Firefighting

History of Firefighting

Firefighting is simply the act of preventing the spread of and extinguishing unwanted fires. The purpose of the activity is to save lives and property. It is one of the core emergency services in every community. Regardless of location, firefighters are called on to risk their own life and limb to save others.

In the olden days, communities would assemble and attempt to put out fires whenever they break out. However, this often resulted in an entire neighborhood getting burnt down before the fire is snuffed out. Modern firefighting techniques and equipment have been developed since then, but modern societies also now have corps of personnel who are specifically trained in firefighting.

While it is not the focus of our course, it is important to note that modern firefighters are trained in more than firefighting. They are also trained in search, rescue, and medical operations that they use to help people during times of accidents and natural disasters.

History of Firefighting Corps

History of Firefighting Equipment

Bureau of Fire Protection

Republic Act 6975, the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, created the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) (Chapter 4, Section 13-59) to be the responsible body for all concerns related to fires in the country.

Fire Protection refers to the various methods used by the bureau to control destructive fires to prevent the loss of life and property. Its objectives are the following:

1. To prevent destructive fires from starting
2. To extinguish destructive fires
3. To confine a destructive fire at its origin
4. To prevent the loss of life and property during fires

Fire Prevention and Suppression refers to the various safety measures employed to stop harmful or destructive fires from starting.

The BFP is the official firefighting corps of the Philippine government. Their main firefighting tools are ladders and pumps, but they also have specialist vehicles that are equipped with turntable ladders, hydraulic platforms, extra water, foam, and other specialized appliances for hazardous incidents.

In some countries, like the US, firefighting corps are divided into two sub-units: the engine company and the ladder company. Engine companies are equipped with trucks called "engines" that carry pumps and hoses for spraying water into fires. Ladder companies have ladder trucks for rescuing people through windows or spraying water from an elevated position.

Factors Affecting Fire Protection and Control

A fire hazard is anything that increases or could increase the probability of a fire in the area or could obstruct, delay, hinder or interfere with firefighting operations and the safeguarding of lives and property.

Common Fire Hazards

• Storage of an excessive amount of combustibles or explosives in an area not designed for such a purpose
• Deficient facilities/equipment
• Lack of suitable exits
• Obstructions at fire escapes or other entrances designated for firefighters
• Unsafe amounts of rubbish and other highly combustible materials
• Accumulation of dust in vents or grease in kitchens
• Buildings in repair
• Decrepit buildings, especially those made of combustible materials

Firefighting Operations

Firefighting operations are fire suppression activities.

They generally follow these steps:

1. PRE-FIRE PLANNING development of a systematic course of action that may be performed to realize the objectives of fire protection; the process of establishing an SOP for when a fire breaks out
2. EVALUATION / SIZE-UP (on-the-spot situation assessment) During this time, officers gauge the situation to determine the course of action that will lead to success.

Evaluation Steps:

1. Learn the facts of the situation: 5W's 1H
2. Determine the probabilities of dangerous fire behavior (as discussed in Lesson 2.2)
3. Ascertain your capabilities
4. Decide on the course of action
2. EVACUATION moving people, livestock, and property away from the fire area
3. ENTRY accessing the burning structure If necessary, entry may be forced:
   1. To give access to firefighters and their firefighting equipment
   2. To provide rescue
   3. To aid in ventilation
4. RESCUE removing, thus saving, people, livestock, and property from a fire area and transferring them to a secure area
5. EXPOSURE cover exposure securing structures surrounding the fire area to prevent the spread of fire
6. CONFINEMENT restricting the fire to the fire area
7. VENTILATION displacing the heated atmosphere with normal air to expel toxic gases
8. SALVAGE protecting properties from preventable damage from factors other than fire by removing them from the fire area and covering them with material such as tarps
9. EXTINGUISHMENT putting out the main body of the fire
10. OVERHAUL complete and detailed inspection of the structure and everything therein to eliminate the possibility of a re-flash; includes the complete extinguishment of sparks and glowing embers
11. FIRE SCENE INVESTIGATION an inquiry into the nature of the fire

Objects of Firefighting Operations

• Fighting building fires
• Fighting forest fires
• Emergency rescue operations
• Emergency medical operations
• Fire prevention and fire safety
• Public building inspections
• Public education programs

Special Notes

Sprinkle System A network of pipes installed in buildings that carry water to nozzles in the ceiling. The heat from a fire causes the nozzles nearby to open and spray water.

Smoke Detector A device that rings out when smoke is detected by its sensors

The Fire Extinguishment Theory

As has already been mentioned since the fire triangle was discussed, a fire cannot happen if even just one element is absent. This is core of the Fire Extinguishment Theory which states: "to extinguish a fire, interrupt or eliminate the supply of any or all the elements of fire." Essentially, fire can be eliminated by decreasing the temperature, eradicating the fuel supply, suffocating the fire, or by stopping the chemical reaction.

