th is s itu at ion , th e IC wou ld need to
night shift may involve occupants who need to be rescued. call fo r addit ional tan kers or engine co mpan ies with
Therefore, the IC would assign additional crews to search for large-d iameter hoses.
potential victims, even if no factual information indicates that Resources include more than brigade members, fire equip-
any occupants need to be rescued. Similarly, a fire burning on ment, and a water source. A fire in a flammable liquids storage
the top floor of a structure in a ro w of attached buildings has a facility will requ ire large quantit ies of foam and the
high probability of spreading to adjoining storage. In this equipment to apply it effectively. A hazardous materials inci-
case, the IC's plan would include opening the roof above the dent might require special monitoring equip ment, chemical
fire and sending crews into the exposed areas to check for fire protective clothing, and bulk supplies to neutralize or absorb
extension. a spilled product. A build ing collapse might require heavy
The concepts of convect ion, conduction , and rad iat ion equ ip ment to move d eb ris and a st ructu ral eng ineer to
enable an IC to predict how a fire will extend in a particu lar determine where brigade members can work safely. The fire
situation. By observing a part icular co mb inat ion of smo ke brigade must have these supp lies availab le o r be ab le to
and fire condit ions in a part icu lar type o f bu ild ing, the IC obtain them quickly when they are needed. Resources for a
can identify a range o f possibilities fo r fire extension within large-scale incident must in clude food and flu ids fo r the
 Response and Size -Up 281

rehydration of brigade members, fuel for the apparatus, and This system o f priorities clearly establishes that the highest
other supplies. priority in any emergency situation is saving lives. The
The size -up process enables the IC to determine what remain ing priorit ies involve saving p roperty. Making sure
resources will be needed to cont ro l the situat ion and to that the fire does not spread to any exposure (an area adja-
ensure their availability. An act ion p lan to contro l an incident cent to the fire that may beco me involved if not protected) is a
can be effective only if the necessary resources can be higher priority than confin ing the fire within the burn ing
assembled on a timely basis. If there is a delay, the IC must building. After the fire is confined, the next prio rity is to
anticipate how much the fire will g row and where it will extinguish it. The final priority is to protect property fro m
spread. If the desired resources cannot be obtained, the IC additional damage and make sure the fire is co mpletely out.
must develop a realistic plan using availab le resources to These p riorit ies are not separate and exclusive. One
gain eventual control of the situation . objective does not have to be acco mp lished before brigade
Ideally, a fire b rigade will be ab le to dispatch enough members tackle the next one. Often, more than one objec tive
brigade members and equip ment to contro l any situat ion can be addressed simu ltaneously, and certain act ivit ies help
with in its jurisd ict ion . Most brig ades have mutu al aid ach ieve mo re than on e ob ject ive. Fo r examp le, if a d irect
agreements with surrounding ju risdictions to assist each attack on the fire will b ring it under cont ro l v ery quickly, the
other if a situation requires mo re resources than the plant objectives of protecting exposures, confining the fire, and
brigade or local co mmun ity can prov ide. In some areas, extinguishing the fire might all be acco mplished together.
hundreds of brigade members or mun icipal fire fighters and Extinguishing the fire might also be the best way to protect the
equip ment can be assembled fo r a large-scale incident. In lives of bu ild ing occupants. Frequently, salvage crews may be
more remote areas, the resources available to fight a fire can working on lower floors while fire suppression crews are still
be very limited. attacking a fire on an upper floor.
If resources are insufficient or delayed, a fire can become These priorities guide the IC in making difficult decisions,
too large to be controlled by availab le personnel. Fo r example, particularly if not enough resources are available to address
if only 20 brigade members and two apparatus are available, every priority. If the decision is between saving lives and sav-
they will have to bring the fire under control before it gets too ing property, saving lives always comes first. After rescue is
big or wait until the fire burns itself down to a manageable completed and if the fire is still spreading, the IC should place
size. exposure protection ahead of salvage and overhaul.
Resources must be organized to support efficient emer- A similar set of priorities can be established for any emer-
gency operat ions. Brigade members must be prop erly gency situation. Saving lives is always mo re important than
equipped and o rgan ized in crews. Equ ip ment and pro ce- protecting property. The IC must always place a higher p ri-
dures must be standardized . The incident management sys - ority on bringing the prob lem under contro l than on clean ing
tem must be designed to manage all of the resources that up after the prob lem.
could be used at a large-scale incident, and the co mmunica-
tions system must enable the IC to coordinate operat ions Rescue
effectively. Protecting lives is the first consideration at a fire or any other
emergency incident. The need for rescue depends on many
Incident Action Plan circu mstances. The number of people in danger varies based
on the type of occupancy and the time of day. A commercial
The IC develops an in cident act ion p lan that out lines the build ing that is cro wded during th e workd ay might have
steps needed to contro l the s ituat ion. The incident act ion few, if any, occupants at night.
plan is based on informat ion gathered during size-up. The The degree of risk to the lives of occupants must also be
init ial IC develops a basic plan for beg inning operat ions. If evaluated. A fire that involves one office on the 10th floor of a
the situat ion exp ands or b eco mes mo re co mp licated , th is mu lti-story building could threaten the lives of the occupants
plan is revised and expanded as addit ional in formation is of that floor and those directly above the fire. However, work-
obtained, mo re resources become available, and the incident ers below the fire are probably not in any danger, and workers
management structure g rows. several floors above the fire might be safer staying in their
The incident act ion p lan shou ld be b ased on the five office until the fire is extinguished, instead of walking down
basic fireground objectives. In order of priority these objec- smoke-filled stairways.
tives are: Often, the best way to protect lives is to extinguish the fire
1. Rescue any victims. quickly, so efforts to control the fire are usually initiated at the
2. Protect exposures. same time as rescue. Hose lines may have to be used to protect
3. Confine the fire. exit paths and keep the fire away from victims during
4. Extinguish the fire. search-and-rescue operations. The chapter on search and
5. Salvage property and overhaul the fire. rescue discusses specific tactics and techniques for these
operations.
282 I N D U S T R I A L F I R E B R I G A D E : P R I N C I P L E S A N D P R A C T I C E

