Tips for the first arriving firefighter

If you serve in a community that has a large coverage area you may be in the same boat as a lot of us.  Some communities may only one or two fire stations, making response times a challenge. As nice as it would be to have all of our members respond to the station and get on a truck, for some communities it just doesn’t make sense.  For a member to have to drive past a scene to get on a truck that is waiting for them at the station not only delays the truck from responding, but delays any sort of response all together. This isn’t saying all members should be bypassing the station either. There is a balance that each individual fire department needs to figure out to run smoothly.

Many times though, we find ourselves arriving at incidents in our POVs before anyone else. We could be there for up to 5 minutes, maybe 10 in some cases, by ourselves. Many of the members who are in these situations may not be a fire officer or a chief officer, and even could be one of the newest members of the fire department.

This evening at our weekly training I took the opportunity to speak with our newer members about the tactics as the first arriving firefighter on the scene of an active incident. We were at our acquired structure site so we used a structure fire scenario.  (To learn more about using acquired structures be sure to listen to Podcast Episode 021). This evening we covered the tasks that any member can do, from the newest firefighter to a chief officer.

The biggest overall goal of this topic is to foster Emotional Control, Clarity and Ownership. It is easy for any one of us to become too hyped up at the sight of an active, high stress incident and get lost in tunnel vision. Being the first and only responder for a few minutes can add to the anxiety and adrenaline. Taking control of our emotions will lead to clarity of the scene. We must be able to clearly see what we have been handed. We need to be able to identify hazards, trapped victims, the location of the fire, means of attack, etc. Without clarity we could miss vital clues that could potentially harm us.

Finally, by taking control and complete ownership of ourselves and the situation at hand for the short time we are running solo, we will be able to prioritize and make proper decisions. It is too easy to get tunnel vision when emotions and stressors take over. New members and senior members alike are susceptible to this.

A mantra I have adopted that can be applied here is to make a decision, execute, dominate and win. In fact, I made a sign with these words that sits on top of the medicine cabinet in our bathroom at home. Every time I step out of the shower I read it. We need to make quick and logical decisions.  Identify what the priority is and execute on it. By dominating what we are doing, meaning taking control of the situation, we will win. So, let’s take a look at the points I have come up with for the first arriving firefighter.

Anticipate being first

By understanding our response area, we will have a good idea whether we will be the first on scene or not. By anticipating this we can work toward getting a clear vision of what we want to do when we get there. Take a deep breath, drive carefully and manage your thoughts. It is critical that we understand that we will most likely need to make some critical decisions when we arrive.

Spot your water supply

Whether it is a rural water supply or a hydrant, when you’re arriving on the scene keep an eye out for your closest water.  This gives you the opportunity to pass that on to responding apparatus. You can’t do much at a working structure fire without a decent water supply. Be the one to spot that on your way in.

Park, get dressed, look around

Park your POV out of the way. Far enough to not clog up the scene, but not too far that you’ll have to walk a long distance to the scene. One rule of thumb is get everyone to park on the same side of the road if applicable, or choose a driveway.

If you’re parked in eye-sight of the scene, look around while you’re getting dressed. Take this time to collect your thoughts, control your breathing and get your heart rate down a bit.  Adrenaline dumps can clog your mind and stifle your decision making skills.  Getting dressed at your vehicle and looking around the scene will allow your body that needed time to relax a bit.

Walk with a purpose

Walk to the scene from your vehicle, but walk with purpose. Look around, start getting your size up, and being prioritizing.  This is also a good time to gain control of your breathing again. A few deep breaths always work for me.

Interview

Immediately we should attempt an interview with either a resident or a neighbor. Gather as much information as you can. Remember, you’re by yourself. There are no fire trucks on scene yet. Take advantage of this time.

Things to obtain in an interview:              

• Is everybody out?
• Where is the fire?
• What might be burning?
• What is the best way to get to the fire?
• Are any of the outside doors locked?
• What hazards might we need to worry about?

If it is a resident you are interviewing, assure them that the fire trucks and more members are on the way. Give them a quick play by play of what you and the crew will most likely do to put the fire out. Doing this helps calm their nerves and builds trust.

Conduct a 360

By now, hopefully a few more members have shown up or the apparatus may be approaching. Either way, this step is critical. Do this with an unmasked face. Meaning, if the apparatus is on scene now and you have donned your SCBA, do not mask up yet. Wearing your mask outside limits your visual and verbal abilities.

Begin your 360 assessment by checking all four sides of the building. Remember though, you do not need to actually walk all the way around the building. Get a quick glance of the B and D side, and peek around to the C side.

What are we looking for? We want to identify hazards. We want to check for victims in windows, on balconies, on the roof or on the ground. We want to locate the fire, read the smoke and make a prediction on the direction the fire is traveling.

All of this can be done in 30 seconds or less. While this is being done you’ll make yourself more aware of the situation. You’ll gain valuable information that you can then pass on to the arriving incident commander and firefighters.

It is important to remember that if you were told of victims during the interview stage, the 360 should be done prior to attempting a rescue inside the structure. Know what you’re getting into.  Plus, your victim may actually be in a window.

Find a crew and begin operations

To curb any freelancing, this is now the time to find a crew and begin doing work.  As a newer firefighter, if you aren’t certified to go interior, find a pump operator that may need assistance. Once that is done, find another task that you are trained to do.

This scenario was based on a single family home fire. Obviously we are faced with different challenges every time we arrive on a scene, but the basic principles I spelled out can be used and applied each time. The goal is to reduce tunnel vision, control your emotions to create clarity and own your task at hand. When you’re alone on scene of a stressful incident it is up to YOU to own the situation. Overall ownership will eventually be passed on to the Incident Commander and Company Officers. Make no mistake though, this doesn’t mean your personal ownership should be discarded.

Our challenges in the volunteer and on-call fire service are unique. We need to adapt to evolving situations every day, and by learning these principals you’ll become more confident when faced with stress by yourself.