There are a number of methods used to bring a fire under control but they all share the same fundamental principle – they remove the fuel, oxygen, heat and/or the chemical chain reaction by which the fire sustains or reignites itself. All fire control methods revolve around these four components of the fire tetrahedron.
The tools that are used by fire fighters to accomplish these goals are many and varied but the basic equipment generally includes pumper trucks, tanker trucks, ladder trucks, fire hoses and fire extinguishers.
Different building materials and design structures also require different fire attack approaches and this is where training in building structures as they relate to the fire industry is critical. Accurate assessment of the building type is required in order to deploy the correct fire fighting tactics and for fire personnel safety. A structure such as a domestic residence, for example, is likely to be predominantly made from timber, a highly flammable material. A concrete high rise on the other hand is usually designed to be fire resistant so is not only constructed from non-flammable materials like concrete and fire-proofed steel but is also generally built in such a way that any fire which breaks out in the structure is limited to a small area or just one floor.
So whilst a fire in either type of building, or in any one of the other designated building types, is deemed to be a structure fire, how they’re fought depends on what type of building it is. Even so, regardless of how well contained the fire is, there is generally a fair amount of surrounding collateral damage caused by smoke, water, heat and embers.
Extinguishing A Structure Fire
A crew attending a structure fire will generally switch off utilities like gas and electricity first up to ensure the safety of the crew and also to remove a potential ignition source. Then a decision will be made as to whether to attack the fire from the inside, in which case the 2 in, 2 out rule applies – 2 of the interior crew will take hose lines inside the structure, find the fire and wet it down; or from the outside; or both. An exterior plan of attack involves directing water into available openings such as windows and doors, protecting nearby structures and identifying other sources of fuel in the vicinity that need to be protected.
If a combination interior / exterior attack is decided upon, it’s the role of the incident commander to plan, execute and co-ordinate the various approaches so that one doesn’t impede or endanger the other. For example, water directed into the structure from the outside may hamper or injure interior crews working inside the structure.
Another important plan of attack is the creation of ventilation holes in the roof or floor of the structure (vertical ventilation), or in the walls (either by opening windows and doors or by putting a hole in a wall –horizontal ventilation). These holes allow heated gases and smoke to escape the building, improving visibility inside the structure to facilitate search and rescue operations. It also reduces the internal build up of toxic gases which is critical in the event of there being people trapped or unconscious in the building.
Vertical ventilation also reduces the risk of flashovers and back drafts, both of which are potentially deadly for fire personnel. Releasing flammable gases and heat through the roof significantly decreases the chance of back drafts and flashovers respectively. Often smashing a window prior to entry will provide an indication of whether or not a back draft situation is present and an appropriate plan of attack can be formulated.
This article is provided by the RickyRescue Training Academy. E-learning versions of Fire College courses in Florida and Tennessee such as Fire Officer 1 Online can be sourced through their certified training centers. Contact them for details at 239.240.7915.
