Chapter 11 Stategic and Tactical Operations

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, 5th Edition

Chapter 11 — Strategic and Tactical Operations

ARFF11–2

Chapter 11 Lesson Goal

• After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to describe incident management considerations, types of emergencies and crashes, and response procedures for aircraft emergencies, including those involving military aircraft.

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Objectives

1.Explain incident management considerations. 2.Describe types of in-flight and ground emergencies. 3. Discuss low- and high-impact crashes.

(Continued)

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Objectives

4.Describe response procedures for aircraft emergencies.5.Explain considerations of responding to accidents involving military aircraft.

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Incident Management

• Airport fire departments — required to adopt and use an incident management system– Strategic operations– Tactical operations

(Continued)

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Incident Management

• Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-5– ICS adopted as part of NIMS– All federal agencies/agencies

receiving federal funds must use NIMS-ICS

• NIMS-ICS — applicable to all incidents

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Components of NIMS-ICS

• Common terminology• Modular organization• Integrated communications• Unified command structure

(Continued)

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Components of NIMS-ICS

• Consolidated action plans• Manageable span of control• Pre-designated incident facilities• Comprehensible resource

management

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NIMS-ICS Organizational Positions

• Five major positions — Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration

• Intelligence • IC retains responsibility until

delegated

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NIMS-ICS Training

• All ARFF personnel • Offered through online resources• Scenario-based training allows

– IC and other personnel to work through decision-making process

– IC to make mistakes and learn through trial and error

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In-Flight Emergencies

• Include fires and other problems —may lead to accident/incident

• Aircraft develop minor problems• Hydraulic failure or inoperative

landing gear — may cause serious problems

• Interior fire aboard an aircraft — true emergency

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Ground Emergencies: Types

• Overheated wheel assemblies• Tire/wheel failures• Combustible metal fires• Fuel leaks and spills

(Continued)

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Ground Emergencies: Types

• Engine fires or APU fires

• Uncontained engine failures

• Aircraft interior fires

Courtesy of SSgt Michael Z. Moore (USAF), Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC).

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Wheel Assemblies

• Aircraft wheels — commonly equipped with fusible plugs incorporated into the rims– Designed to melt, automatically

deflating tires– Reduces possibility of wheel collapse

and fragmentation

(Continued)

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Wheel Assemblies

• WARNING! When responding to a hot brake incident or wheel fire, always approach from forward or aft of the wheel assembly while exercising extreme caution. Never approach from the sides in-line with the axle. In addition, always wear full protective gear including SCBA.

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Hot Brakes

• Brakes/wheel assemblies frequently overheat

• Several methods to determine wheel temperature

• Prepare for a hot brake situation in certain cases

(Continued)

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Hot Brakes

• Brown colored smoke coming from wheel assemblies

• Peak wheel temperatures — 30 to 45 minutes after aircraft has come to a complete stop

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Cooling Hot Brakes

• Continue taxiing• Normal cooling• Water mist or fog pattern• Fans

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Wheel Fires

• Safest approach — use large amounts of water from a distance using turrets

• Wear full protective clothing and SCBA

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Combustible Metal Fires

• Variety of metals are used in aircraft– Magnesium– Titanium

• Initial fire control — water through turret application in heavy, coarse streams

(Continued)

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Combustible Metal Fires

• Combustible metals around a high impact crash– Allowed to burn out– Buried

• Wear SCBA • Specialized Class D extinguishing

agents — magnesium and titanium fires

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Fuel Leaks and Spills: Precautions

• Attempt to shut off the fuel• Avoid providing an ignition source• Evacuate aircraft if needed• Keep nonessential personnel clear • Wear full protective clothing

(Continued)

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Fuel Leaks and Spills: Precautions

• Blanket exposed fuel surfaces • Contain spilled fuel to a small area • Prevent leaking/spilled fuel from

entering certain areas• Keep apparatus and equipment

ready • Position upwind and uphill

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Fuel Spill Variables

• Size of the spill• Terrain• Weather conditions• Type of flammable liquid• Aircraft occupancy• Emergency equipment and

personnel available

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Fuel Leaks and Spills During Aircraft Servicing

