Fire Fighting Tactics and Forensic Awareness - Essay Example

Wordcount-2015 Fire fighting tactics and forensic awareness Name Professor Institution Course Date Fire fighting tactics and forensic awareness Introduction According to the report by the US Fire Administration, fire takes place in a housing structure each 79 seconds (Hall 1998, 691). This same report indicates that on average there exist roughly 100 of the firefighters who pass in the line of duty each year. According to Lamm & Walters (2004, 253) numerous of these deaths are linked with structural crumble at the time of firefighting exercise. Firefighting is naturally dangerous with regard to the hazards faced. Firefighters are advised and supposed to put themselves in danger way so as to rescue the lives of people, and they do so willingly and with full knowledge of the prospective consequences. However, this anticipation has resulted in a chronological trend in tactics and strategies which are considerably aggressive, specifically when finding out defensive versus offensive operations (Lamm & Walters 2004, 259). With that realization, this essay discusses fire fighting tactics and forensic awareness which are crucial of fire scene proof presentation. Firefighting is defined as the act of putting out fires (Bernard 2007). A firefighter puts off fires to stop the loss of life, and damage of environment and properties. Fires are at times categorized as one alarm, all hands, two alarms, three alarms (or higher) fires in the US (Bernard 2007). However, no standard definition exists, but it normally means the degree of response by local authorities. According to Thomson (2004) the intention of the firefighter is always to locate the fire, confine it, extinguish it and then give the report of the proof. It may appear simple, but battling a wildfire can be a very complex task. Firefighters must strategize and ensure that everybody in fire fighting operations understands the tactics, the firefighting equipment locations and how the fire is spreading. All wildfire firefighters adhere to a similar motto: rescue lives, houses and property whilst guaranteeing safety for everybody involved (Johnson 2003, 482). Some of the tactics and strategy needed to contain fire includes planning, locating, confining, isolation or tactical ventilation, extinguishing and overhauling the fire (Bernard 2007). Firefighting is considered a great technical skill that needs experts who have hold several years of experience in both typical firefighting methods and specialized in the areas of competence (Johnson 2003, 491). Each year, fire and other disasters take away several of lives and damage properties worth billions. Fire fighters assist secure the public against the dangers by fast responding to a number of damages. They are often the first emergency people at the traffic accident or medical emergency scene and could be called upon to extinguish a fire, take care of the injuries, or carry out other crucial functions. This action not only need strategy but also a tactic which will make sure that injuries are reduced both to victims and also the firefighters. According to Bernard (2007) any job skills with regards to firefighting that firefighters requires to possess; most volunteer and career fire department needs their members to be acquainted with emergency medical technician’s knowledge to assist at the scene. Planning for fire firefighting involves disaster management plans. Firefighter must learn the disaster and fire management skill in depth to qualify as fire fighters. Learning should not just take place once but must be continuous since are changing and different designs of buildings are being brought up, so learning news skills will make firefighter updated on the new strategies (Johnstone & King 2008, 285). Planning also involves knowing how to use fire fighting equipment during the incident. Proper training and drilling is needed here by the fire fighter company or the department concerned with health and safety management at the organization. Bernard (2007) argues that fire fighting involves pre-incident planning which will help in the gathering and getting the information which could be crucial for public safety. Pre-occurrence plans typically include information which will be employed by the decision makers at the scene of the fire (Johnstone & King, 2008, 289). Lives and properties can be rescued when the Incident Commander has the knowledge and access to this vital information concerning the building and building contents. Fire fighting planning is necessary, regardless of what size the fire department could be. A comprehensive pre-planning can assist the Incident Commander to establish what strategy or tactic to use when battling fire and how best to position firefighters and equipment at the scene of the incident (Bernard 2007). Even the smallest towns also have sites or buildings which need pre-planning, particular schools, auto-repair shops, medical clinics or other businesses which might utilize flammable or the dangerous materials. Johnson (2003, 503) posits that as the world is changing rapidly people have ventured into real estate and commercial building leaving only small paths or just government roads. As such many people now cannot locate various places they knew in the past. This arrangement is not a problem of just locating people or building but also very dangerous with regard to disaster management (Johnstone & King 2008, 296). In a nutshell, it makes make rescue mission very difficult when disaster occurs. This situation has made the work of firefighters very hard; they now have to get updated about the building and structures around various towns so that they can provide their services whenever a fire incident takes place. Get fire incident scene is now in itself a strategy. Fire companies have to come up with a map before they can get at the scene of the incident. With new technology online maps, especially GPRS and Google maps have become very important tools for locating a place (Bernard 2007). Locating the scene of the fire is a very fundamental factor to determine whether lives and properties can be rescued. Upon reaching the place of the first thing is to assess the scene check the intensity of the fire and the approach that can be used to rescue people and also extinguish the fire. The incident commander is charged with the responsibility of locating the fire. Knowing the scene and the level of the fire inside a structure creates the platform for the firefighting process. Before one can establish the resources required, it is important to find out the life danger and establish how and where to stop the smoke (Bernard 2007). Another strategy is how to confine the fire. To effectively confine a fire to an area of scene, fire fighters require anticipating the heat discharge of the fire against the capacity of water needed in minimizing and stopping the fire (Hall 1998, 