During this class we discussed many topics, of particular interest to me was firefighting tactics. Such tactics as use of water, removal of oxygen, fuel removal and flame inhibition all play an integral role in the survival of a firefighter. Another major contributor is the tragedies that led to new bills being passes mandating fire safety. Other areas of interest such as firefighters equipment, foam inductors, SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) and the advancement in turnout gear such as boots, jacket, pants and helmet. All of these components allow for a safe and expedient fire rescue, which help save lives on both ends.
First the importance of fire fighting tactics. First tactic, use of water. The most effective way of removing the heat of a fire is through the use of water. There are many different ways to apply the water but the most popular and effective for smaller fires is the spray technique. For larger fires a straight flow seems more useful because it can drench the flames to put them out. One of the major benefits of water is that only a little bit is necessary in order to extinguish a particular fire. One of the major problems that fire fighters face with using water is that they must be able to make it reach the fire which can be difficult in large building like skyscrapers or high rises apartment buildings. For effective water dispersement in these areas sprinkler systems can be a valuable tool. Sometimes a standpipe is attached to a sprinkler system this is helpful because it cuts down the length of hose necessary to reach the fire.
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Next Fuel removal. There are many ways to remove fuel depending on the type of fire. Wooden fires are controlled more easily by removing the wood from the fire zone. In forest fires remove the brush and the fire will run out fuel. For other types of fires such as oil-based fires, the oil must be pumped from one tank to another to avoid giving it any fuel to work off of.
