Chapter 11: The Seven Pillars of Smart Firefighting Flashcards
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Smart fire operating philosophy
Firefighting operations are typically described as either safe or aggressive.
Thompson’s alternative is the smart fire operating philosophy.
How to position firefighters for success and survival through an operational philosophy that allows firefighters to aggressively solve problems bomb managing risk as an action step for safety.
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Process >system >standards
Systems execute the process and standards govern the action steps of the system
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What is the premise of the smart fire operating philosophy?
The smart operational philosophy is based on preparedness and aggressive problem-solving. The entire premise of the philosophy is that the more committed the fire company is to preparedness, the better position they will be to aggressively solve the problem of those they were sworn to protect.
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What are the seven pillars of smart firefighting for suburban fire departments?
(Each pillar supports a deliberate approach to preparing for and engaging in fire operations)
The pillars of smart firefighting
I. Operational capabilities and limitations
II. Objective-based fire operation guidelines
III. Science justified tactics
IV. Standard deployment model
V. Designated deployment responsibilities
VI. First alarm considerations
VII. Smart is safer
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Pillar I. Operational capabilities and limitations
The most critical pillar because it forms the foundation of thinking understanding what the system (connected things i.e. fire companies) can and can’t do.
This must be the first consideration when developing a vision of successful fire operations.
In addition it allows you to determine operational wins and losses which you can’t do if you don’t know what the system is capable of. In turn those wins and losses will tell you for your operational philosophy is applicable for your department.
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Pillar I. Operational capabilities and limitations
What do smaller departments need to know intimately about their systems?
How does IC use that information?
What is the adjustment point?
Smaller departments need to intimately understand the capabilities & limitations of their systems (companies).
Knowing what they’re capable of allows the IC to maximize the capabilities of the resources on scene to solve as many problems simultaneously as possible.
– most significant difference between SM depts. & L depts. is the ability of L depts. to solve multiple problems simultaneously. –
IC must be able to accurately prioritize the order in which problems are solved based on available problem-solving teams.
When they exceed the capability of the talent on scene the team becomes limited and adjustment needs to be made to the level of operational aggression. Failing to make this adjustment is when bad things happen (this is his secret sauce step)
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Pillar I. Operational capabilities and limitations
What is TCF the capable of handling by themselves
What happens if initial assignments are altered?
TCFD knows based on their standards the maximum capability when all resources are in play are capable of handling a 2500 square-foot SFD.
However if initial assignments are altered, the system becomes limited and adjustments need to be made. As soon as the officer realizes they are limited and adjustments should be made. That adjustment can be additional resources or adjusting the initial level of aggression. (Secret sauce step)
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Pillar I. Operational capabilities and limitations
Action steps
- Define the max capability of the assigned resources to each type of call. (What the system can do when fully functional)
- Develop a baseline operating guideline that outlines response and deployment when fully functional
- Develop additional operating guidelines for events that fall outside of system capabilities (eg HiRise), and operational adjustments for the standard mode of attack.
- Train officers to think in terms of system operational capabilities. Unhindered – proceed with caution, limitations – use greater level of caution (thought limitation equaled adjustment?!)
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Transitional attack
Transitional fire attack is used to reduce a large amount of fire with a solid stream, allowing the fire attack group to transition to an interior position so that the seed of fire can be extinguished.
Blitz
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Pillar II. Objective-based fire operations guideline
Why is this a crucial step for achieving operational success?
What do these guidelines include?
Crucial step for achieving operational success for functional fire companies is developing the playbook.
Need objective based operation guidelines to clearly describe the goals that you’re trying to accomplish (what success looks like).
These operation guidelines should include strategies, tactics, task, and techniques that are necessary to achieve the objective.
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Pillar II. Why it’s smart
The benefit of objective based fire operation guidelines
What format do the TCFD guidelines follow?
Fire operation guidelines makeup the playbook. The benefit is that this document can be used to prepare for fire events, operate at fire events, and evaluate the success of fire events. Success is measured by the company’s ability to meet the objectives defined in the playbook.
TCFD’s guidelines followed the TASKS format. Thompson believes using a standard format with consistent content enhances learning. Firefighters are able to concentrate on specific objectives in bullet point vs interpreting paragraphs of content.
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Pillar II. TASKS
T-Tactical Objectives – define the purpose of the operational guideline & situation it’s designed to address
A- Assignment objectives – outlines who does what, based on operational philosophy (Quint or Eng/Truck).
In TCFD each outline requires specific tactics/task assigned by either company or member of company so that everything is addressed. Requires CO to call an audible if guideline isn’t meeting demands of incident. company members must then determine what actions are necessary to adequately address the task/tactics.
S-Smart objectives – will be aimed either towards safety or risk management philosophy.
K-Knowledge objectives – reference other operating guidelines and best practices that help clarify the fire operating guideline. Also includes any reference material that supports the standard. Knowledge objectives assure common terminology and operational consistency across the department.
