Us Army Fire-Fighting Operations

FM 5-415
Fire-Fighting Operations
Headquarters,
Department of the Army
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

FM 5-415
Field Manual Headquarters
No. 5-415 Department of the Army
Washington, DC, 9 February 1999
FIRE-FIGHTING OPERATIONS
Table of Contents
Page
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x
Chapter 1: Fire-Fighting Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
THREAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
TRAINING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
SUPPORTING FORCE XXI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
MISSION STATEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Chapter 2: Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
ORGANIZATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
DEPARTMENT OF THE A RMY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
ENGINEER BRANCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
MAJOR C OMMAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
FIRE-PREVENTION/-PROTECTION PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
FIRE-FIGHTING TEAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
TEAM LA, FIRE-PROTECTION HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
TEAM LB, FIRE TRUCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
TEAM LC, WATER TRUCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
FIRE-PROTECTION PERSONNEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
FIRE-FIGHTING DRILLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
FIRE TRUCKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
MODEL 2500L MILITARY-A DAPTED COMMERCIAL ITEM (MACI) FIRE TRUCK . . . . 2-5
MODEL A/S230-19 C RASH TRUCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
TACTICAL TANKER TRUCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
COMMERCIAL STRUCTURAL PUMPER TRUCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
MINI-PUMP TRUCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
COMMERCIAL TANKER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
SKID-MOUNTED PUMPING UNIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
OTHER VEHICLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
MAINTENANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distriution is unlimited.
i
Page
Chapter 3: Command and Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
FIRE-FIGHTING HQ TEAM (LA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
WARTIME FIRE-FIGHTING TASKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
DETERMINING M ANNING REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
ASSIGNING SHIFTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
INVENTORYING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
ACQUIRING THE COMMANDER'S PRIORITY LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
MAKING A FIRE-FIGHTING PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
SELECTING DISPERSAL SITES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
DETERMINING R ADIO STATUS AND CALL SIGNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
LOCATING VEHICLE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND ASSETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
INITIATING AN FCC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
DEVELOPING MUTUAL-A ID AGREEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
LOCATING FIRE-FIGHTING A SSETS ANDESTABLISHING R ESUPPLY CHANNELS . . . . 3-3
INITIATING THE R EQUIRED TRAINING PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
CONDUCTING FIRE-PREVENTION INSPECTIONS OF FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
ENSURING THAT PROTECTIVE M EASURES ARE TAKEN TO PROTECT PERSONNEL
AND E QUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
PREPARING A RESPONSE CHART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
FIRE-FIGHTING TEAMS (LB AND LC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Chapter 4: Wartime Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
FIRE-PROTECTION WARTIME MISSION, LIMITING FACTORS, AND
ASSUMPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
FIRE-PROTECTION WARTIME M ISSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
LIMITING FACTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
ASSUMPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
PREATTACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
FIRE-PROTECTION SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
PLANNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
TRAINING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
CRITICAL ACTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
TRANSATTACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
POSTATTACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
TRANSITION TO BASE OPERABILITY (BO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
LOCATION OF A FIRE CHIEF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
CONSIDERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Fire Spread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Damaged Facility Fires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Vehicle Operability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Decontamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Contamination Avoidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
FIRE-DEPARTMENT OPERATION PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
REATTACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
VEHICLE AND MANPOWER CALCULATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
ii
Page
Chapter 5: Fire-Prevention Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Section I. Plans and Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
FIRE REGULATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
PREFIRE PLANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
AIRCRAFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
MISSILE AND SPACE V EHICLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
NATURAL-C OVER FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
PREDISASTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Section II. Water Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
STORAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
GROUND STORAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
HIGH-LEVEL STORAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
WATER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Grid System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Nongrid System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
FIRE HYDRANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
LOCATION AND SPACING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
FLOW TEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Section III. Fire Prevention During Field-Training Exercises (FTXs)/Deployments . . 5-8
SMOKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
MATCHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
OPEN FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
FLARES AND SMOKE GRENADES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
HEATERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
TENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
VEHICLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
STORAGE AREAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
CAMOUFLAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
DISTRIBUTION OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Chapter 6: Water-Tanker Resupply Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
MISSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
RESUPPLY OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
TEMPORARY WATER SUPPLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
DRAFTING SITES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
FIRE-FIGHTING OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Chapter 7: Aircraft Crash/Rescue Fire-Fighting Operations . . . . . . . . . 7-1
AIRCRAFT CRASH OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
AIRCRAFT EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
NOTIFYING THE CONTROL TOWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
NOTIFYING OTHER PERSONNEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
STANDBY AND RESPONSE OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
COMMUNICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
iii
Page
AIRCRAFT-ACCIDENT EMERGENCY TEAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
EMERGENCY RESPONSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
ON AN AIRFIELD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Fire-Fighting and Rescue Crews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Medical Personnel and Ambulance Crews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Fire Chief orSFO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Provost Marshal,MP, orGuard Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Aviation Maintenance Officer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Photographic Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Aviation Safety Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Chaplains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Public Affairs Officer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
OFF AN AIRFIELD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
GRID MAPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
SCHEDULED AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF THE INJURED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
FARP OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
AIRCRAFT PREFIRE PLANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES OF FIGHTING AIRCRAFT FIRES . . . . . . . 7-9
AIRCRAFT FIRE-FIGHTING AND CRASH/RESCUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
AIRCRAFT ENGINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
FUEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
INSTALLED FIRE EXTINGUISHING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
ELECTRICAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
HYDRAULIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
OXYGEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
ANTI-ICING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
ORDNANCE AND AIRCRAFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
SPECIAL HAZARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
FLAMMABLE MATERIALS IN AIRCRAFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
AVIATION GASOLINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
JET FUELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Jet A Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Jet B Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
HYPERGOLIC FUEL M IXTURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
FUEL CHARACTERISTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
AIRCRAFT INCIDENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
WHEEL, BRAKE, A NDTIRE FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
WHEELS-UP LANDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
WATER CRASHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
NOSE-DIVE C RASHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
BUILDING C RASHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
HILLSIDE C RASHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
iv
Page
HELICOPTER CRASHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
NO-FIRE CRASHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16
RESPONSE PROCEDURES TO AN AIRCRAFT EMERGENCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16
FIRE-TRUCK POSITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16
INITIAL ATTACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16
RESCUE ENTRANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16
Standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17
Emergency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17
Cut-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17
VICTIM RESCUES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
EXTINGUISHMENT AND OVERHAUL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
Chapter 8: Structural Fire-Fighting Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Section I. Fire Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
STRUCTURAL OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
STRATEGY AND TACTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
ACCESSIBILITY TO A FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
BUILDING FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
PROTECTIVE S YSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
EXPOSURE HAZARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
TIME OF EMERGENCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
HAZARDS FROM CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
STRUCTURAL FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
EXTERIOR W ALLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
ROOFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Shingled Roofs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Composition Roofs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Metal Roofs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
FLOORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
DOORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
DOOR LOCK AND FASTENER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
FORCIBLE ENTRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
DOORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Overhead Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Stopped-Frame Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Rabbeted-Frame Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Double Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Latched Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Single-Hinged Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Fire Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
WINDOWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Factory-Type Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Check-Rail Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
v
Page
Basement Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Casement Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
CEILINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
WALLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
FENCE LOCKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
VENTILATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
TYPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12
Horizontal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12
Vertical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-13
Forced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-14
Portable Machines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-14
Fog Streams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-14
COMMON ROOF TYPES AND OPENING TECHNIQUES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-14
LOCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-16
Section II. Rescue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-16
PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-16
SEARCH PATTERN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18
SEARCH AND RESCUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18
ROOMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18
COLLAPSED BUILDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18
CAVE-INS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-21
ELECTRICAL CONTACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-21
VEHICLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-21
Safety Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-21
Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-22
Stabilization and Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-22
VICTIM CARE AND REMOVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-22
CARRIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-23
OTHER REMOVAL METHODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-25
Dragging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-25
Using a Stretcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-25
Using a Ladder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-25
Section III. Control and Extinguishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-26
LOCATING A FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-26
INTERIOR FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-26
EXTERIOR FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-26
CONFINING A FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-26
Section IV. Salvage and Overhaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-27
PROTECTION PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-27
SALVAGE COVERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-28
TYPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-28
MAINTENANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-28
THROWS AND SPREADS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-28
vi
Page
OVERHAUL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-31
STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-31
HIDDEN FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-31
Section V. Investigation and Return to Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-31
INITIAL INVESTIGATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-31
ORIGIN OF A FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-33
WOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-33
GLASS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-33
METAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-34
CAUSE OF A FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-34
LOSS ESTIMATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35
FINAL ACTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35
RETURN TO QUARTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-36
Chapter 9: Miscellaneous Facility-Based Fire-Fighting Operations . . 9-1
TACTICAL PETROLEUM TERMINAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1
MISSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1
SITE DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1
TRAINING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
FIRE-SUPPRESSION EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
LOGISTICS BASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
FIRE PROTECTION AND PREVENTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
HAZARDOUS M ATERIALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
OTHER MISSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
INTERNMENT/DISLOCATED-CIVILIAN CAMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
GENERAL-SUPPORT HOSPITAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Chapter 10: Fire-Fighting Operations Involving Explosives . . . . . . . . 10-1
RESPONSIBILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
COMMANDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
FIRE DEPARTMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
SUPPORT A GENCIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
FIRE DIVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
DIVISION 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
DIVISION 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
DIVISION 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
DIVISION 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
FIRE SYMBOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
CHEMICALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
FIRE-FIGHTING PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
AMMUNITION AND E XPLOSIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Divisions 1 and 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Division 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Division 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
CHEMICAL WEAPONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Nerve Agents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
vii
Page
Blister Agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Blood Agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Choking Agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Riot-Control Agents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
NUCLEAR WEAPONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
DROPPED MUNITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
PROJECTED MUNITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
THROWN AND PLACED M UNITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
UXO HAZARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
UXO SPOT REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Chapter 11: HAZMAT Incidents and Fire Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Section I. HAZMAT Incidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
RESPONSIBILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
DEPLOYED MILITARY PERSONNEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
FIRE-FIGHTING TEAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
INCIDENT COMMANDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
HAZMAT-INCIDENT RESPONSE PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
SIZING UP AND ESTABLISHING COMMAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3
CONTROLLING A CCESS TO THE SCENE, SECURING THE SCENE, AND ISOLATING
THE HAZARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
IDENTIFYING THE HAZARD AND E VALUATING THE R ISK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-5
RESCUING AND EVACUATING PERSONNEL AND VICTIMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-5
