Fire Fighting

Fire Fighting skills are crucial, and everyone must improve them.

Here are the abilities required for firefighters:

Understanding Fire Behavior

Size-Up Skills

Water Discharge Techniques

Ventilation

Mentality (Panic Control)

Basic Physical Fitness

On-Site Experience

I will focus on three of these abilities.

Size-Up

Perform Size-Up Accurately!

Conduct Size-Up with the Whole Team!

Hone Your Size-Up Skills!

What is Size-Up?

The first firefighters to arrive at the scene must conduct a size-up, which means assessing the situation. They gather information, observe, and predict what might happen next. This forms the basis for developing a strategy. Fire command involves repeatedly performing this series of tasks, starting with the size-up, until the fire is completely suppressed.

All fire situations require a size-up to determine the most effective way to attack and control the fire without endangering the team. If the entire fire scene cannot be seen, it’s especially important to search the front of the fire. Even very small fires need a size-up to determine the size, type of fuel, behavior, and line position. Most fire size-ups take only 1 to 2 minutes, unless there are special circumstances.

When a 119 Call is Made (Fire Report)

Listening to the details during the call is also an important part of the size-up. This is usually the job of the dispatcher.

How big is the fire?
What is burning?
Are there any injured or trapped people?

En Route to the Scene

Performing a size-up while in the vehicle is crucial.

Can you see the fire?
What color is the smoke?
What is the wind direction and strength?
What is the weather like?

Upon Arrival at the Scene

The first few minutes are critical for the success of the operation. Failing to conduct a proper size-up can lead to failure. Take the time to size up the fire!

Appropriate water discharge and control actions can only be executed if the fire situation is fully assessed or sized up.

Part of the size-up is already done through fire reports, weather forecasts, and smoke observations.

As soon as possible, safely walk around the fire or inspect it from a vantage point. However, if the fire is moving rapidly or if you can judge the head and behavior of the fire from a good vantage point, do not circle around it.

What to Look For

Location and size of the fire
Type and amount of burning fuel
Amount and type of smoke
Type of terrain in the fire’s path
Flame length and spread rate
Irregular fire behavior
Weather conditions and their impact on the fire
Barriers such as roads, rivers, or barren ground

Decisions to Be Made

Where to attack the fire (front or side)
How to discharge water (direct or indirect)
Position of the nozzle
Time needed to build control lines
Necessary help (reinforcements, etc.)

Size-Up Training Videos

Practice sizing up when you get to the field! Watch this video to help you determine your strategy.

Example

A fire has broken out in a single-story wooden house.

[Information to Search]

Location and Size of the Fire
Flames of 2 meters high inside the room on the right.
Type and Amount of Fuel Burning
Contents within the building.
Amount and Type of Smoke
Yellow smoke in the front, black smoke in the back. Large quantity, indicating incomplete combustion.
Terrain Types in the Path of the Fire
Risk of spreading to the garage on the left.
Length and Spread Rate of the Flames
Flames piercing the ceiling, indicating rapid expansion.
Irregular Behavior of the Fire
Future movements need to be predicted.
Weather Conditions and Their Impact on the Fire
Little smoke movement, indicating no wind.
Obstacles Such as Roads, Rivers, and Barren Ground
No major obstacles, but front garden plants might obstruct water spraying.

Example

Weeds burning over an area of about 2 square meters.

[Information to Search]

Location and Size of the Fire
Flames covering an area of about 2 square meters in the front.
Type and Amount of Fuel Burning
Weeds.
Amount and Type of Smoke
White smoke, indicating complete combustion.
Terrain Types in the Path of the Fire
Risk of spreading to the woods on the right and the weeds at the back.
Length and Spread Rate of the Flames
Potential for rapid and wide spread.
Irregular Behavior of the Fire
Future movements need to be predicted.
Weather Conditions and Their Impact on the Fire
Little smoke movement, indicating no wind.
Obstacles Such as Roads, Rivers, and Barren Ground
No major obstacles, but spraying from the back is dangerous due to the slope.

Note: This is just a training exercise, and there is no correct answer. Each situation varies. Watch various videos to train yourself in assessing the size and dynamics of fires.

Water Discharge Techniques for Firefighting

Gone are the days when putting out fires involved simply dousing them with large amounts of water. Today, effective firefighting requires strategic water discharge techniques. Here are some key methods used in modern firefighting.

Straight (Jet) Stream

This is commonly used to target the fire directly or to prevent its spread. The water is discharged in a strong, straight line, allowing it to reach far distances.

Method: Aim the straight stream at the fire source for less than 2 seconds, delivering a solid mass of water.

Video: Watch from 13:00 for a demonstration of straight stream discharge.　movie

Pulse (Spray) Stream

By rotating a turbine, the water is broken down into a fine spray. This helps clear visibility and lowers gas temperatures.

Caution: Pulse spraying can put air into the flame and destroy the thermal layer, posing a serious risk.

Video: See a demonstration of pulsed discharge.

