WEBVTT Kind: captions; Language: en

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[...]

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All of you know that the majority
of fires to which we respond

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are of minor importance.

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But none of us can foretell at what
moment that big one is liable to occur.

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The fire that will tax our efforts and
equipment to their limits and force us to

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apply all the tricks of our trade
if we're to make a successful stop.

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Constant drilling is a necessity
if top line efficiency is to

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be maintained in the fire service.

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There is no substitute for practice.
It is the only way we have of knowing our

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equipment and developing the ability
to use it efficiently under fire.

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In routine company drilling, the detailed
procedures normally associated with

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response are frequently overlooked.
And this very oversight could easily result

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in an otherwise well-trained company
looking like rank amateurs. Most of these

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procedures of which I speak are fundamental.
The responsibility of seeing that

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they're carried out lies with any man in
charge of a firefighting unit. Suppose

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we consider these details
of response one by one.

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The best place to start is at morning
lineup every day. Ask yourself, what is the

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numerical strength of my company?
How many men do I have? Does

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everybody know what they are to do?

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Do I have a relief driver or engineer who
needs instructions? Who lays the line?

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Who takes over if we are first in and I'm
in charge of the fire? This is the time

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to get organized.
An hour later may be too late.

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On receipt of a long ring,
get to that phone in a hurry.

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Identify your station, determine who goes
and where, repeat the address, write it

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down, and take it with you.

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Other units must know where they are going,

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as well as your auto

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firemen, your engineer,

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and other members of your company.

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On receipt of a box alarm,
the location is your first concern.

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After double checking the box number
by reading the tape, the location

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can be quickly determined by checking
the convenient list at the printer case.

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But if you have not memorized the other
companies who will respond to the same

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location, check the proper running card and jot

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them down for a knowledge of
what help you will have is

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vital to good firefighting.

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And don't forget, push the answer back button.

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How else can the dispatcher know you've
received the alarm and are on your way?

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Those still alarms are rare.
You may receive one

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at any time. When you do, be short of the
address and determine what is burning

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if possible. Alert your crew with a long ring.

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Then notify the fire dispatcher
before leaving quarters.

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As a last precaution, in fact,
any time you leave quarters with your

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apparatus, check to see that every
member of your crew is present.

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Let me repeat. Regardless of the type of
alarm received, it is sound practice to

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let every member know the location.
That way, there's less possibility of going

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wrong and more assurance that every member
will be thinking about what might be

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involved and what job each must perform
in the probable lines of attack.

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After you get rolling,
there are many things to be considered.

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If you are a two-piece company,
is your pump following?

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Motor trouble may have prevented it leaving
quarters, in which case you will be

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forced to operate alone unless
proper radio notification is

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immediately given to the signal office.

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The speed of your response should always
be consistent with safety. It must vary

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with traffic conditions, visibility,

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and weather. To rely on green lights is

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foolhardy. Cross intersections

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under control.
Other companies may be responding also.

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Anticipate their line of travel

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and watch for other emergency vehicles. Their

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sirens may be synchronizing with your own.

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Speed and traffic conditions
are not your only problems

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when responding to an emergency.

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Besides making sure you're taking the
most direct route, are you positive that

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house moving activities are not
blocking your line of travel?

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Or that street repair work will not lead
you into a dead end and costly delay?

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Notice of street closings,
hydrants out of service, water shutoffs, and

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fumigations are of little value unless
you plan ahead of time how you'll prevent

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such conditions from interfering
with your operations.

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The procedures I've pointed
out are not complete by any

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means. You'll think of others of importance.

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Put them into practical use to accomplish
the most important objective. Your

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apparatus is needed at the scene of emergency.
See that it gets there safely.

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And when you do get there,
try to get keep from blocking streets,

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hydrants, or other apparatus.

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Pose lines across streets and over tracks
are to be avoided whenever possible. If

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this is not practical,
remember to clear the street as soon as it

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is possible to do so.

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While still traveling to the location given,
start thinking about the

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possible nature of the emergency.

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Is it a fire?

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An explosion?

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Or a rescue operation?

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If special equipment is needed,
do you have it? If not, do

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you know how to get it?

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A thorough knowledge of your first in-district
is essential. How else will you be

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able to estimate possible conditions at
any given location in the area which you

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serve? Does the location consist
mainly of single dwellings, multiple

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occupancies, mercantile,

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or industrial establishments?

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Is there a potential life
hazard to be considered?

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And have you acquainted yourself with
the location of auxiliary firefighting

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appliances that will help in bringing
a fire under control, or help prevent

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excessive water damage?

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Will you need heavy streams?

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If so, what hydrants will support them?

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If the fire is of any magnitude and
automatic sprinklers are operating, will

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the nearest water main supply fire pumps
as well as the sprinklers, or must you

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use a hydrant on an adjacent main?

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All of these problems are important to
you regardless of the type of apparatus

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you may be in charge of.
Truck companies will be faced with problems of

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laddering, forcible

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entry, rescue,

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ventilation, and the probability that
your crew will be called upon to

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lay additional lines,

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or help with salvage operations.

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And, of course, the priority of operations
of regular salvage companies must be

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governed by the property values to be
protected. Do you know where these values

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are located in the
occupancies in your district?

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In any event, I think you'll agree
that no definite plan of action can be

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determined until you actually see
what the emergency is. At any rate, a

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preliminary size up upon arrival is important.
If you have a fire, first you've

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got to quickly consider its size and extent,
the possible life hazard, the

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exposures both exterior and interior,
building construction, wind and weather

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conditions, and any special hazards such as

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chemicals, explosive dust,
high voltage equipment, and noxious gases.

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The skull work you do en route will go
far in helping you make your decisions

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with greater accuracy and speed,
both of which are highly important during the

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first few minutes at any emergency.

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Doing the right thing and doing it quickly
is the key to successful firefighting,

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and your success or failure will be
in direct proportion to the amount of

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planning you have done before
your wheels start rolling.