ARFF Strategies & Tactics– Sizing it up

Captain Jason GraberMetro. Washington Airports Authority FRD

Safety & Training Division

March 2010

Background

• The purpose of the this presentation is to discuss the importance of size up for aircraft rescue firefighting incidents.

• ARFF Events are different from other emergency events in that the incident has peaked and will subside (hopefully).

• ARFF Events are high risk/low frequency events and proper initial coordination of resources is vital.

Objectives

• To discuss the process of size up for ARFF incidents and how important it plays when managing the scene.

References

• IFSTA Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, 5th Edition.

• Northern Virginia Fire and Rescue Department’s Command Officer Manual.

• NTSB Aviation Accident Statistics

What is Size Up?

• Size up is considered to be an evaluation or assessment of the situation and is a continuing process that begins prior to the incident and continues after the conclusion of the incident when lessons learned from the incident can be incorporated into future planning.

Size Up

• The size up of an ARFF incident scene by the initial arriving officer sets the tone for the eventual outcome of the incident.

• Being able to read what has happened and what will happen after arrival affects the deployment of resources and the ultimate safety of all personnel operating on the scene.

Size-up

Key considerations when sizing up an incident are:

What is the problem? Where is the problem? If fire, where is the fire

going? Who or what is in danger

because of this incident? Safety considerations. Additional resource

needs.

Size Up

• When does size up begin?• Prior to the incident• Continues when the incident is dispatched

• Why do we begin size up prior to the incident or when the event is dispatched?• Determine the location of the incident

• Maybe there are multiple locations, more than one incident going on, etc.

• Determine the need for additional resources • Additional Equipment, Upgrade on EMS, Helicopter, LE

• Attempt to ascertain the safety of the scene– does it involve a hazardous material or WMD?

Dispatch

• Size up also begins at the time of dispatch:– Listening to what is being told to us by

dispatchers may or may not paint a picture.– Information from the ATC (if appropriate) often

provides us some valuable information on what has happened (actual crash) or is happening (in-flight emergency).

En-route Informration

• What kind information do we get while en-route?

• Do we see anything which may tell what we potentially have on the scene (i.e. large plume of smoke or visible fire).

• Is this potentially a hazardous material incident which may require staging back until further information is gathered.

On-Scene Report

• Elements of the ON SCENE REPORT

• Unit Identification and Location

• Description of the incident conditions (CAN Report)

• Victims• Water Supply

On Scene Report

• As IC’s, we have to paint that picture to the outside world of what is happening and what do we need.

Establishing Command

• Command needs to be established

• Groups, Branches and Divisions may also need to be established based on the type of incident that is playing out.– Turf battles often ensue when determined

who’s in charge– preplanning and working with other stake holders will help eliminate this.

– Unified Command

Geography of the Incident

Division ADivision B

Division C Division D

12 O’clock

3 O’clock

6 O’clock

9 O’clock

Additional Resources

• Requesting Mutual Aid (if needed)– Activating the airport AEP

and/or mutual aid assignments.

– Staging units and having them ready to go to work

Additional Resources

• Requesting additional resources– Buses or transportation to remove walking or

uninjured patients from the scene or to provide shelter to injured patients.

– Law Enforcement– Shops and Maintenance personnel– Heavy Equipment Operators

Resource Tracking

• Units and personnel must be tracked for accountability purposes.

Microsoft Excel Worksheet

Microsoft Word Document

Resource Tracking

Resource Tracking

The big picture

• Officer Lap– The officer lap is nothing more than merely a quick walk around the area to identify the hazards and gain a picture of the incident.– Tail boarding the Incident

• An officer lap is crucial because the incident may not be the same by just looking from the apparatus.

The big picture

• Thermal Imaging Camera or FLIR—– Take a quick scan of the

scene with the TIC– problems can be detected quickly into the incident.

Apparatus Placement

• Along with size up, apparatus must be placed in a methodical manner to accomplish incident priorities but also to allow for additional resources during the incident.

Incident Priorities

• P.P.E.E.E.– P: Protect in place– P: Protect egress paths– E: Extinguish Exterior– E: Entry & Extinguish– E: Extricate and EMS

Transitional Attack

• In structure firefighting we can have an offensive attack or defensive attack.

• Transitional Attack– Defensive initial attack

through mass application with advancements of hand lines when additional resources arrive.

Escape Path

• We may have to go against our training when establishing or protecting escape paths.

• We try to say we are going to go with the wind but other elements may dictate against this.

Application of Agent

• For proper fire extinguishment, the apparatus must be positioned properly and the agent must reach the fire effectively.

• Personnel must be mindful of agent management through application methods.– Low Attack versus High Attack

• Ancillary apparatus should be positioned for the most advantageous application.

Positioning

Positioning

Positioning

Positioning

Positioning

Positioning

Evidence Preservation

• The cause of the crash is often determined from the post crash investigation by the NTSB.

• Careful movement in the crash site should be done so that we don’t disturb the evidence.– Incident objectives still need to be completed and do

not fall below evidence preservation.– Sketches, photo’s and documentation will be needed

to assist the NTSB.– Black Boxes – Personal photos

Other Officers

• Our success or failure on an incident is dependant on getting and listening to the information of our people in the field.

Training & Preparation

• Working with other stake holders prior to any incident will help prepare members for what you may encounter.– Training in your procedures is going to

determine if your plan is going to work.

• Aircraft fires and crashes are different than structure firefighting.

• Simulation Software

Review

• Size up is a combination of available information, experience, and knowledge that result in formulating certain decisions on the emergency scene.

• Quick decisions based on size up can impact the outcome of the incident.