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Residential Search; Complacency and Priorities
When answering an alarm for a residential fire there are many tasks and priorities that must be addressed by the responding companies. One of the most important yet frequently overlooked tactics is the various and multiple potential rescue scenarios that the first arriving companies may be confronted with.
The primary decision faced by the first arriving unit is something that the company officer must decide on his own, whether or not to keep the balance of the alarm assignment responding code three or to slow them down or even cancel all additional units.
Many firefighters are familiar with the fire service axiom that states the first five minutes will decide the outcome of the entire incident. Unfortunately, it is all to common to hear radio traffic that downgrades the response or even cancels the balance of the alarm assignment when the first company arrives on scene to find nothing showing from the exterior. More times than not, this radio report usually happens before there are firefighters inside the occupancy. “Engine 1 is arriving at a two and a half story single occupancy dwelling. There is nothing showing. All companies with the exception of Engine 1 can cancel.”
This is a scenario that repeats itself hundreds of times a day across the country. Activated residential alarms are a typical response for any fire department. And, with the proliferation of monitored residential alarms this type of response is becoming all the more of a daily occurrence. Regrettably, the reality of this situation is that over 80% of these calls are false alarms that end up serving to create a lackadaisical attitude within firefighters. The other side of the coin that goes hand in hand with these activated residential alarms is that 66% of all firefighter fatalities occur at an incident that could have been controlled with one attack line and which the initial size up report was “nothing showing”.
The correct and responsible tactical action for the company officer in this situation is to keep all responding companies coming code 3 until firefighters can actually gain access to the occupancy, or at the very least visualize the interior and verify there is no emergency. Making tactical decisions from down the block, based on bystander information or basing actions on the last twenty false alarms is irresponsible and unprofessional and this behavior will come back to haunt. Additionally, responding companies and officers must take in to account that they may not be in full possession of all the information that the dispatcher has gathered.
Moreover, how unprofessional and irresponsible would it be for the first arriving company officer to cancel the balance of the alarm assignment only to have them re-dispatch, usually in a very excited manner, two minutes later?
Responding companies can always be slowed down to code 1 or even canceled after the alarm status is verified. Consider how outraged the public would be to find out that a police officer assessed then canceled off of a bank hold up alarm from the parking lot without ever actually entering the bank? Yet this is what many fire companies are doing every day when they respond to a residential fire alarm.
Keeping all dispatched companies responding code 3 may seem like a waste of time and resources to some, especially given the high percentage of false alarms in the residential occupancy. That being said, of all the services provided by the fire department, seeing into the future is not one of them. Each and every alarm must be treated as an actual emergency until it can be verified as a false alarm. Therefore, it could be successfully argued that complacency is the largest contributing factor in many of the actual residential fires in which a civilian and/or firefighter is killed.
Firefighters that are operating in an investigative mode at activated residential fire alarms must do so with a full compliment of tools that should include, at a minimum, full p.p.e. and s.c.b.a., a set of irons (eight pound flat head ax and Halligan bar), the can (a pressurized two and a half gallon water extinguisher) and a six-foot hook (pike pole). Also, all members should be equipped with portable radios and flashlights. An activated residential alarm must be treated as an actual emergency until firefighters have verified the situation.
While operating in the investigative mode firefighters have already initiated the search. A search is firefighters actively looking for something, whether the search is for fire, assessing interior conditions or searching for victims.
When carrying out a primary residential search for victims during a working residential fire, operating firefighters must remember the High Target Areas within a residential occupancy. The High Target Areas are the locations within a residential occupancy that a victim in need of rescue is most likely to be found by searching firefighters.
The High Target Areas, in order of priority are:
1. In direct proximity to the main/front door to the occupancy
2. The bedrooms
3. The bathrooms
The vast majority of victims that are rescued from a residential fire occupancy are usually located within several feet of the main door to the occupancy. This is the door that the occupant is most likely to use. These are the occupants that may have been attempting to exit when they were overcome by the noxious environment.
The second most likely place for victims in need of rescue to be located is in the bedroom area. Most people that are aware of a fire will usually attempt to self-rescue. Those that are unaware would be those occupants that are asleep, sick or invalid. When searching the bedroom firefighters should remember to search but not enter the closets located in the bedrooms. Closets and all that they hold are potential entanglement and death traps for firefighters. Searching members should sweep the closet interior with their hand, as this will afford the best opportunity for the firefighters too identify objects.
