Firefighters Support Foundation Where’s the Cavalry? Initial Management of a Structure Fire with Limited Manpower v1.0

About FSF The Firefighters Support Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose primary mission is to develop, produce and distribute training programs to firefighters, EMTs, Search & Rescue personnel, and Emergency Management professionals. All of our programs are distributed free of charge. 2Where's The Calvary?

Permission Permission is granted to reproduce or distribute this material so long as the Firefighters Support Foundation is credited as the source 3Where's The Calvary?

Accompanying Video This PowerPoint presentation accompanies the video presentation of the same title. 4Where's The Calvary?

Presenter Fire Chief Scott Alderman has been in the fire service for 23 years. Chief Alderman originally started as a volunteer firefighter with Piney Grove Fire Department in He was appointed Chief of Lewisville Fire Department in Chief Alderman has served as President of the Forsyth County Fire and Rescue Association, Piedmont N.C. Firefighters Association, and N.C. State Firemen’s Association. He is a member of the North Carolina International Association of Arson Investigators (NCIAAI), and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). He holds an Associate’s degree in Applied Science from Guilford Technical Community College and a Bachelors of Science degree in Fire Safety Engineering from UNC-Charlotte. He also graduated from the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy. Scott lives in Lewisville, N.C. with his wife Sharon and their three children, Kristen, Kayla and Chase 5Where's The Calvary?

Who is this class for? Is your department a volunteer / combination department? Do you respond to structure fires in your first in response area not knowing how much or when help will show up? What do you do when you roll up on a working house fire with just you or another fellow firefighter on the truck? Where's The Calvary?6

The Issues Commonly volunteer / combination departments find themselves arriving on the scene of a working fire quicker and with limited manpower to perform firefighting duties. Jobs, family, time of day and other commitments impact a volunteer’s availability to respond to an incident. The economic climate has led many communities to impose hiring freezes or reduce staffing when someone is off. Where's The Calvary?7

Purpose In this course we will discuss firefighting tactics in low manpower situations, OSHA’s two- in/two-out rule and combative command. Essential skills that can help keep you safe, and initiate an effective fire ground operation while the Calvary is on the way. Where's The Calvary?8

Types of Fire Departments Majority of the nations fire departments are Volunteer or Combination type departments, responding with only one or two firefighters initially from the fire station. Where's The Calvary?9

Types of U.S. FDs Source: NFPA Fire Service Inventory, and 2011 NFPA Survey of Fire Departments. Type of department is broken into four categories. All career departments are comprised of 100% career firefighters. Mostly career is comprised of 51 to 99% career firefighters, while mostly volunteer is comprised of 1 to 50% career firefighters. All volunteer departments are comprised of 100% volunteer firefighters. 10Where's The Calvary?

What about your department? How many firefighters are responding on your first out truck? Does the time of day affect the number of firefighters your department puts on the scene? Where's The Calvary?11

OSHA Two-In/Two-Out Rule – Respiratory Regulation Two or more fire fighters must always be sent in together and remain in visual or voice contact with one another at all times At least two standby personnel must be located outside the fire area Where's The Calvary?12

OSHA Two-In,/Two-Out Rule (2) The “two in/two out” requirement does not take effect until fire fighters begin to perform interior structural fire fighting. Where's The Calvary?13

OSHA Two-In/Two-Out Rule (3) While the fire is in the incipient stage (as determined by the incident commander or other person in charge), or when emergency rescue operations are required before the entire team has assembled, the standard does not require two-member teams inside and outside the structure. Where's The Calvary?14

Two-In/Two-Out Rule Application You need to learn how OSHA applies to your department Application to volunteer personnel (municipal/county department or non-profit department) depends on the department and how they treat their volunteers, (i.e. stipends, pay for calls/trainings, etc.) Seek advice from the State Labor Department and Legal Counsel Where's The Calvary?15

NFPA 1500 Chapter 8 – Emergency Operations Operate in crews of two or more One member permitted to engage in another activity such as IC, apparatus operator, provided communication is maintained with interior crew Task should not be assigned if abandoning to assist or perform a rescue jeopardizes any firefighter Where's The Calvary?16

NFPA 1500 Application Adopted by Authority Having Jurisdiction They are Industry Standards Where's The Calvary?17

Modern Fire Behavior Underwriters Laboratories has performed extensive testing on fire behavior in modern homes. See UL’s website for additional information. UL research has determined that structure fires today can increase in temperature from 250 degrees to 1500 degrees in as little as 10 seconds Where's The Calvary?18

Fire Growth Where's The Calvary?19

Thoughts While Responding Where is the incident location, as it relates to the next in apparatus? Where is the closest water supply and what type is it? Do you have access to the scene, with traditional fire trucks? Are there enough resources responding? Where's The Calvary?20

IIDEAL - I Use the Acronym (IDEAL) (I)Identify arriving units (Engine 1) Where's The Calvary?21

IDEAL - D (D)Describe what you see (height, type of construction, occupancy, smoke/fire conditions) MVA’s (# of vehicles, minor/moderate/major damage, # of patients) Where's The Calvary?22

IDEAL - E (E)Explain what you intend to do (offensive, defensive attack) Where's The Calvary?23

IDEAL - A (A)Assume command (Formal or Combative) Where's The Calvary?24

IDEAL - L (L)Let incoming units know what you want them to do (Assignments) Where's The Calvary?25

On The Scene Speak to owners, witnesses, etc. Walk around the structure (360) Control the utilities if possible – Gas (natural or propane), power, etc. Is there anything visible thru doors or windows, or do you hear anything to indicate a rescue situation? Where's The Calvary?26

One The Scene (2) Confirm the location of the fire Building construction (1900’s versus 2000’s) If you determine a rescue is needed: vent, enter and search throw a ladder Stretch lines, consider exterior attack. Where's The Calvary?27

Transitional Attack Knock fire down from exterior Once manpower is available, move from an exterior operation to an interior operation Upper floors: throw a ground ladder and attack Straight stream and fog stream? Where's The Calvary?28

Transitional Attack Where's The Calvary?29

Fog vs. Straight Stream Where's The Calvary?30

Training Considerations Training should include how to operate equipment efficiently with limited manpower Train to save steps (learn from a waitress) Set up your trucks and equipment so you can operate efficiently, especially in those early minutes of a structure fire Where's The Calvary?31