Changing Perspective
By Dave Meddles
Editors Note: Recently County Fire Training and Safety adopted the new SLICERS acronym in an effort to improve our operations on structure fires. This process
will soon incorporate the acronym into the County Fire Field Operations Guide and training will be delivered in all divisions of County Fire in the near future. This
article discusses the weak points in some of our past practices while introducing the reader to the terms and techniques applicable to the SLICERS concept.
HOW TO APPLY THE RESEARCH INFORMATION FROM NIST INTO FIRE GROUND OPERATIONS
Within a recent report presented by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, there are several important informative facts that can and will improve the safety
of firefighters and possible occupants. Given today’s building construction methods and standards and the materials used in today’s furnishings, fires have become
more volatile and increase in size at an alarming rate. In the 1970s, there was an average of 1.8 firefighter deaths per 100,000 fires nationally. The number of firefighter
deaths has increased in the late 2000s to 3.0 per 100,000 fires, while the amount of fires reported has decreased by 53
percent. The products used in today’s furnishings have a higher energy release rate and give off gases that increase the chances
of “flashover” and enhance fire spread. In other words, fires occur now less often, yet are more dangerous when they do. Without
this understanding of how today’s fires burn, firefighters can advance into an area that is prime for this rapid fire growth and
expose themselves to a superheated environment. Finally, we need to understand that smoke should be considered additional
fuel for the fire—one that is easily ignited.
Before I discuss the new tactical operations that will increase firefighter
safety, I want to review some of our assumptions about past practices or
traditional tactics, ones that have been used for centuries even though
construction techniques and materials used in furnishings have changed.
Performing ventilation causes cooling. This is not always correct; in fact there are many
times when venting introduces additional oxygen to the fire, enhancing its growth. This is very
true in buildings termed ventilation-limited structures, as seen in today’s fire growth chart.
Exterior fire attacks are used only in defensive operations. We can be in an offensive mode
of operation from a defensive position (usually meaning exterior) and cool the atmosphere
within the structure, then transition into an offensive mode from an offensive position.
Basement fires are to be fought from above. This position places firefighters directly in
the flow path of the fire and hinders their ability to reach the seat of the fire. Proper fire
stream placement from the exterior will cool the area and allow firefighters to advance in a
safer manner.
Exterior attacks will push the fire to the unburned parts of the structure. This theory
has been scientifically proven to be incorrect. Studies have shown it to be beneficial to, when
appropriate, apply water from the exterior to keep fire growth in check.
Exterior attacks will cause more injuries to victims within the structure. Again, the cooling
effect of a transitional attack actually be nefits the survivability profile for the victims within
the structure.
It is better to ventilate and search prior to suppression efforts. A more accurate framing of
this theory might be: after controlling the fire environment by cooling and controlling the flow
path, proper ventilation and entry into an isolated room for any search operations will prove a
better tactic. We should be considering a tactic known as “Vent, Entry, Isolate by closing doors,
and then Search.”
Let’s now discuss some terms related to a new approach, including those
which give rise to the SLICERS acronym.
TRANSITIONAL ATTACK: This tactic has proven to be a valuable tool used within
my current division [County Fire’s Division 3, encompassing Victorville, Adelanto and vicinity]
for the first or second arriving engine company on structure fires. Not all fires are fought in
this manner, but when conditions are such that an interior attack would place firefighters
in a hazardous condition, a transitional attack has been used and the outcomes have been
beneficial. We have noted that transitional attacks have decreased the timeframe in obtaining
knockdown of the fire.
SIZE-UP: The term “size-up” is a mental evaluation of the conditions of the fire scene and
should be an ongoing practice by all personnel on the scene.
A good 360-degree size-up starts when the first arriving company officer gets a view of all sides
of the structure. This allows that officer to pinpoint the exact location of the fire and select the
best tactic to combat it, while offering a chance to identify any rescue needs or hazards within
the fire area.
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FIREWIRE | Fall 2015
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The company officer needs to update all responding units of the size-up findings, while
establishing a sound plan that includes proper coordination of resources.
LOCATE: During the 360-degree size-up of the structure, the company officer should
be able to identify the location of the fire and the best access point to minimize the flow
path. The officer can direct a crewmember to stretch an appropriate hose to an exterior
location where the fire room can be cooled and the spread rate of the fire can be checked.
Meanwhile, another member can be stretching an additional hose to the point of entry in
preparation for the transition to interior fire attack operations.
IDENTIFY THE FLOW PATH: It is important to identify the flow path of the
fire so that we do not place firefighters in a situation that puts personnel in a dangerous
environment. Knowledge of the fire flow path also assists in the reduction of property
damage and survivability of occupants.
COOLING: When the need to cool the fire area from an exterior position exists,
firefighters should utilize a straight stream pattern for a short time to cool the atmosphere,
and then transition into an interior fire attack to complete the suppression efforts. This
tactic should be implemented while waiting for additional personnel to establish RIC
(rapid intervention crew).
EXTINGUISHMENT: This is when crews have transitioned into an offensive attack
from an offensive position. We are able to suppress the fire at its seat and check for any
extension of the fire within the structure.
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The remaining two operations are to be utilized as conditions warrant. If you have been
informed of an immediate victim rescue problem, this should take precedence over
operations that concern saving property only.
RESCUE: We need to first address the building’s survivability profile (given the fire
conditions, what is the likelihood anyone could survive?), then locate the area within the
structure with the greatest chance for survival—and search these areas first. For example,
a bedroom window with little to no smoke or fire damage should be searched before the
areas with greater fire damage from heat and smoke.
SALVAGE: Salvage operations should be considered as adequate resources arrive to
fill this role or conditions warrant the need for salvage prior to suppression and overhaul
duties. We need to remain mindful of the additional property damage that firefighting may
cause, and do our best to keep the dollar loss to a minimum for the property owner.
Firefighter safety remains our number one priority, and implementing the proper
tactical plan can and will reduce injuries and deaths so we can better serve the
communities we protect.
2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the start of that horror, and this
summer Tan traveled with his family back there, to a country trying
to forget its past as it forges its future. The following story tells of
Sitha’s memory of escape from the revolution and how his former
iden tities-war casualty, refugee, immigrant-have informed his
current roles as American citizen, father, husband and of
course, firefighter (Cont. on the following page).
Battalion Chief Dave Meddles has been with County Fire since 1985 and in the fire service
since 1983. Rising through each rank, he has worked in stations throughout the county as well
as serving as a training officer from 2006-07. A CICCS Type 3 incident commander, Meddles is
also a certified California State Fire Marshal instructor. An avid fly fisherman and outdoorsman,
he and wife Debbie have raised five children, and currently reside in Apple Valley.
Fall 2015 | FIREWIRE
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