Actions For Greater Alarm Companies

Greater alarm fires seem to be a more common occurrence throughout the fire service.  Reduced alarm assignments, personnel reduction, and building construction may be contributing factors to the large amount of greater alarms transmitted.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term “greater alarm”, I am referencing any response of companies beyond the first alarm assignment.  This may be a pre-designated amount of companies or any combination of companies the IC deems necessary.  This post is not directed towards companies responding as part of tiered RIT responses, however some the information may pertain to those companies.  In the jurisdictions where I operate, a first alarm of fire apparatus consists of: 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, and 1 Rescue Squad.  To some, this may seem like a large amount of resources.  However, resources are often quickly depleted depending on the occupancy type and fire conditions and subsequently, greater alarms are transmitted.  The intent of this post is to identify actions greater alarm companies can take which may allow them to have a greater impact on the fireground.

If a greater alarm has been transmitted, the IC has probably run out of resources or is anticipating running out of resources.  With that said, the IC should be managing the fireground, not greater alarm apparatus and personnel.  Policies and procedures in your respective jurisdiction may outline how a staging area is established and managed.  However if your jurisdiction does not have any policies or procedures, or they are too vague, I will describe how to establish and manage a staging area.  Greater alarm apparatus should report to a staging area, unless ordered to report directly to the fireground.  If not done beforehand, the first arriving company on the greater alarm assignment should designate a staging area and initiate management of the staging area.  Initial staging area management can be performed by any member of the company with competency in tracking resources and radio communications.  The staging area manager will report to the IC, or the operations section chief if the incident progresses to that point, and provide resources as requested by the IC.  Utilizing a staging area and manager will allow the IC to focus on the fireground and facilitate strategic deployment, and placement, of resources as determined by the IC.

Now that the “less than sexy”, but nonetheless important, task of staging area management has been completed, I am going to discuss how greater alarm Engine and Truck Companies can increase their impact on the fireground.  Listening intently to fireground radio traffic while en route will give greater alarm companies a large amount of pertinent information.  Some of this information may include: occupancy type and size, extent of the fire, tasks being completed, or tasks that need to be completed. 

While responding as a greater alarm company, you are generally outside of your normal response district and thus may not be as familiar with the occupancy involved.  Depending on the length of response time, a company officer may be able to pull the address up on Google Maps and utilize the satellite feature.  Utilizing the satellite feature may offer information pertaining to access, exposures, and building characteristics.  Recently I responded as the 2^nd alarm Truck OIC to a fire in a “quad” and through radio transmissions on the fireground, I was able to determine the address backed up to another road.  Knowing the front of the building was going to be heavily occupied by first alarm units, we were able to get great positioning in the rear.  However, I did not utilize the Google Maps application and failed to realize we had to go through some trees and down a hill to get to the address.  It wasn’t a big deal as we easily adapted to the situation, however it would have been nice to know and communicate with the company.  If the technology, and time, are available, use it!

As stated above, listening to fireground radio transmissions en route, and in staging, will provide you with pertinent information.  Companies will be able to start processing the incident information in their heads and forecast possible actions to be taken.  When an Engine Company is called up from staging and reports to the IC, the company can come prepared.  By listening to fireground radio transmissions, the Engine Company can get a good idea of the size, and type, of occupancy and fire conditions.  Gathering that information will allow the Engine Company to report to the IC with an appropriate size, and length, hoseline from their rig.  Disconnect the hose from your rig and shoulder it to the fireground, while awaiting orders.  This accomplishes a few things: as stated in an earlier post, in many instances, the first due Engine Company is stripped of hoselines and this will ensure your company has a hoseline available; it shows the IC your company is engaged in the fireground operation; and it may allow your company to go to work quicker and, in turn, have a greater impact on the fireground.  With that said, the IC may assign you a task that has nothing to do with stretching, or operating, hoselines.  In that instance, place the hoseline out of the way and carry out the tasks you were given.

Truck or Rescue Companies can do the same thing when called up from staging.  Listening to fireground radio transmissions may facilitate deployment with appropriate hooks, forcible entry tools, saws, and portable ladders.  The construction, use, and size of an occupancy will generally dictate which tools will be appropriate and effective.  Again, deploying with these tools may allow the company to go to work quicker and will show the company is engaged in the fireground operation.

The final thing I want to talk about is attitude.  As is the case with any fire department operation, we should always perform any task with accuracy and 100% effort.  Often greater alarm companies arrive late in the operation and the “fun” tasks are already being performed.  With that said, even though you may be given a task that isn’t as “fun” as others, it’s still essential to carry the task out in a professional manner.  Not only is it essential for the success of the fireground’s strategic and tactical goals, it’s essential for a company’s reputation.  Good fire companies perform any task they are given with accuracy and 100% effort and people take note of this, whether you realize it or not.

Hopefully this article has provided some information that may help maximize your company’s impact, and effectiveness, on the fireground.  Regardless of when a company arrives at the firground, it’s important to be in the right mindset and to perform all assigned tasks in a professional manner.