You have arrived here because you have a desire to learn .... maybe to be a better firefighter or become a more competent fire commander .... either way, you are the kind of person we need in the fire service so congratulations for getting this far!

Fire Commander - SOPs
We are pleased to bring to you a new training feature starting October 2008 where we will provide a series of model SOPs and Training Bulletins. These bulletins are aimed at fire chiefs and crew commanders, to assist in advancing their decision making capability and situational awareness when deploying crews into fire-involved structures. See the Fire Commander link on the left hand menu. 

High-angle Rescue from 66th floor of Petronas Twin Towers in KLCC

UK Firefighters at Great Risk!
'Our peacetime firefighters have never been at greater risk when fighting structure fires than they are today! In fact the life loss statistics amongst UK firefighters currently stand at a 30-year high' ... This report from Paul Grimwood led to a national investigation by the Fire Brigade Union and this resulted in a lengthy third party document that sheds some light as to the true extent of the problem FULL REPORT HERE ....

'Flow-rate is the key to putting fires out. You can do a lot with a little but you can do little if there is not enough!' 

A Learning Experience
We applaud any fire authority who is willing to report their own tragedies or fire-fighting experiences in such a way that others may learn from their experiences ... Here are some of the most recent examples for Download ....

1. LOUDOUN COUNTY Va

2. FAIRFAX Va

3. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Ca

4. PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY Va

Systemic Failure
Various tactical and command failings have directly evolved from a triangle of complacency that is rife throughout the Fire Service. The result has been catastrophic system failure in numerous situations that have ended in tragedy. This issue is at the very root of the vast majority of traumatic fire-ground deaths and injuries amongst firefighters.

1. Lack of firefighting experience
2. Inadequate firefighter and command training
3. Complacency (Lack of discipline)

Here are some of the most common tactical failings that lead to firefighters injuries and Line Of Duty Deaths, over and over again!

1. Failure to confine the fire until a charged hose-line is in place
2. Failure to deploy resources effectively
3. Failure to provide adequate flow-rate at the primary attack nozzle
4. Failure to effectively brief crews prior to deployment
5. Deviation from documented operating procedure without good reason
6. Failure to implement tactical venting actions in the right place at the right time
7. Failure to provide a back-up support hose-line
8. Failure to communicate effectively
9. Failure to apply safe BA working practices
10. Failure to undertake effective search patterns
11. Failure to establish a tactical mode (offensive/defensive) at the outset
12. Failure to maintain team integrity (work with a buddy and keep together)
13. Failure to establish effective command & control from the outset

The Most Common Causal Factors of Traumatic Firefighter Life Losses

• Lack of Incident Command from the first response onwards

• Inadequate Risk Assessment

• Lack of Accountability or SCBA Air Management (BA Control)

• Inadequate Communication

• Inadequate or ineffective SOPs

• Lack of Situational Awareness

25% of Fires Get Worse!
25% of structure fires get worse following fire service arrival (Sardqvist study of inner city fires). How can we train to reduce this statistic? How can we be more tactical in our approach to gaining control of a fire at an earlier stage? "I have been with the service for over five years. It was certainly the worst house fire I have been to.

"When the door was kicked in there was a flash-over with the rush of air and the kitchen window blew out. The flames were coming out over the top of us, so it had obviously been going for some time" . . . . Fire Commander Training Bulletins HERE