Door Control in Firefighting: Essential Tactics for Fire Safety

When firefighters tackle building fires, managing doors, windows, and other access points is crucial for safety and efficiency. This practice, known as door control, is vital for controlling the spread of fire and protecting the safety of both firefighters and building occupants.

In the past few decades, modern fires have become more dangerous due to changes in building materials and construction techniques. Therefore, it’s important for firefighters to understand the basic dynamics of how fires behave today. One key concept directly related to door control is ventilation-limited fires and the fire’s flow path.

Understanding Ventilation-Limited Fires

A ventilation-limited fire occurs when the oxygen supply is restricted, causing the fire to slow down or smolder. This changes dramatically when more oxygen is introduced, such as when a door or window is opened. The fire can suddenly reignite and grow more intense.

The fire’s “flow path” refers to the movement of smoke, heat, and flames inside a building, typically traveling from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. By managing doors, firefighters can control this flow, reducing the spread of fire and improving their safety.

The Importance of Door Control in Modern Firefighting

Although door control may seem like a new concept, it has been practiced in various parts of the world for decades. Firefighters are now being taught that controlling doors upon arrival at a fire is one of the first steps to take.

In the United States, numerous research projects have demonstrated how effective door control can be. Experiments involving both single-story and two-story homes have shown that leaving the front door open leads to rapid fire growth due to the influx of fresh air. In contrast, when door control is maintained, the fire’s growth is slowed, giving firefighters more time to work.

For example, in a single-story home where the fire was far from the front door, controlling the door slowed the fire significantly. In two-story homes, the effects were even more dramatic, with door control almost completely halting fire growth in some cases.

This shows that managing ventilation points, particularly doors, can prevent fire intensification. A door isn’t just an entry point for firefighters; it’s also a critical ventilation point. By controlling when and how a door is opened or closed, firefighters can limit the fire’s access to oxygen, slowing its growth and giving them a better chance of controlling it.

Managing Fire Spread with Door Control

The importance of door control goes beyond just limiting the fire’s spread. It also affects how firefighters advance their hoses and manage fire suppression operations. The firefighter responsible for door control must track how many hoses have passed through the door and how far the interior team has advanced inside the building. This information is essential for coordinating the firefighting effort.

Additionally, the door control firefighter must assist with horizontal ventilation, which refers to controlling how air moves through the building. They need to continually assess the changing fire conditions, adapting as necessary.

This role is physically demanding and requires a keen awareness of the fire’s behavior. The firefighter should keep the door as closed as possible while still allowing hoses to pass through. This is where tools like door stops and webbing come in handy, making it easier to manage the door’s movement without letting too much air into the structure.

Another crucial task for the door control firefighter is feeling the hose line for water flow. This tells them when the interior crew is applying water to the fire, helping them coordinate efforts more effectively.

By performing all these actions correctly, the firefighter significantly reduces the amount of fresh air reaching the fire, which helps slow the fire’s spread and improves the safety and efficiency of the interior team.

Detailed Door Control Actions

When managing door control during a fire, even seemingly small actions can have a large impact. The inflow of air when a door is opened can drastically change the fire’s behavior, often for the worse. To prevent this, the door control firefighter plays a key role in managing the flow of air and smoke.

Key Considerations for Door Control:

1. Door Type and Position: The door control firefighter needs to pay attention to whether the door opens to the right or left, whether the doorknob is positioned for easy access, and whether the door opens inward or outward. These details affect where hoses and equipment are positioned.
2. Minimizing Airflow: Before entering a building, if the fire needs cooling, firefighters should open the door just enough to allow water to be sprayed inside, minimizing the inflow of air. Once the interior team enters, the door should be closed as much as possible while still allowing the hose to pass through. This keeps the fire from growing larger due to additional oxygen.
3. Using Tools: Door stops and webbing can help maintain control of the door, allowing the firefighter to focus on managing the fire and keeping the hose moving freely. If the hose gets stuck, the door control firefighter may need to assist by entering the building and adjusting the hose’s position.

Immediate Action Upon Arrival

When firefighters arrive at the scene, they may find a door already open. In most cases, this door should be closed immediately to prevent air from feeding the fire. Fires that have progressed beyond the initial stages are often ventilation-controlled, meaning that closing the door will restrict the fire’s oxygen supply and slow its growth.

There are few situations where closing a door immediately would be a bad idea. However, if the fire has not yet reached a ventilation-controlled stage, closing the door may have little effect. Some firefighters may worry that closing the door could make it harder for trapped occupants to escape. However, in most cases, leaving a door open creates a dangerous flow path that intensifies the fire and reduces the chances of escape.

Closing the Door After Entry

Once inside the building, the door control firefighter should aim to keep the door as closed as possible. This limits the amount of oxygen the fire receives, slowing its growth and minimizing the risk of fire spreading toward the entrance.

Managing Room Doors During Searches

In the past, firefighters were trained to leave doors open during room searches, as the rising smoke could improve visibility. However, modern firefighting recognizes that horizontal ventilation can also create dangerous flow paths. If the door serves as an intake for air, the fire could spread more quickly into the room being searched.

For this reason, it’s now recommended to close room doors during searches to prevent creating a flow path that feeds the fire. Firefighters can tactically ventilate the room if necessary, but keeping the door closed until then is safer.

Final Thoughts: Tactical Ventilation and Door Control

After completing a primary search, whether or not to leave a room door open depends on the situation. If the fire is under control and the open door supports ventilation, it may be left open. However, if the door’s position doesn’t support the ventilation plan, it should be closed to prevent further fire spread.

Door control is a crucial tactic in firefighting, with far-reaching implications for safety and fire management. By understanding and implementing door control practices effectively, firefighters can reduce fire growth, improve their operational efficiency, and ensure the safety of everyone involved.

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