S-Standard objectives – specify performance standards and any other measurable, definable outcomes that need to be included to help determine an operational win or loss
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Pillar II. Action steps 2
What is the first thing you must do to create operational guidelines?
What should operational guidelines cover?
- The first thing an operational guideline must do is define and clarify the operating philosophy of the department (this is the equivalent to a football playbook). This includes operational priorities, employment model, the value of safety and risk management, incident benchmarks or tactical priorities, etc.
- Develop an objective based guideline for each type of incident, building, etc. For example TCFD has a guideline for SFD over 2500 ft ² & SFD under 2500ft ²
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics
Fire Science subjects TCFD teaches and description 9
TCFD introduced new fire operation guidelines based on the science from the Gov. islands studies. The following subjects should be included in training for revising fireground operations and introducing science justified tactics.
- Fire dynamics – Including ventilation limited fire growth.
- Building construction – Conventional and modern building construction features and how smoke and fire behave in each.
- Size up – Identifying fire ground problems & needs
- Flow path recognition and management – size up essentials, principles and laws pressure, window removal and door control, role of outside control (OTM)
- Coordinated tactics – Importance of coordinating engine and truck company tactics and task and the importance of coordinating operations (cannot be stressed enough)
- Capabilities and limitations – Defining operational capabilities and limitations based on capability of available resources.
- Aggressive fire attack – Defining and supporting a culture that values getting water on the seat of the fire soon as possible. Making that an operational priority for engine companies.
- Search considerations – Defining and supporting a culture that places a high priority on search. Search probabilities and possibilities, the search mindset, impact of ventilation and fire attack on victim survival.
- Aggressive problem-solving – Defining and differentiating acceptable aggressive tactics and reckless tactics based on victim survival, five fire safety, and operational capabilities and limitations.
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics- why its smart
What benefit has been made from studying the science behind the operational guidelines?
The exercise of studying fire operations to this extent has resulted in noticeably smarter fire ground operations.
Fire ground problems are getting solved more quickly and effectively, verified by tracking the times of initiation and completion of initial tactics.
Officers show more confidence in their decisions and firefighters more deliver interactions.
TCFD has exhibited the following results as a result of applying science to tactics
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics- why its smart
As a result of revising operations and applying science to tactics fire departments can expect to see the following benefits: 8
- Commitment to recognizing and managing flow paths
- Tactical door control and window removal
- Coordinated engine and truck work
- Deployment for rapid extinguishment versus rapid ventilation
- A deeper understanding of the relationship between pressure and ventilation principles and practice.
- A better understanding of strategies, tactics, tasks, and techniques necessary to fight fires with sensible aggression. Based on operational capabilities/limits.
- Increase confidence due to operational playbook, knowing everyone is on the same page.
- An understanding of how and why we do things in the early stages of an incident.
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics – Action steps
Recommended template for applying science to tactics
- Start with the intention of working the science into your system. Resist adjusting your system to make someone else’s science justify tactics work in your department.
- Review and research all of the inlet available info.
- Identify areas of opportunity for implementing science-based information
- Develop science justified fire operation guidelines
- Develop and communicate a vision of operational success based on revised objectives based operating guidelines
- Establish standards
- Training revise
- Change the fire ground command and control philosophy and modify the culture
- Evaluate after each event in revise when needed
- Keep up with what’s new
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics-
What is P-ACERS-CE
Acronym for those we have sworn to protect
P preparedness – commitment to execute
A assess risk and survivability – incident objectives
C coordinate tactics – incident objectives
E enter survivable areas – incident objectives
R rescue – incident objectives
S stabilize the incident – incident objectives
C controlled the building – support objectives
E extinguish fire – support objectives
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics-
P-ACERS-CE: Preparedness
A commitment to preparedness is the only way of ensuring high level fire and rescue performance.
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics-
P-ACERS-CE: Assess risk and survivability
Size up must be assessed and prioritized prior to initiating an initial action plan. IC/CO must quickly assess risk to firefighters and victim window of survivability.
After assessing risk and survivability and action plan can be implemented.
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics-
P-ACERS-CE: Coordinate tactics
Fire grant success will be determined by the capabilities of unseen fire companies to accomplish tactics and task simultaneously. The ability to coordinate fire attack, search, and ventilation is a game changer.
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics-
P-ACERS-CE: Enter survivable areas
In order to operate at a professional level firefighters must be trained, equipped, and supported to enter survivable areas for the purpose of searching and extinguishing the fire.
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics-
P-ACERS-CE: Rescue
A commitment to preparedness, assessing risk and survivability, coordinating tactics, fire attack, controlling the building, and entering survivable area is what creates rescue opportunities.
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics-
P-ACERS-CE: Stabilize the incident
What search is been completed and rescue performed attention to transfer destabilizing the incident using an approach that poses the least amount of risk to firefighters.
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics-
P-ACERS-CE: Control the building
The importance of coordinating tactics and controlling the building are the most important things that the fire science has reinforced.