• Stop the fueling operation• Nonessential personnel should

leave the area• Notify safety personnel from the

airline and airport

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Fuel Leaks and Spills

• Severity of the hazard created by a fuel spill — how volatile the fuel is and proximity to sources of ignition

• Avoid actions that could provide ignition sources for fuel vapors

• Maintenance personnel — check aircraft for damage/flammable vapors (Continued)

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Fuel Leaks and Spills

• Keep maintenance records • May need to evacuate aircraft• Never start spark-producing

equipment• If fuel has entered sanitary sewers

or storm drains — dam inlets to prevent additional fuel from entering (Continued)

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Fuel Leaks and Spills

• If sewer or storm drain contamination is extensive — keep sources of ignition away from manholes or storm drain inlets

• Thoroughly inspect aircraft onto which fuel has been spilled

(Continued)

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Fuel Leaks and Spills

• WARNING! Unless ordered to do so by a responsible local official, never flush fuel or other contaminants into sewers or storm drains nor introduce water into these conduits in an attempt to dilute the contaminant.

ARFF11–30

Engine/APU Fires

• Crew may attempt to extinguish an engine or APU fire

• Unoccupied aircraft — be familiar with aircraft shutdown procedures

• Clean, gaseous extinguishing agents are the agents of choice

(Continued)

ARFF11–31

Engine/APU Fires

• Safest method of extinguishment — operate the engine or APU fire shutdown system

Courtesy of Doddy Photography.

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Uncontained Engine Failures

• “Uncontained engine failure or disintegration” versus “Contained engine failure or disintegration”

• Worst-case scenario — fragments pierce the fuselage/wing structure

• Uncontained engine failure — usually handled like a normal engine fire

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Aircraft Interior Fires

• Occur for many reasons• Obtain information from ATC• Activate mutual/automatic aid • Pilot/firefighters communicate• Assign RIT team• Flight crew initiate evacuation

(Continued)

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Aircraft Interior Fires

• Many common sources and areas of smoke/odor of something burning

• Smoke detection systems/extinguishing systems provided in aircraft

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Aircraft Interior Fires: Methods of Detection

• Use portable infrared heat detectors or thermal imagers

• Remove sections of flooring, wall panels, and ceilings

(Continued)

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Aircraft Interior Fires: Methods of Detection

• Exterior signs — paint blistering and discoloration

• Apply a light water mist and watch for steam areas

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Aircraft Interior Fires: Gaining Entry and Evacuation

• Gain access if no sign of evacuation

• Do not impede exit of occupants• Over-wing exit size — entry may

be difficult • If entry can be safely made —

fought in the same manner as structural fires (Continued)

ARFF11–38

Aircraft Interior Fires: Gaining Entry and Evacuation

• WARNING! Exercise extreme caution when gaining entry into the aircraft due to the emergency escape slide systems attached to each door and, depending on the aircraft, to over-wing exits as well. If opened from outside, the escape slide may deploy and can seriously injure or kill unsuspecting emergency personnel.

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Aircraft Ventilation

• Establish as soon as it is safe – Initial ventilation– Positive pressure ventilation– Hydraulic ventilation

• Vertical ventilation openings — made in the top of the aircraft

(Continued)

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Aircraft Ventilation

• WARNING! Never discharge hoseline or turret streams into a hole burned or cut into the top of an aircraft. This will interrupt the vertical ventilation process and push the fire and products of combustion horizontally through the aircraft. (Continued)

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Aircraft Ventilation

• Early ventilation is important

• Once ventilation is started– Gain entry– Initiate search– Begin fire attack

and rescue (Continued)

Courtesy of Doddy Photography.

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Aircraft Ventilation

• Deploy the first interior attack hoseline — at an upwind overwing hatch or door

• Fire may spread in the belly of an aircraft — check areas

• All areas of fire involvement — accessed, extinguished, overhauled

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Cargo Aircraft Interior Fires

• Differ from fires in passenger aircraft

• Flight crew is usually able to exit • Once crew are out, focus on fire

attack • Skin-penetrating nozzles may be

the best tactic to use • May need to take other actions

(Continued)

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Cargo Aircraft

• Often impossible to move through the cargo hold

• Determine dangerous goods

• Request a hazardous materials response team

Courtesy of Doddy Photography.

