'COMMANDMENTS' FOR USING THE BACKOP LINE

摘要

With declining budgets, lower rates of volunteerism, and fewer fires, firefighters must learn to do more with less. While this trend is inevitable, and not entirely negative, it has left the fire service in the predicament of having to better train fewer people for fewer live experiences. This is not an easy task. These conditions make it important to focus on the basics to build a framework to decipher the many variables that exist at every fire. Many departments are instituting a "back to basics" attitude toward training, practicing such basic skills as laying hoselines, ventilation, and search and rescue. Many departments practice laying attack lines, yet the skills involved in laying the backup line are likely to be even rustier. Fewer firefighters mean fewer lines. Yet, the backup line is an essential part of any safe aggressive fire attack, and these skills should be reviewed as often as any other. The backup line for an interior attack is laid to protect interior crews. The first line in a building attacks the fire; the backup line may never spray water. It is in place to ensure that all crews are able to exit the building safely. Often, the backup line will be used only if the fire does not go well: The attack line may run out of water, the attack crew may become surrounded by fire, or the truck crews may be cut off from their exit. These are the types of conditions that the backup line is designed to address.