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From The Jumpseat: Things Happen Fast - Be ready.
By Mark Cotter
I had the jumpseat for a reported structure fire in our first due, and thought I was ready. Flames could be seen blowing from the street side of the single-story bungalow as we turned the corner. My seat lacked an SCBA, and my riding position assignment had me making the hydrant connection, so I was delayed in my approach to the fire. The officer and the two firefighters in the "mask seats" stretched the initial attack line.
Occurring on a weeknight, apparatus from other stations were quickly staffed and fast approaching, and our crew had maybe a sixty second lead on other responding companies. In addition, a volunteer officers' meeting had been in progress as the alarm came in, so the truck, the second-due piece from our station, was staffed entirely of personnel with white helmets or white shields. Fortunately, the hydrant was directly across from the fire building, allowing the pump operator to make the connection himself. I went to the side compartment to obtain one of the extra SCBAs.
As I donned my mask and turned on the cylinder valve, a tremendous hiss of air emanated from the air pack. It stopped me in my tracks as I reached back to try to determine if I had somehow loosened the fittings. Another firefighter inspected my SCBA from behind and announced that it was missing a gasket, rendering it useless. The time it took me to discard this SCBA and obtain another, even allowing for my first turning on the cylinder to check for a leak before donning this time, probably took only 20 seconds, but it might as well have been an hour.
I rounded the engine again to find the truck blocking my way to the fire building, the second-due engine facing it from the other direction, and swarms of yellow-clad firefighters already disembarking. The roof was being opened, a second line had been stretched, and clouds of steam had replaced the flames that were present just a few moments before. The fight was over, and I had missed it.
My captain was descending from a search of the attic when I met up with him, trying to apologize to him through a face mask, but my own disappointment far outweighed any on his part. In other words, I hadn't been missed. With the only task left being overhaul, my contribution to that firefight consisted of assisting the crew of officers in sifting through debris.
It could have gone much worse had backup units not been so punctual; had the officer been required to remove a victim; had the door required force for entry; had a backdraft situation been present; and so on.
With a crew of four, one being the pump operator, the officer is pretty much stuck with the nozzle crew, and is able to perform just limited activities. Even though he or she is not operating the hoseline, the need to maintain contact with the rest of the team makes it a leash of sorts. With five firefighters on the apparatus, though, performing multiple, simultaneous, remote tasks becomes an option, roughly doubling the capabilities of a three-person interior crew. That extra person can be the difference between a save or a recovery; an effective interior attack or a defensive withdrawal; timely ventilation or a backdraft. Still, having the right number of personnel on scene is just part of the puzzle. Their readiness and effectiveness is equally vital.
Being prepared involves activities that occur long before an alarm is received and the apparatus pulls up at the scene. More often than not, such things as the depth of thought and planning that go into SOPs and apparatus design, and the quality and frequency of training provided, have more influence on the actions of the crew than the tactics that even the best officer can devise at the scene of an emergency. Careful and comprehensive apparatus and equipment inspections and maintenance are equally crucial, as the example above demonstrates. Without addressing these fundamentals, avoiding mishaps at a quickly evolving emergency scene is reliant on nothing more than good luck.
Once an alarm is received, we improve efficiency by requiring that PPE be donned prior to any response that might result in its need; mandating SCBA use whenever an IDLH environment is even possibly present; filling standard assignments and positions routinely; maintaining crew integrity everywhere; and operating under a unified command always. There is no chance at an emergency scene for a "time out" to prepare better, or a "do over" to address things forgotten.
Accompanying the increased speed of fire attack is the responsibility for everyone to prepare and take care. My SCBA mishap is an example of the importance of maintaining the integrity of each component of our emergency response system - PPE, hoselines, radios, pump, each other - everything. Other significant areas of concern include the need for strong incident command to monitor conditions, activities, and personnel, and SOPs that are crafted so as to maintain both safety and efficiency.
This week's FTJ Lessons:
- Being ready is part of everyone's job.
- No one will wait for you, but you might (still) be missed.
Ensuring that all parts of the fire attack mechanism are operating as designed is a constant challenge. Through these basic practices, though, we can remain both effective and engaged. In other words, ready.
Mark Cotter joined the fire service more than 30 years ago, and is currently a volunteer firefighter/EMT-B with the Salisbury (MD) Fire Department. Previously, he served with departments in New Jersey and Pennsylvania as an EMT-paramedic, emergency services consultant, and fire chief. You can reach him at fromthejumpseat@comcast.net.
