Firefighters Support Foundation

Vehicle Fires
-------Assessment and Response
v1.0

v1

Permission
Permission is granted to reproduce or distribute this material so long as the Firefighters Support Foundation is credited as the source

v1

About FSF
The Firefighters Support Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose primary mission is to develop, produce and distribute training programs to firefighters, EMTs, Search & Rescue personnel, and Emergency Management professionals. All of our programs are distributed free of charge.

v1

Accompanying Video

This PowerPoint presentation accompanies the video presentation of the same title.

v1

Larry Holloman, Presenter

Battalion Chief, Retired, Winston-Salem, NC Fire Department, 30 Years Part Time Fire/Rescue Training Coordinator Forsyth Technical Community College State Certified Level II Instructor State Certified Fire Officer III Instructor State Certified Educational Methodology Instructor State Certified Fire & Life Safety Educator NIMS Certified Instructor

v1

SCENE SIZE UP

v1

SCENE SIZE UP
PRIORITIES ARE THE SAME FOR ANY INCIDENT. 1. LIFE SAFETY 2. INCIDENT STABILIZATION 3. PROPERTY CONVERSATION THESE PRIORITIES ARE FOR LAW, EMS AND FIRE LIFE/SCENE SAFETY MUST BE YOUR #1 PRIORITY AT ALL TIMES. THE FIRST ARRIVING UNIT SHOULD FOCUS ON ENTIRE AREA AND INCREASE AWARENESS.
v1 7

SCENE SIZE UP (2)

HAZARDS/OBSTACLES 1. BYSTANDERS, PEDESTRIANS, TRAFFIC, OTHERS. 2. EXPOSURES 3. LEAKING FUELS, INVOLVED AND UNINVOLVED FIRST ARRIVING UNITS MUST INSURE THE SAFETY OF ANY AND ALL BYSTANDERS, PEDISTRIANS AND OTHERS THAT MAY BE IN THE DANGER ZONE. ALWAYS CHECK THE AREA FOR ANY EXPOSURES. THESE MAY INCLUDE VEHICLES AND/OR BUILDINGS.
v1 8

SCENE SIZE UP (3)

LEAKING FUELS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN, BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL IGNITION AND POSSIBLE SPREAD TO SURROUNDING AREA. LOOK FOR ANY LEAKS AND KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM ALL THE FLUIDS THAT ARE LEAKING, UNTIL THEY CAN BE IDENTIFIED. LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD ESTABLISH A PERIMITER THAT MAY BE EXPANDED OR CONTRACTED IF AND WHEN NECESSARY. REMEMBER NOT TO RESTRICT ACCESS FOR OTHER ARRIVING RESPONDERS.
v1 9

SCENE SIZE UP (4)

IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF VEHICLE TO HELP DETERMINE POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF THE INCIDENT. IDENTIFICATION TO INCLUDE: CAR, BUS, OR SOME TYPE OF TRANSPORT VEHICLE. THIS MAY INCLUDE THE CONTAINER THAT IS TRANSPORTING A PRODUCT. PICK UP TRUCKS MAY CARRY UNKNOWN CARGO USING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK WILL HELP IDENTIFY THE PRODUCT AND PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR POTENTIAL HAZARDS, PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE. v1 10

EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK

v1

11

SCENE SIZE UP (5)

IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN FIRE, NOTE THE AREA THAT IS INVOLVED. THIS MAY BE THE ENGINE AREA, PASSENGER AREA, TRUNK AREA, UNDERCARRIAGE OR IF IT IS A VEHICLE TRANSPORTING PRODUCT, MAY BE THE CONTAINER. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL SHOULD APPROACH THE INVOLVED VEHICLE WITH EXTREME CAUTION. IF A VICTIM IS VISIBLE, A PORTABLE EXTINGUISHER MAY BE USED TO CONTAIN THE FIRE WHILE VICTIM ACCCESS IS DETERMINED.
v1 12

SCENE SIZE UP (6)

LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD FOCUS ON TRAFFIC CONTROL IN THE IMMEDIATE AND SURROUNDING AREA/AREAS OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLE. CONTROL TRAFFIC FLOW, BUT REMEMBER TO ALLOW ACCESS FOR OTHER RESPONDING UNITS. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SHOULD BEGIN PATIENT CARE, IF CONDITIONS PERMIT. FIRE SHOULD BEGIN FIRE CONTROL AND EXTINGUISHMENT.
v1 13

SCENE SIZE UP (7)

EVERY INCIDENT IS DYNAMIC. THE INCIDENT COMMANDER SHOULD CALL FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BEFORE THEY ARE NEEDED. REMEMBER: ITS BETTER TO HAVE EM AND NOT NEED EM, THAN TO NEED EM AND NOT HAVE EM. THE INCIDENT COMMANDER SHOULD BE KEPT INFORMED OF RESOURCE NEEDS SO HE/SHE MAY REQUEST THEM. THIS WILL ALSO PREVENT DUPLICATION OF RESOURCES.
v1 14

APPARATUS/VEHICLE PLACEMENT

v1

15

APPARATUS/VEHICLE PLACEMENT
IF LAW OR EMS IS FIRST TO ARRIVE, LEAVE ACCESS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED WITH FIRE, VEHICLE PLACEMENT SHOULD BE AT LEAST 150 FEET BEHIND OR IN FRONT OF INVOLVED VEHICLE. THE LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT WILL DETERMINE THE APPARATUS/RESPONSE VEHICLE PLACEMENT. RURAL/RESIDENTIAL STREET: LIMITED ACCESS FOR RESPONSE VEHICLES. STREETS MAY BE CLOSED. PARKWAY/INTERSTATE: BETTER ACCESS FOR RESPONSE VEHICLES. ONE LANE MAY BE BLOCKED. 16 v1

APPARATUS/VEHICLE PLACEMENT (2)

LAW ENFORCEMENT 1. BEFORE OR BEHIND AT LEAST 150 ft. 2. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH THE AREA EMERGENCY MEDICAL 1. BEFORE OR BEHIND AT LEAST 150 ft. 2. MAY MOVE CLOSER FOR PATIENT ACCESS FIRE 1. POSITION TO PROTECT OR SHIELD 2. LEAVE ROOM FOR EGRESS OR OTHER RESPONSE VEHICLES.
v1 17

INCIDENT COMMAND
INCIDENT COMMAND SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIRST ARRIVING UNIT. LAW OR EMS MAY NOT REQUIRE ESTABLISHING COMMAND, BUT A SIZE UP SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED. IF THE INCIDENT WARRANTS, UNIFIED COMMAND SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO MITIGATE THE INCIDENT.

v1

18

FIRE ATTACK

v1

19

FIRE ATTACK
LAW ENFORCEMENT 1. FOCUS ON SCENE SAFETY 2. IF UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH WITH A PORTABLE EXTINGUISHER. 3.RESCUE ANY PERSONS TRAPPED 4. CONTROL TRAFFIC FLOW 5. CONTROL BYSTANDER ACCESS 6. HELP ESTABLISH A PERIMETER EMERGENCY MEDICAL 1. FOCUS ON SCENE SAFETY 2. PREPARE FOR VICTIMS
v1 20

FIRE ATTACK (2)

FIRE DEPARTMENT 1. FOCUS ON SCENE SAFETY 2. USE AT LEAST A 1 ATTACK LINE 3. ALWAYS MOVE IN AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE 4. BEGIN WITH A STRAIGHT STREAM 5. SWITCH TO FOG AS YOU PROGRESS 6. NOTE THE INVOLVED AREA: ENGINE, PASSENGER, TRUNK 7. ACCESS ALL CLOSED COMPARTMENTS 8. OPEN COMPARTMENTS FROM SIDE 9. ALWAYS PROP COMPARTMENTS OPEN
v1 21

