Riding Assignments Presentation
February 28, 2011
BETHANY BEACH VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
Riding Assignments
Purpose
 To establish riding member assignments for Engine
and Truck Company operations at fire emergencies
Scope:
 This standard regulates the tactical assignments for
each riding position on engine and truck companies.
Engine Company Positions:
• Chauffer (Driver)
• Officer
• Nozzleman
• Back-up
• Doorman
• Control (Hydrant) man
Engine Company Assignments
Chauffer (Driver):
• Drives apparatus safely to scene and properly positions
• Secure water source – supply line connection
• Ensure cross-lay is flaked out of hose bed and/or static line is connected
• Monitor radio for instructions
• Operates Pump
• Communicate status of water, fuel and other key information to IC
Officer:
• Directs apparatus placement
• Initial size-up and attack mode
• Communicates fire conditions and location of fire to IC
• Calls for the line to be charged
• Controls the door to fire area
• Communicates with OV, directs fire attack and hose-line
advancement, monitors conditions
Officer Tools:
• Radio
• Thermal Imaging Camera
• Officer’s Tool or set of irons (if no Truck
Company present)
• Flashlight
Nozzleman:
This position should be assigned to the Senior
Firefighter during initial attack phase.
• Stretches the proper size attack line and length
• Flakes out line prior to initiating fire attack
• Bleeds air when line initially charged
• Controls stream and hose-line advancement, with Officer
• Performs hydraulic ventilation
Nozzleman Tools:
• Radio
• Flashlight
Back-up Man:
• Second FF on hose-line
• Stretching and flaking out hose-line in preparation for fire attack
• Chock doors while making stretch
• Supports nozzleman by absorbing as much nozzle reaction as possible
• Work in unison with nozzleman for hose-line advancement and direction change
• Note: Back-up man may have to force entry if Truck Company is not on scene
Back-up Man Tools:
• Radio
• Flashlight
• Irons (If no Truck Company on scene)
Doorman:
• If Control Man unavailable – ensures that cross-lay is out of the bed
and/or assists with connection of static lay
• If Control Man unavailable – estimates the hose needed if a static lay is
used
• Assists in flaking out line from door to the back-up position
• Chocks doors to prevent closing on hose-line
• Supports hose-line advancement by feeding hose
• Monitors fire conditions at the doorway and reports any deterioration in
condition
• For relief purposes, assumes nozzle position
Doorman Tools:
• Radio
• Flashlight
Control (Hydrant) Man:
• For forward lays, secures supply line, makes the hydrant connection and
opens hydrant when instructed by the Engine Chauffer (Driver).
• Assists with hose stretch and/or static line connection for long stretches
• Removes kinks in line from apparatus to doorman’s position
• Assists with hose-line advancement
• For relief purposes, assumes back-up position
Control (Hydrant Man) Tools:
• Radio
• Flashlight
• Hydrant wrench
• Spanner wrench
Positions by manpower:
6 Firefighters
• Driver
• Officer
• Nozzleman
• Back-up
• Door
• Control (Hydrant)
5 Firefighters
• Driver
• Officer
• Nozzleman
• Back-up
• Control (Hydrant)/Door
4 Firefighters
• Driver
• Officer/Back-up
• Nozzleman
• Control (hydrant)/Back-up
3 Firefighters
• Driver/Control (assist with stretch)
• Officer/Back-up
• Nozzleman/Control (hydrant)
Apparatus Assignments:
1st Due Engine:
• Offensive Attack - Stretch the appropriate size and length handline to the main fire location
• Defensive Attack - Stretch the appropriate size and length line to
the exposure and initiate master stream operations as needed
2nd Due Engine:
• Assist with the stretch of the first line
• Stretch a back-up line to either protect the initial line or attack
other areas of fire
3rd Due Engine:
• Assist with stretching the initial lines
• Stretch and operate the line in the exposure
Additional Engine Companies
• Stretch lines and operate as dictated by the IC and fire
conditions
Truck Company Riding Assignments
Truck Company Positions:
• Chauffer (Driver)
• Officer
• Irons
• Can
• Outside Vent Man (OV or OVM)
• Roof
Truck Company Teams:
Interior Team
• Officer
• Irons
• Can
Exterior Team
• Chauffer (Driver)
• OVM
• Roof
Truck Company Personnel Assignments:
Officer:
Key Tasks:
