The Rules of Engagement for Structural Firefighting

John Sullivan
District Fire Chief
Worcester, Mass Fire Department

Pre-Conference Training: Wednesday, August 11
09:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Style of Training Session: Interactive Lecture

In 2001, the Safety and Health committee of the International Association of Fire Chief’s published the landmark document 10 Rules of Engagement for Structural Firefighting.

Recently, the International Association of Fire Chief’s Safety, Health and Survival section undertook a dramatic revision of this initiative.

This provocative guide establishes the fundamental “rules” upon which fire ground decisions should be made at all levels when dealing with structure fires.

The basis for these rules are designed to preserve the standard fire ground priorities of: life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation; at the same time, establishing a framework for incident commanders to give weighted consideration to firefighter safety through a clear process of risk assessment.

This interactive lecture will utilize real fire ground scenarios to illustrate and discuss how the rules of engagement can be utilized by all firefighters on scene to promote rational decision-making and enhance firefighter safety.

Building on the concepts of crew resource management and situational awareness, the “rules” can be put to practical use in the dynamic and dangerous environment of structural fire fighting.

District Chief John Sullivan of the Worcester, Massachusetts Fire Department and the a board member of the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival section will facilitate this important session and blend his experience and candor with that of the class participants to shape a new philosophy for firefighter risk assessment for structural fires.

The objectives of this session are to gain a practical understanding of how to legitimately utilize the “rules” in both policy and practice. These concepts will save firefighter's lives!

This Pre-Conference Training costs $25.00.