In recent years, Small Tank Trucks (ST trucks) have become the main vehicles in many fire departments. These trucks are well-suited for immediate fire extinguishing tactics, allowing for the early suppression of fires.
What is Immediate Fire Extinguishing Tactics?
Immediate fire extinguishing tactics, known as “Sokushou” (即消), involve using ST trucks to get as close as possible to the fire scene and quickly extinguish the fire using the water in their onboard tanks. ST trucks can navigate narrow roads, making them effective in densely populated areas with wooden buildings, where early suppression can prevent the spread of fires.
Typically, this tactic involves only one ST truck initially spraying water, while a second arriving fire truck connects to a hydrant to relay water. The third and fourth arriving units cooperate without setting up additional water sources.
Benefits of Immediate Fire Extinguishing Tactics:
- Significantly reduces the time from dispatch to water spraying.
- Fewer hoses needed, simplifying operations.
- Uses only one hydrant, preventing hydrant overload.
Hose Extension Procedures:
For Indoor Firefighting:
- Fire truck → Extend one or two 65mm hoses → Branch pipe → Extend one or two 40mm hoses → Spray water
*Use 40mm hoses for easy maneuverability indoors.
*Do not extend more than three 40mm hoses due to high friction loss.
*Up to two lines and four nozzles can be used for spraying.
For Preventing Fire Spread:
- Fire truck → Extend one or two 65mm hoses → Branch pipe → Extend one to three 50mm hoses → Spray water
*Use 50mm hoses for maximum water flow to prevent fire spread.
*Up to two lines and four nozzles can be used for spraying.
Importance of Immediate Fire Extinguishing:
Fires spread rapidly in a short time. Within about 2 minutes and 30 seconds, a fire can spread to the ceiling. In 5 minutes, the room where the fire started can become engulfed, spreading to adjacent rooms. Once a fire reaches this stage, indoor firefighting becomes difficult.
However, it takes an average of 6 minutes for firefighters to arrive at the scene, making it practically impossible to extinguish the fire before it spreads.
By using immediate fire extinguishing tactics, ST trucks can start spraying water 1 to 2 minutes faster than traditional methods. ST trucks carry about 1000 liters of water, allowing for approximately 8 minutes of spraying at a rate of 110 liters per minute, which is usually sufficient to suppress a fire in a single room.
Shibukawa-Style Fire Prevention Tactics
The Shibukawa Wide-Area Fire Department protects approximately 114,000 people and 46,000 households in one city, one town, and one village.
The Shibukawa-Style Fire Prevention Tactics, developed by the Shibukawa Wide-Area Fire Department in Gunma Prefecture, have significantly reduced the spread of fires compared to the national average. This strategy also incorporates immediate fire extinguishing tactics, excelling in the speed of water spraying and the efficiency of firefighting operations. Due to its high level of completion, it is considered a leading fire extinguishing strategy in Japan.
Reference page: “Key fire characteristics: combustion elements, smoke risks, toxic gases, and safe firefighting techniques.”
References National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
