Firefighters Operation Essay

Introduction

The firefighters are generally responsible for any response to fires and accidents where risks are posed to property as well as life. The primary duties of firefighters are to assist in protecting the public majorly during the emergency situations. They respond to a variety of calls from the people in cases of car crashes, flooding, water rescue, chemical spills as well as the fire outbreak.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Additionally, firefighters are trained to never work above the fire floor this is mainly because working above the fire floor is the most dangerous location at a structure fire (Dunn, 2015). In most cases, the convective energy, smoke, fire, heat, and steam directly from the fired steam tend to follow in a vertical direction hence making operating above the fire a challenge. Furthermore, the resultant fire can eat away at the load bearing supports. Moreover, this will weaken the structures load carrying capability. The firefighters must be able to identify the risks and know how to execute precautions to prevent death as well as injury when operating above the fire floor.

The Kinds of Safeguard to Put in Place Before Operation

First, the best precaution against becoming firefighter fatality is the application of water on the fire as soon as possible (Stowell, F. M., Murnane, L, 2013). Since when operating above the fire floor it is important to guard against the fire spreading upward. It is also advisable to get steam on the fire immediately. Hence, a competent attack group from the company should have steam on the fire in less than two minutes.

Additionally, the firefighters should knock down the main body of the fire before the operation. The act will help in cutting down the primary source of energy pushing fire upward and as well as throughout the structure (Dunn, V. 2015). In case the stairways are in the apartment or building and doors are present but are not closed for an unknown reason, then one should make an effort to close the doors for safety. Also, it is advisable to close the door to the apartment or room in which you're searching for the containment can help slow down the fire spread.

The Special Observations That Need to Be Made Before Undertaking an Operation

For safety purposes, the fire suppression personnel should have a vast knowledge of the building as well as specific information regarding the fire structure in which they are working. Additionally, the firefighters should also use a thermal imaging camera to examine the ceilings and the walls. Moreover, one should be mindful of the timing and location during the process of ventilating at a structure fire. When done prematurely ventilating can lead spread and increase of the intensity of the fire which can be dangerous for firefighters above the fire floor (Stowell, F. M., Murnane, L, 2013). Lastly, it's advisable to communicate with the attack groups to ensure that the charged hose line is in the correct position before opening the doors and the windows.

References

Dunn, V. (2015). Safety and survival on the fire ground.

Stowell, F. M., Murnane, L., & International Fire Service Training Association. (2013). Essentials of firefighting and fire department operations. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Brady Pub