Over the past decades, the evolution of the fire service has greatly expanded firefighters’ mission and the subsequent expectations of those tasked with carrying it out. At the same time, our ability to find, train, and retain staffing to meet those demands has become much more difficult. As we ask more of our personnel much earlier in their careers, we find ourselves struggling to overcome the inverse relationship between the responsibilities of daily operations and the time given to gain the necessary training and experience to accomplish them. Attempts to bridge this growing gap with private sector strategies have moved us out of the field, causing us to overlook the fact that we serve our citizens outside the walls of our firehouses far more than we do inside of them.
As most training and education has shifted to emphasize computer-based training, certification programs, and compliance metrics that are primarily conducted and completed in a classroom or office, the art of learning the coverage area has become optional rather than necessary. We have developed a blissful ignorance of sorts, forgetting that aside from an occasional walk-up request for service, our real work is done in the street. The result is firefighters who prefer to remain reclusive in their firehouses, basing their decisions on a cursory knowledge of the roads, buildings, hazards, and people found in the areas we protect because they are content to check the boxes of standards measured by hours logged instead of hours earned.
Whether referred to as a jurisdiction, zone, district, due, or other local term describing the communities we protect, there is a wealth of information available simply by exploring our response area. However, we can only obtain that information by normalizing daily routines that place our personnel outside the fire department’s facilities, constantly engaged where they will be called to respond. The more time we spend in our dues, the more we realize the importance of being in them.
Lay of the Land
Regardless of incident type, our ability to mitigate any emergency hinges on our ability to locate it. Yet, as technology has become the primary source of call data and navigation, knowledge of our roadways has greatly diminished in many departments, along with the expectation that one would be able to move through the district without mapping software. With map books and area familiarization being phased out for mobile data terminals and cell phones, we are one dead battery or Internet outage away from feeling the negative effects of turning a tool into a crutch.
- Mayday Monday: Know Your Response Area
- Learning Streets by Zones
- Main Street USA: Preplanning Your First-Due Response
- Know Your Buildings
Regardless of available technology, we have a duty to remain knowledgeable of the roads and topography of our dues. This starts with knowing how to properly route to major roadways, key landmarks, bridges, and tunnels. It includes learning block numbers, traffic patterns, and hours of congestion. It requires finding and monitoring road construction projects and associated closures or detours. It should also identify target hazards, recreational areas, problematic stretches of roadway, and areas of limited access. Once we are really dialed in we will also know the location of hydrants and their capabilities, the size of water mains, and where we can expect long hose lays or water shuttle operations. Although the availability and reliability of technology has greatly improved, effectively transiting the district requires far more knowledge and skill than simply following a line on a map!
Life, Fire, Layout
The preservation of life is why we exist and should be the basis of any, and all, of our actions. The term “life, fire, layout” has become a popular size-up tool because it provides key information to guide our operations. The same basic concepts can be applied to sizing up our territories.
Although we typically associate the preservation of life with victim rescue, it begins well before we arrive. Start by identifying different types of occupancies in the district and where we can expect to find life in them. Explore the buildings, talk to the occupants, and look for indicators of living spaces. Start simple and look for working smoke alarms, providing or replacing as needed. Next, consider the occupancy. Is it single family, multifamily, high rise, healthcare, commercial, industrial, or some combination of these? When are the buildings typically occupied? Do we have residential homes or apartments being illegally subletted, commercial buildings with hidden living areas, or vacant buildings being unlawfully occupied? Will we access victims by window or door, ground ladder or aerial device, or use the building’s stairwells or fire escapes? Are there building features or security measures that may impair our ability to reach and/or remove victims? How can we overcome them? Remember, garages and carports are frequently used more often than a traditional front door, and therefore are where we are most likely to find those attempting to escape hostile conditions under duress. Search may be our first opportunity to rescue someone, but it is the citizen’s last chance for survival. The more we know about where to find them, the more we increase their chances of survival!