Firefighters should also be aware that it is not just children that hide during chaotic and dynamic events; elderly people will many times react in a childlike manner to these hyper-dynamic situations and will hide when they perceive danger or are trapped by a fire.
Lastly, and most overlook by firefighters during the primary search are bathrooms. The bathrooms must also be searched because trapped victims are drawn to them for the misguided belief that this is a safe room. Victims believe that the tub, the shower spray or the tile will provide and element of safety for them while they await rescue.
When responding to residential fire alarms or performing a residential search firefighters must be vigilant and guard against the worst enemy of all; complacency. Following established procedures and following safety guidelines will keep responders safe and efficient. Residential fire alarms must be treated as actual emergencies until proven otherwise. And, when firefighters are a performing the primary search of a residential occupancy the High Target Areas should be the initial main focus of their efforts.
The primary decision faced by the first arriving unit is something that the company officer must decide on his own, whether or not to keep the balance of the alarm assignment responding code three or to slow them down or even cancel all additional units.
Many firefighters are familiar with the fire service axiom that states the first five minutes will decide the outcome of the entire incident. Unfortunately, it is all to common to hear radio traffic that downgrades the response or even cancels the balance of the alarm assignment when the first company arrives on scene to find nothing showing from the exterior. More times than not, this radio report usually happens before there are firefighters inside the occupancy. “Engine 1 is arriving at a two and a half story single occupancy dwelling. There is nothing showing. All companies with the exception of Engine 1 can cancel.”
This is a scenario that repeats itself hundreds of times a day across the country. Activated residential alarms are a typical response for any fire department. And, with the proliferation of monitored residential alarms this type of response is becoming all the more of a daily occurrence. Regrettably, the reality of this situation is that over 80% of these calls are false alarms that end up serving to create a lackadaisical attitude within firefighters. The other side of the coin that goes hand in hand with these activated residential alarms is that 66% of all firefighter fatalities occur at an incident that could have been controlled with one attack line and which the initial size up report was “nothing showing”.
The correct and responsible tactical action for the company officer in this situation is to keep all responding companies coming code 3 until firefighters can actually gain access to the occupancy, or at the very least visualize the interior and verify there is no emergency. Making tactical decisions from down the block, based on bystander information or basing actions on the last twenty false alarms is irresponsible and unprofessional and this behavior will come back to haunt. Additionally, responding companies and officers must take in to account that they may not be in full possession of all the information that the dispatcher has gathered.
Moreover, how unprofessional and irresponsible would it be for the first arriving company officer to cancel the balance of the alarm assignment only to have them re-dispatch, usually in a very excited manner, two minutes later?
Responding companies can always be slowed down to code 1 or even canceled after the alarm status is verified. Consider how outraged the public would be to find out that a police officer assessed then canceled off of a bank hold up alarm from the parking lot without ever actually entering the bank? Yet this is what many fire companies are doing every day when they respond to a residential fire alarm.
Keeping all dispatched companies responding code 3 may seem like a waste of time and resources to some, especially given the high percentage of false alarms in the residential occupancy. That being said, of all the services provided by the fire department, seeing into the future is not one of them. Each and every alarm must be treated as an actual emergency until it can be verified as a false alarm. Therefore, it could be successfully argued that complacency is the largest contributing factor in many of the actual residential fires in which a civilian and/or firefighter is killed.
Firefighters that are operating in an investigative mode at activated residential fire alarms must do so with a full compliment of tools that should include, at a minimum, full p.p.e. and s.c.b.a., a set of irons (eight pound flat head ax and Halligan bar), the can (a pressurized two and a half gallon water extinguisher) and a six-foot hook (pike pole). Also, all members should be equipped with portable radios and flashlights. An activated residential alarm must be treated as an actual emergency until firefighters have verified the situation.
While operating in the investigative mode firefighters have already initiated the search. A search is firefighters actively looking for something, whether the search is for fire, assessing interior conditions or searching for victims.
