Some say firefighters are just kids at heart. If that is true, what could be better than doing truck work? You get to break windows without getting into trouble. You have really cool tools to play with.
You get to break into buildings, climb ladders, cut holes, do a lot of damage looking for hidden fire, and the like. What is not to like? But, and yes there is always a but, times are changing, and random truck actions are not the best way to support the overall operations on the fireground. Departments must review their standard operating procedures (SOPs) to make sure they are in line with the intended outcomes. They also should look at the tools they are using to evaluate the capabilities for the results they are seeking.
There is a lot more information on flow paths and wind-driven fires than ever before. This is really good information that places scientific data as a factor in decision making regarding support operations. Knowing what the effects of ventilation are on fire development and propagation should be the basis of operations, not random acts or standard practices used in every situation. Through studies, we are finding that some of the previous understanding of fire behavior may not be exactly what is happening. Contributing factors to this are changes in fuel loads in buildings and building construction.
By now everyone should know that the materials used for building contents are mostly petroleum- or synthetic-based. They burn faster and hotter, generating British thermal units not what used to be expected with natural products. They also generate more smoke—and denser—with more chemicals within. Tactics to address these challenges need to be evaluated for two reasons: to select the best option to control the fire and to protect firefighters from unnecessary risks. As smoke is fuel, and the fuel is getting more volatile, there must be an evaluation of the potential for hostile fire events and a study to learn how more educated predictions can be made. One of the most basic concepts reaffirmed by the studies is that water application is good. So, perhaps, truck work needs to be actions that support the quicker application of water.
While the official studies have done much to direct pertinent changes to operations, it might also be a good idea to review some of the basic concepts of fire behavior. Remember the fire triangle? Heat, fuel, and oxygen are needed for a fire. The fuel is producing more heat and toxins. The flow of oxygen contributes to the fire. More energy-efficient structures can limit air flow and lead to hostile fire events. The basic concepts remain, but the environment has changed. Your workplace is not the same, and the approach may need to be adjusted.
Building construction changes will merit a change in truck company tactics. As the research shows, fires are reaching flashover very quickly and heating to higher temperatures. When this is matched with the lightweight construction methods used, the result will be structural failure or collapse much sooner. In some studies, this can be as little as 5 minutes of fire impingement on structural members. If you have roofs and floors supported by materials that will fail in 5 minutes, then roof operations will not likely be possible. You will need a different method to vertically ventilate or patience for nature to take over. For floor assemblies, interior access will need continual evaluation to make sure there is adequate support.
Operations will require sound practices and proper techniques. They will also need good use of tools and related safety items. Some of this means always crawling and sounding out floors and roofs before stepping where there may not be a floor or roof. Look at options for tools that can be used in these circumstances and other considerations. Keep researching to look for alternative solutions that make sense within your organization.
Realistically, what do your resources allow you to do? This can be both the number of responders you have and the response time. If your truck company gets to the scene with the engine company, you can do things a certain way. If you have limited truck company coverage for your district, they may arrive too late to operate above the fire. In other cases, the truck functions may come from all-purpose engines that are expected to do everything.
Regardless of equipment, SOPs, and regular practices, training remains the most essential component to sound operations that deliver the right service for the specific incident and acceptable risk taking that minimizes the chance of unnecessary injury to firefighters. Often, the training for truck company functions involves learning the proper use of tools and repetition to attain competence. This is extremely important but does not address the complete package. Training and education must include items that will allow for good decision making based on the circumstances encountered. One of the most critical areas of study must be building construction. The building is our work area, and we must know as much about the building as possible in a very short period of time.
Too often, personnel don’t stay as current as they need to with respect to construction materials and methods. This must change; regular training and learning in this field must be mandated within the organization. If your training in building construction has not taken place in the past few years, you are missing some significant changes that will affect your operation and safety. The purpose here is not to provide a building construction class but to encourage you to review your base knowledge and how your next “work station” will behave under fire conditions. This will also require you to look in your community to determine construction methods used, both past and present. This will allow you to make better decisions regarding truck functions and avoid “automatic” actions.
Doing things the way they have always been done “just because” is not prudent in a rapidly changing world. In the history of the fire service, operations have changed to address challenges based on what has been learned from the past. Today, we have more than just history to learn from. The more information that becomes available from the various studies being released, the more there should be an evaluation of truck company operations. The basic concepts remain but things like flow paths, lightweight construction, and wind-driven fires should cause departments and individuals to continually evaluate tactics and strategies. One size does not fit all, and putting the operation on “autopilot” cannot be the standard. Well-rounded training programs that include not only skill development but also education to improve problem solving are essential to ensure great service and safety to our members.
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.
