PHASES OF FIRE

OPERATION
PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

FIRE CONTROL – An act or process of preventing

FIRE SUPPRESSION – Act or process of lowering

2
PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O11
N PHASES
OF FIRE
OPERATION
1. PRE-FIRE PLANNING
2. SCENE SIZE-UP
3. RESCUE
4. COVER EXPOSURE
5. CONFINEMENT
6. VENTILATION
7. EXTINGUISHMENT
8. SALVAGE
9. OVERHAULING
10. POST-FIRE ANALYSIS 3
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

1. PRE-FIRE PLANNING
– to know the problem which may be encountered and
what to do at the fire ground in case fire starts in a
particular building or area.
a) Gather information about existing conditions at the
vicinity of the building or area which is subject for
planning.
b) Conducting fire company inspection.

4
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

2. SIZING-UP
– mental evaluation by the Ground Commander
which enables him to determine his course of
action and to accomplish his mission.
– to estimate the situation
– begins after alarm is received.
a) Nature of fire.
b) Tools or equipment available.
c) The action to take. (decision from the Ground
Commander)
d) Wind direction.
5
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N
3. RESCUE
– Removal of the victim/s from endangered area
and bring to the place of safety.
a)Looking for victim/s.
b)Extrication of victims.
c)Determining the nature of injury.
d)Stabilizing the victim.
e)Bringing victims to a safe place.
f) Stabilizing the scene of incident.
g)Wrap up (collect equipment and accounting of
personnel).
h)Post incident analysis 6
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

4. COVER EXPOSURE
– to prevent the fire into extending/spreading to
other uninvolved buildings.
a)Placing fire streams directly to exposed building.
b)Placing fire streams between burning building and
exposed building.
c) Entering exposed building and from windows
placing fire streams directly to burning building.

7
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

5. CONFINEMENT
– to prevent the fire from extending to the other
portion of the burning building
– involves protection of avenues of extension.
a) Upward Extension – Most rapid thru stairways,
windows and air ducks.
b) Sideward – thru combustible partitions and
doors.
c) Downward – Slow thru combustible floors,
stairways, and air ducks.
8
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

6. VENTILATION
– to displace hot smoke, poisonous and toxic gases
from contaminated area and replacing fresh air
from outside.
a)Make an opening (forced ventilation).
b)Use of fog streams.
c)Always consider the wind direction.

9
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

7. EXTINGUISHMENT
– to put out the main body of fire.
a) Locating the main body of fire.
b) Proper use and techniques of applying fire streams.
• DIRECT ATTACK – If fire is limited and approachable.
Applying a solid stream directly to the base of the fire.
• INDIRECT ATTACK- If the fire involves a large area and
confined by locating the hottest portion and applying a
stream over hottest portion.
• COMBINATION ATTACK – If the whole building is
already involved by the fire and entry is difficult.
10
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

8. SALVAGE
– to protect properties of value from preventable
damages due to sources other than fire.
– the process of applying techniques that minimize
damage to contents and structure during and
after fire suppression.
a) Covering properties endangered of indirect
damage.(water or heat).
b) Removing endangered properties.
c) Removal of excess water.

11
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

8. SALVAGE
• Goals of Salvage
– To reduce property loss from fire, water and smoke
damage through the application of salvage
techniques.

12
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

8. SALVAGE
• Purpose of Salvage
a. Loss Reduction - reduce the impact of fire.
b. Public Relations
c. Clean-Up - reduces the amount of clean-up
required after suppression

13
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

8. SALVAGE
• Salvage Equipment
a. Salvage Covers
b. Water Removal Equipment
c. Smoke Reduction Equipment

14
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

8. SALVAGE
• Salvage Methods
– can be divided into:
a. Arranging Contents
b. Suppression Tactics
1. Fast Suppression
2. Drawing a defensive Line
3. Attack from Unburned Side
4. Proper Quantity and Application of Water
c. Controlling Water Run-Off
15
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

9. OVERHAULING
– to prevent the fire from rekindling
– the process of placing the property in a safe and
secure condition by searching for and
extinguishing hidden or remaining fires.
– occurs after the fire is under control.
a) Looking for remaining sources of ignition such
as embers, open flames, sparks among debris.
b) Making the area safe and habitable.
c) Gathering physical evidences among debris to
determine cause of the fire.
16
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

9. OVERHAULING
• Extinguishing Hidden Fires
– a charged hose line should be always available
during overhaul to extinguish hidden fires.
– a hidden fire may smolder behind a wall or in another
concealed location
– the result can be explosive when the wall is opened,
and the fire is exposed to an oxygen rich atmosphere

17
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

9. OVERHAULING
• Dangers of Overhaul
– Fire fighters should exercise extreme caution during
overhaul and be aware of the following potential
dangers:
a. Weakened floors, ceilings, roofs, stairways
b. Weakened structural components and
unreinforced masonry walls
c. Spalled concrete
d. Heavy objects that may have weakened support
e. Weakened wood-framed doorways
18
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

9. OVERHAULING
• Dangers of Overhaul
f. Walls pushed outward from elongation of steel
roof supports
g. Decomposed mortar in brick joints
h. Exterior signs or attachments with weakened
anchor points
i. Hidden smoldering fire that requires only
exposure to oxygen rich air to flare up

19
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

9. OVERHAULING
• Methods of Overhaul
1. Separate Debris
2. Open voids to locate hidden fire
3. Extinguish Fire
4. Retrieve Equipment
5. Transferring Responsibility for the Scene

20
10 PHASES OF FIRE
O P E R AT I O N

10.POST-FIRE ANALYSIS
– to conduct a critique of what was done during the
fire operation
– a cooperative discussion of fire personnel about
all phases of fire from the time of the alarm was
received until return to the station

21