When carrying out a primary residential search for victims during a working residential fire, operating firefighters must remember the High Target Areas within a residential occupancy. The High Target Areas are the locations within a residential occupancy that a victim in need of rescue is most likely to be found by searching firefighters.
The High Target Areas, in order of priority are:
1. In direct proximity to the main/front door to the occupancy
2. The bedrooms
3. The bathrooms
The vast majority of victims that are rescued from a residential fire occupancy are usually located within several feet of the main door to the occupancy. This is the door that the occupant is most likely to use. These are the occupants that may have been attempting to exit when they were overcome by the noxious environment.
The second most likely place for victims in need of rescue to be located is in the bedroom area. Most people that are aware of a fire will usually attempt to self-rescue. Those that are unaware would be those occupants that are asleep, sick or invalid. When searching the bedroom firefighters should remember to search but not enter the closets located in the bedrooms. Closets and all that they hold are potential entanglement and death traps for firefighters. Searching members should sweep the closet interior with their hand, as this will afford the best opportunity for the firefighters too identify objects.
Firefighters should also be aware that it is not just children that hide during chaotic and dynamic events; elderly people will many times react in a childlike manner to these hyper-dynamic situations and will hide when they perceive danger or are trapped by a fire.
Lastly, and most overlook by firefighters during the primary search are bathrooms. The bathrooms must also be searched because trapped victims are drawn to them for the misguided belief that this is a safe room. Victims believe that the tub, the shower spray or the tile will provide and element of safety for them while they await rescue.
When responding to residential fire alarms or performing a residential search firefighters must be vigilant and guard against the worst enemy of all; complacency. Following established procedures and following safety guidelines will keep responders safe and efficient. Residential fire alarms must be treated as actual emergencies until proven otherwise. And, when firefighters are a performing the primary search of a residential occupancy the High Target Areas should be the initial main focus of their efforts.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Dave LeBlanc on January 27, 2009 at 5:54am -
Brick and Marques,
A quote I learned a long time ago;
"Overkill Saves Lives" "I'd rather have them coming and not need them, then find out I need them and they are not coming."
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Comment by Marques Bush on January 26, 2009 at 9:44pm - Hey Brick my pleasure! You hit a subject that most don't want to mention and that is lack of ability. The lack of ability comes from sitting on the couch and not training. Technology not only ruined the american family but in some respect has ruined the fire service e.g. Cell phones DVR things that firefighters would rather be doing instead open and closing compartment doors or reading one of Chief Dunns many books. Had to say that Im re-reading safety and survival on the fireground. So I say to company officers get off your ass an train your men and your life depends on it. The time to find problems is during drill not on the fireground that normally leads to injury or worst death. Making mistakes makes you human but training to correct that mistake makes you professional. One of the best Quotes ever I read on this site " Training is not something you do until you get it you train until you can't get it wrong. Brick sorry for ranting again. STAY SAFE!
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Comment by Michael Bricault on January 26, 2009 at 9:12pm -
-Marques, thanks Brother. And you brought up a point that I tried to make; except I went the long way around the barn. To long winded I guess. That happens with age.
-The point Marques made very succinctly is stage the companies. It is better to have them and not need them instead of needing them and not having them. Stage the companies.
-If chiefs and company officers are canceling companies because of the potential of accidents then maybe there needs to be some serious driver training taking place and some officers held accountable for not controlling the driver. This can also be an officer telling the driver to speed up. The driver should be in control of the apparatus and the company officer should be in control of the driver.
-If the driver is doing his job the boss is free to address other things.
-Marques, I do like the quote. LOL
KEEP THE FAITH
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Comment by Michael Bricault on January 26, 2009 at 8:57pm
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-Todd, you may be on to something. I think we all know a few of those insecure firefighters/company officers. And the reason for their insecurity and subsequent micromanaging? Their lack of ability.
-I really believe the military can teach a lesson here. The captain of a ship is the last word on decisions but he places a great deal of faith in the advice of the senior master chief. A general is the man that makes the call for the troops in the field and yet receives advice and concealing from his officers and his senior NCOs. In fact, company and unit officers depend on their senior NCOs in giving guidance and advice to them as well as insuring that their orders are followed. The NCOs insure the boss's orders are complied with as well as taking care of training new members in what is expected of them.