Considering cooking, heating, and smoking are the most common causes of home fires, where are the kitchens, living spaces, and bedrooms located? What building clues will help find them, such as window size or orientation, vents, or utilities? Are there any hazards on the exterior which could cause a fire that may extend into the building, such as fuel tanks, burn pits, grills, or smoking receptacles? Is there reason to suspect an increased fire load or hoarder conditions? What is the setback and how will it impact our hose stretches? Where can we expect our first line to go and what obstacles may be in our way? What about plans for water supply and ventilation? Where will we deploy ladders if there are no obvious rescues or victim locations? How do these same factors play out in mansion-style homes or commercial buildings? There are endless scenarios when it comes to planning for fire suppression, and while we will never hit them all, the process builds unit cohesion and reduces our reaction time on arrival.
Even if we have access to every blueprint in our area, the only way to truly learn how our buildings are laid out is getting in and around them. From subdivisions to strip malls, learning layouts can be quite daunting, however, there are usually common arrangements found in our districts. Determine if there are common floor plans in each neighborhood and identify custom homes that deviate from local arrangements. Visit buildings, look around on nonfire related responses, and frequently explore realty websites and open houses. Remodels and renovations may move interior walls, but load-bearing walls, access points, stairwells, elevators, roof access, and other major building features generally remain intact. Learn the location and operation of fire alarm panels, HVAC systems, and fire protection equipment. The more familiar we are with the layouts of the buildings we will occupy, the better suited we become to finding victims and reaching the seat of the fire without becoming disoriented ourselves.
Building Intelligence
The building is our adversary, especially once it is exposed to fire. Understanding how different building methods and materials react to fire is of little use if we are unfamiliar with the buildings in our dues. Whether we realize it or not, our districts are constantly changing. From new buildings to new occupants, what is there today may potentially be gone tomorrow. Regardless of how the district is changing, modern building practices can present new hazards or even mask old ones. We must purposely explore the structures in our dues beyond cosmetic features and obvious indicators. This includes accessing attics and crawl spaces, occupying roofs, and even respectfully moving drop ceiling tiles aside to see what is above them. What are the common styles of building construction? Are there new styles that mimic old ones? Are basements or crawl spaces more common? What about daylight or walkout basements? How do we access them? Are the roofs stick-built or trusses? What materials are being used and how will they fail? What is the level of craftsmanship? What about hidden features such as chases, chutes, or dumbwaiters? Even the type and design of the stairwells could have major tactical considerations. This information is even more important when we get into condos, apartments, row homes, taxpayers, and high rises.
Special Hazards
It is easy to take the building for granted, especially when our knowledge of the due is formed strictly from responses. We can all too easily fall into the assumption that everything in our due is similar when in reality the opposite is true. From unique building designs to on-site materials, we are often forced to enter structures blindly, armed only with the limited information found in our call notes or a hopefully accurate, thorough, and updated preplan.
Be proactive in locating and identifying even the most uncommon hazards. Consider the number of buildings that present one way from the Alpha side but are almost a completely different structure when viewed from the Charlie side. What about open pits, self-closing doors, or cold storage? How about machinery or chemicals used in processes that must be controlled or are stored in bulk? Are there lifts or vehicles powered by propane or batteries? If so, are those power sources stored and refreshed in the building or somewhere else? Are there workers who have an intimate knowledge and can help us plan our strategies? All it takes is a few days out and about in the district to realize how little we know about many of our buildings.
Everything Else
Although much of our preparation is and should be centered on structural firefighting, there is plenty of knowledge to be gained for other types of responses as well. The building, location, and contents can still present unique challenges even without smoke or fire conditions present, especially for victim access and removal. This is why we should also be planning for the demands of a medical response, transportation incident, technical rescue, or mass-casualty event. Will forcible entry be a challenge? How many rescuers will fit in a bedroom or stairwell? Will the stretcher fit in the elevator? Could a rope system and litter be necessary? What mile marker or exit will give us the best access? Where is the nearest river or lake access point? How will we reach a victim on a tower or tank? Where can we stage a large number of apparatus and where will they come from? Knowing the resources, strategies, and tactics the building or location may require in advance will pay dividends in conducting smooth, prompt operations when the time comes.
