By Bill Carey
FireRescue1 Staff
COLUMBIA, Md. — UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) last week launched a new online course focused on search in single-story, single-family dwellings.
The course, “Search and Rescue Tactics in Single-Family Single-Story Residential Structures," was developed in collaboration with the technical panel of the Study of Fire Service Residential Home Size-up and Search & Rescue project, and is now accessible through the FSRI Fire Safety Academy.
By drawing upon extensive research conducted by FSRI, this course provides insights and tactical considerations for minimizing risks to both occupants and firefighters during search and rescue operations in single-family, single-story residential structures.
According to FSRI, after taking this course, firefighters will be able to:
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Identify how isolation impacts firefighter and occupant survivability during various search and rescue operations.
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Describe how the timing of suppression impacts search and rescue operations and firefighter and occupant survivability.
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Explain how search and rescue operations may be influenced by differing occupant removal situations.
“In the decade before this study, fires in the United States were down 3% but fire deaths were up 24%. And while the fire service doesn’t control all the factors that contribute to these deaths, we do own some of them,” said Christopher Finelli, Technician, District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department. “So, from the arrival on the scene of a fire and for the next 6 to 8 minutes, we go from controlling none of the factors to controlling almost all of them. And this course and the tactical considerations that are presented are aimed to maximize those 6 to 8 minutes that we must improve the probability of survival for the public we serve.”
FSRI also requests participation to help in the study: “If your crews have conducted a rescue/removal on the fireground we kindly request your participation in filling out the Firefighter Rescue Survey, as it will contribute to connecting tactical considerations with real-world data gathered from the field. This survey has been designed by firefighters, for firefighters, and your input will play a vital role in shaping future research and training initiatives. Your valuable insights and experiences will help guide and enhance the understanding of rescue operations.”