1. Steps to Interior Attack
Instructor Paul J Cusic Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

2. Steps to Interior Attack
Enabling Objectives (EO):
EO 1-1: The student will identify the recommended actions to be conducted prior to the initiation of an interior fire attack
EO 1-2: The student will identify the courses of action for the attack crew and those support personnel on the fireground who are assisting in the initial attack operation.

3. Steps to Interior Attack
Overview:
Placing the apparatus
Making first arriving radio report
Size up
Assemble Tools
Proper Staffing
Hoseline selection and advancement
Evaluation of interior conditions
Coordination of ventilation efforts
Fire stream management
Progress report

4. Steps to Interior Attack
Placing the apparatus
Fireground clues for Apparatus Positioning
Make 3-sided approach
Leave front open for Truck Company
Consider:
Fire location
Type of occupancy
Possible contents
Height of the involved structure
Avoid overhead hazardous
Smoke and wind conditions

5. Steps to Interior Attack
Making first arriving radio report
The importance of an effective fireground size up and radio report cannot be overstated.
Transmit
Brief Initial Report (BIR)
Water Supply Plan
Appropriate level of command
Mode of Attack
Offensive vs Defensive

6. Steps to Interior Attack
Size up
Today’s Fireground requires a thorough evaluation of the involved structure and exposures
Conduct a 360 of the involved structure to accomplish:
Isolate utility feeds
Determine building size and construction features.
Evaluate the need for occupant rescue
Check the exterior for signs of early collapse
Determine the general fire location and extent of involvement
Rule out Basement fire
Calculate points of access and egress
Evaluate ventilation needs prior to fire attack.

7. Steps to Interior Attack
Assemble tools for interior operations
Each member must be assigned a task and tools related to the task
Each member is to be assigned a Radio
Position will determine radio designation
Nozzle
Initiates hoseline deployment to the point of entry
Back up
Forcible entry and assisting with hoseline advancement.
Company Officer
Responsible for overall direction and control of fire attack crew

8. Steps to Interior Attack
Proper Staffing
29 CFR Respiratory Protection
2 in 2 out
Prior to making entry into IDLH atmosphere
Exceptions
SEEN victim
HEARD victim

9. Steps to Interior Attack
Hoseline selection and advancement
GPM > BTU’s
Take the information from Size Up
Hoseline advancement
One of the most laborious and frustrating task
To be effective, we must have a coordinated plan of attack that address these three questions
Where are we going
How are we going to get there
Who’s doing what

10. Steps to Interior Attack
Evaluation of interior conditions
Company Officer should perform a quick interior risk assessment
Fight or Flight action

11. Steps to Interior Attack
Coordination of ventilation efforts
Coordinated ventilation effort is of critical importance to the safety and survival of interior crews.
Premature ventilation may cause a fire to develop rapidly and overtake the advancing hose crew
The wrong type of ventilation may cause an unnecessary spread of the fire and potentially jeopardize the advancing crew.
Type of ventilation needed is situation dependent
Ventilation must be coordinated with fire attack

12. Steps to Interior Attack
Fire stream management
Careful consideration and planning is an absolute necessity in choosing the method of attack.
Methods of attacks
Direct Attack
Indirect Attack
Combination Attack
Coupled with a coordinated ventilation effort – produces a minimal disruption of the thermal balance while at the same time directly cooling the involved fuel loads

13. Steps to Interior Attack
Progress report
Poor fireground communications continues to be a contributing factor in fireground fatalities.
Effective progress report can ultimately solve two of the most notable problems responsible for firefighter fatalities.
Our failure to provide effective progress reports and monitor those reports given by exterior commanders continue to put firefighters at great risk
What should be included in the report
With this information the Incident Commander will have in a timely manner data needed to review and revised his or her strategy as needs dictate.

14. Steps to Interior Attack
Review:
Placing the apparatus
Making first arriving radio report
Size up
Assemble Tools
Proper Staffing
Hoseline selection and advancement
Evaluation of interior conditions
Coordination of ventilation efforts
Fire stream management
Progress report