Round Pegs in Square Holes: Implementing Tactics that Work for Your Agency

How many agencies take the time to analyze their tactical proficiencies and truly are honest about their success in relation to their capabilities?

All fire agencies, unfortunately, are not created equal.  We know that many are better staffed, better trained, have more experience, and more resources.  It is an unfortunate fact.  The bottom line; however, is that we all have the same objectives and mandates to our sworn citizens:

• To save lives
• To protect property
• Limit harmful impact to the environment.

In order to achieve these goals, each agency must take a hard, honest look at their: capabilities (resources and staffing), their limitations, and their response areas/target hazards. After this self assessment is complete, you can then prioritize and assign fire ground functions  in order to create safe, efficient, and effective operations.

Do not use a cookie cutter approach to developing standard operating procedures.  Do you think that you can place a line in the same manner as the FDNY with an engine staffed with 3 personnel and limited truck companies?   This could lead to operational disaster.

Consistency to safe, effective, and efficient fire ground operations begins with a game plan.  Develop and implement standard operating guidelines tailored for your needs and abilities.  The strategy and objectives remain the same, it's how we implement and deliver the strategy through the fire ground functions (tactics) which must be customized.

Safe    Effective   Efficient