Firefighting Tactics, Forensic Awareness, and Fire Scene Evidence Preservation - Term Paper Example

Firefighting Tactics, Forensic Awareness and Fire Scene Evidence Preservation Introduction Awareness and attitude are essential traits that firefighters should possess, in order to preserve the fire scene. The possible outcomes of investigation and the consequences of their operations should be crystal clear to firefighters. Such clear vision will enable them to appreciate the significance of their function in the investigative process[Smi971]. However, a conscious effort has to be undertaken by firefighters for this to transpire. The NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, was developed by the Technical Committee on Fire Investigations. The objective of that guide was to improve the process of investigating a fire, as well as the quality of information on fires emerging from the process of investigation. The projected target audience for this guide were employees of the public sector, who had been statutorily vested with the responsibility of undertaking fire investigations[Nat98]. In addition, the private sector individuals undertaking fire investigations for insurance firms or for litigation purposes had been made the target audience of that guide. The avowed aim of the Technical Committee on Fire Investigations was to provide fire investigators with guidance that was based upon scientific research and scientific principles[Nat98]. Firefighting Tactics and Objectives The background and objectives of firefighting tactics have been discussed in the sequel. First, prevention, which involves ensuring that fires do not take place. This is to be achieved by controlling and safeguarding fire sources. Second, communication, which ensures that occupants are informed whenever an ignition takes place[Sto14]. Such communication, will facilitate the initiation of any active fire safety system. Third, escape, which guarantees that the occupants of the building on fire and its surrounding areas, can repair to a safe place, prior to being exposed and harmed by the smoke and heat. Fourth, containment, which ensures that the fire is circumscribed to the least possible region, thereby limiting the extent of damage to property. Fifth, extinguishment, which ensures that the fire can be doused rapidly and with a minimum of consequential damage to the building[Sto14]. A perusal of these firefighting tactics, in a logical manner, provides the insight that prevention is the first prerogative. When this fails, the other tactics have to be considered. All the same, the reality is that fire prevention is bound to meet with failure at some stage, when the building in question, has been in use for a long time [Sto14]. This makes it indispensable to make provision for the other tactics. Incident Command The Incident Command System (ICS) is the doctrine of the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) with respect to operational incident management, leadership, and the functional command and control process that ensue from it. This system is regarded as the nationwide safe and efficient mechanism for administering operations. It highlights the critical elements of effective incident command in functional areas[Her082]. Speed and Weight of the Response Speed and weight of the response includes; first, organisation on the incident ground, which provides the incident commander with an accepted system, whilst organising and using resources at an incident. Second, incident risk management, which enables the incident commander to identify the dangers, evaluate the risks, and implement the necessary control measures prior to deploying the firefighting personnel in a risk area. Third, command competence, which considers the knowledge, skills and comprehension to be necessarily possessed by the incident commander[Her082]. Moreover, this system emphasises the importance of preserving such competence. Firefighter Duties The functions associated with fire suppression forces, vis-à-vis fire investigation on the scene are set out below. First, observation, this constitutes the ability to perceive the specific elements, conditions, and circumstances of the fire and fire scene. In the usual course, firefighters are ideally placed to observe the fire scene in a minimally disturbed state during and immediately after the fire. It has been noticed in several instances that these observations tend to be vitally important for establishing the presence and location of physical evidence[Smi971]. Second, recognition, which states that firefighters have to identify physical evidence. This enables the investigator to isolate the region where the fire had originated. Third, preservation, this declares that the fire materials at the scene of the fire have to be safeguarded by the firefighters at that place. In addition, such materials have to be carefully preserved for the purposes of analysis, documentation, and collection. Fourth, notification, subsequent to discovering and safeguarding artefacts, firefighters have to inform the incident commander[Smi971]. This will ensure that the authority administering collection and documentation of the evidence is duly notified. In addition, the brief instructions or orders made by the officer in charge at the site of the fire to a junior officer could possess an extremely intricate connotation. This transpires when there are sound norms and appropriate participation, effective coordination and cooperative practices. The lower-level officer assumes the following responsibilities, upon accepting the orders or instructions. First, to determine the tactical measures and to bring in the objectives required for attaining the goal or objective. Second, to alter the tactical steps, wherever so warranted, in order to realise the objectives. Third, to notify the officer in charge, immediately, upon discovering the resources to be insufficient for achieving an objective[Car073]. Training The training imparted to firefighters should repeatedly stress upon the manner in which fire gases tend to form and disseminate in a structure. In addition, this training should describe risk assessment from the perspective of the dangers related to backdrafts, flashovers and other types of rapid fire progress[Gri03]. Another important facet of such training, has to necessarily be information regarding the wide range of offensive firefighting applications. These include direct attack, which employs water and CAFs; indirect attack; and the present day 3D water-fog applications. These applications should be clearly understood by the firefighters, and they should practice them under a wide range of firefighting settings. Despite, the possible high cost of such training, it is of tremendous benefit. Australia, Sweden, UK and a few other nations have incorporated structured Compartment Fire Behaviour Training programmes, which have significantly limited fatalities and serious burn injuries among firefighters[Gri03]. Fire Extinguishing Techniques Water The use of water has the greatest effect upon the fire, specifically whenever a straight stream of water is made to impinge upon the ceiling of the fire compartment. This water flow, should be continued for 10 to 20 seconds. The adoption of this procedure enables the heated gases to escape form the fire compartment, whilst cooling the heated fuel inside the compartment[Int149]. Ventilation Research has shown that fires, taking place in modern residential homes, tend to develop limited ventilation. As a result, the