NFPA 1003 ARFF cheat sheet

Airport movement areas are runways, taxiways, and aprons; ARFF drivers must know markings, lighting, holding positions, and access routes to avoid runway incursions.

NFPA 403 benchmark: the first ARFF vehicle reaches the runway threshold within 3 minutes and any other point on the airport within 4 minutes from alarm.

ICAO response times differ by category: categories 1-7 require 2 minutes to runway ends and 3 minutes to other points; categories 8-10 require 3 and 4 minutes.

Airport emergency alert levels are local standby, full emergency, and aircraft accident; each activates a specific Airport Emergency Plan response.

Radio discipline uses plain language, identifies unit and function, uses Mayday for distress, Pan-Pan for urgency, and Emergency Traffic to clear a channel.

The Airport Emergency Plan lists emergency frequencies and phone numbers; ARFF monitors designated fire dispatch and airport operations channels.

Airport grid maps use runways, taxiways, and grid coordinates; report locations by runway/taxiway intersection and grid to speed response.

Wind direction, runway in use, and touchdown zone determine initial apparatus positioning; upwind and uphill approach is standard.

Joint ARFF and airport operations familiarization covers hydrant locations, gates, fences, access roads, and known obstructions.

Fixed-wing components include fuselage, wing, empennage, powerplant, and landing gear; rotorcraft include mast, main/tail rotor, transmission, and skids; each presents different crush and fire risks.

Jet A and Jet A-1 are kerosene fuels with flash points above 38 C (100 F); Avgas 100LL is gasoline with a low flash point and high vapor explosion risk.

Fuel tanks are located in wings, center section, and fuselage; fuel jettison ports and vents can release fuel, so treat any wing or fuselage breach as a fuel hazard.

Hydraulic fluid such as Skydrol is a phosphate ester that can cause skin and eye injury, produces irritating smoke, and can ignite as a mist at high temperature.

Oxygen systems include cylinders, lines, and generators; heat can rupture cylinders and accelerate fire, so cool cylinders from a distance and approach upwind.

Composite structures of carbon or glass fiber can splinter, conduct electricity, and release toxic smoke; damaged fibers can penetrate skin and contaminate wounds.

Landing gear and brake overheat can cause tire explosion; approach tires from fore or aft, not the side, and use remote temperature checks before cooling.

Emergency exits include cabin doors, overwing hatches, cockpit windows, and escape slides; slides inflate automatically and can block egress if not managed.

Hazards include lithium batteries, cargo, munitions, flares, ejection seats, and radioactive or infectious cargo; use the manifest, ERG, and do not move unknown items.

ARFF vehicles typically carry water, foam concentrate, dry chemical, and sometimes clean agent; pumps range about 1,000-2,000 gpm and turrets 500-1,500 gpm.

Foam delivery uses roof or bumper turrets, handlines, and under-truck nozzles; turret reach and pattern must cover the spill while the apparatus remains on a paved escape route.

Foam proportioning systems include around-the-pump, balanced-pressure, bladder tank, and direct injection; each requires correct concentrate-to-water flow matching.

Dry chemical systems use nitrogen propellant and fixed or portable hoselines; dry chemical knocks down three-dimensional fires but does not cool or blanket fuel spills.

Apparatus braking, all-wheel drive, and tire systems affect off-road performance; keep to paved surfaces, avoid soft shoulders, and maintain an escape route.

Pump-and-roll allows moving attack from the turret or bumper nozzle; stationary pumping gives maximum turret flow, so know the apparatus flow limitations.

ARFF apparatus is built to NFPA 414; daily checks include foam ratio, pump, turret, dry chemical pressure, SCBA, and radio.

Water tank refill uses hydrants, draft, or shuttle; foam concentrate refill must match type and percentage, and different concentrates are not mixed without approval.

Position apparatus upwind and uphill, outside collapse and explosion zones, with turret coverage and an unobstructed escape route.

AFFF and AR-AFFF are low-expansion foams; use 3 percent or 6 percent concentration per manufacturer; AR-AFFF is for polar solvents and alcohol-blended fuels.

Foam blanket suppresses vapor, cools, and separates fuel from oxygen; it is vulnerable to wind, thermal updraft, and fuel wash, so reapply as needed.

NFPA 403 minimum foam application rate for hydrocarbon fuel fires is 0.10 gpm/ft2; polar solvents may require higher rates; follow the foam manufacturer and NFPA 403.

Foam expansion ratio is low below 20:1, medium 20-200:1, and high above 200:1; ARFF primarily uses low-expansion foam.

Application techniques include sweep or bank-in to roll foam across a spill and rain-down for three-dimensional fires; do not plunge the stream into fuel.

Foam proportioning requires the correct ratio; too lean produces a poor blanket, too rich wastes concentrate and reduces fluidity; verify with refractometer or conductivity checks.

Dry chemical agents include sodium bicarbonate and PKP; they knock down flame but provide no cooling, so follow with foam or water to prevent reignition.

Clean agents such as Halon replacements are for enclosed spaces and electronic bays, not outdoor fuel spills; ensure agent compatibility and personnel safety.

