Chief Concerns Richard Marinucci
What would you say if you saw a job description that said you could break and smash things, cut things up with power saws, and not get in trouble for doing it?
Would you say, “Where do I sign up?” Think about it; this is basically what we ask of the members of truck companies or those assigned to truck functions. This is not intended to make light of the important work that they do so please, no hate mail. The point is that up until recently, truck company functions have been based on the ability to gain access to buildings and provide ventilation. There are other things to do, but in the initial stages of a structure fire, this is what they do along with the most important responsibility—search and rescue.
For a very long time during my career, there were a couple of basic things to consider: open up the building to get the fire to light up (so you could find it), get the smoke out (usually with vertical ventilation) to improve visibility and survivability, and make sure entrances and exits were maintained. The smoke removal with vertical ventilation had real benefits, but a lot of its basis for use predates the use of self-contained breathing apparatus. But, as we should all know by now, the fire dynamics and fire behavior studies are providing much more information that does affect the choice of tactics. When coupled with changes in building construction, truck companies and truck functions require much more thought and a resistance to do things the same way every time. This is not the time to hit the “autopilot” button.
The discussion must begin with building construction. The importance of staying current with your knowledge of building construction cannot be overstated. Knowing as much as possible about how a building is erected can provide vital information on its strengths and weaknesses when under fire conditions. Methods are changing rapidly. Part of the challenge is to retain what you know and add in the evolving methodologies. There is a need to continually study.
- Truck Company Operations
- Reevaluating Truck Company Operations
- Time to Review Truck Company Operations
- Evolving Truck Company Operations
- Evaluating Truck Company Operations
The most critical change in construction is the use of lightweight materials that reduce the mass of the wood, steel, or other materials being used. With less mass, it takes less time for the component to fail. This information is essential in determining how much time you will have to accomplish your assignment. Through training and incidents, you should know how long it will take to complete your work. For vertical ventilation, how long will it take to access the roof and make your cut? Compare this to the anticipated time before the structural materials will fail. Is it realistic that you can take the action you normally take knowing you probably don’t have the time to ventilate prior to falling through the roof? This is a challenge that needs to be taken seriously, and relying on what previously worked could lead to bad outcomes.
Increased security measures create more challenges for forcible entry. As crime in some areas becomes more of a threat than what people believe they face from fire, they tend to bolster their security. This can make access during an emergency more time consuming and difficult. If there are bars on the windows or glass has been hardened, it not as simple as breaking the window. If stronger locks and more durable doors are used, expect this to take more time. You need to know what changes are occurring in your jurisdiction so you can have the tools available, practice, and train.
There are ongoing studies showing fire behavior and the effects of building layout, building content, flow path, and wind-driven fires. All of these demonstrate that your work environment is getting more complex. This is the result of changing fuel loads. You should know that the fires you face are burning faster and hotter. All of this creates the “perfect storm” for hostile fire events that can create extremely dangerous circumstances that need proper decision making when selecting strategy and tactics. This relates to the truck companies and truck company functions, as fire spread and early building failure are the two chief considerations when determining the appropriate action to take. Opening all the windows used to work in almost all cases. Now it can make things worse in a hurry. Weather, especially wind speed and direction, should factor greatly into tactical considerations.
Matching faster fire spread and hotter fires to lightweight building construction enhances the likelihood of structural collapse and the failure of structural members. Firefighters working in areas with legacy buildings or older have operated on roofs for relatively long periods of time. When a structure has nominal dimensioned lumber, the time to collapse is probably outside the range of time needed to vent a roof. When the components change and the fire advances more quickly, expect that the time will likely be less than it will take to perform your assignments. Rethinking and retraining could be required. Ongoing education into new information must be factored into all operations and training.
Truck company operations are absolutely necessary for rescue operations and support of engine company operations. The reality of modern firefighting is that there needs to be continual evaluation of the work environment and a subsequent matching of appropriate strategies, tactics, and tasks that work in circumstances that may be unique at each fire based on what is known regarding construction and fire behavior. Truck company members and those assigned to the function must have a lot of tools in their toolbox, solid training, and the ability to think to determine the best approach. The job must be accomplished without undue risk. This is not to imply that risk can be removed, but the argument needs to be made that one approach to this critical work is not the way things need to be done.
Being on a truck company or assigned to truck company functions used to be relatively simple and fun. You basically broke things and got them out of the way so the engine company could get water to the fire. Ventilation—break every window. Really! We can do that without getting into trouble? Break the door down. Climb the ladder and cut a hole with the saw or swing an ax. Who could ask for more? But, fire dynamics and building construction have complicated things a bit and require more thought and less “autopilot.” More training and education are needed to improve efficiencies and effectiveness. This must include more options and methods. Strive to be an expert by continually honing your knowledge, skills, and abilities.
RICHARD MARINUCCI is the executive director of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) and chief (ret.) of the White Lake Township (MI) Fire Department. He retired as chief of the Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department in 2008, a position he had held since 1984. He is a Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment and Fire Engineering Editorial Advisory Board member, a past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and past chairman of the Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation. In 1999, he served as acting chief operating officer of the U.S. Fire Administration for seven months. He has a master’s degree and three bachelor’s degrees in fire science and administration and has taught extensively.
