Session Reference: 1-1
Topic: Support Operations and Initial Assignments
Time Required: 30 Minutes
References:
• Truck Company Fireground Operations, Second Edition, Chapters 1 and 2
PREPARATION:
Motivation:
Objective (SPO): 1-1-1
The student will demonstrate a basic understanding of truck company operations and initial tool and personnel assignments.
Overview:
Support Operations and Initial Assignments
• Truck company operations
• Tools and personnel
Session 1-1 Support Operations and Initial Assignments
SPO 1-1-1 The student will demonstrate a basic understanding of truck company operations and initial tool and personnel assignments.
1-1-1 Describe the basic duties normally performed by a truck company at the fire scene.
1-1-2 Describe basic tool and personnel assignments which provide the basis for performing efficient truck duties.
NOTE: This course is intended to be a review of firefighter duties that support the supplying and applying of water. This material is intended for any department, regardless of whether or not they have aerial or elevated platform apparatus.
I. Truck Company Operations (1-1-1)
A. Fire fighters performing truck work should have the training, equipment, and staffing to carry out basic objectives
B. Truck company duties may be performed by personnel responding on aerial apparatus, rescue squads, engines, or other fire apparatus. The personnel, tools, and equipment are more important in performing the duties than the apparatus being used.
C. Truck companies
1. Label describes apparatus but not planning, personnel, equipment, and training
2. Basic duties
a. Rescue
b. Ventilation
c. Laddering
d. Forcible entry
e. Checking fire extension
f. Salvage/property conservation
g. Elevated stream operations
h. Utility control
i. Overhaul
NOTE: Elevated streams and aerial or elevated platform apparatus is not covered in this course.
3. Discuss the various duties associated with a truck company
D. Truck company may perform some or all of duties
II. Tools and Personnel (1-1-2)
A. Initial assignments
1. Operate with limited personnel; important to maintain crews of at least two (buddy system)
2. Response patterns and operating procedures ensure
a. Crew members get into action quickly
b. Most urgent operations begin immediately upon arrival
c. Incident command system
d. Rapid intervention teams--duties, staffing, and equipment
3. Crew members must
a. Be trained in and thoroughly familiar with use of all equipment on apparatus
b. Know which tools they will carry into the fire building
c. Know their duties on arrival
4. Standard operating procedures should detail parts of fire building to be covered and apparatus
positioning
B. Hand tool use
1. Forcible entry
2. Ventilation work
3. Checking for fire extension
4. Overhaul
C. Power tools
1. Useful when lack of personnel is problem
2. Powered by electricity, gasoline engines, or air or hydraulic pressure
3. Except for hydraulic spreaders, power tools can only be used for cutting
D. Training
1. Crews must be thoroughly familiar with tools of their trade
2. Opportunities for tool training rare because it usually involves destruction of property
3. Take advantages of buildings to be torn down or remodeled
E. Tool assignments
1. As part of pre-fire planning, personnel should be assigned tools
2. Tool assignments should be based on tool location and riding position
3. Assignment of riding position should include responsibility for tools in position
a. Entire building should be checked as soon as possible
b. Fire building must be covered front and rear, inside and outside; rear assignment does not mean
truck must be driven to rear; crew must check rear
c. Through pre-fire inspection and planning, know area for access to rear
d. Assign interior coverage as part of standard response procedures
e. Coverage operations must be coordinated with other units
SUMMARY:
Review:
Support Operations and Initial Assignments
• Truck company operations
• Tools and personnel
