“Tactical Safety: Are You Ready for the NFL?”…

“Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate” Tactical Safety – Are You Ready For the NFL? By: Ray McCormack This NFL is a bit different from what you are probably thinking; this NFL stands for the National Fire League. The fire service has teams for all types of sporting events, even an Olympics. There are also team skill competitions in extrication and fitness. What kind of a team do you think your department could field if the game were fire? In the National Fire League, everyone’s staffing is equal, and everyone’s equipment is standardized. The apparatus used by all teams will have identical pumping and laddering capabilities. Everything including the protective gear will be standardized, fully utilized and properly worn. There will be rules to follow and if broken there will be penalties. So where is the variation? The variation is what makes any game interesting. The variation comes from the people involved, the players. The team’s personnel are the real strength as well as the weakness. Each team must capitalize upon its strengths while diminishing their weaknesses. Being well-trained and knowledgeable are two traits that raise a team’s chance of winning. There will be referees who have the power to stop play and remove those who are not in compliance with the rules. Remember that not all infractions are rated equal and not all will be seen. Post game analysis utilizing video will be provided by a select group of fire specialists who specialize in Monday morning quarterbacking of fire events. The opponent is a two story house with an enclosed one car garage. There are clues available to the teams that compose an encompassing initial size-up. Clues such as a construction label affixed next to the exterior electrical meter describing any lightweight elements and the lack of a basement. A bonus view is available to those that perform an inspection of all sides. A lower level room has light smoke contamination and clearly displays a ceiling minus a drywall covering. The game allows for the IC, first arriving officer, and or a delegate to do initial walk arounds. Smoke detectors are sounding on both floors but there is no visible fire. The home has a sprinkler system, however, the fire is in the unsprinklered garage. Two main teams, Attack and Search (two engines and one ladder company), will conduct fire suppression; and for the rescue portion of the game, additional special teams are available and assembled including RIT and Back up; each team member is radio equipped. There is also a report of two small children inside the home. There are two separate water sources located within 200 feet of the fire building and the house has a 60 foot setback from the street. Rehab, medical, an air refilling station, and three additional special calls are available to the incident commander (IC). Hoselines will be stretched, but to where? Searches will be conducted, but when, where and how? Command will be burdened with additional information streams; will it become overburdened? A safety officer and an additional chief join the game but are not on scene initially. The National Fire League plays these games so that the participants can learn from each other. Was there a hose load used that complimented this type of dwelling fire? Would you change yours after seeing this new one in action? Was the laddering effective and timely? Did the teams use sequential tactics? Were there any rule violations and if so how serious were they? Did the IC run the fire or was it the other way around? We must make a mental note that we can never be perfect no matter how nicely the game is set up for us. The real key to a successful game is to have a flexible plan of action that utilizes interior feedback and exterior overview and to train all your players to a level that is equal to or surpasses that of the coaches’. The winners sometimes crush their opponent and sometimes they just squeak by. Developing a tactically-safe fireground requires attention to detail; how tactics are formulated, taught and implemented must make sense for the jurisdiction or team. Fire companies that understand that the game can be played anytime and under less than ideal circumstances, but have practiced their game along with contingencies, will surely win more often than not, and hopefully only suffer minor aches and pains between games. Are You Ready For Some Fire? Next Tactical Safety – Collateral Damage

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“Tactical Safety: Are You Ready for the NFL?”…