introduction of air into such fires leads to a rapid growth in the fire. In addition, several research studies have established that the entry of fire fighters through a front door of a dwelling brings in sufficient air to the fire area, and that this leads to flashover and rapid growth in the fire. Therefore, it is incumbent upon firefighters to determine what ventilation is. As such, the opening of a roof, door, skylight, or window introduces oxygen into a building, and this promotes the growth of the fire[Int149]. The fire service has been guilty of not teaching its personnel that entering a building causes ventilation of the same. As such, several studies have demonstrated that opening the front door of a building has a substantial effect upon the growth of the fire. In fact, several experiments have conclusively proved that opening the front door leads to a violent flashover[Int149]. Isolation of the Area Firefighting is effective, only when there is a co-ordinated attack upon the fire. In this context, it is indispensable to effect a co-ordinated entry that involves ventilation of the fire area, its isolation from the surroundings, suppression of the fire, and rescue of the individuals trapped within that area [Int149]. Foam Systems During the recent past, several companies had developed mobile compressed-air-foam (CAF) systems for being employed in firefighting. Pressurised air is injected into a foam solution to produce CAF. Mobile CAF systems are novel fire suppressing devices that have acquired considerable favour with the fire services[Kim121]. Copper powder can be utilised for putting out fires. This can be done with portable hand-held fire extinguishers. The preferred propellant in such fire extinguishers is argon. In addition, the application procedure is similar to that of the other fire extinguishers that employ metal powder. In this class of fire extinguishers, the fuel surface is covered with powdered copper during the primary pass. This is followed by a throttled application, as soon as control is attained[Cot03]. Chemicals It is essential for firefighters to be aware of the reaction of chemicals in a fire. For instance, some chemicals can be extinguished with water; whereas, others cannot be subjected to such treatment, as an explosion can result from such contact. Therefore, new firefighters have to study chemistry, during their induction training Furthermore, these individuals should be provided information regarding physical fitness, equipment handling, team building, and the manner in which buildings collapse. With respect to extinguishing a fire, the aim is to enter the building and undertake firefighting. This is described as offensive firefighting. On the other hand, fighting the fire from outside the building is termed defensive firefighting. [Duf02]. Overhaul The major portion of the evidence that has not been damaged by the fire, is displaced or destroyed during the overhaul stage of firefighting. The exercise of excessive overhaul, before the fire scene has been examined by the investigator, can alter the outcome of the investigation. It could even lead to failure to establish the person responsible for the fire or the area of origin of the fire[Smi971]. It would be most beneficial if an investigator at the fire scene, supervises the overhaul operation, as this will safeguard the fire scene. Incidents of Ineffective Fire Fighting On 1 February 1996, a fire broke out in Wales, in a two-storey house. Initially, six firefighters arrived at the scene of the fire, and were faced with the task of rescuing children trapped on the second storey. These firefighters found that heavy smoke was billowing from the eaves of that house. However, they decided to rescue the trapped children, without adopting an interior fire attack or fire isolation strategy. In addition, two hose-lines that had been deployed at this structure, were not brought into use[Gri03]. Subsequently, the flames issuing from the kitchen window and the compartment fire developed to a post-flashover stage. This was accompanied by a distinct gravity current with huge volumes of thick black smoke from the doorway at the front entrance. The strong backdraft claimed the life of two of the firefighters, as the fire raged for several minutes. Three days, after this terrible tragedy, a female firefighter lost her life in a backdraft that transpired in one of the super-markets of Bristol. Four firefighters, including this unfortunate lady, had made their way into the structure via the main entrance. Their aim had been to deal with fire. At that juncture, a layer of dense black smoke was seen to be swirling, and to rise and fall continuously[Gri03]. At that juncture, a layer of dense black smoke was seen to be swirling, and to rise and fall continuously. Within five minutes of their entering the building, an intense wind penetrated the main entrance, and this resulted in the flames being bent inwards. The fire gases went up in flames and this conflagration spread across the store. The fire spread under and within the fibre-board ceiling, with a velocity of five metres per second. One of the firefighters was prostrated by the shockwave accompanying this rapid movement of the fire[Gri03]. This incident highlighted the consequences of ignoring tactful knowledge in firefighting. Conclusion Over the past decade, firefighting has relied more on analysis rather than individual strength. The contemporary firefighters have to analyse risk assessments rapidly, under tremendous pressure, and consider an ever increasing knowledge regarding the behaviour of fire It is indispensable for the contemporary firefighter to possess a pragmatic, as well as theoretical comprehension regarding the development of fires and their possible behaviour under a wide range of ventilation parameters. This should be with respect to all types of structural environments. As such, firefighters should possess knowledge regarding the fire sciences, the skills of risk assessment and novel tactics to deal successfully with fires. References Carter, H. R. & Rausch, E., 2007. Management in the Fire Service. 4th ed. Sudbury, MA, USA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Cote, A. E., 2003. Operations of Fire Protection Systems. Quincy, MA, USA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Duffy, J., 2002. The art of firefighting. [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 November 2015]. Grimwood, P. & Desmet, K., 2003. Tactical Firefighting. [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 November 2015]. Her Majesty's Government, 2008. Fire and Rescue Manual. Volume 2 Fire Service Operations. [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 November 2015]. International Association of Fire Chiefs and National Fire Protection Association, 2014. Evidence-Based Practices for Strategic and Tactical Firefighting. 3rd ed. Burlington, MA, USA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. Kim, A. K. & Crampton, G. P., 2012. Evaluation of the Fire Suppression Effectiveness of Manually Applied Compressed-Air-Foam (CAF) System. Fire Technology, 48(3), pp. 549-564. National Fire Protection Association, 1998. NFPA 921. Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 November 2015]. Smith, D. W., 1997. The Firefighter's Role In Preserving The Fire Scene. Fire Engineering, 150(1), pp. 103-108. Stollard, P., 2014. Fire from First Principles: A Design Guide to International Building Fire Safety. 4th ed. 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