I started this blog to educate members of the fire service as to what it REALLY means to be a safe, aggressive, fundamentally sound and efficient firefighter. The interaction of all these principles is equally as important as any one by itself. Of each of these, the principle of being aggressive seems to be the black sheep that no one really wants to talk about due to its “stigma”.
If you are not willing to aggressively perform ALL of the tasks necessary to extinguish a fire, then you are, or will be, lacking in the other three principles.
In our business, being aggressive reflects confidence in your abilities and those of your crew(s). There are, however, conditions to being an aggressive firefighter/crew. Lack of adherence to these conditions results in the actions of the ignorant and foolish and THIS is what causes firefighter injuries and deaths. This ignorance, disguised as being brave and aggressive is what gives the term “aggressive” its stigma.
To be truly aggressive at a fire, you have to:
- Know and understand ALL equipment on your rig
- Know and understand your role on the fireground
- Know and understand ALL types of building construction
- Know and understand how to “read smoke”
- Understand the effects of fire on roof and floor systems
- Size-up the building and fire conditions BEFORE making tactical decisions (regardless of rank)
- Fully understand the principles of BTU vs. GPM
- Understand what aggressive AND coordinated ventilation means
- Realize that ladders are for US also
- Realize that a fire is not out until we put it out
- Realize that a building is not clear until we clear it
- Have adequate resources on scene to execute “Plan B”
- Be able do ALL of these things at EVERY fire!
If you, as a firefighter, fire officer and/or command officer can account for all of the above, then your decisions will be educated and your risks will be managed. However, if you cannot, then you may be flirting with disaster. Will you be aggressive…or ignorant?
Thanks and Be SAFE.
Also on SAFE Firefighter …
- LOOK UP…To Save Your Life! – September 2, 2010
- Lessons Learned: Solid Truck Work Makes for Easy Engine Work – October 26, 2009
- Size Doesn’t Matter – November 1, 2009
- Understaffed Truck Work: Search – July 12, 2009
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