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NYS MODULE 6 Initial Company Operations GOALS The Candidate, given a complete set of PPE and SCBA in a simulated smoke environment, will advance a charged hoseline as part of an engine company through a designated structure to a designated target area, operate such handline and flow water until a target has been hit. The Candidate, given a complete set of PPE and SCBA in a simulated smoke environment, will conduct a primary search in a designated structure to locate one or more simulated victim(s) and remove such simulated victim(s) from the structure. The Candidate, given a complete set of PPE and SCBA in a simulated smoke environment, will deploy a ground ladder and roof ladder on a designated structure, climb such ladders with a hand ax and 6’ or other appropriate pike pole or hook and ventilate such roof. (Optional) The Candidate, given a complete set of PPE, SCBA, a hydrant, hydrant tools and supply hoseline will establish a water supply for an engine. (Optional) The Candidate, given a complete set of PPE, SCBA, a portable pond and supply hoseline will establish a water supply for an engine. OBJECTIVES At the completion of this module, the candidate shall: 1. Stretch and operate a charged handline; 2. Operate a handline in an obscured visibility environment while in full PPE and activated SCBA; 3. Conduct a primary search for victim(s) in an obscured visibility environment while in full PPE and activated SCBA; 4. Lift, carry, deploy and climb a ground ladder and roof ladder; 5. Use hand tools including an ax and pike pole or hook to ventilate a roof; 6. Establish a water supply for an engine from a hydrant or portable pond and ---PAGE BREAK--- 7. Work and communicate as part of a team. DESCRIPTION The purpose of this evolution is to have the candidate, while working as part of a six member company, accomplish initial fire attack actions, including advancing a handline, ventilating a roof and conducting a primary search and (optional) establishing a water supply from either a hydrant or a portable pond. The class is divided into 6 person companies for this evolution. Two engines with operators are required, as is a ROSCO or other authorized training smoke generator. Flares or fusees may also be used (see below). THIS IS NOT A LIVE FIRE EVOLUTION AND BURN BARRELS OR OTHER LIVE FIRE SMOKE IS NOT AUTHORIZED. This evolution is based on NFPA 1410. The purpose of this evolution is to put together the component parts of the course in a single evolution, with three primary tasks (suppression, search and ventilation) combined. The six candidate company “arrives” on location (the simulated structure), having been given minimal dispatch information “Report of a single family dwelling fire; possible trapped victims.”) Upon arrival (if the engine does not seat all six candidates, the candidates not able to be seated may stand in an appropriate, designated area), a company member, acting as company officer reports to the Lead Instructor, acting as Incident Commander, for additional information and task assignment. Suggested additional information may include location of fire, number and possible location of victims, where to vent and other typical initial size-up information. The company will then self-divide into 3 two- person crews to achieve the three primary tasks: establishing a water supply and suppression, primary search and roof ventilation. Crews will be instructed that upon completion of their particular task, and verification by a supervising instructor, they shall report to the ---PAGE BREAK--- Lead Instructor/Incident Commander for reassignment, to assist with unfinished tasks. EVOLUTIONS The suppression crew enters the structure and proceeds to the seat of the simulated “fire” and flow water when reaching the target. A flare or fusee may be used to simulate the fire. The search crew enters the structure and conducts a primary search for one or more simulated victims. The ventilation crew proceeds to the designated roof area, laying in a ground ladder and roof ladder. Upon reaching the roof, if in an appropriate structure, the roof shall be ventilated. The instructor may use discretion, to allow the actual ventilation to be simulated, if the structure or training facilities do not permit actual ventilation (ventilation skills having been performed in Unit 12). Upon completion of each task, the crews report such to the Incident Commander, who may reassign the crew(s) to assist with unfinished tasks. The evolution is concluded when all tasks have been completed. A short post-evolution debriefing should occur prior to the company repacking hose and returning the apparatus to service. The purpose of the second engine is to permit the next evolution to occur immediately after the debriefing, so that time is not lost while returning the apparatus to service. Ideally, this evolution should be run THREE TIMES by each company, in order for the company to self-evaluate, plan for the next evolution and rotate through all three skills. This evolution may be run in several different configurations, such as a first floor fire, a basement fire and a second floor fire, as the facilities permit. INSTRUCTOR NOTES This evolution is based on NFPA 1410; it is not the intent of this evolution to be a full development of the skills or JPRs of NFPA 1410. ---PAGE BREAK--- The purpose of this evolution is to “put it all together” for the Firefighter I candidate on the first-arriving engine and as a team- building exercise and skills refresher for the Firefighter II candidate. Instructor discretion should be used to determine the extent of the evolutions, so that candidate learning is maximized without creating candidate confusion. For the purposes of Firefighter I, this evolution may be used in Unit 28 where live burn facilities do not exist. Additional evolutions may then be used, such as doubling the size of each crew of two, to a company of four, so that there are three, four-candidate companies (Search, Suppression, and Ventilation) to simulate a multiple company response. Similar adjustments may be made for Firefighter II. In all events, the Instructor should clarify to candidates that, during actual responses, a backup line and FAST would be in place. Given that this is NOT a live fire evolution, those elements are not included. Of course, sound Instructor judgment should always be exercised in the planning and implementation of all training evolutions.