Risk Management. Take a look at ANY fire service Internet and/or magazine source and you will see this mentioned AT LEAST once. Why? BECAUSE IT’S IMPORTANT! However, much of this information only addresses STRATEGIC LEVEL decision making (i.e. “go” or “no go”). DOES RISK ASSESSMENT STOP AT THE FRONT DOOR? What about TACTICAL LEVEL risk assessment when you are definitely “GOING”?
Though “go” or “no go” risk management theories are valid, they are only as good as the information we get when we show up. Firefighters still die in fires that were determined to be “GO” fires. Tactically, how can we save firefighters’ lives? Everyone on the fireground is equipped with two very simple, TACTICAL LEVEL, risk assessment tools…THEIR EYES. If we want to save firefighters’ lives, we have to start LOOKING UP!
LOOK UP…
- …AT THE BUILDING. When you get out of the rig (whatever seat you ride) look up at the building and note the CONDITIONS, CONSTRUCTION TYPE and LAYOUT CUES (i.e. door and window size and location)
- …AS SOON AS YOU MAKE ENTRY. Before you commit to the interior, LOOK IN TO THE OVERHEAD! DO NOT LET FIRE GET BEHIND YOU…EVER!
- …DURING INTERIOR OPERATIONS. Always MONITOR CONDITIONS. It is a proven fact that today’s fires change/grow more rapidly than in the past. Make sure you know what is going on by looking up in to the overhead and evaluate conditions CONSTANTLY.
Everyone on the fireground has eyes. If everyone on the fireground uses them, maybe we can manage our risks a little better.
Thanks and Be SAFE!
Also on SAFE Firefighter …
- The Fireground is Like Loading a Dishwasher – October 12, 2012
- Thinking Outside The Box May Kill You – March 6, 2012
- A New Years Resolution Mad Lib “On Firefighting” – January 3, 2013
- I Have Always Done Victim Survivability Profiling – December 1, 2011
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matthew McDowell, Matthew McDowell. Matthew McDowell said: New Post at http://www.safefirefighter.com. LOOK UP…To Save Your Life! http://bit.ly/cNOWHz [...]
Nice to meet you today Matt. Looking over your site and I noticed this piece and thought I’d add my 2 cents.
You mention looking up at the building when arriving on scene. One of the tactics I was taught years ago was not packing out until you got on scene. The reason for this was two fold: First no one is packing out without their seatbelt on (because no one ever does that, yeah right) and second this gives the crew about a minute to look at the building, check the weather, survey the area and mentally prepare to perform the operation needed.
Many people have argued with me that delaying on scene is allowing the fire to grow but my argument is you either pack out before you leave (fire is growing), pack out in route (no seatbelt use), or on scene when you can see what’s going on.
Great site, I look forward to doing more flashovers with you in the future.
Shane White
Firefighter
Parris Island
Hey Shane,
Thanks for the feedback. Actually, what you describe is the same as what I do and for the same reasons. I actually had a discussion with a chief once about the possibility of removing SCBA from the cab and mounting them in the compartments, like back in the day. His thoughts were along the same lines. He had read about other departments starting to do it as well. Thanks again and hopefully we’ll train together again in the near future.
-Matt