• Leads search for fire and/or victims
• Reports fire location and conditions to IC
• Directs Engine Company to fire
• Supervises and monitors team searching
• Directs and supervises salvage/overhaul operations
Officers Tools:
• Radio
• Flashlight(s)
• Thermal Imaging Camera
• O-Tool, Chief’s axe or haligan
• Rope Bag
Irons:
Key Tasks:
• Forcible entry
• Search for fire and life
• Ventilation, in areas being searched
Irons Tools:
• Radio (if available)
• Flashlight
• Flathead axe and Haligan Bar (Irons)
Can:
Key Tasks:
• Assist with forcible entry
• Search for fire and life
• Assist with ventilation while searching
• Contain fire prior to the hose line
Can Tools:
• Radio (if available)
• Flashlight
• 6 ‘ hook
• Water can
Roof:
Key Tasks:
• Assist with the placement and raising of ground ladders
• Perform an exterior size-up and inspection
• Perform vertical ventilation when necessary
• Report on roof, building and fire conditions
• Partner with OV for VES operations
Roof Position Tools:
• Radio
• Flashlight(s)
• Chain Saw or K-Saw
• 6 foot hook
• Haligan Bar
OVM (Outside Vent Man):
Key Tasks:
• Ventilation in support of the fire attack
• Ventilation for Life – VES (Vent-Enter-Search)
• Search for victims
• Exterior inspection of the structure
• Place and raise ground ladders
OVM Tools:
• Radio
• Flashlight
• 6 Foot Hook
• Haligan Bar
• Ground Ladder
Chauffer (Driver):
Key Tasks:
• Place and operate apparatus and aerial device
• Assist with placement and raising of ground ladders
• Assist OV and Roof positions
Chauffer Tools:
• Radio
• Aerial ladder
• Ground ladders
Positions by Staffing and occupancy:
6 Firefighters
• Chauffer (Driver)
• Officer
• Irons
• Can
• OVM
• Roof
5 Firefighters
Residential
• Chauffer (Driver)
• Officer
• Irons
• Can
• OVM/Roof
Commercial
• Chauffer (Driver)
• Officer/Irons
• Can
• OVM
• Roof
4 Firefighters
Residential
• Chauffer (Driver)
• Officer/Irons
• Can
• OVM/Roof
Commercial
• Chauffer (Driver)
• Officer/Irons
• Can
• OVM/Roof
3 Firefighters
Residential and Commercial
• Chauffer (Driver)/OVM
• Officer/Irons
• Can
Apparatus Assignments:
1st Due Truck:
• Force entry
• Locate and contain fire, communicate location to Engine
Company
• Search for life from fire area out
• Provide horizontal ventilation to support fire suppression
• Search floor above fire (VES)
• Initiate vertical ventilation on commercial structures, as needed
on residential
2nd Due Truck:
• Search on floor above fire for life
• Assists with horizontal ventilation
• Vertical ventilation
• Raise additional ground ladders (exterior crew to bring with
them)
• Check for fire extension
• Secure utilities
3rd Due Truck:
• Search areas not covered by 1st and 2nd Due crews
• Raise additional ground ladders
• Assist with ventilation as needed
• Check for fire extension
• Secure utilities
C.A.N. REPORTS
Purpose: To establish a uniform radio report so companies transmit a clear, concise, and informative radio
transmission to other companies and Incident Commanders(IC).
Definition: Conditions, Actions, Needs (C.A.N.) Report- this model easily identifies to the person giving the
report and Incident commanders how well they are doing, the conditions they are facing, and any support or
resource needed.
Conditions
Conditions – denotes what you are seeing at your present location or assignment. It is not meant to be a long
drawn out description but a short and to the point picture of your current conditions. The conditions section
of the report can also affirm to the Incident Commander your location.
Actions
Actions – tells companies and Incident Commanders the current actions being taken by you and your crew.
This is meant to be a quick report of your actions. Examples of actions would be: completing primary search,
attacking the fire on the second floor, opening up the fire area, and stretching a back-up line to the fire floor.
Needs
Needs – describes to the Incident Commanders and companies the requirements for you to complete your
assigned tasks. Will you need extra companies? Are your current resources sufficient, will you require any
additional tools or equipment.
Example
“Quint 70 to operations. We are on the second floor and have fire in the Alpha/Bravo corner. We are getting a
line on the fire now and we need a truck company to open the ceiling for us.
Thanks for your participation!