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KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGDetermining the number and placement of hose-lines at an occupied apartment building requires careful consideration of fire location, building layout, occupancy, and life safety priorities. The first line should protect the primary means of egress, typically the interior stairwell, to facilitate rescue and evacuation. A second line should be directed toward the seat of the fire for suppression. Additional lines may be needed for exposure protection—both internal (adjacent apartments) and external (adjacent structures). The size and flow rate of hose-lines must match the fire load; larger lines or master streams may be required if the fire is advanced.
Building construction, such as firewalls and standpipe availability, also influences hose placement. Coordination with search and rescue teams is essential to ensure safe entry. Ultimately, hose-line strategy must balance fire suppression with occupant protection, using resources effectively while maintaining safety for firefighters and civilians. Constant size-up and communication are critical throughout the operation.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGAgreed DE Shadoin, Classical decision making is valuable in stable environments, but its slower pace doesn’t match the urgency of most fireground scenarios. Cue-based decision making, grounded in experience and pattern recognition, allows firefighters to react swiftly and effectively under pressure—making it the more practical approach in high-risk, fast-evolving incidents.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGClassical decision making in firefighting relies on structured, logical steps to analyze a problem, compare alternatives, and choose the best course of action. It assumes time is available to evaluate risks, outcomes, and consequences methodically. This approach is useful during training, pre-incident planning, or when the situation is stable and allows for deliberate analysis.
Cue-based decision making, on the other hand, is intuitive and experience-driven. Firefighters recognize familiar patterns or cues—like smoke color, fire behavior, or building layout—and make rapid decisions based on prior experiences. This method is critical in high-pressure, fast-moving incidents where time is limited and conditions are constantly evolving.
Classical decision making is more of a static approach while cue-based decision making is a bit more dynamic which the changing atmosphere of the call.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGYou are very correct DE Shadoin. Unity of command is essential for firefighter safety. It ensures clear communication, prevents confusion, and supports fast, efficient decision-making. With one supervisor per firefighter, accountability and coordination improve, helping manage resources and maintain order. This structure is vital for enforcing safety protocols and protecting lives during emergencies.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGUnity of command enhances firefighter safety by providing a clear chain of command, where each firefighter reports to only one designated supervisor. This reduces confusion, conflicting orders, and miscommunication during emergency operations. In high-risk environments, such as structure fires, clear direction ensures that tasks are executed efficiently and resources are used effectively.
With unity of command, supervisors maintain accountability for their crews, enabling quick identification of personnel and faster response to emergencies or changing conditions. It also supports better coordination of tactics, such as search and rescue, ventilation, or fire attack, aligning them with overall incident objectives. By promoting organized communication and control, unity of command minimizes operational chaos and enhances situational awareness—key elements in protecting the safety and well-being of all firefighters on the scene.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGYes, DE Shadoin, I agree. Backdrafts pose a serious threat to firefighter safety, as they can cause sudden explosions when oxygen is reintroduced into an oxygen-starved, superheated environment. Recognizing warning signs such as dark, pressurized smoke and smoke puffing from cracks is essential. Using vertical ventilation, thermal imaging, and maintaining a charged hose line are key tactics. Coordinated ventilation and fire attack, with controlled airflow and strong communication, are critical to preventing backdrafts and ensuring firefighter and structural safety.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGBackdrafts are violent explosions caused when oxygen is suddenly introduced into an oxygen-depleted fire environment filled with superheated gases. These gases remain ignitable, and once fresh air enters (such as through a door or window opening) they can ignite explosively. Dangers include firefighter injury or death, structural damage, and rapid fire spread. Backdraft conditions often show signs like dark, pressurized smoke, no visible flames, and smoke “puffing” from cracks. Prevention involves recognizing these indicators, avoiding horizontal ventilation in sealed areas, and using vertical ventilation to release heat and smoke. Firefighters should use thermal imaging cameras to detect high heat and always enter with a charged hose line. Coordinated ventilation and fire attack, with clear communication and control of air flow paths, are essential to prevent unintentional air introduction and minimize backdraft risk.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipant
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGGood morning, my name is Kyle Fleming and I am currently a Rescue Supervisor for the City of Lighthouse Point. I have been working for the department for close to 5 years now and look to further promote. I have been married for 5 years and we have 2 children, one boy and one girl. For hobbies, I enjoy anything outdoors. I play tennis, golf and like to coach my son in sports, especially baseball. What I hope to take away from this course is the knowledge and future expertise to understand and ability to implement certain tactics and strategies to become a well-round fire officer for the department and community. Stay safe
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGYou are very correct DE Ed Shadoin with your answer to this question. Wide area incidents require careful coordination and awareness of critical infrastructure, including water, gas, power, and communication systems like cellular, radio, and VoIP. The fire department must collaborate with utility and public service agencies when these systems are disrupted. On-site surveys are essential to assess road and bridge accessibility. Proper staging of equipment within safe zones ensures efficient resource deployment and operational safety. These precautions help maintain situational control, ensure responder safety, and support effective incident management across a large and potentially unstable area.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGFirefighters should prioritize situational awareness and scene size-up, when responding to a wide-area incident, to identify hazards spread across a large or complex environment. Establishing a clear incident command system early ensures coordination among multiple units and agencies. Firefighters should be aware of potential hazards such as structural instability, hazardous materials, downed power lines, and limited access routes. Using sectoring or division tactics helps manage the scene by breaking it into manageable areas.
