Module in CDI 6 Fire Technology & Arson Investigation 2nd Sem 2021-2022 | HERMILINDA ORENZE

CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Criminal Justice Education

Module in

CDI 6

FIRE TECHNOLOY & ARSON INVESTIGATION

Hermilinda P. Orenze, MSCrim

Topic 6: Principles of Structural Firefighting

Objective/s: Students should be able to understand and apply the basic principles of firefighting.

Lesson 1

Principles of Structural Firefighting:

Firefighting is, has been, and always will be one of the main objectives of fire protection.
A well-manned, well-equipped, and well-trained fire department will provide a solid based upon
which effective firefighting depends. The strategy and tactics used to suppress evolved from this
bas.

The following are the strategy used in firefighting:

1. locate the fire
2. confine the fire
3. extinguish the fire
4. exposures

The following are also added:

1. rescue
2. overhaul
3. ventilation
4. salvage

Factors to be Consider in Extinguishment:

Time of Day
1. The hour of the day can have a direct bearing on the life and fire hazard involved.
2. Time also has a direct bearing on the speed of the response of firefighting and rescue
vehicles.
3. During hours of darkness, special lighting equipment may be needed. Night operations
may require auxiliary firefighting personnel.

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 Module in CDI 6 Fire Technology & Arson Investigation 2nd Sem 2021-2022 | HERMILINDA ORENZE

Weather
Some of the weather factors that must be considered:
1. Temperature
2. Humidity
3. wind and precipitation
The Fire

Factors to be evaluated at the fire scene:

1. extent of the fire
2. its location in the building
3. the type of contents involved
4. the life hazards
5. the fire conditions
6. type of construction

Meaning of the Color of Smoke and Fire:

1. Black smoke with deep red flames – petroleum products, rubber, plastics, etc.
2. Heavy brown smoke with bright red flames – nitrogen products (gaseous elements,
colorless and odorless).
3. White smoke with bright white flames – magnesium products (metallic elements).
4. Black smoke with red and blue green flames – asphalt
5. Purple/violet/lavender flames – potassium products
6. Greenish yellow flames – chlorine or manganese products
7. Bright reddish yellow flames – calcium products
8. Fire those changes to yellow or grayish yellow – usually indicative of a
backdraft/explosion condition.

Ventilation – a method used for clearing the building or smoke and gases, localized the fire, and
reduce smoke and forcible entry damage.

Types of Ventilation:

1. Vertical ventilation – to establish vertical ventilation, it must be worked from the top
down. Heated gases and smoke rise to the highest point and, if confined, will tend to
“mushroom” or rise to the highest point of the building exerting their heating effect on
everything they touch.

2. Cross or horizontal ventilation – if the smoke and gases have not reached the higher
levels, cross ventilation can clear the building one floor at a time. Windows are the
easiest and generally most available for the common types of buildings, but the
indiscriminate opening of windows and doors can defeat the purpose of ventilation.

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 Module in CDI 6 Fire Technology & Arson Investigation 2nd Sem 2021-2022 | HERMILINDA ORENZE

3. Mechanical or forced ventilation - a process or method of ventilation whereby a device

such as smoke ejector is utilized to removed excessive heat and dense smoke in a
confined building.