Penciling

This technique involves alternating between straight and pulse streams. Use the pulse stream to cool flammable gases and the straight stream to extinguish burning materials. Proper nozzle control and water flow management are crucial.

Video: Watch to see the effective use of penciling, starting from 1:20.

Broken Stream

When entering a burning building, high indoor temperatures can make entry impossible. In such cases, use a straight stream from outside to strike the walls or ceiling of the combustion room. This can lower the room temperature to about 200°C within approximately 10 seconds. This method is known as the broken stream technique.

Video: Watch from 1:00 to see the effectiveness of the broken stream. Enable Japanese subtitles for better understanding. Note how the temperature drops from 1400°C to 200°C.

Transitional Attack

After performing a broken stream to cool the space, enter the building and use a straight stream to extinguish the fire source. This sequence of actions is called a transitional attack.

Benefits of Straight Stream:

Minimizes air intake, preventing fire pushback.
Maximizes water entry into the room by striking the ceiling or walls.
Allows continuous smoke exhaust pressure through windows not covered by the water stream, facilitating the release of hot smoke and steam.

By mastering these techniques and understanding when to use them, firefighters can effectively control and extinguish fires while minimizing risks.

Superheated steam

Superheated steam refers to steam gas that is obtained by further heating saturated steam, resulting in steam that is hotter than 100°C. When water is sprayed onto fire, a large amount of this superheated steam is produced.

If water is carelessly sprayed, steam can be generated, leading to injury accidents. When steam is further superheated to over 200°C, it can even burn paper. This principle is applied in cooking appliances like “steam ovens,” which cook food by “baking” it with superheated steam over 300°C. If the superheated steam fills the oven, it creates a situation similar to being inside an oven. This superheated steam attacks randomly, making it impossible to protect oneself with just a shield. Therefore, in many foreign countries, fire protection hoods are considered essential.

Water can become your greatest enemy if used incorrectly!

Here is the translated and simplified text.

Ventilation

What is Ventilation?

Ventilation refers to the process of promoting air circulation, ventilation, and the exchange of indoor and outdoor air. In the context of building fires, ventilation is a crucial tactic used to expel thick smoke and heat from a building.

It is important to note that ventilation can sometimes accelerate the progression of a fire.

Types of Ventilation (Remember these three types)

Horizontal Ventilation This involves creating openings in a building horizontally, such as by opening or breaking windows and doors, to allow smoke to escape.

Vertical Ventilation This involves creating vertical openings in a building, typically by breaking the roof, to allow smoke and flames to escape upwards. In the United States, vertical ventilation is common, often performed by ladder teams using tools like engine cutters or chainsaws.

Water Flow Ventilation This method uses the water sprayed by firefighting teams to create ventilation. It requires setting up intake and exhaust openings. For example, in an apartment, the entrance can serve as the intake, and the balcony can be the exhaust. Firefighters spray water from the entrance, pushing smoke and heat towards the balcony. This technique utilizes the air movement created by water spray to achieve ventilation.

Is Ventilation Unnecessary?

Despite the explanations of ventilation methods, some countries with a high number of apartment buildings generally consider ventilation unnecessary. Here are the reasons:

In countries with densely packed housing, horizontal ventilation can pose a high risk of spreading fire to neighboring buildings.
Unlike in the United States, many countries have buildings with roofs made of tiles or strong slate, making it difficult to create vertical openings.
Urban areas often have many overhead wires, making it hard for ladder trucks to access buildings.

Most importantly, remember that ventilation can sometimes accelerate the progression of a fire.

Unless all team members are well-versed in the characteristics of smoke and fire and have undergone repeated live-fire training, performing ventilation may be premature.

Ventilation should be reserved for situations where there are people in need of rescue or for water flow ventilation after the fire has been suppressed.

Door Control

Previously, we discussed ventilation, but I believe that firefighters should focus on door control instead. It is crucial to avoid intentional ventilation, or “not ventilate.”

Key Points of Door Control:

Minimize Openings: Avoid opening or breaking any openings as much as possible. If openings (like windows or doors) are already open upon arrival, close them if you can.
Controlled Entry: When extending hoses and entering a building, open doors minimally to prevent air from flowing in. This will help control the fire.
Close Internal Doors: After entering the building, keep any internal doors that are not necessary for your entry closed. This helps prevent the fire from spreading, reduces the risk of the fire growing, and minimizes the risk of injuries to the team.

Why Door Control Works:

Fire Needs Oxygen: Fires cannot sustain themselves without oxygen.
Extinguish Fires by Closing Openings: Simply closing openings can help extinguish the fire.
Do Not Leave Openings Open: Never leave openings open during firefighting operations.

By focusing on door control, we can effectively manage fires and enhance the safety of both the firefighters and the building occupants.

Reference page: “Key fire characteristics: combustion elements, smoke risks, toxic gases, and safe firefighting techniques.”

FIRE RESCUE CLUB

Here are the abilities required for firefighters:

Size-Up