Communication must be frequent and clear, especially when crews are operating at a distance from one another. Firefighters should maintain accountability through personnel tracking and wear full PPE and SCBA when needed. Maps, GPS, or aerial views can aid navigation in unfamiliar or rural areas. Finally, prepare for extended operations, ensuring access to hydration, rest, and relief crews as needed.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGDE Ed Shadoin, you make some really good points pertaining to access roads in your jurisdiction. Access roads, especially for construction, agricultural, or private use, often come with challenges that can hinder emergency response. Debris, staged vehicles, unauthorized parking, and weather-damaged surfaces can block or delay access. Temporary roads may be poorly maintained or disrupted by ongoing work, while excavations pose safety risks. Final road construction can also interfere with emergency access. Owners must comply with zoning laws, easements, and environmental regulations, especially when building through wetlands or floodplains. These restrictions highlight the importance of planning and maintaining accessible routes for first responders at all stages of a project.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGAccess roads are critical for fire apparatus response, and several restrictions or obstacles can affect their effectiveness. Common issues include narrow roadways, weight limits on bridges or driveways, tight turning radii, dead ends without proper turnaround space, and overhead obstructions like low-hanging wires or tree branches. Poorly maintained or unpaved roads can also hinder access, especially for larger fire vehicles. Gated communities or properties with locked entrances may delay response without proper key access or override systems.
In our zone in South Florida we have some narrow driveways that pass by behind businesses. One in particular is a narrowing one-lane road between a wall and a building in which the Engine and/or Ladder apparatus cannot use. With the new rescues that the department has received, I doubt that these Freightliner chassis could access this road either. In another part of the zone, there is a raised driveway that is at the entrance of a bank. If a apparatus attempts to drive straight up the raised driveway, the apparatus will be high-pointed. For this particular instance, the apparatus must go through the raised entrance at a 45 degree angle.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGI agree with your very thought-out response DE Shadoin. High-rise buildings depend on multiple fire protection systems, especially automatic sprinkler and fire alarm systems. Sprinklers act as the first line of defense, activating with heat to control or suppress fires and prevent spread. They’re placed throughout high-risk areas for maximum coverage. Fire alarm systems use smoke detectors, heat sensors, and manual pull stations to quickly alert occupants and emergency responders. Many systems also include voice communication to guide safe evacuation. Together, these systems play a critical role in protecting lives and minimizing fire damage.
KYLE FLEMINGParticipantKYLE FLEMINGTwo key fire protection systems used in high-rise buildings are automatic sprinkler systems and standpipe systems. Both, automatic sprinkler & standpipe systems are critical for life safety and fire control in high-rise environments.
– Automatic sprinkler systems detect and suppress fire at its early stages, minimizing fire growth and allowing for safer evacuation. These systems are typically activated by heat and discharge water directly onto the fire area, helping to control or extinguish flames before firefighters arrive.
– Standpipe systems provide firefighters with a water source on multiple floors, eliminating the need to drag heavy hoses up stairwells. Standpipes are often connected to a building’s water supply or a fire department connection and come in three classes, with Class I intended for firefighter use.
