This resource does not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations, and it should not be used as or considered legal advice. Health and safety inspectors apply the law based on the facts they find in the workplace.

Background

Structural firefighting is very dangerous work as it puts firefighters near or within fire. Extinguishing the fire quickly is the most effective way of eliminating the hazard. An adequate water supply, proper flow rates, effective firefighting tactics and coordinated ventilation are essential to extinguish a fire safely. An understanding of firefighting techniques, equipment and personnel resources are required to develop effective firefighting tactics and achieve strategic objectives.

Concerns/hazards

Improper or inadequate firefighting tactics create extreme risk for firefighters, as the hazardous conditions may increase.

Actions for employers

Employers should:

  • inform firefighters of the hazards of structural firefighting due to factors, such as:
    • building construction and structural considerations that can promote rapid fire development, cause early structural collapse and/or ventilation failures
    • wind driven fires
    • ventilation limited fires
  • train firefighters on mitigating the hazard through measures, such as:
    • understanding modern fire science and fire dynamics
    • appropriate use of water supply, hoseline placement and operation, nozzle operation and pumper operations
    • understanding tactical ventilation, flow path and door control
    • modern and evidence-based structural firefighting tactics
    • utilizing the reach of the hose stream off surfaces to assist in fire extinguishment
    • modern research of single-family dwelling fires as it relates to survivable areas, heat release rate of modern furnishings, effective water application and flow path management
    • visual indicators of fire and building hazards; points of failure, impending rapid fire development and structural collapse
    • evidence based fire control techniques that extinguish fire, reduce air flow and reduce rapid fire development: surface cooling, smoke cooling, door and flow path control
  • develop procedures related to:
    • size-up (building condition and features, hazards, smoke and fire conditions etc.)
    • building construction and structural collapse
    • modern structural firefighting tactics
    • water supply, hoseline placement and operation, nozzle operation and pumper operations
    • tactical ventilation, flow path and door control
    • wind driven fires
    • ensuring minimum flow rates and proper nozzle selection

Building construction and structural considerations

Consider the following when developing procedures for firefighter safety:

  • modern building construction is more susceptible to early collapse due to lightweight construction, weaker building connections and open spaces
  • modern building contents are more commonly made of synthetic materials that have a higher heat release rate that lead to earlier rapid fire development
  • complete and communicate a 360 degree size-up when possible (visualizing all sides of the building) prior to committing crews to interior operations; and ensure that the 360 degree size-up identifies building construction, building integrity and building collapse indicators
  • the dangers and limitations of roof operations and vertical ventilation in light of modern building construction and fire science

Fire science and fire dynamics

Consider the following when developing procedures for firefighter safety:

  • understand modern fire science, fire behaviour and fire dynamics and utilize the information when making tactical decisions
  • ensure that as part of the size-up process, the colour, volume, density & velocity of smoke is evaluated (reading smoke), used as part of decision-making, and continually re-evaluated throughout the incident, understanding that smoke is unburned fuel
  • consider the tactical value of water application from the exterior of the structure to knock down visible fire prior to entering for interior firefighting operations, when applying water to the seat of the fire will be delayed
  • consider applying effective water to smoke and surface cooling with water return while advancing towards the seat of the fire to prevent rapid fire development, operating in a flow and move or stop and flow fashion
  • utilize a thermal imaging camera, if available, to determine suppression effectiveness and maintain situational awareness
  • utilize modern fire science to understand survivable spaces, areas of refuge and how to effectively utilize vent-enter-isolate-search
  • understand effective water streams and air entrainment utilizing door control and the effects they will have on the fire

Minimum flow rates and water supply

Consider the following when developing procedures for firefighter safety:

  • critical flow (volume) rates (the minimum flow in litres or gallons per minute) required to extinguish a given size fire
  • the available water supply and its potential limitations
  • the effects of nozzle stream patterns when determining the proper nozzle to use for fire suppression
  • the use of nozzles with lower reaction forces at higher flow rates (volumes) and lower pressures to improve the safety and effectiveness of firefighters by reducing the physical demands of interior firefighting (such as, smooth bore nozzles)
  • when using nozzles with lower reaction forces at higher flow rates (volumes) and lower pressures; that the nozzles are used with the appropriate hose (having high volume/low pressure nozzles and high pressure/low volume hose may lead to hose kinking which is potentially dangerous to firefighters)
  • determine the number and size of hoses required to control the fire as quickly as possible

Ventilation and flow path

Consider the following when developing procedures for firefighter safety:

  • air flow path and how to perform flow path control
  • tactical ventilation that coordinates fire suppression and ventilation
  • the impact that open doors and windows have on fire spread
  • door control during structural firefighting to limit the entrainment of oxygen
  • how to identify the potential for wind-driven fires and take tactical steps to manage wind-driven fires
  • the limitations of vertical ventilation — ensure that it is undertaken as a tactic only when appropriate

Applicable regulations and acts

Read:

  • Occupational Health and Safety Act
    • clause 25(2)(a) for providing information and instruction to a worker
    • clause 25(2)(d) for making workers aware of hazards
    • clause 25(2)(h) for taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers

Related standards

Read NFPA 1710 Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments for information on flow, water supply, and handlines.

Read NFPA 1142 Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting.

For information on structural fire-fighting strategy, tactics, and tasks as supported by science-based research, read NFPA 1700 Guide for Structural Fire Fighting.

For information on flow rates, water supply and hose lines, read NFPA 1720 Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations and Special Operations to the Public by Volunteer Fire Departments.

Related

Read firefighter guidance notes:

Other resources: