Firefighting is one of the most important responsibilities of a FAFS officer (Company emergency responders). As the first responder, you are the first on the scene and have to act quickly and effectively to ensure the safety of yourself and others. Your knowledge and decisions can make all the difference in the first crucial minutes of a fire. This article provides you with the essential knowledge and practical tips to confidently fight a fire and make the right choices when the situation calls for it. Whether it's recognizing the right extinguishing equipment or safely executing an extinguishing attempt, your preparation and response are crucial.
Fire are caused when heat, fuel and oxygen come together-these three elements form the fire triangle. As a FAFS officer, it is important to know how a fire develops and what signs indicate danger. The five fire indicators you should keep an eye on are:
When attempting to extinguish a fire, safety first always applies. Limit your extinguishing attempt to an early fire that is still manageable. A glow fire, for example, can be treacherous because there are no visible flames, but the smoldering material remains extremely hot and can easily reignite. You can recognize a glow fire by the smoldering of materials such as wood or textiles, often without much smoke or flames. In such cases, a fire blanket can be effective in shutting off the oxygen supply. When in doubt, however, it is better to evacuate and alert the fire department.
When fighting fires as a FAFS officer, your own safety is always the first priority. Ensure good visibility by wearing a vest and stay in constant contact with other FAFS officers and the coordinator. Assessing the situation is very important: as soon as the flames are higher than your own height, you should immediately proceed to evacuate. This indicates that the fire is too large to safely handle yourself.
Time is a critical factor in safety. Within minutes, a fire room can become so hot and deoxygenated that entry is life-threatening. In general, after 3 to 5 minutes, a room is often no longer safely accessible due to the intense heat, smoke and possible collapse hazard.
You may consider an attempt to put out the fire if the smoke does not yet lead to dangerous situations, such as an early fire without dense smoke development. Be aware that smoke can suddenly turn into a dangerous situation.
To determine if you can safely extinguish, there are three main signs:
Only extinguish when all signals are safe and the fire is still limited.
Before attempting to extinguish, a thorough exploration of the situation is essential. Look around and assess the size of the fire and potential hazards in the area. Then carefully select the appropriate extinguishing equipment-think a CO2 extinguisher for electrical fires or a foam extinguisher for burning liquids.
First, check the door with the back of your hand. Does the door feel hot or is smoke coming through underneath? Do not open the door and leave the building safely. Is the door cool and there is no visible smoke? Open the door carefully, stay low to the ground, and observe the room.
Staying low is to ensure your safety; smoke and heat accumulate higher in the room, reducing your risk of smoke inhalation and exposure to extreme heat below.
As a FAFS officer, it is important to act according to a clear step-by-step plan in the event of a fire:
Cooperation and communication with other FAFS personnel is very important during a fire incident. Keep each other informed of the situation via walkie-talkies and work together to coordinate evacuations and assess risks.
The FAFS coordinator plays a central role here. This person provides a clear chain of command and distributes tasks among the FAFS officers. This prevents confusion and ensures that everyone knows what is expected of them.
As a FAFS officer, you should always prioritize the safety of people over material things. Your actions should focus on minimizing risks and ensuring an orderly evacuation.
After a fire incident, it is essential to hold an after-action meeting and evaluation. These sessions provide insight into what went well and where areas for improvement lie. By sharing experiences and analyzing situations, you can improve the safety and effectiveness of future actions. Evaluations help in refining procedures and increase safety awareness within the organization. Encouraging a learning culture, in which continuous learning from incidents takes place, ensures that the FAFS organization is ever better prepared for emergencies.
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