Make The Call Definitions

[3105]

Strategic Modes define what the incident "stance" will be based on size-up considerations, such as:

Offensive: An interior attack will be made; establish a water supply, stretch attack and back up hand lines, perform ventilation and search. Structure is not compromised and fire is either reasonably contained or will remain contained for time it takes to get a crew deployed and in service.

Transitional: Issue may be in doubt, depending on ongoing developments. Crew actions mimic Offensive but entry is either delayed or tentative with emphasis on being able to leave quickly if further information reveals a problem. Transitional is where your confidence factor isn't as high as you'd like.

Defensive: weenie roast, no entry, master streams, set up collapse zone, call for canteen.

Those are simplified to some degree, but one of the cardinal principles of using this method is that [glow=red,2,300]you can always change your mode depending on how the situation develops.....JUST MAKE SURE YOU ANNOUNCE IT SO EVERYONE HEARS IT.[/glow]

If you teach this method correctly (IMHO), incoming crews will hear the IC call "Offensive" and immediately know that they're going in and to make appropriate preparations. Conversely, if they hear "Defensive", they know not to bother with the 1 3/4 and instead grab the 2 1/2 or the D/O automatically positions the engine for deck gun operation.

The "Transitional" mode is more attitude than anything else: using this word should accurately communicate to every firefighter that things could indeed be very dicey and to take appropriate precautions. They may or may not enter the building, depending on additional information that the IC develops while they're busy setting up. It could also mean that entry (if ordered) will be done in a very cautious and skeptical manner in case there's more there than meets the IC's eye...that's where crews have to communicate what they see.

I'm not sure I described this adequately, but it seems to me that the biggest problem at most working fires is that the IC fails to communicate what the action plan is going to be. Declaring a strategic stance will, in one word, clearly communicate to everyone what they can and cannot do.

This also answers (again, in my mind) the age old problem of IC's getting involved in tactics instead of staying within the Big Picture. If an IC has to tell a crew how they want something done, then he/she is effectively ignoring all the incoming apparatus and personnel screaming for orders. Let the Ops Officer handle the tactics based on the strategic mode that the IC declared.

Here's an example:



1 1/2 story SFD, moderate smoke showing in attic division when arriving.

Strategic mode, based on the photo, can be either Offensive or Transitional, depending on smoke characteristics and rate of change. In either case, crews will establish a water supply, stretch attack and back up lines, position to perform ventilation, and conduct a primary search. Knowing that homes such as this typically feature knee walls in the furnished attic spaces, I might be tempted to call Transitional until the crews open up the voids.

Another good reason to declare "Transitional" is when confronted with a structure with lightweight construction, bearing in mind during your size-up that the "ten minutes till collapse" clock has been ticking.

[Kramer]

Is it safe to say that almost every operation is "transitional"? it seems as if thats what 99% of the make the call series has been to this point

[3105]

kramer411 said:

Is it safe to say that almost every operation is "transitional"? it seems as if thats what 99% of the make the call series has been to this point

A good point.... like anything else in life, "transitional" is in the eye of the beholder. I tend to use it as an initial stance until I get more information; part of the reason why I advocate this method is that (IMHO) it can be an effective tool for managing an incident.

I think the other advantage to Transitional is more psychological than anything else; it kinda tells all the incoming crews to watch their collective asses because something may or may not be going on that could directly affect both themselves and the operation. If nothing else, it raises the defense shields a little, which cannot be a bad thing, right?

In the end, every individual gets to create their own unique intrepretation of "Transitional"...the important thing to remember (and I always repeat this) is:

YOU ARE NOT COMMITTED TO STAYING IN ANY STRATEGIC MODE - IT SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY REEVALUATED AND CHANGED TO MEET PREVAILING CONDITIONS.

Sorry for the shouting, but that's an absolutely KEY point. Too many people think that once a mode has been declared, the ball game's over...and nothing could be further from the truth. You could call Transitional because the first due engine screaming for orders and you aren't certain of the involvement yet....by declaring Transitional, they're going to proceed in manner that will allow a rapid change to either Offensive or Defensive.

[3105]

Another driving factor for my interest in this technique is based upon what I hear on the radio during some working jobs: a highly compressed timeline during which the IC has to assess, evaluate, determine, decide, and communicate...all while apparatus and crews are streaming in demanding orders. While most ICs can handle this misma of confusing activities, nevertheless it presents a PRIME opportunity for miscommunication and/or misinterpretation of intent.

Declaring a strategic mode in the very beginning would (depending on whether your troops are thoroughly trained in the procedure) automatically make certain tasks happen without a need to give painfully long and precise orders over an already crowded Ops channel as well as communicate the overall stance.

Sorry to expound so long on this, but personally, I think this method has some real advantages in the real world.

[FirstDue312]

Chief, you making to try this out on the county level or try it in Moorestown first and see how it goes and make a reccomendation to County