Exposure Protection progress is being made, the IC must either ad just the tactics or
alter the overall strategy. For examp le, the fire may pro duce
Wit h in th e secon dary ob ject ive o f p rotect ing property ,
mo re heat than the water fro m hose lines can absorb or
there are mu lt ip le p rio rit ies. The first p riority in p rotect ing
brigade members may be unab le to penetrate far enough to
property is to keep the fire fro m spread ing beyond the area
make a d irect attack on the fire.
o f o rig in o r in vo lvemen t when th e fire b rig ad e arrives.
So met imes the p rob lem can b e reso lved by add ing
The IC must start by making sure the fire is not expand ing.
resources and intensifying the offensive attack. Larger hose
If the fire is burn ing in on ly one roo m, the o b ject iv e sho u ld
lines or mo re b rigade members with addit ional hose lines
b e to ensu re th at it do es n ot sp read beyon d th at roo m. If
might be able to extinguish the fire successfully. Coordinating
mo re t h an o ne roo m is in vo lv ed , the ob ject ive might be
ventilation with an offens ive attack might enable brigade
to cont ain th e fire to one area o r one floor lev el.
members to get close enough to ext inguish the fire. Special
So met imes the ob ject ive is to con fine the fire to one
extinguishing agents may be used to ext inguish the fire.
build ing, part icularly if mu lt ip le bu ild ings are attached o r
When the fire is too large or too dangerous to ext inguish
closely spaced .
with an o ffensive attack, the IC will imp lement a defensive
The IC has to look ahead o f the fire and identify a p lace to
attack. In these situations, all brigade members are ordered
stop its spread. If flames are ext ending quickly through the
out of the bu ilding, and heavy streams are operated fro m
lo ft in a mill construct ion bu ild ing, the IC will p lace crews
outside the fire bu ild ing. A defensive strategy is required
with hose lines ahead o f the fire to stop its p rogress.
when the IC determines that the risk to b rigade members'
The IC must so metimes weigh potential losses when
lives is excessive, as in situations where structural collapse is
deciding where to attack a fire. If a fire in a vacant build ing
possible. The IC who adopts a defensive strategy has deter-
threatens to spread to an adjacent occupied build ing, the IC
mined that there is no property left to save or that the potential
will usually assign crews to p rotect the exposure before
for saving property does not justify the risk to brigade
attacking the main body of fire. If, however, a fire in an
members. So met imes a defensive strategy is effective in
occup ied bu ild ing cou ld sp read to a vacant bu ild ing , the
extinguishing the fire; at other times, it simp ly keeps the fire
IC's decision might be to attack the fire first and address
fro m spreading to exposed properties (► Figure 10-8).
controlling the spread later.
There are situations in wh ich all brigade members are
Confinement withdrawn fro m the area and the fire is allo wed to burn itself
out. These situations generally involve potentially exp losive
A ft er ensu ring th at the fire is no t extend in g in to any
or h azardous materials t hat pose an ext reme dang er to
exposed areas, the IC will focus on confining it to a specific
brigade members.
area. The IC will define a perimeter and p lan operat ions so
that the fire does not expand beyond that area. Brigade Salvage and Overhaul
members on the perimeter must be alert to any ind icat ions Salvage operations are conducted to save property by pre-
that the fire is extend ing.
venting avoidable property losses. Salvage is the removal or
Thermal i maging devi ces are electron ic cameras th at
protection of property that could be damaged during
can detect sources of heat. They are valuab le tools fo r find ing
fire-fighting or overhaul operations (►Figure 10-9). Salvage
fires in vo id spaces. The principles and use of thermal
operations are often aimed at reducing smo ke and water
imag ing dev ices are cov ered more fu lly in Ch apter 13,
damage to the structure and contents once the fire is under
Search and Rescue.
control. The overhaul process is conducted after a fire is
Extinguishment under control to co mp let ely ext ingu ish any remaining
pockets o f fire (► Figure 10-10). The IC is responsible for
Depending on the size o f the fire and the risk invo lved, the IC
ensuring that the fire is co mp letely ext inguished before
will mount either an offensive attack or a defensive strategy to
terminat ing operations. Floors, walls, ceilings, and attic
ext inguish a fire. An offensi ve attack is used with most
spaces should be checked for signs of heat, smoke, or fire.
small fires. Brigade memb ers advance on or into the fire
Window casings, wooden door jambs, baseboards, elect rical
area with hose lines or other extinguishing agents and
outlets, and heat ing/air condit ioning vents can often hide
overpower the fire. If the fire is not too large and the attacking
small, s mo ldering fires. Debris fro m the burned contents of
brigade members can apply enough ext inguishing agent, the
the structure should be removed and thorough ly doused to
fire can usually be ext inguished quickly and efficiently.
reduce th e potent ial for rekindle , o r a reignit ion of th e fire.
Extinguishing the fire in this way often resolves several pri-
For large fires, fire brigade personnel may be assigned as a fire
orit ies at the same t ime, including exposure p rotection and
watch or a fire brigade crew may be assigned to return to the
confinement.
scene every few hours to check fo r ind icat ions of residual
At regular intervals during an o ffensive attack, the IC
fire. These operations are covered in depth in Chapter 19,
mu s t ev aluate th e p rog ress b eing mad e. If n ot en oug h
Salvage and Overhaul.
 Response and Size -Up 283

