“Tactical Safety: Collateral Damage”…

“Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate” Tactical Safety – Collateral Damage By: Ray McCormack The military uses the term “Collateral Damage” to describe damage that affected an unintended target, or damage that is incidental to the intended outcome. Fire service usage of “Collateral Damage” could describe: fire extension, examination for extension, and employing a strategy that may damage an adjacent area in order to complete the primary mission. Less overall damage is always the goal, allowing the necessary level of collateral damage to be used will allow us to do our jobs more effectively and efficiently than if no collateral damage were employed at all. Like the V-shaped burn pattern on a wall, fire spreads vertically until it hits an obstruction. That’s why an occupant in a multi-level apartment building can often suffer more damage than the area of origin has. The occupants above have suffered collateral damage. When we extinguish a top floor fire, and water run off damages areas below, that is collateral damage. This type of damage is near impossible to stop; it can only be limited with a strategic plan. As much as we plainly see how fire and fire extinguishment may cause collateral damage, what choice do we have? We must anticipate vertical fire extension and deploy resources to that area with the expectation of fire spread. Deploying salvage covers to areas below the fire is a benevolent gesture, and shows that we understand the value of true property conservation. Fire extension must be anticipated at every fire no matter how benign it may appear to be at first glance. Removing some drywall and properly checking for fire extension or hidden fire is a lot more reassuring to the incident commander (IC), and the homeowner, than a return visit hours later with the house ablaze, and residents trapped. All firefighters must remember that service to the caller may entail a level of collateral damage if a proper assessment is to be made. When you are a customer at a store ,don’t you value an attentive staff that makes sure your needs were met on the first visit? The fire service has some high-tech tools to assist us in finding hot spots. The thermal imaging camera (TIC) is probably the most relied upon new tool we have to uncover and discover extension allowing a whole room to be scanned very quickly. Your image-interpretation skills, and knowing the tools capabilities and limitations, will further assist in this hunt for extension. The back of your hand along a suspected wall will also give you a temperature reading. You will not burn your hand because you already suspected this wall contained hidden fire. Systematic and logical collateral damage in an effort to discover fire extension is always defendable, and follows an aggressive attack strategy. When we stretch a hoseline, it is easier to deploy the lead attack length on the same level as the entrance door (door control), or take it up to the next stair landing if available, than it is to leave it below and stretch upwards. When we have another doorway opposite the unit that can give us hoseline access, and no one is home to open the door, then we will have to force-entry to utilize that adjacent space. The unit will be subjected to collateral damage, however, the ability to flake out the line in a straight line with the fire area, allows for an unimpeded advance which aids in rapid extinguishment. There should be zero fire damage to this adjoining area as the hoseline can not advance unless extending fire has already been knocked down. Collateral damage to the adjoining unit falls within acceptable boundaries because it facilitated a much easier advance on the fire, and allowed for zero hoseline friction on corners and stair railings. Had we stretched from below (which can also be done), we would have dealt with a major friction point at the leading edge of the doorway and would have needed a firefighter specifically at that spot from the initial push attempting to keep the line from getting caught on that dramatic turn. There is a difference between having the hoseline rub against the entrance door and using an additional firefighter to help advance a hoseline. One is avoidable the other is not. If you practice these two different approaches to the same fire problem you will quickly see which advance is easier to perform. Collateral damage is a subjective thing; one person’s level of tolerance will be different than another. The fire service, however, needs to understand that collateral damage allows us to operate more efficiently while decreasing incident stabilization time. Utilizing collateral damage to get a handle on matters is often essisential. Our people should not be squeamish about opening up where needed. Fire damage does not always fit into a neat tiny package. The majority of times fire damage is extensive, horrific and sad. By understanding the role and benefit of collateral damage, the fire service will suffer less rekindles and quicker extinguishments, while increasing tactical safety on the fire ground. Next Tactical Safety – Why the Engine Needs To Be Perfect

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“Tactical Safety: Collateral Damage”…