“ RUNNING FIRE" FIREFIGHTING
EXERCISE
AIM
To
simulate a fire fighting experience at a running fire and give members
experience in fighting these fires using water delivered from a tanker.
At
the end of the training session members will be able to:
a)
Demonstrate the rapid deployment of canvas hose at a fire scene and the
delivery of water.
b)
Demonstrate the rapid reclaiming of used hose, in a method that allows the hose
to be quickly redeployed including footballing figure 8 and flaking of this
hose and its effective stowage on the tanker.
c) Demonstrate the rapid
deployment of a crew from one area to a fresh outbreak of fire.
d)
Demonstrate the effective use of fire ground radios in a moving fire situation.
At the end
of the training session crew leaders will have demonstrated:
a) Effective
deployment and management of a crew.
b) Practical
leadership skills of encouraging and assisting crew members to perform to their
full ability.
c) Effective
radio communication skills.
d) An
ability to appropriately position the tanker at a fire scene.
e) An
ability to co-ordinate activities with another crew leader (where two crews are
deployed in the exercise).
The
basic aim of the exercise will be explained to members as will the actual
scenario.
As there
will be no real fire it will be explained that the controller for the exercise
will designate fire areas at the time of engagement.
Explain to
members that the exercise is designed to recreate the sort of action required
when fighting fires on the street, when brigades are rapidly tasked from one
critical situation to another and speed in relocating is essential. Explain
also the importance of the clean make up of equipment so it can be rapidly
redeployed.
After
the initial briefing the tanker with crew aboard will relocate to the fire
scene and members under the direction of the crew leader will rapidly deploy
hose and deliver water to the fire site. When the controller indicates the fire
has been suppressed, a new fire location will be given and members will have to
reclaim equipment as rapidly as possible and redeploy that same equipment (via
the tanker) to another fire site.
Crews
will keep in contact at all times by fire ground radio giving sitreps as
required. Practical Note
This
activity can be conducted with more than one brigade, in this case the
“Controller” will direct and co-ordinate the exercise. Conducting an exercise
in this manner provides members with a scenario, which reproduces some of the
confusion and the need for co-operation at a fire scene. It also acts as a good
leadership development tool for crew leaders who have to rapidly respond to
changing situations.
Performance Criteria
·
Water will be delivered from at least 2 lengths
of 38mm lay-flat hoses onto the “fire”
within 90 seconds of the truck stopping at the fire location.
·
The Supply line should be deployed of 1 length (30m
length) of lay-flat 65mm hose by 150seconds of the truck stopping at the fire
loctaion
·
All equipment will be stowed on the fire truck within
four (4) minutes of the order to make up being given (including standpipe and
water supply hoses).
·
Where two crews are operating together crew leaders
will have discussed a plan to for an ongoing attack on the “fire” within two
(2) minutes of the last crew arriving at the “fire” scene.
·
Within five (5) minutes of arriving at the “fire”
scene each crew will have established a water supply for their tanker.