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Low-impact Crashes

• Do not severely damage or break up the fuselage

• Likely to have a large percentage of survivors

• First priority — ensure the safety of occupants and crew

(Continued)

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Low-impact Crashes

• Initiate extrication operations only after donning full protective clothing and SCBA

• Handlines teams — support rescue personnel

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Low-impact Crashes: Wheels-up or Belly Landings

• May result from a hydraulic system failure or other cause

• Fire is not uncommon • Aircraft scraping the ground — may

rupture fuel tanks/generate an ignition source

(Continued)

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Low-impact Crashes: Wheels-up or Belly Landings

• Wheels-up landings– Nose gear up with the main gear

down – Single main gear up – Landing gear down but not locked

• Almost impossible for pilot to maintain control

(Continued)

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Low-impact Crashes: Wheels-up or Belly Landings

• Upon touchdown aircraft — break apart or veer off runway

• May remain substantially intact• Occupants may leave on their own• Aggressive attack is critical if fire

occurs• Final attitude of the aircraft — may

hamper egress operations

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Ditching

• A wheels-up landing on water• Water may be covered with fuel• Survivors and rescue personnel

most likely contaminated

(Continued)

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Ditching

• Making an opening at a point above the water level – May permit air to escape – Cause the wreckage to submerge

• Will require specialized equipment • Use surface rescue techniques and

equipment

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Rejected Takeoff with Runway Overrun

• Aircraft often intact, in large pieces

• Crash is usually survivable• Quick response/protecting the

egress route is vital • Many reasons for this type of

crash

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Helicopters

• Do not withstand the violent forces encountered in vertical impact

• Avoid approaching aircraft while rotors are spinning

(Continued)

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Helicopters

• Hazards associated with fuel tanks and fuel fires — the same for helicopters as for all other aircraft

Courtesy of Scott Ramey, S.D. Ramey Photography.

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High-impact Crashes

• Crashes with severe damage to the fuselage and with a significantly reduced likelihood of occupant survival – Usually high speed, high angle

impacts– Little or no control of the aircraft– Tend to occur in off-airport areas (Continued)

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High-impact Crashes

• Firefighters — scene security, protection of evidence, protection of exposures

• Characteristics of high-impact crashes– Fuselage is substantially damaged– G-forces exceed human tolerance levels– Seats and safety belts fail to restrain

passengers(Continued)

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High-impact Crashes

• Aircraft often break apart upon impact

• Hitting obstructions — aircraft may cartwheel

• May encounter burning items • Wind — spread the fire • Airport/department — determine

response criteria

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Controlled Flight Into Terrain

• Pilots can often control where a plane will crash

• Controlled flight into terrain — guiding a crashing aircraft to its destination

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Crashes Involving Structures

• More complex problem • First-arriving officer take action• Aircraft may break open upon

impact• Rescue personnel — search and

evacuate area

(Continued)

ARFF11–60

Crashes Involving Structures

• Take steps to prevent fuel from spreading

• Take precautions to eliminate sources of ignition

Courtesy of JO1 Mark D. Faram (US Navy), Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC).

ARFF11–61

Standard Emergency Response

• Runway standby positions for ARFF vehicles

• Go directly to these positions, unless directed elsewhere

• Need information on accident

(Continued)

ARFF11–62

Standard Emergency Response

• Promptness and safety — equally important response considerations.

• AEP should include response routes

• Driver/operator — use extreme caution should vision become obscured

(Continued)

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Standard Emergency Response

• Avoid damaging the apparatus and equipment in response

• Make every effort to preserve the accident scene and safeguard evidence (Continued)

ARFF11–64

Standard Emergency Response

• Notice certain items about the scene

• AHJ — require specific response times

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Establish Incident Command and Scene Management

• Individual in charge — must communicate to all responders the fact that command has been established

• Establish operations/logistics section as soon as possible

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Size-up

• Examine from four different positions– IC’s perspective– Driver/operator’s perspective– Officer/firefighter’s perspective– EMS perspective

• IC/ first unit on the scene — establish command (Continued)

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Size-up

• IC check-off list• Driver/operator’s perspective• Officer/firefighter’s focus• EMS focus

(Continued)