Uncoordinated tactics in an uncontrolled building is what positions firefighter for failure. The ability to effectively control the box or building requires experience, working knowledge of fire dynamics and building construction, the ability to read smoking identify flow paths.
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Pillar III: Science justified tactics-
P-ACERS-CE: Extinguish the fire
List rescue rather than extinguishment as an action item because extinguishment is a more obvious and frequent.
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Pillar IV: Standardize deployment model
Coordinated operations are more difficult to achieve without a plan and playbook. The playbook is the equivalent of an instruction manual for TCFD operations.
Deployment models must be department specific, based on size and capabilities of the system.
In the smart philosophy the system is designed to maximize operational capabilities in initial stages. This can be rehearsed in first five minute drill. In TCFD a standard one alarm single-family dwelling brings 21 firefighters to the scene. Nine address fire attack and support fire attack, five or assigned inside and outside truck work, too are responsible for command-and-control, two for medical and rehab and three as a tactical reserve.
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Pillar IV: Standardize deployment model
why it’s smart
What does this pillar accomplish?
How does a standardized deployment model promote improvement?
What other benefits come from the standardized deployment model?
This pillar maximizes capabilities of the system based on an extreme commitment to preparedness in a chosen learning culture.
A standardized deployment model is also necessary for continual operational improvement. Model provides a baseline for evaluating all operations.
Standardized deployment model serves as a template for staffing, apparatus specifications, training, mentoring, and preparedness. Each of these functions are designed around what we want to do as a system.
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Pillar IV: Standardize deployment model
Action steps: 4
- Reference NFPA 1710
- Start with the end in mind and develop a model that is best set up to achieve the vision of operational success. Identify tactics and task that are require expert level skills and knowledge.
- Breakdown operations into activities and make determination on how to best prepare each fire company member for success.
- Is your current model based on success, based on capabilities, or just convenient
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Pillar V: Designated deployment responsibility
Typically referred to as pre-arrival assignments.
He thinks pre-assignments are great
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Pillar V: Designated deployment responsibility
Why it’s smart
What benefit to the fire ground is designated deployment responsibilities?
This philosophy meets one big criteria for small group success. Everyone has an understanding of what role and responsibilities will be at the next fire.
This knowledge positions firefighters for success because they’re able to pair mentally, physically, mechanically, and procedurally.
Firefighters that know their assignments prior have less anxiety, fog of war, and delay, prevent survival stress reaction.
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Pillar V: Designated deployment responsibility
Action steps: 4
- Reference fire operating guidelines and standard deployment model
- Identify the activities that must be addressed in the initial stages of fire event.
- Define the experience and preparedness requirements for each activity
- Designate individual responsibilities to the person best qualified in position to successfully address the tactical task.
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Pillar VI: First alarm considerations
First long considerations are about identifying a reasonable number of options for consideration in the decision-making process.
More isn’t necessarily better in the situation is possible to limit fire ground options to two or three choices.
Limiting choices enhances decision-making process
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Pillar VI: First alarm considerations
Why its smart
Why is it smart to have only a few choices available?
By providing the company officer with limited number of of options to consider we are enhancing their ability to make quick and accurate decisions.
Their experience, maturity, and training will help them choose the best option.
If this is not available because operations are limited they must choose the option that the resources on the scene are capable of accomplishing based on probabilities.
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Pillar VI: First alarm considerations
Action steps: 10
Based on your philosophy capabilities and limitations of the system, list all options and considerations that will assist the initial IC with setting up the offense or defense in choosing the play based on the stage of the fire, thyme, building, risk, and capabilities of the team on the field.
First alarm considerations for IC are:
- Implement a risk management plan at all incidents
- Develop a game plan prior to the event
- Call for help early
- Make the toolbox accessible - truck/rescue location
- Big water
- Build a command staff
- Beef up rapid intervention
- Account for flex time - time to initiate and complete a tactic or task.
- Control communications
- Talk about it - conduct a tailboard review
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Pillar VII: Smart is safer
Smart firefighting is an approach that is designed to position fire companies and firefighters for success and survival.
Being smart is shown in knowing how to identify and manage risk. Being safe is showing how to eliminate or avoid known threats to firefighter safety.
When firefighters are being smart, they are also being safe
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Pillar VII: Smart is safer
Why its smart
Why is smart, smart?
Smart firefighting provides a logical approach for addressing fire problems. It assures everyone on the team is part of the game plan, and they are using the same playbook.
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Pillar VII: Smart is safer
Action steps: 6
- Take time to visualize what operational success looks like at your organizational level.
- List 10 operational considerations that define your vision of success. Divide the list into considerations that are based on safety, and those that require rational thinking. This should begin to give you an idea of what the foundation of your philosophy should be.
- Evaluate how existing safety principles and practices are being perceived and applied. Are they meeting the intent of their purpose?
- What do you want the culture to value safe/smart?
- Under the current operating philosophy, art purpose and mission being met?
- Identify your own 3 to 5 target system outcomes. What do you want the collective effort of your fire department or your fire company to consistently produce?