STAGING THE RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-6
REEVALUATING THE SITUATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
FIRST RESPONDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
ENTRY CONTROL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
DECONTAMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
SUPPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
MEDICAL SUPPORT/E MERGENCY MEDICAL SUPPORT (EMS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
INCIDENT COMMAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
SAFETY PROCEDURES AND SITE SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
TECHNICAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
PROTECTION OF PERSONNEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-10
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-10
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-11
COMMUNICATING INSIDE A CID SUITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-11
REMOVING FACE PIECES BEFORE LEAVING AN AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-11
WORKING WITH AN AIR SUPPLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-11
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12
Section II. HAZMAT Fire Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13
NUCLEAR FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13
STORAGE FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13
viii
Page
RAIL FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-14
TRANSPORT-VEHICLE FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-14
TACTICAL-VEHICLE FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-14
WEAPON-OPERATION FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-14
MISSILE FIRES (WITH OR WITHOUT WARHEADS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-15
INERT M ISSILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-15
PARTIALLY C OMPLETED MISSILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-15
COMPLETE MISSILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-16
Appendix A: Metric Conversion Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Appendix B: Aircraft Prefire Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
FAMILIARIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-1
SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-1
AH-1 Huey Cobra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
A-H 64 Longbow Apache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8
CH-47 Chinook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-14
CH-54 Tahre-Skycrane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-18
OH-6 Cayuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-21
OH-58 Kiowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-24
UH-1 Iroquois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-27
UH-60 Blackhawk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-31
FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-34
C-5 Galaxy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-34
C-12 Huron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-47
C-17 Globemaster III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-54
C-130 Hercules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-81
C-141 Starlifter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-90
OV-1 Mohawk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-96
U-21 King Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-100
Appendix C: Ammunition Identification Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glossary-1
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . References-1
SOURCES USED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REFERENCES-1
JOINT AND MULTISERVICE PUBLICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REFERENCES-1
ARMY PUBLICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REFERENCES-1
OTHER MILITARY PUBLICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REFERENCES-1
NONMILITARY PUBLICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REFERENCES-2
DOCUMENTS NEEDED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REFERENCES-2
RELATED PUBLICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REFERENCES-4
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index-1
ix
Preface
The purpose of this field manual (FM) is to give a commander and members of
fire-fighting teams direction on deploying and using engineer fire-fighting teams.
Engineer fire-fighting teams will provide fire-prevention/-protection, aircraft-
crash/rescue, natural-cover, and hazardous-material (HAZMAT) (incident)
responses within a theater of operations (TO). Normally, there will not be enough
fire-fighting assets within the TO. Therefore, commanders must prioritize assets
and faciliti es that are mission-essential and deploy fire-fighting assets
accordingly. This manual will not provide the answer to every possible incident
scenario. It will, however, provide a commander and fire-fighting teams the
knowledge to make informed, timely, and confident decisions at an incident. If
more specific technical guidance is needed, individuals should acquire the
appropriate technical order, technical manual, or International Fire Service
Training Association (IFSTA) manual.
Appendix A contains an English-to-metric-measurement conversion chart.
Unless otherwise stated, fire-fighting teams refers to military engineer fire-
fighting teams.
The proponent for this publication is HQ TRADOC. Submit changes for improving
this publication on Department of the Army (DA) Form 2028 (Recommended
Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to Commandant, United
States Army Engineer School (USAES), ATTN: ATSE-TD-PD-P, Fort Leonard
Wood, MO 65473-6650.
Unless otherwise stated, masculine pronouns do not refer exclusively to men.
x
Chapter 1
Fire-Fighting Basics
1-1. All levels of command are responsible for the Army's fire-protection
plan. All commanders and supervisors must be responsible for the fire-
safety policies and plans in their organizations. They must be aware of fire
safety in all endeavors of life.
THREAT
1-2. Fire-fighting teams are not priority targets, but they may become targets
of opportunity because of their location in relation to other mission-essential
facilities. In low-level conflicts, fire-fighting teams become targets because of
the response into the public domain. Fire-fighting units have no organic
security assets. During fire-fighting operations, all crew members are engaged
in the operations. Because of this, security must be provided for during
response, retrieval, and fire-fighting operations.
TRAINING
1-3. Fire-fighting teams are manned by qualified military occupational
specialty (MOS) 51Ms. The Basic Fire-Protection Apprentice Course (51M
advanced individual training [AIT]) is currently conducted at Goodfellow Air
Force Base (AFB), Texas (TX), and is 13 weeks long. Other advanced,
specialized courses are taught there as well.
1-4. During garrison operations, engineer fire-fighting teams will be
operationally assigned to an installation's fire department. This will allow the
51M firefighters to practice and train with an installation’s firefighters to
maintain skills, knowledge, and performance according to their mission-
essential task list (METL).
SUPPORTING FORCE XXI

