It shall be standard procedure
to commit whatever fireground resource is required to reduce property loss
to an absolute minimum.
The activities that relate
to effective property conservation require the same early and on-going
command functions and aggressive
action as both rescue and
fire control. All members are expected to perform in a manner that continually
reduces loss during fire
operations.
When the fire is out, shut
down the fire streams. Early recognition that the forward progress of the
fire has been stopped is an
important element in reducing
loss. The earlier the salvage operations begin, the smaller the loss.
When basic fire control has
been achieved, command must commit and direct companies/units into "stop
loss" activities generally
include:
Evaluating damage to overall fire area.
Evaluating the salvage value of various areas.
Evaluating the men and equipment that will be required.
Committing the required companies to salvage functions.
Reducing hose lines from fire control functions to salvage functions.
In cases where there is an
overlapping need for both fire control and salvage to be performed simultaneously
and where initial alarm
companies are involved in
fire fighting while salvage remains undone, call for additional alarms
and commit greater alarm companies
to salvage functions.
Commit the same overall and
sector, sides and operational area command resource to property conservation
activities as were
devoted to rescue and fire
control.
Be aware that personnel involved
in rescue and fire control operations are generally fatigued by the time
property conservation
functions must be completed
- this can result in sloppy work and many injuries. Evaluate the condition
of personnel and replace with
fresh troops if needed.
Prompt fireground lighting, both interior and exterior, reduces fire loss and increases safety.
The provision of salvage
functions must be integrated into the cause determination phase. When fire
control becomes stable, back
fire control companies out
and let fire investigators develop a plan. Beware of personnel who want
to quickly shovel
Out the interior and go home - they will generally shovel out the evidence with the debris .
Most fire personnel are more
attracted to active fire attack functions than to the less active operations
that relate to property
conservation - simply, most
firefighters would rather operate nozzles than throw salvage covers. Command
must integrate effective
follow-up to insure minimum
property loss. (Such fire attack inclinations are healthy, beware of firefighters
who would rather throw
covers than operate hose
lines .)