1. Essentials of Fire Fighting
6th Edition
Firefighter I
Chapter 17 — Fire Control

2. Learning Objective 1
Describe initial factors to consider when suppressing structure fires.

3. Selecting strategies and coordinating resources is based on three priorities.
Courtesy of Bob Esposito

4. Offensive suppression strategies usually entail interior operations.
Factors that help determine tactics
Value
Time
Size
Objective
Rescue and/or extinguishment

5. Defensive suppression strategies are selected based on several factors.
No threat to occupant life exists
Occupants are not savable
Property is not salvageable
Sufficient resources are not available for offensive strategy
Danger of structural collapse
Offensive strategy would endanger lives of firefighters

6. Defensive suppression strategies work to isolate or stabilize the incident.
Courtesy of Chris Mickal

7. Defensive strategies are employed when certain conditions are present.
Excessive volume of fire
Structural deterioration
Risk outweighs benefit
Unfavorable wind conditions

8. Strategic transitions during suppression may occur at any time.
Defensive to offensive
Follow guidelines during
Offensive to defensive

9. Resource coordination is important during several points of fire attack.
Forcible entry
Search and rescue operations
Ventilation
Control of utilities
Loss control
Cause determination
Victim recovery efforts

10. Correct hoseline selection is important for fire suppression operations.
Fire conditions and other factors
Critical for efficiency, safety
For interior – Dictated by area involved, fire load
(Cont.)

11. CAUTION
A hoseline no smaller than 1½-inch (38 mm) should be used on an interior fire.

12. Nozzle selection is based on several considerations found on scene.
Courtesy of Ron Jeffers
Interior fire attack
Exterior attack
Water pressure, water quantity
Nozzle reaction

13. REVIEW QUESTION
What initial factors must be considered when suppressing structure fires?

14. Learning Objective 2
Summarize considerations taken when making entry.

15. You should know the considerations for hoseline use and placement when making entry .
Decision made by IC
Supervisor
Place to protect
Firefighters
Occupants
Property
Factors used to place
Wind direction and velocity
Building conditions
Initial fire location
Location of occupants
Exposures

16. There are several tasks every member should perform before entry.
Conduct quick size up
Maintain high situational awareness
Be aware of pre-entry considerations

17. Check concealed spaces for fire extension
You should understand what you may need to fulfill your role during entry.
Interior fire crew needs tools, equipment to:
Open interior doors
Check concealed spaces for fire extension
Make an emergency exit

18. The firefighter assigned to the nozzle should do several tasks.
Open nozzle fully to ensure adequate flow
Check pattern setting
Bleed air from hoseline

19. CAUTION
DO NOT open the door until you have a charged hoseline and are ready to control the conditions encountered.

20. There are several facts about making entry tactics that you should know.
When making interior attack on structure fire
If fire is ventilation controlled, door is opened
When opening door
Traditional guideline – Attack from unburned side
Wind creates airflow patterns within structure

21. There are several general tactics for making entry that you should know.
Wind creates airflow patterns within structure
Directly increase fire expansion and cause firefighter casualties
Attack with wind to back
Determine best entry point based upon wind direction

22. REVIEW QUESTION
What are the factors that must be considered when making entry?

23. Learning Objective 3
Describe direct attack, indirect attack, combination attack, and gas cooling techniques.

24. Direct attack uses water most efficiently on free-burning fires.

25. Indirect attack is used when entry is not possible due to intense heat.
Courtesy of Dick Giles

26. Combination attack uses strategies from both direct and indirect attack.

27. REVIEW QUESTION
How do direct attack and combination attack techniques compare with one another?

28. Gas cooling is a way of reducing heat release from the hot gas layer.

29. REVIEW QUESTION
What are the main differences between indirect attack and gas cooling techniques?

30. Learning Objective 4
Describe safety considerations that must be identified for upper level structure fires.

31. Fires in upper levels of structures can present unique considerations.
Structures lacking standpipes
Structures with standpipes
Can require large numbers of personnel
Use of elevators

32. REVIEW QUESTION
How does the presence or absence of a standpipe system impact upper level structure fires?

33. Learning Objective 5
Explain actions taken when attacking belowground structure fires.

34. Belowground structures fires may occur in residential basements.

35. There are several factors that may contribute to basement fires.
Totally unfinished, partially finished, completely finished
Spaces
Fuel loading
Age of exposed joists
(Cont.)