-Insecurity hidden underneath micromanaging? Sure but, only because they really are covering up for their own inadequacies.
-A good leader will understand that he can't do it all and in fact a great leader will direct new members to the senior man. An old lieutenant I had told me once that there is a reason for having four sets of eyes and hands on the truck, because one man cannot do it all.
-As a company officer if you say that your senior man is not competent or capable then that is your fault. Make him aware of your expectations. Take the corrective actions to make him competent and then turn him loose.
-Instill pride in your members; company officer to senior man, senior man to junior man to newest member.
-I heard an instructor once tell some new recruits that his job was to teach them to love the job as much as he did. The logic is that if they loved the job they would treat it well, take it seriously, protect it, excel at it and take pride in it.
-Just a few thoughts.
KEEP THE FAITH
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Comment by Marques Bush on January 26, 2009 at 8:43pm
- Brick love the post brother It is very irrespponsible and unprofessional to cancel the assignment until you kow that everything is truly ok. Chiefs have started harping on firefighters about the dangers of other responding apparatus getting in to accidents for nothing so we are now trying to cancel before truly verifying everything is ok. Safety is not an excuse not to do your damn job. The assignment is coming for a reason. I do believe one reason assignments are cancelled is because officers aren't taught how to use ICS very well and to that I say; Staging was invented for a reason! If you don't need all the personnel in the dwelling while investigating STAGE them for the love of GOD don't return them only to request them back. We are not superheros although I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! All of you guys are correct it comes down to leadership. To the firefighters not carrying a tool as a friend of mine says well they are just well dressed spectators get in the game. Sorry for my ranting! Stay Safe
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Comment by Todd Trudeau on January 26, 2009 at 3:38pm -
Absolutely, since I've signed onto FE, I've gotten a renewed sense of pride and even more love for this calling. The members here show that tradition and pride and spirit for the job are alive and well. I thought it was lost in the hum drum of the times and that is not case.
If there was a way to inject this attitude across the entire fire service, what a powerful group that would be!!
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Comment by Jeff Schwering on January 26, 2009 at 1:20pm - Dave and Todd, Ego is a huge part of things. Holding formal or informal leaders back is a moral busting thing, being held back can come from both sides, higher or lower. As a company officer, we sometimes find ourselves "fighting", for lack of a better term, with upper level folks or our own "union brothers and sisters", at least in my neck of the world. I have taken the approach, to continue to move forward and keep folks safe, regardless of the BS. When I need a taste of TRUE BROTHERHOOD! I can sign on here and recharge my batteries. Like Brick said, "KEEP THE FAITH"
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Comment by Dave LeBlanc on January 26, 2009 at 12:33pm
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Ego is certainly part of it. Without a strong sense of leadership from the top, the mid level leaders are forced to try and shape their groups/companies to their standard. But with no recourse - ie upper level support, the informal leaders can erode that effort.
If the Company Officer is sitting on his/her hands and someone else in the group takes the initiative, then that can be perceived as a threat and often ends up in a confrontation.
Sometimes that is necessary regardless of the consequences. Lead, Follow or get out of the way.
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Comment by Todd Trudeau on January 26, 2009 at 12:27pm
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Do you guys feel that egos can be a big part of the problem? I know I've seen it first hand, the formal leaders become quite upset when the informal leaders take some initiative and attempt to teach the younger guys some tips or whatever. I think their perception is the informal leader's goal is to make them look bad.
That's hardly the case, but it does go on. I believe the formal leaders would be better served by embracing the informal leader's drive and building from that and helping that person to become an even stronger leader.
I was always told change comes very slow in the fire service, it's taken along time to get away from the traditions and basics of this great job. Hopefully the return trip will be quicker.
Lead, Follow or Carry My Gear!!
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Comment by Michael Bricault on January 23, 2009 at 9:38pm
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-Art, again... thank you for the insightful words. We are all leaders within our respective departments, our respective stations and companies and of course the fire service at large.
-With leadership comes the mantle of instructor. We all bear the responsibility to teach.
-Like it or not, every rookie that walks in the door is looking at you for guidance and direction. Teach them well when they are young and when they are old they will not depart from it.
-Thanks again Art
KEEP THE FAITH
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