Fire Cheat Sheet

STRUCTURE FIRE

A 360 must be done before entering or attacking the fire so you can note down any hazards, where the fire currently is and possible point of access. When doing the scene size-up you should designate the building site as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta side for easier understanding of personnel on scene.

The Alpha side is the side of the building facing the street that scene command has selected as the command street. This is typically where the front door of the building is, you go clockwise from there. So the left side of the front door should be Bravo, the back will be Charlie and the right side is Delta. 

When entering the burning structure at any time, you should have a buddy system. Two-in-two-out policy. You should never go near the fire without letting the scene command know. 

Once a scene size up has been done, initial search and rescue should begin to find any victims. After a search and rescue operation, when you find all the victims or if the building is deemed unsafe to enter, you should either attack or defend the fire.

**Scene Comand should never be inside of the active Fire. Being on the front line means you lose sight of the bigger picture and may end up lacking in overall scene coordination.**

Offensive Attack

1. When Arriving on scene.The first apparatus will act as scene command until other units arrive.
   1. If you feel uncomfortable as Scene Command you may hand it over to another willing Firefighter, or COC when they arrive on scene and are able to take control of the scene.
   2. Scene command does not switch until explicitly stated (i.e. don’t assume Fire CoC will take command just because they are Fire CoC, if you want them to, ask them to). 
2. Conduct a scene size up
   1. Note any hazards (Explosives, Power Lines, Electrical Boxes, Vehicles, Instabilities, etc) **Note: If the building is deemed unstable switch to a Defensive strategy**
   2. If there are any people exiting the building or gathered nearby attempt to gather info on the interior as well as any people still stuck inside, their locations, and how many.
3. Search Team
   1. Once all information possible has been gleaned you should begin to set up an S&R team.
      1. Must consist of a minimum 2 Firefighters that are to keep in contact with each other at all times. Physical contact is preferred, though visual contact is sufficient if applicable.
      2. When setting the team up, go over the search patterns that will be used (Right hand, Left Hand) and the order in which the house will be searched, as well as areas that will be avoided. 
   2. The search teams primary function is to remove peoples from the building putting out fires as they need *not* to put out all of the flames. 
4. Attack Team
   1. The attack team's function is to combat the flames and attempt to put out the Fire. An attack team must also consist of a minimum 2 Firefighters (Preferably not the same 2 from the S&R team as long exposure to the flames and exhaustion leads to increased risk of accidents)
5. Clean Up
   1. Once all flames have been extinguished the building must be checked over by TIC for any remaining Hotspots (Camera is contained inside of the engine) any hot spots must be extinguished.
   2. After all spots have been extinguished all hoses must be tidied up and hydrants closed, 

Defensive Strategy

**This strategy should only be used when there is greater risk to Firefighters, the building is past the control of hand lines, or there are no civilian lives to be saved.**

1. When Arriving on scene.The first apparatus will act as scene command until other units arrive.
   1. If you feel uncomfortable as Scene Command you may hand it over to another willing Firefighter, or COC when they arrive on scene and are able to take control of the scene.
   2. Scene command does not switch until explicitly stated (i.e. don’t assume Fire CoC will take command just because they are Fire CoC, if you want them to, ask them to). 
2. Conduct a scene size up
   1. Note any hazards (Explosives, Power Lines, Electrical Boxes, Vehicles, Instabilities, etc) 
   2. If there are any people exiting the building or gathered nearby attempt to gather info on the interior as well as any people still stuck inside, their locations, and how many.
3. If the building has been deemed unstable or for any other reason the risk is too great to send in Firefighters you must switch to a Defensive Strategy.
4. Secure and Contain
   1. After the scene has been set up you should note the distance between the flaming building and any surrounding features in order to mitigate the fire “Jumping” to another building or area.
   2. Deck Guns: The water cannons can be a very effective tool for both wetting down the building as well as any surrounding features at risk of catching fire. **The Deck gun should never be pointed towards another person as it can be extremely dangerous**
   3. Collapse Areas: With the information you’ve gleaned from your Scene Size up or 360. Make sure to keep your fellow Firefighters out of the “Collapse Zone” (Rule of thumb: If you are unsure, the collapse zone is 1.5x the building's height in all directions). This is the area in any direction in which if the building were to collapse personnel could be injured or trapped underneath it. 
5. Wait
   1. Patience is a virtue when dealing with Fire. In a defensive strategy sometimes all you can do is wait and pour water on it.
6. Clean up
   1. Once all flames have been extinguished the building must be checked over by TIC for any remaining Hotspots (Camera is contained inside of the engine) any hot spots must be extinguished.
   2. After all spots have been extinguished all hoses must be tidied up, hydrants closed, etc.