SAFETY OF PERSONNEL
CONSTANTLY MONITOR AREA, NOT JUST VEHICLE CHECK FOR LEAKING FLUIDS WATCH TIRES, THEY MAY EXPLODE DISCONNECT AIR BAGS, PROTECT ALL PERSONNEL WORKING NEAR THE AIR BAGS. GAS OPERATED SHOCKS MAY EXPLODE BUMPERS HAVE SHOCKS THAT MAY EXPLODE WATCH THE GENERAL STABILITY OF VEHICLE BE AWARE OF THE SAFETY OF OTHERS NOT INVOLVED IN SUPPRESSION
22

v1

VICTIMS
CHECK AREA FOR VICTIMS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN EJECTED PROTECT ALL VICTIMS STILL IN THE VEHICLE EXTINGUISH FIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE START MEDICAL CARE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE NOTE ALL TRAPPED/PINNED VICTIMS PREPARE FOR RESCUE/EXTRICATION SECURE AND STABILIZE THE VEHICLE TRANSPORT VICTIMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

v1

23

LARGE VEHICLES/CONTAINERS
SAME SCENE SIZE UP PRIORITIES 1. LIFE SAFETY 2. INCIDENT STABILIZATION 3. PROPERTY CONSERVATION VEHICLE/APPARATUS PLACEMENT 1. IF CONTAINER IS LEAKING, PLACE THE VEHICLE/APPARATUS AT LEAST 500 FEET AWAY. 2. PROTECT AND SHIELD ALL PERSONNEL 3. PARK UPHILL AND UPWIND IF POSSIBLE
v1 24

LARGE VEHICLES/CONTAINERS (2)

IF FLUID OR PRODUCT IS LEAKING 1. REMAIN AT LEAST 500 FEET AWAY 2. IDENTIFY FUEL OR PRODUCT USING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK 3. IF KNOWN, ELIMINATE IGNITION SOURCES IF VEHICLE/CONTAINER IS ON FIRE 1. CREATE A BUFFER, AT LEAST 500 FEET. REMEMBER: MORE IS BETTER 2. ESTABLISH A PERMITER 3. LEAVE ACCESS AND EGRESS AREA/AREAS 4. WAIT FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
v1 25

ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES

SAME SCENE SIZE UP AND PRIORITIES 1. LIFE SAFETY 2. INCIDENT STABILIZATION 3. PROPERTY CONSERVATION LOOK FOR MARKINGS TO IDENTIFY FUEL TYPE THERE ARE NO REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONAL VEHICLES ALTERNATIVE FUELS MAY INCLUDE 1. BATTERY 2. LPG 3. CNG 4. GREASE
v1 26

ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES (2)

LOCATE TANKS OR CONTAINERS 1. MOUNTED IN TRUNK 2. MOUNTED ON FRAME 3. BED OF PICK UP TRUCKS REMEMBER TO CHECK FOR MARKINGS 1. DECAL ON TRUNK OR QUARTER PANEL 2. DECAL ON SIDE/QUARTER PANEL 3. DECAL ON WINDOW

v1

27

FIRE ATTACK: ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES

v1

28

FIRE ATTACK: ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES

FIRE DEPARTMENT 1. 1 SHOULD BE MINIMUM ATTTACK LINE 2. MOVE IN AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE 3. DEPENDING ON FUEL, DETERMINE FOG OR STRAIGHT STREAM 4. CONTROL FLAME BEFORE EXTINGUISHMENT 5. EXTINGUISH FLAME 6. ACCESS AND OPEN INVOLVED AREA/AREAS 7. CHECK AND SECURE ALL LEAKS
v1 29

SUMMARY
SAFETY IS ALWAYS FIRST AND ON GOING PRIORITY BE CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE SURROUNDINGS LOOK FOR ANY/ALL POTENTIAL HAZARDS/OBSTACLES INSURE PROPER APPARATUS/VEHICLE PLACEMENT CHECK AND HELP ALL VICTIMS CONSTANTLY MONITOR YOUR OPERATION MAKE CHANGES TO OPERATION IF NEEDED MONITOR YOUR PERSONNEL FOR SAFE ACTIONS
v1 30