FIRE GROUND
STRATEGY AND TACTICS
THE BASICS
DEFINITIONS I
STRATEGY: The broad Goal, t he overall
plan. What has to be done.
TACTIC: A specif ic measurable Object ive.
How will it be done.
TASK: a specif ic assigned act ivit y. Who will
do it .
DEFINITIONS II

STRATEGY = Incident Commander. Decides
the Goal (RECEO/REVAS)

TACTIC = Operations/Division Officer.
Chooses objectives to reach goal (interior
attack, roof ventilation, etc).

TASK = Group/Firefighters. Perform the
functions to reach objective
Basic Fire Ground Strategy and
Tactics
INCIDENT PRIORITIES
Lif e Saf et y
Incident St abilizat ion
Propert y Conservat ion
Basic Fire Ground Strategy and
Tactics
(Fire Attack)
 Strategy: The
Goal, what has
to be done
 Tactic: the
objective,how
will it be done
 Task: the
assigned
activity, who will
do it



Strategy = The
Incident
Commander
Tactic: The
Operations/Divis
ion Officer
Task:: The
Firefighters,
perform the
functions
Command Sequence
Think! Plan! Act!
Think:: Size
Up, Pre-Fire
Plan, and Goal
 Plan: Strategy
and Tactics
 Act:
Implementation

Incident
Commander
to
 Operations
to
 Firefighter/
Groups

Primary Factors to Determine
Strategy







Rescue
Exposures
Confinement
Extinguishment
Overhaul





Rescue
Evacuation
Ventilation
Attack
Salvage
Ventilation
Salvage
(Fire Attack)
(FEMA)
Questions To Ask
What do I Have?
 What am I doing
 What do I need?
 Where is it going?
 How do I control it?
 Who is in command?

Strategic Concepts In Firefighting
(McAniff)





OFFENSIVE: Direct attack at seat of fire. Normally at
Incipient Stage, this solves all problems.
OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE: An attack on the main
body of fire, while taking measures to control
extension.
DEFENSIVE/OFFENSIVE: A holding action,it keeps
fire in reasonable bounds while more forces are
called.
DEFENSIVE: Surround and Drown, protect the
exposures.
INDIRECT: A Contained/Confined smoldering fire,
where use of steam expansion is taken advantage of
General Principles of Firefighting
(Norman)





Lacking sufficient manpower,rescue takes
precedence.
Remove those in greatest danger first!
With insufficient manpower to perform needed
tasks, perform those that protect the most first.
When sufficient manpower is available
coordinate both rescue and fire attack.
If there are no threats to occupants or no
occupants, Firefighters should no be unduly
endangered.
Engine Company Operations
Aggressive
attacks are a
necessity.
Begin suppression as soon
as possible.
Choose the proper operating
mode
OFFENSIVE
DEFENSIVE
INDIRECT
Basic Fire Ground Strategy and
Tactics





When a human life is at stake an interior attack is
mandated.
1st hose line to worst case before worrying about other
hose lines.
If attack stalled increase ventilation or water flow, or
both. If not working CHANGE TACTICS!
When effective offensive attack is not possible or has
not succeeded in 20 minutes, prepare defensive
positions
When forced to defensive mode consider the possible
effect of total structure involvement.
LOCATE
CONFINE
EXTINGUISH
“LET CIRCUMSTANCES
DICTATE PROCEDURES…ERR
ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY.”
Sources:
IMS by NFPA
Fire Attack by Emergency Resources Inc.
Fire Officer’s Handbook of Tactics by John
Norman
Strategic Concepts in Fire Fighting by Edward P.
McAniff
DISCUSSION
•Residential Garage
•Car Fires
•Strip Mall/Deluge gun
•Mid-Rise/Outside balcony
•Nursing Home
The Plaza: 8220-8224-8228
Jog Rd. Boynton Beach
Q.A.S. Strategy and
Tactics Exercise
Assisted Care Living Facility
3 Story Building: Type 5P – Concrete and
wood – 1 hour. Ext. block walls, poured conc.
Floors.
1st fl. 53,000 #ft (core style hallways)
2nd & 3rd flrs. @37,8000 #ft (center style hallways
Roof: Tile, wood truss/joist
Standpipes/Sprinklers
145 apartments
North West Entrance
North Side Plaza
North East Side Fire
Annunciator Panel
North Side
Plaza Elevator
South West Entrance
South East Side Fire
West Side Center
West Side Center 2
FDC
Gas S/O
Knox Box
Alarm Panel
Alarm Panel
Third Floor Landing
Hallway Smoke/Fire
Roof Access Part 2
3rd Floor Roof View
2nd Floor Roof Access
3rd Floor Roof Fire
Under Ground L.P.
North East Corner
THE END