April 2008

By: Firefighter Patrick MacKay 

            The fire service has traditionally held a history of being reactive and resistant to change.  It is often said that the first unit to arrive on the scene of an incident, sets the tone for how the incident will play out.  When you examine post-incident analysis reports, more often than not, the first unit makes or breaks the operational performance.  This article will identify some actions and behaviors that are proactive and may require a change in the way initial operations are currently done. However, these proactive actions and changes will enhance companies’ operational performance and overall fireground operations.

            ‘Automatic Fire alarms’  How often do we respond to these incidents?  A fairly frequent occurrence that usually ends up with the same results, a good intent call.  Due to the infrequency of fire alarms turning into working incidents, complacency often gets the best of us and we are not prepared for the instance when it becomes a working incident.  While enroute to fire alarms, engine company officers should identify a water supply and communicate this with the chauffer.  If the company takes its own water, the chauffer should do more than sit in the rig.  Get out and hook up to the hydrant, this accomplishes a couple things.  It ensures the hydrant is operational, allows the chauffer to see how much pressure is coming off the hydrant, and most importantly a water supply is established if the event becomes a working incident.  Ladder company placement on fire alarms should mirror positioning as if it were a fire.  The chauffer of the ladder company should stabilize the rig and place the aerial to the building.  This provides the chauffer the added experience of operating the aerial in a real world setting.  In the event of a working incident that requires use of the aerial, the ladder chauffer will likely perform with a higher level of competence.  Another trend I have witnessed recently, is the failure of companies to don their PPE for fire alarms.  This may work on 8 out of 10 responses that turn out to be good intents, however when it’s “game time” and your company has to be reactive donning their gear upon arrival, chances are you’ll be playing catch-up for the rest of the incident.

            ‘Putting Hose In The Street’  It seems like a fairly simple concept, right?  Yet time and time again, companies fail to perform such a simple task.  The only reason I can come up with is pure laziness.  Laziness is not a trait firemen should exhibit and can only lead to negative consequences.  Engine companies should be laying out supply line or securing their own water supply for a variety of incidents, whether they have nothing showing or it’s an obvious working fire.  Some of these incidents include gas leaks(inside and outside), chimney fires, appliance fires, odor of smoke in a building, house or building fires, and hazardous materials emergencies.  This is taking a proactive approach and will prevent companies from playing catch-up.  Many post incident reports identify water supply issues as a critical factor in determining the outcome of an incident.  If your company puts hose in the street consistently for the above listed incident types, chances are you will be prepared when it’s “the real deal.”

            ‘Stretching Attack Lines’  This is another simple task that can make or break a company and have direct influence on the outcome of an incident.  Good engine companies can make “the stretch” almost flawlessly and this is generally because of practice and being very familiar with the capabilities of your attack lines.  Too often I have come across officers and companies with the mindset that attack lines do not come off the rig unless you arrive to an obvious working fire.  The excuses given for why the hose doesn’t come off vary from “How do you know if you’re at the right location?”  “It takes too long to put the hose back on the rig if we don’t really need it.”   I believe these to be invalid, good companies are capable of adapting and overcoming should they stretch to the wrong location and good companies can surely repack their attack lines in a timely manner.  Stretching attack lines to all reported house or building fires, chimney fires, appliance fires, and odor of smoke in a building incidents will go a long way for engine companies.  The more times a company stretches in a real world setting, the more proficient and competent they will be.  The quicker a company places an attack line in service, the quicker the problem [the fire] goes away.  Not too difficult of a concept to understand, right?

            These are just a few, simple examples of how companies can ensure they are being proactive.  Remember if you are dispatched for a reported fire expect there to be a fire.  Be proactive, do the job that the citizens expect.  These small changes will provide practice and safety for your company.  You will see improvement in your companies operation with its speed and efficiency.  The fire service is very dynamic, and we as firemen should recognize this and be dynamic as well.  The main point I hope to have illustrated is that doing things the right way every time allows to companies to operate in a more proactive, operationally effective manner.  Stay Safe!