( Figure 10 -lT) A defensive strategy involves an exterior fire attack with

heavy streams that emphasiz es protecting the exposures to the fire building.

( Figure 10 -10 ) Overhaul is conducted after a fire is under control to

completely extinguish any remaining pockets of fire.

(Figure 10-9) Salv age operations are conducted to save property by

preventing avoidable property losses.
• Preparat ions f or an em ergency res pons e begin long bef ore an Balloon-frame construction An older style of wood-frame
alarm is rec eiv ed. Eac h brigade m ember m ust ens ure that all construct ion in w hic h the w all st uds ext end vertic ally from the base -
pers onal prot ectiv e equipm ent, apparat us, and tools are ready f or m ent t o t he roof w it hout any f ire st ops. Defe nsive attack Ex t erior
res pons e. Adhering to s im ple procedures enables crews t o arrive fire s uppres s ion operat ions direc t ed at prot ecting ex posures.
Exposu re Any pers on or property t hat m ay be endangered by
at an em ergency quickly and saf ely.
flames, sm ok e, gas es, heat, or runoff from a fire. Extensi on F ire that
• Siz e-up is the ongoing ment al ev aluation of an em ergency sit ua m ov es int o areas not originally inv olv ed, including w alls, c eilings,
tion. T he siz e-up proc ess begins w hen inform ation about an and attic s pac es; als o the movem ent of fire int o uninvolv ed areas of a
em ergency incident is rec eiv ed. Size -up inv olv es bot h an ev alua structure. Fre ela nci ng D angerous pract ic e of act ing
independent ly of c omm and instructions.
tion of t he k now n f acts of t he sit uation, inc luding the incident
Offe ns ive atta ck A n adv anc e int o t he f ire building by brigade
loc ation, time, weat her, type of struct ure, ex pos ures, av ailable mem bers wit h hos e lines or ot her extinguis hing agents t o ov erpow er
res ources, and lif e haz ard, and a cons ideration of any probabili the fire.
ties t hat could alt er the sit uation. Ove rha ul Ex am ination of all areas of t he building and c ont ent s
• Brigade m em bers m ust underst and the need t o rec eiv e dispatch inv olved in a fire t o ens ure t hat the fire is c om plet ely extinguis hed.
Personal alert safety s ystem (PASS) Device worn b y a
inf orm ation properly. brigade m ember that s ounds an alarm if the brigade m em ber is
• As a brigade m em ber, y our job is to res pond s afely t o a s cene. m otionless f or a period of time.
Follow y our brigade's SOPs w hen riding in apparat us t o the Persona l pr otective e quipme nt (PPE) Gea r worn b y
scene. brigade m embers t hat inc ludes helmet, glov es, hood, c oat, pants,
SC BA, and boots. T he personal prot ective equi pm ent provides a
• Caref ully mount and dis m ount all apparatus. therm al barrier against int ense heat. Personne l accounta bility
system A method of tracking the identity, ass ignm ent, and
• Be aw are of your surroundings at all tim es, es pecially w hen loc ation of brigade mem bers operating at an incident scene.
res ponding t o an incident on the highw ay. Mot orists might be Personnel accountability tag (PAT) Identification card used
dist racted and not s ee you in t he road. to track the location of a brigade mem ber on an emergency inc ident.