4 General Methods of Fire Extinguishment

• Extinguishment by Temperature Reduction
  • Cooling the environment, usually done by adding water into the system
  • Decreasing the temperature of the fuel itself to the point where it can no longer produce vapors that burn
• Extinguishment by Fuel Removal
  • Stopping the flow of liquid fuel
  • Inhibiting the production of flammable gases
  • Removing the solid fuels at the fire path
  • Letting the fire burn until all fuel is consumed
• Extinguishment by Oxygen Dilution
  • By introducing inert gases
  • By separating oxygen from the fuel
• Extinguishment by Chemical Inhibition This is usually done on gas or liquid fires using specialized dry chemicals or halons that interrupt the production of flames.

Methods of Extinguishing the Different Classes of Fires

Class A Fires: by quenching and cooling

Class B Fires: by smothering or blanketing

Class C Fires: by non-conducting extinguishing agent; the safest procedure is always to de-energize the circuit

Class D Fires: by using specialized agents marked specifically for metals

Class E Fires: by a combination of the aforementioned

Fire Extinguishers

A fire extinguisher is a mechanical device, usually made of metal, containing chemicals, fluids or gasses for stopping fires, the means for application of its contents for the purpose of putting out fire (particularly a small fire) before it propagates, and is capable of being readily moved from place to place.

In simpler terms, it is a portable device used to put out fires of a limited size.

Types of Fire Extinguishers

• Water Fire Extinguishers filled with water, used to fight Class A fires
• Liquified Fire Extinguishers contains CO, used to fight Class A, Class B, and Class C fires
• Dry Chemical Extinguisher contains chemical powders
• Foam Extinguisher contains sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), a foam stabilizing agent in a larger compartment, and a solution of aluminum sulfate in an inner cylinder; the reaction between the two solutions creates a stabilized form of CO2 bubbles
• Soda-acid Fire Extinguisher filled with NaHCO3 mixed with water
• Vaporizing Liquid Fire Extinguisher contains non-conducting liquid, generally carbon tetrachloride or chlorobromethane
• Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher effective against burning liquids and electrical fires

Extinguishing Agents

These are specialized chemicals used in putting out fires. Examples include:

• multi-purpose dry chemicals
• Halon 1211 or bromochlorodifluoromethane
• aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)
• CO2

Markings Required on Fire Extinguishers

All fire extinguishers manufactured or sold in the Philippines must bear the following:

• date of original filling
• chemical contents
• type
• operating instructions and safe procedure in usage
• name and address of the manufacturer
• name and address of the dealer

General Operating Procedures for Fire Extinguishers

The general operating procedures for the usage of fire extinguishers may be remembered using the acronym PASS.

P PULL Pull the pin at the top of the extinguisher.

A AIM Aim the nozzle or outlet at the base of the fire.

S SQUEEZE Squeeze the handle to discharge the extinguishing agent.

S SWEEP Sweep the nozzle sideways all across the fire to disperse the extinguishing agent.

After the fire is put out, check the material and ensure that there are no smoldering embers that could trigger a re-flash. Before leaving the area, make sure that the fire is properly and completely put out.

Firefighting Equipment

When a fire that has broken out grows beyond the capacity of a fire extinguisher or similar basic first response, firefighters come in with their specialized equipment.

There are three groups of basic firefighting equipment:

• Communication Systems Fire alarms are generally telephoned into the fire department. Many countries use a simple three-digit fire emergency number. In the Philippines, the emergency line is 166.
• Fire Vehicles Fire vehicles are the main tools that enable firefighters to do their job of putting out fires. There are three main groups: engines, ladder appliances, and rescue vehicles.
• Protective Clothing Firefighters use personal protective equipment to guard them against flames, debris, and other hazards. The coats and trousers are made up of fire-resistant material. They also use specialized breathing apparatus to protect them from toxic gases.

Fire Vehicles

Engines

These are also called "water tenders." They have large pumps that takes water from a source and forces it through to the hoses. Engines carry various sizes of hoses and nozzles. Many carry a booster line that is wound on a reel. These are small-diameter hoses mainly used for small outdoor fires.

Ladder Appliances

As the name implies, these carry ladders that enable firefighters to reach higher places - even as high as 30 meters or about eight storeys. There are two types of ladder appliances: turntable ladders and hydraulic platforms. They also carry specialized firefighting equipment.

Rescue Vehicles

These are enclosed vehicles that carry many of the same equipment that ladder appliances carry, except they carry additional equipment for use in unusual rescues. For instance, oxyacetylene torches, for cutting through metal, and hydraulic jacks, for lifting heavy objects.

Note that there are also generalized firefighting vehicles that are equipped with portable ladders of various types and sizes. Additionally, these carry forcible entry tools like axes, power saws, and sledge hammers.

There are also special fire vehicles designed for specific purposes such as airport crash tenders and hazardous materials units. These vehicles can spray foam or dry chemicals that are appropriate for responding to aircraft fires.

Note that there are also generalized firefighting vehicles that are equipped with portable ladders of various types and sizes. Additionally, these carry forcible entry tools like axes, power saws, and sledge hammers.

There are also special fire vehicles designed for specific purposes such as airport crash tenders and hazardous materials units. These vehicles can spray foam or dry chemicals that are appropriate for responding to aircraft fires.

Fire Prevention and Public Safety

As already mentioned, the job of the fire department does not begin and end with putting out fires. It is also imperative that they educate the community on preventing fires to help promote safety.

Different Methods of Fire Prevention

1. Laws and regulations
2. Fire safety inspections
3. Public education

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