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Size-up

• Later-arriving units — turn off emergency lights and audible devices

• Common size up considerations should be addressed

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Priorities

• Priorities– Life safety– Incident stabilization– Property conservation

• Life safety is always the first and highest priority

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Positioning Apparatus

• First-arriving crews and the IC — follow guidelines in positioning apparatus

• Consider other factors when determining final apparatus placement

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Wind

• Conducting operations against the wind — difficult and hazardous

• Attack from downwind — only when conditions preclude any other approach

• Operations conducted upwind – Safer – More efficient

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Terrain

• Ground features– May be readily apparent– May not be as obvious

• Consider terrain when establishing areas

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Wreckage

• Evaluate wreckage and hazards it creates

• Different methods of attack may be required

• Confirm initial fire fighting efforts are aimed at a portion of the fuselage

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Survivors

• Occupants help determine the point at which rescue efforts should begin

• May need to decide upon the rescue entrance

• If evacuation has begun perform certain actions

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Hazardous Areas

• Aircraft propellers

• Jet and gas turbine engines

• Line of fire• Wings• Jagged metal

(Continued)

• Advanced aerospace materials

• Biohazards• Radar systems

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Hazardous Areas

• WARNING! Bumping or turning a prop may cause the magneto to fire, resulting in the engine trying to start and the prop rotating.

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Initial Attack/Fire control

• Fire and crash conditions — govern placement of apparatus for initial attack

• Main objective — rescue of occupants trapped within the aircraft

• Take certain actions — accidents with fire/high likelihood of fire (Continued)

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Initial Attack/Fire control

• Be familiar with the cabin length of the aircraft prior to entry

• In nonfire accidents, follow the same basic procedures

• Assist evacuation if started • Extending booms assist in

extinguishing fires (Continued)

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Initial Attack/Fire control

• Involves initial mass application of an extinguishing agent

• Begins during the approach of the fire fighting vehicles

• Structural apparatus — can be effective on aircraft fires by using AFFF

(Continued)

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Initial Attack/Fire control

• If fire is confined to the engine nacelles or wings — stop the fire at the wing root or engines

• If fuel is leaking from fuel tanks and spreading on the ground — keep the fire from the fuselage and egress areas

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Aircraft Accident Victim Management

• High-impact crash — EMS role may be limited to treating rescuers

• Low-impact crash — presents rescuers with the greatest challenge in treating and transporting victims

• Ensure personal protection against bloodborne pathogens (Continued)

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Aircraft Accident Victim Management

• Initiate a triage system that can be performed quickly– A colored ribbon or

triage tag – Level of urgency

indicated by color

(Continued)Courtesy of SSgt Shelley Gill (USAF), Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC)

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Aircraft Accident Victim Management

• First action taken by EMS personnel — clear the impact area of the ambulatory injured and noninjured

• Cover patients to maintain their core body temperature

• Clear the impact area of certain individuals (Continued)

ARFF11–84

Aircraft Accident Victim Management

• Enter the impact area with litters, backboards, or similar devices

• Know basic rescue carries • Once triaged and tagged with their

level of priority, move victims to a treatment area

(Continued)

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Aircraft Accident Victim Management

• Three treatment areas — Immediate, Delayed, Minor/Non-injured

• Set up upwind of the wreckage• Follow guidelines • Each patient should be

reevaluated (Continued)

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Aircraft Accident Victim Management

• Once stabilized, transport patients to medical facilities

• Means of transporting victims — specified in the AEP

• Temporary morgue — may be established for deceased victims

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Extinguishment

• Involves elimination of all surface fire

• An extension of the fire control phase

• Final effort prior to overhaul• Complete fire extinguishment• Reserve apparatus and equipment • Wreckers and heavy equipment

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Overhaul

• Overhaul inspection must be conducted

• On-scene investigating authority —consulted before overhaul operations

• Make sure fire is extinguished• Wear SCBA • Keep a charged handline close at

hand (Continued)

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Overhaul

• May need to remove aircraft interior components

• Preserve as much of the interior in its original configuration as possible

• Before overhaul is conducted, point of origin needs to be identified and protected (Continued)

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Overhaul

• Consider potential hazards of cutting into hazardous parts on an aircraft

• Avoid disturbing any evidence that may aid investigators

• Only authorized personnel should remove bodies

ARFF11–91

Incident Termination

• Once emergency operations are complete, IC will terminate emergency

• Timely release of mutual aid equipment/personnel is important

• Termination has various components

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Post Incident Responsibilities

