During my Fire Service career, I have always been interested in fire chemistry, the dynamics of fire, the risks of
interior firefighting and what I could do to make the job of interior firefighting safer.
Prior to taking command of the Rock Hill Fire Department, I realized that in the departments that I served with
over the years, both as a Firefighter and Company Officer, they all operated in a manner that I'm sure you have
all heard of: "The Way We Have Always Done It". Well, what is this method of firefighting?
We would perform only a "windshield size up", no exterior building size up, no interior size up and no
ventilation. We charged inside with only one thought on our minds, getting water on the fire. We were in
"Mission Vision".
What is "Mission Vision"? Once inside, we are oblivious to what is going on around us, we didn't recognize
changing conditions. We crawled around in zero visibility using our hands as our eyes and sometimes we didn't
use proper advancing techniques. We exposed ourselves to searing heat radiating down on us that could lead
to a possible flashover. Vertical ventilation operations was the primary method of ventilating a fire building or
ventilation was accomplished by breaking a window from inside after fire knockdown. Either way, ventilation
occurred too late in the game to benefit Firefighters or any trapped victims. We have been taught to use the 30
degree fog pattern which results in copious amounts of steam being created. Because we did not bother to
provide timely ventilation of the fire area, the steam, not having an outlet to exit the building, blew back on top
of us causing painful steam burns.
During my discussions with Firefighters around the Country, I came to the conclusion that I was not the only
one operating in this manner- it is a prevalent way of doing things. In my view "The Way We Have Always Done
It" is a dangerous way of interior firefighting, and it is no wonder that we keep injuring and killing Firefighters.
After becoming Fire Chief of the City of Rock Hill, Missouri, I decided that my number one priority was to change
"The Way We Have Always Done It" mindset. In 1986, I was introduced to the concept of Positive Pressure
Ventilation. After much research, experimenting, testing and training, my department began using the idea
after fire control. We progressed to the point of developing a SOG that provided for a three person engine
company to perform both engine work and some basic truck work upon arrival at a building fire by using
Positive Pressure Ventilation as an offensive attack tool, thus, Positive Pressure Attack. Our three person
company was able to very effectively provide themselves with "timely" and "appropriate" ventilation using this
tactic. This new method of operation improved conditions for both my Firefighters and equally important
allowed for any trapped victims to be rescued quickly reducing the time of their exposure to toxic gases and
heat. Training was the key to changing this mindset.
interior firefighting and what I could do to make the job of interior firefighting safer.
Prior to taking command of the Rock Hill Fire Department, I realized that in the departments that I served with
over the years, both as a Firefighter and Company Officer, they all operated in a manner that I'm sure you have
all heard of: "The Way We Have Always Done It". Well, what is this method of firefighting?
We would perform only a "windshield size up", no exterior building size up, no interior size up and no
ventilation. We charged inside with only one thought on our minds, getting water on the fire. We were in
"Mission Vision".
What is "Mission Vision"? Once inside, we are oblivious to what is going on around us, we didn't recognize
changing conditions. We crawled around in zero visibility using our hands as our eyes and sometimes we didn't
use proper advancing techniques. We exposed ourselves to searing heat radiating down on us that could lead
to a possible flashover. Vertical ventilation operations was the primary method of ventilating a fire building or
ventilation was accomplished by breaking a window from inside after fire knockdown. Either way, ventilation
occurred too late in the game to benefit Firefighters or any trapped victims. We have been taught to use the 30
degree fog pattern which results in copious amounts of steam being created. Because we did not bother to
provide timely ventilation of the fire area, the steam, not having an outlet to exit the building, blew back on top
of us causing painful steam burns.
During my discussions with Firefighters around the Country, I came to the conclusion that I was not the only
one operating in this manner- it is a prevalent way of doing things. In my view "The Way We Have Always Done
It" is a dangerous way of interior firefighting, and it is no wonder that we keep injuring and killing Firefighters.
After becoming Fire Chief of the City of Rock Hill, Missouri, I decided that my number one priority was to change
"The Way We Have Always Done It" mindset. In 1986, I was introduced to the concept of Positive Pressure
Ventilation. After much research, experimenting, testing and training, my department began using the idea
after fire control. We progressed to the point of developing a SOG that provided for a three person engine
company to perform both engine work and some basic truck work upon arrival at a building fire by using
Positive Pressure Ventilation as an offensive attack tool, thus, Positive Pressure Attack. Our three person
company was able to very effectively provide themselves with "timely" and "appropriate" ventilation using this
tactic. This new method of operation improved conditions for both my Firefighters and equally important
allowed for any trapped victims to be rescued quickly reducing the time of their exposure to toxic gases and
heat. Training was the key to changing this mindset.
History of Timely and Appropriate Ventilation
A Tactical Priority
A Tactical Priority
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