Pre i nci d e nt pl an A w rit t en doc um ent res ult ing f rom t he
• All inf orm ation receiv ed at the com m unic ation c ent er m ust be
gat hering of general and det ailed inf ormat ion t o be us ed by public
relay ed to fire brigade units. W hat may seem insignif icant to t he em ergency res pons e agenc ies and privat e industry f or det ermining
dis patcher may be essential t o the incident c om mander. the res pons e t o reas onable anticipat ed emergenc y incident s at a
specific fac ilit y.
• Siz e-up is critic al to t he s ucc essf ul outc ome of an em ergency
Rec o n naiss anc e re p ort T he ins pec tion and ex plorat ion of a
incident. s pec if ic area in order t o gat her inf orm at ion f or t he incident
• The incident action plan s hould be based on the fiv e basic c om m ander.
fireground objectiv es: Rekin dle A sit uat ion w here a f ire, w hic h w as t hought t o be c om -
plet ely extinguis hed, reignites.
- Resc ue any v ictims. Resp onse Ac tivit ies t hat occ ur in preparat ion f or an em ergency and
continue until t he arriv al of em ergency apparat us at the sc ene.
- Protect expos ures. Salvage R em oving or prot ect ing propert y t hat c ould be dam aged
- Confine t he fire. during firefighting or ov erhaul operations. Seat of t he fi re T he m ain
area of t he fire origin. Size-up T he ongoing obs erv at ion and
- Extinguish t he fire. ev aluation of fact ors t hat are us ed t o dev elop object ives, strat egy, and
- Salv age property and ov erhaul the fire. tactics for fire suppress ion. T he r mal i ma g i n g d ev ice s Elec t ronic
dev ic es t hat det ec t differenc es in temperat ure bas ed on infrared
energy and t hen generat e im ages bas ed on t hos e dat a. C om m only
us ed in obsc ured environm ent s to loc at e vict ims.
 Yo u a re dis patc he d as a me mb er of the p ers o n nel a cc o mpa nyi n g t he fi rst - du e
appa ratus t o a ve hicle fir e lo cated i nsi de a mainte na nce sh o p. Y ou are ridi n g i n
the ba ck ju mp seat of th e a p pa rat us a n d wi ll mo r e t ha n like ly be as si g ne d t o
de pl oy a n attack l i ne u po n y o ur ar riva l at t he sce ne.
3. Upon arriv al at the sc ene, the incident c om m ander (I C)
is m et by an earlier-arriving f ire brigade leader, w ho
1. W hic h of t he following actions is not correct regard prov ides t he IC w ith a rec onnaiss anc e report. W hat is
ing y our res pons e inside the apparat us ? the purpos e of t he "rec on report"?
A. Retriev e y our bunk er gear and don it while en route A. The rec on report provides inf orm ation regarding
to the sc ene. past res ponses to t he f ac ility.
B. Don an SCBA after the apparat us stops at the B. The rec on report provides inf orm ation f rom an
scene unless the SC BA is s eat mounted. act ual ins pection and exploration of t he area of
C. Alw ays w ear y our seat belt w hile riding in a m ov conc ern.
ing apparatus. C. The rec on report provides inf orm ation given by
D. During the res pons e, limit y our c onv ers ation t o the witness es in the area.
exc hange of pertinent inf orm ation. D. The rec on report provides inf orm ation f rom t he
prefire planning.

