Strategy and tactics applied in response to fire incidents are crucial to the success of the emergency operations. It is crucial to have an understanding of the building construction and how to handle fires that have extended into large common attic spaces without fire walls. This is a report on how to control fires in large common attics. As technology and science improve the fire service, new ideas and concepts such as RECEOVS and SLICERS are used. A comparison of the two concepts as well as their impact on various building construction types will be discussed.
RECEOVS
RECEO stands for rescue, exposure, confine, extinguish, and overhaul; VS represents ventilate and salvage. The first five letters in RECEOVS represent activities intended to be performed in a particular order. The last two letters are actions of opportunity, this means they occur whenever the opportunity arises during the operation (Garcia et al., 2006). This strategy may be very useful while controlling fires in large common attics where there are persons inside the attic. Rescuing civilians is the primary aim of the operations; by following this tactic, any occupants present in the building are saved first. Exposure lines will ensure the operation contains the fire and stops it from spreading outside the attic. Understanding the developments of the fire and its origin are also important in firefighting procedures to ensure firefighters are kept from harm’s way. While handling fires that have extended into large common attic spaces without fire walls, it is crucial to investigate where the fire is going, how fast the fire is spreading, and the amount of time needed to deploy hose lines to ensure exposure protection. The next tactical decision in controlling the fire is containment. It is important to consider using all openings in the attic to gain an upper hand over the fire extinguishment.
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Extinguishing fire in the attic should be achieved by the application of fire stream operations safely and effectively. The nozzle pattern should be set, bleeding the line and allowing water to flow long enough for the engineer to set the line pressure at the panel should be done before entering the building to extinguish the fire in the attic. The overhaul tactic involves ensuring that there are no further traces of fire left in the attic and the building. It is also important for the firefighters to be aware of the potential existence of lethal amounts of hydrogen cyanide in the attic while at this stage of the process. Ventilation, which may be done at any point of the operation, may help to reduce danger for trapped occupants, increase crews’ visibility, and increase the overall effectiveness of the operation depending on the situation at the attic. Salvaging of any important material is also appreciated by occupants of the building.
SLICERS
This tactic seeks to lower temperatures inside the building before entering the building to rescue the occupants and extinguish the fire. The acronym represents size up, locate the fire, identify and control flow path, cool the space from the safest location, extinguish the fire, rescue, and salvage (Schulz, 2014). The last two are actions of opportunity. The first step is to size up the situation in the building and attic. This will determine what sources are needed to extinguish the fire. The second step is locating the fire. This will indicate the best method to attack the fire. The next step involves identifying the flow path of the fire in the attic. It is also important to close doors and windows in the attic to minimize airflow. Cooling the space from the safest location to reduce the thermal threat to occupants and the crew is essential while attacking a fire in the attic of a house. Extinguishing the fire is the next step. Rescuing occupants and salvaging are actions of opportunity in this tactic; priority of human life and safety is always important in these operations.
Comparison
Rescue is the first action in RECEOVS while it is an action of opportunity in SLICERS. In both cases, saving building occupants is usually the first step; in cases where the fire is in the attic, both tactics will be effective in bringing the occupants to safety. In the SLICERS tactic, putting water on the fire is prioritized before searching the building. This aspect of the tactic may play as an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the structure of the building where the operation is being carried out. In the example of an attic, the SLICERS tactic would be an advantage because it may be easy to spot occupants in the building. The aspect of the SLICERS tactic which prioritizes putting water on the fire before searching the building for occupants may act as a disadvantage to buildings with many rooms; in such cases, the search for occupants should be prioritized (Bryant, 2016). Salvaging is an action of opportunity in both tactics. The two useful tactics have been effecting in firefighting operations. Nonetheless, SLICERS is the most effective tactic for operations in large common attics.
Conclusion
A comparison of the two reveals that SLICERS is the most appropriate tactic to extinguish a fire in large attics. RECEOVS is also an effective firefighting tactic that may be most useful while operating on buildings with many rooms. Both approaches prioritize rescuing occupants of buildings which is the primary aim of firefighting operations. The main difference between the two is the prioritization of searching the building.
References
Bryant, M. (2016). RECEO VS and SLICERS– Where Do They Fit? . Medium. Retrieved 29 November 2020, from https://medium.com/elitecommandtraining/receo-vs-and-slicers-where-do-they-fit-1f9e63e2b467
Garcia, K., Kauffmann, R., & Schelble, R. (2006). Positive Pressure Attack for Ventilation & Firefighting . PenWell Books.
Schulz, K. (2014). Breaking down S.L.I.C.E.R.S for the Street smart Fire Officer . Firefighter Jobs, SNews & Training | Chicago Fire Wire. Retrieved 29 November 2020, from http://www.chicagofirewire.com/engine-company-operations/breaking-s-l-c-e-r-s-street-smart-fire-officer/#gref
