Fire Behaviour and Firefighting Tactics
This section covers Fire Behaviour and Firefighting Tactics: reading fire development, selecting a tactical mode and applying water and ventilation so that conditions improve rather than worsen. The exam tests offensive and defensive modes, gas cooling, direct and indirect attack, door control and tactical ventilation.
Modes and attack
- Offensive mode commits firefighters inside to rescue or extinguish; defensive mode fights from outside to protect exposures.
- Direct attack applies water to burning fuel; indirect attack uses fog into a hot gas layer; gas cooling uses short pulses to cool without disrupting the layer.
- A covering jet protects exposures and supports withdrawal.
Ventilation and door control
- Tactical ventilation must be coordinated with fire attack; premature ventilation can feed a fire.
- Door control limits air entry and maintains thermal layering during entry.
- Vertical ventilation releases hot smoke but can accelerate fire if the seat is not located.
Worked example
A well-involved bedroom on the first floor of a house. Two BA wearers take a main jet to the door, control the door, gas-cool the layer, then make a direct attack on the seat. A covering jet protects the stairs. Reasoning: door control prevents a slug of air, gas cooling reduces the risk of flashover, and direct attack finishes the job; ventilation waits until the attack is ready.
Traps
Ventilating before attack; over-applying water and destabilising the compartment; entering without door control; misreading backdraught indicators; using fog indiscriminately in a hot layer.