Post by papacheese on Feb 21, 2008 11:16:21 GMT -5
OK, I've been pushing my campaign now for some time, trying to espouse the benefits of declaring a strategic mode or posture BEFORE the clans start showing up so that everyone is basically on the same page when it comes to what's acceptable and desired versus what's NOT acceptable or wanted.
My premise is that each strategic mode - Offensive, Transitional, and Defensive have certain tactics associated with it, such as follows (please add/subtract, agree, or disagree as you may wish):
[glow=red,2,300]OFFENSIVE:[/glow]
IC has determined that the location and extent of fire, which has not compromised structural integrity or exhibit unsafe tendencies as such pre-flashover conditions. Since we're going to make a "push" to put this thing out, the following activities are not only encouraged, but expected:
Attack line
Back-up Line
Vent Crew (inside and/or outside depending on # available)
Search
Crews are expected to take an aggressive stance on locating, confining, and extinguishing the fire while other crews perform venting and primary search.
[glow=red,2,300]TRANSITIONAL[/glow]
IC has conducted a size-up that is either inconclusive from a risk/benefit perspective or lacking key pieces of information. Structural integrity is not known or not yet disclosed; fire conditions are "iffy", meaning that they are building towards a hostile event. The possibilty exists that a cautious approach may provide more information as well confinement or even extinguishment. Fire location is not certain and needs to be identified. Under this scenario, crews will prepare for a cautious interior attack with the clear understanding that the strategic mode may suddenly change depending on what they find/report.
All the activities indicated in "Offensive" are carried out in Transitional, along with:
1) Dispatch of additional companies/apparatus if needed to establish a sustained water supply beyond the first alarm's capabilities
2) Depending on size-up and available personnel, stretching of additional, large caliber handlines for exposure protection should it be required.
3) Number of crews performing interior operations is limited to only those necessary.
It should be pointed out that by it's very definition, "Transition" is a momentary posture, that it WILL change to either of the other two modes when more information is known or conditions change. An incident does not stay in Transitional throughout the entire process, it MUST change eventually. Firefighters responding to and working around a "Transitional" fire MUST STAY ALERT to a change in the strategic mode - like death and taxes, it WILL happen.
[glow=red,2,300]DEFENSIVE[/glow]
IC has determined that due to fire volume, location, load, structural compromise, or any other unusual or obvious safety hazard (no water, unoccupied structure, etc) that NO interior operations will take place (unless he or she changes the mode and announces it). Expected activities include:
1) Establishment of long-term, sustainable water supply
2) Stretching of large caliber handlines, deployment of master streams
3) Immediate establishment and enforcement of a collapse zone.
I realize that in other places and in other times I've pretty much laid all this out, I wanted to try to summarize the whole enchilada in one place to better illustrate the wide range of tactical choices that are involved with each mode.
Another aspect of this "system" than cannot be understated or overemphasized is the need to COMMUNICATE the choice of strategies either before the companies arrive or as soon as possible.
If ALL firefighters know what they are permitted to do and not do under each strategic mode, this would hopefully eliminate the "Oh, I didn't know I wasn't supposed to... (insert inappropriate action here) excuse. If the IC declares "Defensive" and a couple of testosterone-laden firefighters are pushing through the front door, obviously they didn't get the word or are choosing to ignore the IC's orders. The first is forgivable, the second deserves a swift kick in the buttocks.
OK...since my mind is slowly turing into Maypo (the gray beards will recognize what that is), I know I left out some important tactical stuff....help me fill in the blanks, folks....
My premise is that each strategic mode - Offensive, Transitional, and Defensive have certain tactics associated with it, such as follows (please add/subtract, agree, or disagree as you may wish):
[glow=red,2,300]OFFENSIVE:[/glow]
IC has determined that the location and extent of fire, which has not compromised structural integrity or exhibit unsafe tendencies as such pre-flashover conditions. Since we're going to make a "push" to put this thing out, the following activities are not only encouraged, but expected:
Attack line
Back-up Line
Vent Crew (inside and/or outside depending on # available)
Search
Crews are expected to take an aggressive stance on locating, confining, and extinguishing the fire while other crews perform venting and primary search.
[glow=red,2,300]TRANSITIONAL[/glow]
IC has conducted a size-up that is either inconclusive from a risk/benefit perspective or lacking key pieces of information. Structural integrity is not known or not yet disclosed; fire conditions are "iffy", meaning that they are building towards a hostile event. The possibilty exists that a cautious approach may provide more information as well confinement or even extinguishment. Fire location is not certain and needs to be identified. Under this scenario, crews will prepare for a cautious interior attack with the clear understanding that the strategic mode may suddenly change depending on what they find/report.
All the activities indicated in "Offensive" are carried out in Transitional, along with:
1) Dispatch of additional companies/apparatus if needed to establish a sustained water supply beyond the first alarm's capabilities
2) Depending on size-up and available personnel, stretching of additional, large caliber handlines for exposure protection should it be required.
3) Number of crews performing interior operations is limited to only those necessary.
It should be pointed out that by it's very definition, "Transition" is a momentary posture, that it WILL change to either of the other two modes when more information is known or conditions change. An incident does not stay in Transitional throughout the entire process, it MUST change eventually. Firefighters responding to and working around a "Transitional" fire MUST STAY ALERT to a change in the strategic mode - like death and taxes, it WILL happen.
[glow=red,2,300]DEFENSIVE[/glow]
IC has determined that due to fire volume, location, load, structural compromise, or any other unusual or obvious safety hazard (no water, unoccupied structure, etc) that NO interior operations will take place (unless he or she changes the mode and announces it). Expected activities include:
1) Establishment of long-term, sustainable water supply
2) Stretching of large caliber handlines, deployment of master streams
3) Immediate establishment and enforcement of a collapse zone.
I realize that in other places and in other times I've pretty much laid all this out, I wanted to try to summarize the whole enchilada in one place to better illustrate the wide range of tactical choices that are involved with each mode.
Another aspect of this "system" than cannot be understated or overemphasized is the need to COMMUNICATE the choice of strategies either before the companies arrive or as soon as possible.
If ALL firefighters know what they are permitted to do and not do under each strategic mode, this would hopefully eliminate the "Oh, I didn't know I wasn't supposed to... (insert inappropriate action here) excuse. If the IC declares "Defensive" and a couple of testosterone-laden firefighters are pushing through the front door, obviously they didn't get the word or are choosing to ignore the IC's orders. The first is forgivable, the second deserves a swift kick in the buttocks.
OK...since my mind is slowly turing into Maypo (the gray beards will recognize what that is), I know I left out some important tactical stuff....help me fill in the blanks, folks....