Water alone is ineffective on fuel fires and can spread fuel; use it for cooling fuselage after a foam blanket or for Class A materials.

Rescue sequence: stabilize the aircraft by shutting down engines and isolating fuel and electrical systems, control fire, gain entry, extricate, triage, treat, and transport.

Entry points include main cabin doors, overwing exits, cockpit windows, cargo doors, and cut-in points; use fuselage markings and emergency lighting.

Forcible entry tools include halligan, axe, rotary saw, hydraulic cutters and spreaders, and air chisels; avoid cutting fuel, hydraulic, oxygen lines, or pressure vessels.

Approach aircraft from upwind and uphill, stay clear of engine intakes, propellers or rotors, and tail; wear full PPE and SCBA.

Survivor triage uses immediate, delayed, minor, and expectant categories with START or JumpSTART; treat burns, smoke inhalation, and spinal trauma.

Extrication protects survivors from heat and smoke, pads sharp edges, uses backboards and cervical collars, and coordinates with EMS while disentangling seats and structures.

Escape slides inflate on deployment; keep the slide path clear of debris, assist survivors down, and be aware of slide re-inflation and hot surfaces.

Decontamination removes fuel, foam, hydraulic fluid, and composite dust from survivors; remove clothing, flush skin and eyes, and prevent hypothermia.

Direct ambulatory survivors to a safe area upwind; record triage tags, locations, and transport destinations for reunification and documentation.

Priorities are rescue, fire control, and property conservation; rescue can proceed before full extinguishment when survivable space exists and a foam blanket or handline protects the entry.

Offensive attack applies foam and water directly to the fire and fuel spill; use the turret for initial knockdown, then handlines for close-in operations while maintaining a foam blanket.

Defensive attack protects exposures and evacuates when the aircraft is fully involved, structural collapse is imminent, or no survivable space exists.

Position apparatus upwind and uphill with turret coverage and an escape route; avoid positioning in fuel spill, downwind smoke, or collapse zone.

Three-dimensional fires involving pressurized fuel, running fuel, or engine and APU components require dry chemical for knockdown, then foam or water to cool and secure the source.

Fuselage cooling applies water or foam to skin and exits; avoid excessive pressure that can injure occupants, and cool oxygen cylinders and fuel tanks.

Ventilation and entry are coordinated with fire attack; open upwind or upwind-high, avoid backdraft conditions, and use SCBA and thermal imaging.

Foam supply management calculates flow times time; a 1,500 gpm turret uses 1,500 gal/min, so plan refill or shuttle before committing.

After knockdown, overhaul and reflash watch maintain the foam blanket and monitor hot spots with a thermal imager.

The Airport Emergency Plan, required by NFPA 424 and ICAO Annex 14, defines agencies, roles, alert levels, command, communications, mutual aid, and response procedures.

ICS uses single command or unified command; ARFF may serve as fire branch or operations, while airport operations, law enforcement, EMS, and FAA coordinate.

Alert levels are local standby, full emergency, and aircraft accident; the airport emergency communications center activates the Airport Emergency Plan and notifies responding units.

Communications use plain language, clear text, and a common frequency; announce command, location, actions, and needs, and use Mayday or Pan-Pan for distress and urgency.

The first arriving ARFF officer assumes command until relieved; transfer command face-to-face and set the command post upwind and away from collapse zones.

Unified command coordinates law enforcement for security and crime scene, EMS for triage and transport, airport operations for runway closure, and FAA for air traffic.

Mutual aid is requested through dispatch; designate staging, entry routes, and accountability, and integrate outside agencies into the ICS organization.

The public information officer coordinates media releases; do not release victim information, and preserve the scene for NTSB and FAA investigation.

Post-incident actions include critique, after-action report, and Airport Emergency Plan update; notify NTSB, FAA, and local authorities per protocol.

PPE includes NFPA 1971 turnout gear, NFPA 1976 proximity gear, flash hood, helmet, gloves, boots, and SCBA; proximity suits reflect radiant heat but are not for direct flame entry.

Heat stress is significant in ARFF gear; use rehabilitation, hydration, crew rotation, cooling, and monitoring of heart rate, temperature, and mental status per NFPA 1584.

Smoke and toxic gases include carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, acrolein, and particulates; use SCBA and skin protection, and avoid inhaling composite dust or foam.

Hazardous materials include fuel, hydraulic fluid, oxygen, batteries, and cargo; use the ERG, isolation zones, and decontamination, and do not commit without PPE and training.

Lithium battery fires can undergo thermal runaway; water or a special agent is used for cooling and extinguishment, and Halon may not stop the reaction.

Tire and brake explosion danger is greatest beside the wheel; approach from fore or aft, use remote temperature measurement, and cool from a distance.

Oxygen cylinder rupture requires cooling from behind cover; do not approach a hissing cylinder, withdraw, and protect exposures.

Bloodborne pathogens require gloves, eye protection, and respiratory protection; bag contaminated PPE and follow the exposure control plan.

Scene safety addresses apparatus exhaust, traffic, rotor wash, debris, and secondary explosions; establish hot, warm, and cold zones with accountability.