1-5. Fire-fighting teams will support Force XXI by providing fire protection to
deployed forces throughout the world in areas of operation (AOs) where the
current infrastructure has collapsed or is in such deterioration that it cannot
support the United States’ (US) interests. The number and types of fire-
fighting teams needed to protect an AO will depend on its size and the type of
facilities in that AO. Chapters 2 and 3 address the issue of fire-fighting teams.
Consider the following guidelines when planning for fire-protection
requirements:
• Aviation (unit support)one LB team per air-traffic services company.
• Airfield (point support)two LB teams per fixed airfield and heliport
(UH-60, AH-64, CH-47).
Fire-Fighting Basics 1-1

FM 5-415
• Supply (area support)one LB team for each of the following: 5

square miles of AO, corps support group (CSG), division support area
(DSA), area support group (ASG), corps storage area (CSA), and
theater storage area (TSA).
• Ammunition (point support)one LB team for each of the following:
ammunition supply point (ASP), nuclear ammunition supply point
(NASP), and chemical ammunition supply point (CASP).
• Petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) (point support)two LB teams
per petroleum supply company and two per petroleum pipeline/
terminal operations company.
• Internment/dislocated civilian camp (point support)one LB team per
internment/dislocated civilian camp.
• Contingency operationsone LB team per 5 square miles of AO.
• Natural cover/brushtwo LB teams per ASG.
NOTE: Each LB team requires one LC team for water supply.
MISSION STATEMENT
1-6. On the 24-hour concept and according to existing directives (the
commander's priority list and mission requirements), engineer fire-fighting
teams will provide fire-prevention/-protection, aircraft-crash/rescue, natural-
cover-fire, and HAZMAT responses within a TO. The teams will
• Conduct fire-prevention inspections and fire-fighting operations.
• Provide first-responder-level medical response and assistance to
victims.
• Provide an initial response to HAZMAT incidents.
• Set up, operate, and maintain a 24-hour-a-day, fire-department
communications network.
• Conduct POL fire-fighting operations.
• Conduct reconnaissance of the water-supply points.
• Provide water resupply to the fire-fighting teams.
• Maintain the emergency water-supply points.
• Provide additional manpower support to the fire-fighting teams.
• Provide command and control (C2) of non-fire-fighting assets used

when supporting brush fire-fighting operations.
• Conduct crash/rescue operations, provide support for normal flight
and maintenance operations, and support medical-evacuation
(MEDEVAC) operations.
1-2 Fire-Fighting Basics

Chapter 2
Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment

2-1. This chapter lists the fire-fighting organizational chain of command
and its responsibilities. The composition and makeup of the fire-fighting
teams are also addressed. With this information, a commander in a TO
will know what his fire-fighting resources are and how to use them.
ORGANIZATIONS
2-2. The agencies listed below provide regulatory guidance (doctrine,
directives, policies, and so forth), command and supervision, quality control,
logistics, and training guidance for all units needing this information.
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

2-3. DA supervises the fire-protection program by
• Developing, reviewing, and publishing directives, procedures,
standards, and policies.
• Conducting staff visits to major and intermediate commands and
selected representative bases.
• Reviewing and analyzing fire-incident reports from the installations.
ENGINEER BRANCH
2-4. The chief of engineers coordinates the training of fire-protection units and
provides a link with other DA agencies, Air Force civil engineers, and the
Navy Bureau of Yards and Docks. The USAES is responsible for doctrine,
combat development, new equipment, training, and military fire-fighting-
personnel issues. The Air Force is the executive agency for fire-fighting
training conducted at the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) Fire Protection
School at Goodfellow AFB, TX.
MAJOR COMMAND
2-5. Each commander is responsible for the fire-protection program on his
installation. If an installation has two or more commands, the host command
is responsible for the program. The command supervises the fire-protection
program by using directives from higher headquarters (HQ) and by using
command-channel communications. Fire-protection operational-readiness
inspections (FPORIs) are conducted no less than every 36 months, unless
special problems arise. An installation’s fire marshal
• Is the staff officer responsible for carrying out an installation's fire-
protection program.
• Is responsible for staff supervision over an installation's fire-
protection organizations.
Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment 2-1