UNSTABLE/COLLAPSED BUILDING

For any unstable or collapsed building be it from fire or something hitting the building, you will do a scene size up as you would with a regular structure fire. You should note down if it is safe to send someone inside or on top of the building or to find another point of access that will be safer. Two-in-two-out policy should be maintained during this.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT

The first arriving apparatus should give a scene size up containing the amount and type of vehicles involved, amount of patients and if there is any entrapment present or expected.

Before you do any extrication of a patient inside a vehicle, you must check for any leaking or other fire hazards because one spark from your tool can set it on fire. If the engine is on fire/smoking and there’s a fuel leak or fuel fire, use a fire extinguisher or foam instead of water because water can wash away the fuel and become another problem. Once you find the source of the leak, plug the hole if possible and use dryzall (kitty litter) on the spillage.

Once you deal with any leaking or fire, you should make sure the car is stable. But if you first arrive on scene and the vehicle is about to fall off a height, position Engine or Rescue behind the vehicle, grab the chain from the front of the apparatus and chain the vehicle on its strongest point (Usually the vehicles frame or axles) to the front hooks of your apparatus to make sure it doesn’t fall. Typically this is done by Engine, Rescue or Ladder truck (Note: Rescue and Brush both have front mounted electric winches.). Put some cribbing under the wheels to stop it from rolling, cribbing can also be used in conjunction with a 42 Jack to lift and stabilize the car off of its suspension which minimizes movement during the later extraction. If the car is on its side or on the roof, you want to stabilize it with struts, winch, and/or cribbing. 

Once the car is stable, you can now begin vehicle extrication. If the medic can’t gain access to the patient, your first priority is to give the medic an access point to the pt. Either by breaking the window, prying open a door with a spreader or halligan or cutting off the door/roof. Once you do so, you should see if the patient is entrap but be mindful of what the medic on scene thinks about the patient's condition. Always communicate with the medic on what you’re going to do and always ask for their opinion first since the first priority should be the patient's condition. Once the medic gives you a clear, you can begin lifting or cutting whatever is entrapping the patient. It is the medic’s decision on if the patient needs to be extracted fast or with extra care. This will dictate the actions and method of the extraction crew.

ROPE RESCUE 

NOTE: Currently only HRO is equipped for Rope Rescues, however non-HRO personnel can assist where the need arises

When doing a rope rescue, you should set up an anchor point or secure yourself on something that can hold your weight. For safety reasons, there should be someone to watch your rope in case the rope snapped or the anchor point gave way. (For long distance repels you must set up other anchors for the safety of yourself and the patient)

If you’re doing a rescue that involves a height or situation where it is safer to have a line between you and other firefighters when doing a rescue, you will want a safety measure so harness yourself to a rope and secure it to an anchor point. Because if the situation becomes dire and you have to save yourself, the other firefighters can tug on your rope to drag you to safety.

BASIC TOOLS

Spreaders and Cutters (Commonly known as the Jaws of life) - Electronic (“Combi-Tool”, on Engine and Ladder, combines Cutters and Spreaders in one) or Hydraulic (Rescue, with separate hydraulic spreaders and cutters) spreaders used primarily to pry open vehicle doors as well as cutters being able to cut off vehicle doors or roof. Spreaders can also be used for Dash lifts and other scenarios where a Ram cannot fit. (Rescue carries a much more capable Hydraulic Spreader/Cutter set, though Engine/Ladders Combi-Tool will be sufficient for most regular vehicle extractions).

Sawzall - A reciprocating saw in which the cutting action is achieved through a push-and-pull motion of the blade. You can use it to cut through many types of materials such as wood, metal, PVC and nails.

K12 - K12 saws can cut metal, masonry/asphalt, wood, rubber roofing. The blade is made from strong aluminum alloy that is meant to cut strong steel or heavier gauge metals.

Twin-saw: Like a K12, but typically electrically operated and featuring two counter-rotating blades. Thus additional forces on the cut material cancel out largely and vibrations are greatly reduced, making cutting more comfortable for the patient e.g. in an impalement scenario.

Hydraulic Ram - A cylinder that hydraulically extends. Used to lift or push an object or structure to create more space. Can be used in conjunction with spreaders. 

Rescue Airbags - Airbags are rubber bags that inflate by pressurized air can be used in a variety of incidents including building collapses, heavy extrications and industrial entrapments. It can be adapted for many other situations such as to displace, spread or otherwise move objects. NOTE: Airbags may slide out from underneath or between loads, sending them flying. Be mindful not to stand in front of them during operation and to secure loads with cribbing.

Dryzall: Is a loose substance remarkably similar to kitty litter that is used for soaking up fluids. Once these fluids have been soaked up it must be swept into a container for disposal.

Halligan and Ax: These two seemingly basic tools have a wide range of uses from entering buildings to prying doors open.