Dunn's Dispatch: Terrorism Strategies

May 16, 2007
The fire service will be called into action by federal, state and local officials to perform duties which we have not been trained to accomplish.

Do you know how to protect your firefighters at a terrorist attack?

The Wall Street Journal stated the first rescuers at a terrorist incident would serve as miner's canaries. Firefighters and police officers would collapse like caged birds once carried by miners, signaling the presence of something exceptionally dangerous. Bringing in homeland security, the US Army, and the National Guard will help but the toughest job will fall to local fire and police departments.

Terrorism is defined by the FBI as an unlawful act of force or violence against a person or property with the intent to coerce or intimidate a government or people for a political or social purpose. There has been a change in the objective of the terrorist's act. In the past, the objective of the terrorist was a destructive act that would bring attention to a political or social cause. Today, the objective is to kill. The terrorist wants to kill as many men women and children as possible. Firefighters are included!

Also according to the FBI the terror weapon used most often is a bomb, a so-called "IED" - improvised explosive device. The fire service will be part of the first response team that responds to terrorist acts. In this time of war on terrorism everyone will be asked to contribute. Police officers, transit employees, building managers have all taken steps to prepare for another attack.

What about your fire department? The fire service will be called into action by federal, state and local officials to perform duties which we have not been trained to accomplish. Until better training comes to the fire service we will have to improvise actions at a terrorist incident and adapt some of our firefighting strategy.

For more information go to www.vincentdunn.com and use the Google search feature with keywords: terrorism strategy.

Vincent Dunn, a Firehouse Magazine contributing editor, is a 42-year veteran of the FDNY and a deputy chief (ret.), serving as division commander for midtown Manhattan. A nationally renowned lecturer, he is the author of the best-selling text and video series Collapse of Burning Buildings and the textbooks Safety and Survival on the Fireground and Command and Control of Fires and Emergencies. A new book, Strategy of Firefighting - How to Extinguish Fires will be published in April. Dunn has a master's degree in urban studies, a bachelor's degree in sociology and an associate's degree in fire administration from Queens College, City University of New York. He can be reached at 1-800-231-3388 or via through his website at www.vincentdunn.com.

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