Criteria for choosing a decisive direction in a fire

Fighting fires involves not only the use of technical means and precise actions of personnel. For a successful outcome and minimal losses, a special approach is required. Fire extinguishing analytics show that a successful choice of a decisive direction allows you to concentrate on top-priority tasks, as well as save people and preserve property.

How the choice is made

The decisive direction is the concentration of forces and means for the effective solution of the combat mission. To determine it, 5 basic principles are used. The decisive direction is determined by the head of extinguishing the fire or the person who replaces him according to the charter.

The decisive direction provides for the concentration of personnel, equipment and fire extinguishing means that were employed in other places, in a specific area or sector. The main goals of such actions are to prevent the further development of fire, to evacuate and rescue people, to preserve their lives and material values, and to eliminate combustion centers.

All actions in this direction should be carried out in a short time, and the result should meet the specified requirements. The decisive direction is the basis of the fighting of the fire department. When it is changed, the tactical extinguishing plan is also adjusted.

An incorrect definition of the situation in a fire will lead to negative consequences and possible victims. Therefore, these officials must have extensive knowledge, have a wealth of experience, be able to analyze and organize personnel.

Firefighter training includes lectures and seminars that focus on the choice of a decisive direction. The tasks for its determination are designed in such a way that the student can choose the right direction for the concentration of forces. The qualifications of an official must be high, otherwise the erroneous determination of the decisive direction in the performance of the main task is possible.

The numbering of combat areas starts from the decisive direction. That is, the one closest to it will be the first. Such areas are supervised by firefighters from the commanding staff (not lower than the middle level).

The determination of the decisive direction is facilitated by data on the situation at the fire, obtained in the course of reconnaissance work. At the same time, the ways for the input of forces, the laying of hose lines, the intensity of combustion, the location of water sources, the rate of fire propagation are being clarified.

When determining the decisive direction, the person in charge must know the characteristics of combat equipment, the possibility of using other fire extinguishing means, and also take into account possible changes in the situation in the fire.

Principles and parameters

The decisive direction in a fire meets the conditions of one of the 5 principles. It is important to be aware of the exposure and presence of hazards. The dynamics of the development of a fire and the spread of its consequences forces the leader of extinguishing to change tactics and be on the alert all the time.

List of basic principles:

1. life threatening;
2. explosion threats;
3. prevention of damage;
4. intense burning;
5. protection of neighboring objects (buildings).

The first principle implies a clear threat to human life. At the same time, self-evacuation is excluded due to various reasons. Then all forces are concentrated on rescue work or evacuation with the help of equipment and firefighters.

The second principle of choosing a decisive direction provides for a high probability of explosion and collapse of building structures of objects due to the development of a fire. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that such threats are eliminated or minimized.

The third principle is that a fire at an object promotes the spread of flames and other factors to neighboring buildings or structures. To prevent such a scenario of development, the decisive direction is to choose the point of the most probable spread of the fire to another object.

The fourth factor considers cases of fire at the site, but without a possible transfer to another building in the near future. Efforts and means are focused on eliminating fires where the intensity is greatest.

The fifth factor differs from the previous one in that the object is not of particular value, then they provide protection for neighboring buildings. In particular - wall cooling, and the like.

During the execution of the main task, the decisive direction is periodically changed... This is due to the fact that the situation on the fire is dynamic. As you know, on large-scale fires there are several leaders of extinguishing. It is they who make the decision to change. This happens in clearly marked situations:

1. for each of the leaders of extinguishing fires;
2. during the arrival of the firefighting service;
3. at the time of localization of the fire when feeding the trunks.

The change in the situation entails new instructions for personnel, introductory instructions on the alignment of forces, the attraction of additional means of extinguishing fires.

The nuances of choosing actions

With the alignment of forces in the decisive direction, the parameters of the fire matter. It is customary to divide them according to their form. Since the fire develops in individual areas in different ways, it is necessary to determine the shape of the areas where they will act in the first place. The alignment of forces is different for circular, angular and rectangular shapes. There are schematic diagrams in the guidelines for.

During combat deployment, the first barrels are fed in a decisive direction. Extinguishing is possible over the entire surface or part of it, the volume of the fire. The management team must provide a stock of fire nozzles for use in a decisive direction.

The first barrel helps to reduce the rate of fire propagation by up to 50%. This has been proven by calculations of fire parameters. It will be used so that the rest of the forces have time to deploy or additional funds arrive.

In the schematic images of extinguishing fires, the black arrow indicates the decisive direction. Its sharp end points to the area where the primary deployment of combat forces was made.

Mistakes in the choice lead to unnecessary expenditure of fire extinguishing means, increasing threats to people's lives. It is also possible for the fire to move to neighboring objects if the intensity of combustion is estimated incorrectly.

In case of forest fires, the decisive direction is often from villages, cities and other settlements. However, practice shows that it is sometimes advisable to concentrate forces and resources on the side of peat fields and other objects.

2, average: 5.00