36. There are several factors may contribute to basement fires.
Hidden path for fire
Use of lightweight construction materials
Life safety hazards created
Initial size-up important

37. WARNING
Basement fires weaken the main floor of a structure creating a constant danger of structural collapse.

38. Floor assemblies over basements may collapse before firefighters arrive.
Courtesy of NIST

39. CAUTION
Thermal imagers (TI) will not always provide an accurate assessment of structural integrity of the floor system.

40. Residential basement fires can present other considerations.
Access
Enclosed stairwell may act as flow path
1½- to 1¾-inch (38 mm to 45 mm) hoseline
May not provide enough cooling to overcome venting gases
If ventilation limited
Added ventilation may result in flashover

41. REVIEW QUESTION
What are the main actions that should be taken when attacking a belowground structure fire?

42. Belowground fires can also occur in commercial basements and subfloors.

43. REVIEW QUESTION
How quickly can floor assemblies over basements reach a point of collapse?

44. Learning Objective 6
Discuss methods of fire control through exposure protection and controlling building utilities.

45. Exposure protection depends on location and resources available.
Interior
Closing doors, other openings
Proper use of ventilation
Passive forms
Exterior
Remove endangered persons, property, items
Apply protective spray between fire and exposure

46. Controlling building utilities helps control the fire and limits damage.
Sources
Must be disconnected when fire in structure
Commercial power supply
(Cont.)

47. DISCUSSION QUESTION
Can fire department personnel remove the meter box, if necessary?

48. Controlling building utilities helps control the fire and limits damage.
Courtesy of Ron Moore and McKinney (TX) FD
(Cont.)

49. WARNING
Solar panels generate current whenever there is a light source (sunlight, moonlight, artificial lighting) and are always energized.

50. Controlling building utilities helps control the fire and limits damage.
Wind turbines
Courtesy of Ron Moore and McKinney (TX) FD
Fuel-powered generators
(Cont.)

51. Controlling building utilities helps control the fire and limits damage.

52. CAUTION
Natural gas that leaks underground in wet soil can lose its odorant and become difficult to detect without instruments.

53. Controlling building utilities helps control the fire and limits damage.
Water
Liquefied petroleum gas

54. REVIEW QUESTION
How can using exposure protection or controlling building utilities help in fire control?

55. Learning Objective 7
Describe steps taken when supporting fire protection systems at protected structures.

56. Supporting fire protection systems is accomplished through several steps.
Connecting to FDC
Shutting a control valve
Stopping the flow from a sprinkler

57. REVIEW QUESTION
What are the steps that must be taken when supporting a fire protection system at a protected structure?

58. Learning Objective 8
Explain considerations taken when deploying, supplying, and staffing master stream devices.

59. Situations deployed in
Deploying master stream devices requires an understanding of several considerations.
Situations deployed in
Main uses
Proper placement
Effective for exposure protection to other structures

60. Supplying master streams can be accomplished in several ways.
Nothing less than two 2½-inch (65 mm) hoselines
Temporarily with one 2½-inch (65 mm) hoseline while adding others
Third line may be needed
Operation consumes great quantities of water

61. CAUTION
Added water weight from master stream operations increases the potential for structural collapse.

62. Staffing master stream devices usually requires two firefighters.

63. Elevated master streams are used for upper stories in multistory buildings.
Courtesy of Chris Mickal

64. REVIEW QUESTION
How should a master stream device be properly deployed?