The Combat Ready Fire Officer - Identifying an Ambush

By: Brian Brush

It has been noted before that our profession is at a distinct disadvantage because we do not determine when we go to battle, the battle comes to us. It might be 3:00 am while we are sleeping that the tone drops, or it may be at 3:00 pm when we are returning to the station in our rig following an inspection. This lack of predictability is like an ambush, and it can overwhelm our skills and senses.If we are to prepare for this inevitable facet of our job we need to understand how to identify the predicable ambush scenarios.

Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken the IED (improvised explosive device) from a haphazard tool of terrorist to a complete game changer for our military in their training, equipment and operations. The IED is not a person or group, it is a device. It may serve to initiate an ambush but it is more commonly just detonated, with a potential secondary device but without a follow up of human force. So the focus in preparation for the military is both responding to an ambush and identifying in planning, points in the mission where units are operationally vulnerable.

Now we temper this thought and discussion down to a workable level. I cannot be, nor can I expect my crew to be on alert for an ambush for 48 hours at a time. I also know full well if I walked in to work in two days and tried to sell the guys on a “preparing for ambush” mind set I would be met with just a little resistance. So how do we bring this to the company level so it is acceptable but not completely compromised?

If we change the word “ambush” to  Operationally Vulnerable we can identify an ambush before it comes. What makes an ambush so effective? The enemy lies in wait till the time is perfect. The position they have selected conceals their forces, and the approaching victim is unaware and therefore unprepared for battle.

I see ambushes everywhere but it takes some work to articulate and present it accurately and effectively to your crew if you want them to accept the idea and respect the hazard through proper preparation. So after a lengthy introduction to the concept it is time for the example. I hope this can be used as a technique for training and preparing your crews with a mind set of identifying an ambush.

Mid-Rise Office Building Fire Alarm Response

Operational Vulnerabilities:

·         Chronic false alarms –

·         Complacency, Lack of PPE, Inadequate number of resources on initial dispatch

·         Perceived low fire loading-

·         NIST video attached of a single workstation fire. 

     Consider timeline of Alarm activation - Department notification - Units dispatched - 1^st unit arrival

·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUXdRcEO1DY 

NIST fire behavior video

·         Building Construction –

·         Type II construction has the greatest potential for catastrophic failure. Building systems like HVAC spreading smoke and gasses, utility chases concealing fire spread. Tight building design will not allow for an accurate exterior size-up

·         Reflex time-

·         Delay in filling out the alarm to a full assignment. Delay in getting to fire location, hooking up to standpipes, large area searches. ALS Base style command structure is overhead intensive and time consuming.

·         History-

·         Houston Fire Department Mayday Video – Office building arson mid afternoon.

·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpJjl_R-98M     Houston mayday 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmj4Xh7LNGA Houston mayday 2

 

Plans for Protection:

·        Recon -

·         Identifying and preplanning hazard occupancies. On site discussion and training with neighboring companies, building staff and chief officers

·          

      Tool Up -

·         Ensure that equipment is prepared to overcome disadvantages addressed above. 

      

      2 ½” hose packs – Hydraulic Forcible Entry Tool – Hooks

·         Experiment with added equipment to determine realistic expectations and assignments

·       Practice -

·         Drill in a response scenario from the station as a panel alarm that gets upgraded. Test your ideas and times in scenario based training.

·         Implement

·         Take plans and practice and make them procedure so you develop a common sense, plan for your companies with a consistent message.

For any documentation regarding training documents, department procedures or professional reference material from text books to articles please contact me. There is no need to reinvent the wheel, when all is necessary is appropriate application.   

©2011 Brian E. Brush Text and Images