Strategy and Tactics with Limited Staffing

1. Strategy and Tactics with Limited Staffing John M. Buckman III

2. NEVER FORGET WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE GOES HOME!

3. Catastrophic Failure SCBA FACEPIECE

6. OUTGUNNED Most fire departments arrive on a scene with limited staffing and then play catch up from the beginning to the end of tactical operations.

8. OUTGUNNED When was the last time you had a fire behavior class?

10. Sometimes we just need to put water on the fire!

11. How many firefighters do you have? How many firefighters do you need? How long will it take for the right amount of firefighters to arrive? What is on fire? How big is the fire? When did you start thinking about it? How Much Is Enough?

14. Fireground Field Experiments • NIST

16. The initial radio report is probably the most important communications the incident commander will hear! Chief Alan Brunacini, Ret.

17. Realizing the impact limited staffing has on selection of appropriate strategy is a critical decision making component. Limited staffing impacts all tactical activities.

18. Service Expectations Have Steadily Increased

19. Don't be a Hero

23. Situational Overload Strategy/Tactics Resources Building Fire/Location-Size Accountability Action Plan ROLE OF COMMAND

24. Decision making is improved through: Training Experience Communication Skills Preplanning CRITICAL DECISION MAKING

25. Perception of what is going on around you! Affects performance and decision making! If it is not maintained, errors occur! Tendency to ignore information that is out of context! SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

26. Fight the Fire! Assess Problems in the Time Available! Gather Information from All Sources Choose the Best Option Monitor Results and Alter the Plan as Necessary Beware of the Loss of Situational Awareness SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

27. CAPABILITY MEASURE IT!

28. What is wrong with applying LOTS of water from the exterior?

29. Impact of externally applied water. • In these experiments, the externally applied water streams were implemented in different ways;

30. a fog stream inserted into the fire room window, a fog stream flowed from the floor below into the fire room window opening, and a solid water stream flowed from the floor below into the fire room window opening.

31. In all cases, the water flows suppressed the fires, thereby causing reductions in temperature in the corridor and the stairwell of at least 50 %. • The water flow rates used in these experiments were between 160 gpm and 200 gpm, demonstrating that a relatively small amount of water applied directly to the burn fuels can have a significant impact.

32. OFFENSIVE TACTICAL WEAPON

33. OFFENSIVE TACTICAL WEAPONS

34. Strategic Decision Apparatus Staff Equipment Water RESOURCES IMPACT

35. Strategic Decision How many do I need? How big is the problem? When will they arrive? What is their capability? STAFFING IMPACT

36. Tactical Decisions Simultaneous or Sequential Command Decides Offensive Requires More Staff STAFFING IMPACT

38. Traditional Fire Development in a Compartment Fire

39. Standard Tasks • Stop at hydrant, wrap hose • Position hose • Conduct size up (360degree lap) transmit report, establish command • Engage pump • Position attack line (forward lay)

40. Standard Tasks • Establish 2 in / 2 out • Supply attack engine • Establish RIT • Gain/Force Entry • Advance attack line • Advance backup line (stop time at front stoop)

41. Standard Tasks • Advance backup line/protect stairwell • Conduct primary search • Ground ladders in place • Horizontal Ventilation (ground) • Horizontal Ventilation (2nd story)

42. Standard Tasks • Control utilities (Interior) • Control utilities (Exterior) • Conduct secondary search • Check for fire extension (walls) • Check for fire extension (ceiling) • Mechanical Ventilation