Chapter 3

3

Developing

an Incident

Action Plan

3

Learning Objectives (1 of 2)

• Describe how extinguishment is both an

operational priority and tactical objective

with an emphasis on the relationship

between life safety and extinguishment.

• Evaluate conditions leading to an

offensive or defensive operation.

3

Learning Objectives (2 of 2)

• Compare probability of occupant

survival to fire and building conditions.

• List situations when a written incident

action plan is needed.

• Use a case study or actual fire to

develop an incident action plan based

on a risk-versus-benefit analysis.

3

Overview (1 of 3)

• Incident Action Plan (IAP) development

– Leads to offensive or defensive tactics

– Derived from an analytical approach to

information gained through size-up

– Should be a simple, concise,

straightforward, easy-to-understand

– Outlines major tactical objectives

– Provides the central focus for operations

3

Overview (2 of 3)

• Size-up

– Continuous process

– IAP must remain flexible

– Tactics modified as conditions change

• All activities should lead to completion

of major objectives identified in the IAP.

3

Overview (3 of 3)

• Primary strategic considerations

– Life safety

– Extinguishment

– Property conservation

• With sufficient resources, priorities can be handled simultaneously.

• Extinguishment is normally the most important life safety tactic.

3

Determining Life Safety Needs

• Structural firefighting primary objective:

saving lives

– Life safety is the first consideration.

3

Evaluating Structural

Conditions • Structural conditions bear heavily on

offensive/defensive decision.

• Interior attack should not be conducted in an unsafe building.

• Offensive attack is conducted to assist occupants from the building.

– Reevaluation is necessary once the building is evacuated.

3

Estimating Resource Capability

and Requirements (1 of 2)

• Comparing resource capability to

incident requirements during size-up

• The IC must

– Apply sound risk management principles to

ensure fire fighter safety

– When developing a plan, decide what will

be needed to conduct an offensive attack

3

Estimating Resource Capability

and Requirements (2 of 2)

3

Offensive Fire Attack

• Lives and property are best saved by

conducting an offensive attack.

• A lack of resources could lead to a

defensive decision.

3

Developing an

Offensive/Defensive IAP (1 of 3)

• Entire operation is governed by the

offensive/defensive decision

– Initiate an offensive attack whenever it is

safe to do so.

3

Developing an


• Master stream appliances used to:

– Support rescue efforts

– Push fire away from critical evacuation

routes

– Cover exposures

• During an offensive operation,

coordinate through command.

3

Developing an


• Offensive changes to defensive

– Actions must be coordinated

– Must never be both

3

Formulating an IAP (1 of 3)

• IC

– Sets the objectives

– Decides on tactics necessary to achieve

those objectives

– Assigns units to complete the tasks

associated with each objective and tactic

3


• Focus of the entire operation

• Tactics are directed toward completing

the objectives.

• Objectives are directed toward

accomplishing the overall IAP.

• Should be simple and understandable

3


• Every incident needs some form of

incident action plan.

– Small incidents of short duration: unwritten

plan.

– Larger, more complex incidents: written

plan provides a central focus, eliminates

confusion, and reduces disputes

3

Written IAP

• Written action plan should be used

when:

– Resources from multiple agencies are

being used.

– Several jurisdictions are involved.

– Incident requires more than initial transfer

of command.

3

Developing an IAP (1 of 2)

• IC establishes objectives.

• Unified command: objectives must

reflect the policies and needs of all

agencies

• IAP becomes more important as the

incident grows in size.

3

Developing an IAP (2 of 2)

3

Deployment

• Writing tactical objectives is useless

without sufficient resources.

• ICs must follow up and request status

reports.

• Company-level officers must provide

status reports.

3

Risk Versus Benefit Analysis

• Risk refers to the risk to fire fighters, not

the risk to occupants.

• Benefit is the expected or potential

benefit to occupants or owners.

– Rescuing occupants would be a life safety

benefit.

3

Scenario 1: Single Family

Detached Dwelling (1 of 2)

• Majority of fires in the US

• SOPs may spell out duties of first alarm

assignment.

– IC may need to modify operations

• When SOPs are not being followed

• When the procedures do not fit circumstances

3

Scenario 1: Single Family

Detached Dwelling (2 of 2)

• No fire should ever be considered

routine.

– Primary reason for conducting an offensive

operation is life safety.

– Risk is associated with any offensive

operation.

• Usually less in a single-family dwelling versus a

larger occupancy

3

Structural Stability (1 of 2)

• Frame building

– Fairly unstable structure and contributes

significant fuel to fire.

– Will have considerable fire involvement

before collapse

• Exception of truss roof and floor construction

– Combustible characteristics of building

provide stability clues.

3

Structural Stability (2 of 2)

• Caution should be used when venting

roofs of modern residential buildings.

• Roof ventilation not normally required if

the fire is not in upper floor or attic

– Stable platform or a roof ladder for roof

access

3

Scenario 2: High-Rise

Apartment Building (1 of 5)

• Greater risk than single-family detached

dwelling due to:

– Number and location of occupants beyond

the reach of aerial ladders and towers

– Difficulty in ventilating building

3



• Size, complexity and danger increase.

• Operations are complicated by: – Extreme temperatures

– Strong winds

– Blocked stairways

– Locked passageways

– Other factors

• Properly installed, working sprinkler system reduces danger.

3



• Buildings pose extreme life hazards due

to type of occupancy.

– Office buildings (thousands of people)

– Large residential buildings (hundreds of

families, elderly residents)

• Evacuation is more labor-intensive.

3



• Fire conditions could be similar to single

family detached dwelling.

– Challenges will be more complex.

• Occupants on fire floor and floors above can be

threatened by the smoke and fire.

– Resource needs are much greater.

3



• Fire could be located several floors

above grade level.

– More complex and difficult

• Many floors above fire could be

occupied.

– Search and rescue necessary on many

different levels

3

Scenario 3: Church Fires (1 of 3)

• Large, open area to accommodate the

congregation and altar.

• Structural collapse is probable if fire

reaches roof structure.

• Require an unusually high rate of flow

• Use 2½″ (64-mm) or 3″ (76-mm) hand

lines with solid streams to obtain the

necessary reach.

3


• During times when people congregate,

life safety is a key tactical consideration.

• Long periods of time when the buildings

are unoccupied

– Fire can gain considerable headway before

it is noticed

3


• Many are not protected by fire

suppression systems or automatic

alarms.

• Older churches may house priceless

valuables.

3

Summary (1 of 2)

• An IAP is critical to meeting the three

priorities:

– Life safety

– Extinguishment

– Property conservation

3

Summary (2 of 2)

• Safety can be addressed while meeting

these priorities.

– Requires sound application of risk

management techniques

Technology

Chapter 3