Practice Makes Perfect
Training in the due is a nice change of pace from the apparatus bay, training center, or station parking lot, where the majority of our hands-on training takes place these days. It also offers another level of realism, giving us actionable knowledge for a real incident. There are many evolutions that can be accomplished during a site visit, ranging from apparatus placement to ladder throws. Buildings under normal operation provide a greater understanding of where people are located, how parked vehicles and traffic will impact apparatus maneuvers and spotting, and even the flow we can expect from hydrants in the area during different times of day.
Buildings that are in various stages of construction or renovation can provide more in-depth reps in areas such as hose advancement and search. Training in actual buildings is extremely beneficial for testing our movements and tactics. How many pinch points are between the front door and the furthest point of our stretch? Will our preconnected hoselines be adequate, or will we have to extend or build, and if so, how? Should we add a longer preconnect or some hose packs? How much of the building can the aerial scrub and from where? What can our ground ladders reach? Where will we search and how will we do so? While tabletop and simulated scenarios will exercise the mind, addressing scenarios in the field will exercise the mind and body along with our strategies and tactics.
There are many tactful ways to use real buildings in our preparation, however we must be mindful to ensure we are not trespassing or causing damage to private property. Remember, permission is always the best currency, even if forgiveness is still a valid form of credit, in most cases. Whether requesting access from the property owner or explaining the evolution to a bystander or employee, we will have the best results when we are polite, informative, respectful, and appreciative. Although it will catch people off guard from time to time, once they understand what we are trying to accomplish, they are generally thankful that firefighters are out learning how to save them rather than showing up without a plan!
Interest and Interaction
Of all the things we will come across while out and about in the district, the people we serve are probably the most overlooked and underutilized. Who better to provide us with information than the people we swore to protect? It is paramount that we make every effort to interact with the public whenever we are out. From the daily trip to the grocery store to taking up after a run, every time we leave the firehouse we are given an opportunity to speak to our primary stakeholders, determine their needs, and inform them about the capabilities of their fire department. We tend to forget that the public may know very little about what we do and how we do it beyond what they see on television or in a movie. Don’t miss an opportunity to sell the department, both for support and recruitment. Besides, if we are not purposely interacting with our citizens, we are certainly not seeing the entire picture of our districts!
Sharing Is Caring
Knowledge is power as they say, but when it comes to area knowledge, we aren’t looking for power, we are looking to empower. Information should be shared with other shifts, stations, and aid agencies. Use time trades, overtime shifts, and mutlicompany training evolutions as opportunities to pass on knowledge to others. Invite other companies or departments that may respond with you to site visits and tours, as coverage allows. Add descriptions, directions, and pictures to preplans. Compare notes with other stakeholders such as fire marshals, code enforcement, building engineers, or your geospatial information system (GIS) technicians. Whether passed on through paper, computer, or personal interaction, the information obtained from the due doesn’t become knowledge if it is not available for use.
Due Diligence
Whether assigned to operations, training, or administration, we cannot effectively plan and execute the mission if we lack adequate knowledge of the features and needs of the communities we serve. The characteristics of our dues should be the foundation of equipment specifications, response matrixes, strategic planning, and tactical selections. Our methods must be built from practical application rather than preferential acceptance. Whether finding the most efficient route to an incident or targeting the most likely location of victims, intimate knowledge of our primary and neighboring dues can easily be the difference between failure and success on our next run. So, no matter what our role may be within our departments, we must ensure we regularly get outside our firehouses and perform our due diligence!
MARC ALOAN is a battalion chief with the West Columbia (SC) Fire Department and creator of The Fire Inside (thefireinside.org). He is an active speaker, author, and instructor with 20 years of combined volunteer and career service. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire protection administration and a master’s degree in organizational leadership.