• Personnel have both short-term and long-term post incident responsibilities

• Most critical element of incident termination and post-incident activities — involve the mental health of the responders

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Military Aircraft Actions

• Approach the accident scene with caution

• Rescue aircraft personnel• Provide emergency medical care• Search wreckage for survivors• Protect survivors from further

injury (Continued)

ARFF11–94

Military Aircraft Actions

• Protect civilian personnel and property

• Notify the nearest military authorities• Be prepared to contact local agencies• Guard the wreckage • Refer photographer and news media

requests

ARFF11–95

Information Reported to Military

• Caller’s name and location• Time at which the aircraft crashed• Whether the aircraft was/is on fire• How to reach the crash site• Whether or not the crew landed

with the aircraft or parachuted

(Continued)

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Information Reported to Military

• If medical help is needed• Number of fatalities• Civilian injuries or private property

damage• Aircraft tail number and type or model• Where someone can meet rescue team• Suitable helicopter landing areas

ARFF11–97

Military Dispatch Teams

• Base fire department personnel• Explosive ordnance (EOD)

personnel• Military police• Medical personnel• Bioenvironmental personnel• Mortuary personnel (Continued)

ARFF11–98

Military Dispatch Teams

• Information officer• Accident Investigation Board• Legal officer• Heavy-equipment personnel

ARFF11–99

Information Obtained from Witnesses

• Time of the accident• Direction aircraft was traveling• Weather conditions • Whether anyone was seen

parachuting• Whether there was an explosion

ARFF11–100

Approaching a Military Aircraft Crash

• Somewhat more hazardous than civilian aircraft

• Follow basic safety precautions• Use a varied mixture of jet fuel • May use hypergolic fuels

(Continued)

ARFF11–101

Approaching a Military Aircraft Crash

• WARNING! Always wear full protective clothing to include SCBA when dealing with hydrazine emergencies as it may be absorbed through the skin. Even short exposures may have serious effects on the nervous and respiratory systems.

ARFF11–102

Conventional Weapons/Munitions

• Do not approach the front or rear of any externally carried tanks or pods that can contain rockets or missiles

• Do not touch or otherwise disturb any armament

(Continued)

ARFF11–103

Conventional Weapons/Munitions

• Avoid positioning personnel and vehicles in the line of fire

• Position vehicles at a 45 degree angle to the centerline of the aircraft

ARFF11–104

Summary

• ARFF personnel should never be hesitant, uninformed, or unprepared for emergency responses.

• Airport fire departments must implement NIMS-ICS as an organizational tool for emergency response. (Continued)

ARFF11–105

Summary

• ARFF personnel must understand the difference between accidents and incidents as well as understanding in-flight emergencies, ground emergencies, low-impact crashes, and high-impact crashes.

(Continued)

ARFF11–106

Summary

• Properly understanding and following response procedures is key to successful operations. Firefighters must understand their respective roles.

• They must work within a chain of command and be able to size-up or aid in sizing-up an accident scene(Continued)

ARFF11–107

Summary

• ARFF personnel should know how to properly respond to an emergency involving military aircraft even if they are not firefighters at a military installation.

ARFF11–108

Review Questions

1.What are the five major organizational positions involved in NIMS-ICS? 2.What type of protective gear should be worn when responding to a hot brake incident?

(Continued)

ARFF11–109

Review Questions

3. What is the safest method of extinguishment when dealing with an engine or auxiliary power unit (APU) fire? 4.What are some common sources of smoke and burning odors on aircraft?

(Continued)

ARFF11–110

Review Questions

5.Where can information regarding dangerous goods on an aircraft be located? 6.Who should determine how far off the airport ARFF equipment will respond?

(Continued)

ARFF11–111

Review Questions

7.What are the three priorities of any emergency situation? 8.What guidelines should be followed when establishing a Treatment Area?

(Continued)

ARFF11–112

Review Questions

9.Who should remove bodies that remain in wreckage after a fire has been extinguished?

10.What are several immediate post incident responsibilities that ARFF personnel must accomplish or assist with?