697). Smoke, fire and toxic burning products have to be confined to an area in which the fire began as possible. Closing windows and doors can stop the smoke from moving; discontinue the oxygen flow to the fire, and rescue lives. Employees must not open any door if it is deemed hot. As other team of fire fighters confine the fire, let others evacuate people and properties. Whilst evacuating, carry out a rapid survey to observe, firefighters need to look around to see who may require some help, for instance someone who is too weak, old, child, injured, and any disability among others (Johnstone & King 2008, 311). One of the major dangers of the fire is the poison that comes with smoke. According to Thomson (2004) the smoke contains poisonous gases and heat which can obscure vision. In a situation of a fire burning in a closed place like a building, two varied strategies could be employed, ventilation or isolation of the fire. Concept of tactical ventilation was introduced by Paul Grimwood as a better calculated strategy to this platform of firefighting (Bernard 2007). This term has been officially adopted by the fire service in the UK following Paul Grimwood research a Warrington Fire Research Consultants (FRDG 6/94) his and is now used to all through revised fire fighting services manuals (Bernard 2007). Grimwood claimed that, “tactical ventilation is either the or isolation (containment) or venting actions by firefighters on the fire scene, used to control the fire burning regime from the outset in an attempt to achieve tactical advantage at the interior building firefighting action” (Bernard K, 2007). Ventilation influences fire extinguishment, life safety and property rescue. First, it moves fire far from trapped victims when appropriately applied. In most situations of building firefighting a 4x4 foot access is created on the roof directly above a fire room. This enables gases and hot smokes to escape via the opening brining the room condition to normal. It is critical that ventilation is arranged with interior fire fighting since the ventilation opening hole will provide air to the fire. It could also "minimize spread of fire by directing the fire toward nearby loop holes and enables firefighters to carefully fight the fire" in addition to limiting heat, smoke and the damage that can be caused by water (Bernard, 2007). A crucial lesson learned and highlighted across the fire services is the significance of the early 360º size-up. Today’s fire ground needs a thorough assessment of the structure involved and the possible hazards which exist (Johnson, 2003, p. 488). It is greatly suggested that it turn out to be a standing operating procedure that the first company officer to arrive should carry out a quick 360° survey of the structure as the other crew get ready for the first fire attack. By integrating a quick 360° survey, the officer will be capable of accomplishing the situation such as isolating utility feeds, determining the size the building and construction attributes (Johnson, 2003, p. 501). By switching off utility feeds to the structure, firefighters form secure and safer working settings for the crew that are inside the building. As the officer goes round the structure, he or she switches off the feed valve from the gas if they exist. A rapid assessment of the perimeter of the building offer the fire team leader with a rough idea of the complexity and size of the those who are inside and any prospective distinctive building attributes pinpointing of the flat roof and bind construction with weighted used overhead (Thomson 2004). During assignment hours, the firefighters have to be prepared to react without delay to a fire or other emergencies that may arise (Lamm & Walters 2004). Since firefighting is risky and difficult, it needs teamwork and organization. At each scene of emergency, firefighters carry out specific tasks allocated to them by their superior. Johnstone & King (2008) claim that at fires scenes, they link hydrants to hose lines; operate the pump to convey water to high pressure hoses, and arrange ladders to facilitate them to pump water to the particular fire. They also save victims, offer emergency medical awareness as required, ensure ventilation in the smoke-filled places, and try to retrieve the building contents (Hall 1998, p. 716). Their tasks could shift many times whilst the firefighters are in action. The fire fighter may have very comprehensive strategies and tactics but this may not contain or fight each and every fire that burn buildings (Thomson 2004). Therefore, fire services companies and also health safety departments in every organization must ensure that forensic awareness is created both to the general public and employees to prevent or minimize fire incidents. Johnstone & King (2008, 286) contend that employees and the general public must be reminded that they have legal obligations as an individual to provide for their own safety. The owners and developers must ensure safety of the building emergency doors and also the opening gaps for smokes. Lamm & Walters (2004, p. 258) affirms that companies must train employees on health and safety management. Lastly, foreign awareness will ensure that people know and understand different types of fires and how to handle or react during a fire incident. It can be concluded that, the strong forensic awareness, strategies and tactic on fire service in particular places or companies continue to bring them admiration and rewards, whilst others appear to lead from the destruction path. In other words, they do not give much emphasis on health and safety management, particular with regard to fire safety. This is away of courting disaster. However, Employers, companies or individual home owners are reminded that they must always put in place measures that can help them minimize fire incident so as to reduce extra cost that can arise after fire destructions. References Bernard K 2007, Structural Firefighting: Strategies and Tactics, London, Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Hall, R 1998, Essentials of Fire Fighting, Fourth Edn. Stillwater, OK: Fire Protection Publications, p. 689-732. Johnstone, R & King, M 2008, A responsive sanction to promote systematic compliance? Enforceable undertakings in occupational health and safety regulation”, Australian Journal of Labour Law, 21, p. 280-315. Johnson, M 2003, Fundamentals of Safe Building Design, The NFPA Fire Protection Handbook, 19th Ed., National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, p. 478-509 Lamm, F & Walters, D 2004, OHS in small organisations: some challenges and ways forward” in Bluff, L., Gunningham, N. Johnstone, R., (eds) OHS Regulations for the 21st century, Federation Press, Sydney, p. 252-271. Thomson D 2004, The Firefighter's Handbook: Essentials of Fire Fighting and Emergency Response, Second Edn, Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Publishers. Read More