2. Your brigade's standard operating proc edures (SOPs)

require the use of a pers onnel acc ount ability syst em at 4. Upon arriv al, t he I C im plem ents a basic incident
ev ery sc ene. What is t he prim ary purpose of a pers on action plan bas ed on t he five m ajor fire -ground objec
nel acc ount ability syst em? tives. W hat are t hos e object iv es, in order?
A. The syst em is us ed to identify w ho is res pons ible A. Resc ue victims, protect expos ures, c onf ine the fire,
for any mist ak es. extinguis h the fire, conduct s alv age and overhaul.
B. The syst em is us ed to trac k only the loc ation of t he B. Resc ue victims, extinguis h t he fire, c ontrol t he
attack team. utilities, c heck for extens ion, c onduct salv age and
C. The syst em is us ed t o track every brigade m ember overhaul.
at ev ery inc ident scene. C. Confine t he fire, res cue victims, establish a w ater
supply, extinguis h t he fire, c onduct v entilation.
D. The s yst em is us ed t o indic at e w ho is in c harge of
the incident. D. Res cue v ictims, establis h a w ater s upply, c onduct
ventilation, extinguish t he fire, c onduct salv age and
overhaul.
 Yo u a re dis patc he d as a me mb er of the p ers o n nel a cc o mpa nyi n g t he fi rst - du e
appa ratus t o a ve hicle fir e lo cated i nsi de a mainte na nce sh o p. Y ou are ridi n g i n
the back j u mp seat of t he a p par atus a nd wi ll mo re tha n like ly be assi g ne d t o
de pl oy a n attack l i ne u po n y o ur ar riva l at t he sce ne.
1. W hic h of t he
following actions is
no?c orrect regard
ing y our res pons e 3. Upon arriv al at the sc ene, the incident c om m ander (I C)
ins ide t he apparatus? is m et by an earlier-arriving f ire brigade leader, who
prov ides t he IC w ith a rec onnaiss anc e report. W hat is
A. Retriev e y our bunk er gear and don it while en route
the purpos e of t he "rec on report"?
to the sc ene.
A. The rec on report provides inf orm ation regarding
B. Don an SCBA after the apparat us stops at the
past res ponses to t he f ac ility.
scene unless the SC BA is s eat mounted.
B. The rec on report provides inf orm ation f rom an
C. Alw ays w ear y our seat belt w hile riding in a m ov
act ual ins pection and exploration of t he area of
ing apparatus.
conc ern.
D. During the res pons e, limit y our c onv ers ation t o the
C. The rec on report provides inf orm ation given by
exc hange of pertinent inf orm ation.
witness es in the area.
D. The rec on report provides inf orm ation f rom t he
2. Your brigade's standard operating proc edures (SOPs) prefire planning.
require the use of a pers onnel acc ount ability syst em at
ev ery sc ene. What is t he prim ary purpose of a pers on
nel acc ount ability syst em? 4. Upon arriv al, t he I C im plem ents a basic incident
action plan bas ed on t he five m ajor fire -ground objec
A. The syst em is us ed to identify w ho is res pons ible
tives. W hat are t hos e object iv es, in order?
for any mist ak es.
A. Resc ue victims, protect expos ures, c onf ine the fire,
B. The syst em is us ed to trac k only the loc ation of t he
extinguis h the fire, conduct s alv age and overhaul.
attack team.
B. Resc ue victims, extinguis h t he fire, c ontrol t he
C. The syst em is us ed t o track every brigade m ember
utilities, c heck for ext ension, c onduct s alv age and
at ev ery inc ident scene.
overhaul.
D. The syst em is us ed to indic at e w ho is in c harge of
C. Confine t he fire, res cue victims, establish a w ater
the incident.
supply, extinguis h t he fire, c onduct v entilation.
D. Res cue v ictims, establis h a w ater s upply, c onduct
ventilation, extinguish t he fire, c onduct salv age and
overhaul.