1Front.qx4 12/2/99 3:31 PM Page i COMMAND AND CONTROL OF FIRES AND EMERGENCIES VINCENT DUNN ® Disclaimer The recommendations, advice, descriptions, and the methods in this book are presented solely for educational purposes. The author and publisher assume no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage that results from the use of any of the material in this book. Use of the material in this book is solely at the risk of the user. Copyright© 2006 by PennWell Corporation 1421 South Sheridan Road Tulsa, Oklahoma 74112-6600 USA 800.752.9764 +1.918.831.9421 [email protected] www.FireEngineeringBooks.com www.pennwellbooks.com www.pennwell.com Production Editor: James J. Bacon Cover Designer: Steve Hetzel Book Designer: John Potter Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dunn, Vincent — 1935- Command and control of fires and emergencies / Vincent Dunn p. cm. ISBN13 978-0-912212-84-5 1. Command and control at fires. 2. Emergency management. I. Title TH9310.8.D85 1999 363.37’5--dc21 99-29952 CIP All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transcribed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America 6 7 8 9 10 12 11 10 09 08 copyright.indd 1 9/7/08 12:00:02 PM 1Front.qx4 12/2/99 3:31 PM Page iii Dedication This book is dedicated to fireground commanders. 1Front.qx4 12/2/99 3:31 PM Page iv 1Front.qx4 12/2/99 3:31 PM Page v Acknowledgments I would like to thank, first and foremost, Chief Tom Kennedy of FDNY for his expert advice over the years, as well as for a chapter-by-chapter review of this text. His knowledge has made this a better book. Thanks also to Jeff Barrington, editor of Firehouse magazine and Janet Kimmerly, editor of WNYFmagazine. Special thanks go to Faith Dunn for the original illustrations, as well as to the following photographers for the outstanding fire scene photos: Warren Fuchs, Harvey Eisner, Alan Simmons, Steven Spak, Matty Daly, Bill Thompson, Peter Bossio, Jay Heath, Joe Hoffman, John Calderone, Chuck Wehrli, Marc Breault of the Daily News, D.D. Holmes, Arthur Knobloch of the New Jersey Metropolitan Fire Photographers Association, Mike McGevna, Chip Tate, and Tom McNulty. 1Front.qx4 12/2/99 3:31 PM Page vi 1Front.qx4 12/2/99 3:31 PM Page vii CONTENTS Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix 1 Command Presence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Life-and-Death Decision Making . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 3 Locating a Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 4 Size-Up of a Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 5 Command and Control at a Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 6 Hoseline Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 7 Preventing Fire Spread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 8 Changing Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 9 Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 10 Using Elevators at Fires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 11 Stairways and Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133 12 High-Rise Firefighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143 13 Wildfires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173 14 Terrorism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183 15 Fireground Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 16 Demobilization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219 17 Fireground Dangers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229 18 Products of Combustion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .239 19 Managing Fireground Risks and Dangers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .255 Epilogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265 Answers to Study Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .269 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285 vii 1Front.qx4 12/2/99 3:31 PM Page viii 1Front.qx4 12/2/99 3:31 PM Page ix PREFACE This book is written for the fireground commander. Who is a fireground commander? He could be a company offi- cer who is first on the scene, a tour commander, battalion chief, a district chief, a deputy chief, an assistant chief, or the chief of the department. Because of expanding duties, the command and control of fires and emergencies has become a small part of a fire chief’s responsibilities. It remains, however, a vital part. Budgets, administration, political interaction, medical response, fire prevention inspection, community relations, and union negotiations now demand most of his time. Because of these additional responsibilities, more than ever before, the busy fire officer rising up the ranks of an orga- nization, or a chief at the top, needs a practical guide on the subject of command and control of fires and emergencies. It is my hope that this book will be that guide. ix