FM 5-415
• Coordinates fire-protection matters with all other activities on an

installation.
FIRE-PREVENTION/-PROTECTION PROGRAMS
2-6. Fire-prevention personnel establish standards and practices for
preventing accidental fires. They use surveys and inspections to monitor
compliance to these standards and recommend corrective action or penalties
for noncompliance. The fire-protection personnel perform fire-rescue/crash-
rescue operations, HAZMAT operations, and fire-suppression operations.
FIRE-FIGHTING TEAMS
2-7. Personnel in these teams provide fire-prevention and fire-protection
services for deployed forces in stability operations and support operations.
The teams are used when host nation (HN) fire-protection support cannot
provide adequate protection or is nonexistent. The teams protect internal and
external (HN and other US services) Army assets. They maintain fire-
protection equipment, advise the higher commanders of fire-defense plans,
and train auxiliary firefighters as required. The fire-fighting teams are LA,
LB, LC. They are designed to provide task-oriented support, depending on the
tactical and logistical considerations involved. See Chapter 3 for more
information on these teams.
TEAM LA, FIRE-PROTECTION HQ

2-8. This team provides C 2/administrative support. One LA team can control
three to seven fire-fighting teams (LB or LC). A team commander serves as
the fire marshal of an installation/a facility or within his area of responsibility.
An LA team's missions are to
• Plan for fire defense on an installation.
• Conduct fire-prevention inspections.
• Conduct fire investigations.
• Establish a fire-department communications network between the
HQ, the military police (MP), the airfield, and the fire-fighting teams.
• Command the fire-fighting teams.
• Maintain and refill fire extinguishers.
• Make minor repairs to fire hoses.
• Inspect and maintain fixed fire-protection systems on an installation/
in an AO.
• Coordinate the resupply of fire-fighting assets, agents, self-contained
breathing apparatus (SCBA) air, and fuel.
• Coordinate mutual aid with other services/HN fire-protection assets.
TEAM LB, FIRE TRUCK

2-9. This team provides fire protection, administers first aid, provides an
initial response to HAZMAT incidents, and implements a fire-prevention
2-2 Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment

FM 5-415
p ro gra m . A c om m a nd e r's p rim ary task lis t d e ter min es the tea m ' s
assignments. An LB team's missions are to
• Provide crash/rescue support for MEDEVAC and normal flight or
maintenance standbys.
• Conduct fire-prevention inspections on an installation or airfield.
• Provide C2 of the non-fire-fighting assets used to support natural-
cover fire-fighting operations (heavy equipment, personnel).
• Conduct fire-fighting operations (structural, crash/rescue, and natural
cover) on an installation/in an AO.
• Provide emergency medical assistance to victims.
• Conduct an initial response to HAZMAT incidents.
• Conduct the training of unit-level fire brigades.
• Assist with medical resources during mass casualty incidents.
• Assist in HN support (HNS), as a commander requires.
TEAM LC, WATER TRUCK

2-10. This team transports water to resupply fire-fighting teams when a fixed
water supply is not in place. It also supplies manpower to fire-fighting teams.
One LC team is assigned to each LB team. An LC team's missions are to
• Conduct water-resupply support to the fire-fighting teams.
• Provide additional manpower support to the fire-fighting teams.
• Conduct reconnaissance of the water-resupply points.
• Maintain the emergency water-supply points.
• Assist in HNS, as a commander requires.
FIRE-PROTECTION PERSONNEL
2-11. An installation’s fire department employs military and civilian
personnel. Manpower resources and Army manpower policies determine the
number of military and civilian personnel assigned to a fire department. The
duties and responsibilities for military firefighters are outlined in Army
Regulation (AR) 611-201 and for civilian firefighters in Handbook of
Occupational Groups and Series.
FIRE-FIGHTING DRILLS
2-12. Firefighters practice hose, ladder, and pump drills, under simulated
conditions, to achieve a high proficiency level. The drills must be varied so
that the firefighters use all the fire-protection equipment. In each drill,
firefighters have a series of assignments that they must execute quickly and
precisely. These assignments involve laying out hose lines, putting a pump
into operation, and erecting ladders on buildings. Firefighters should conduct
these drills during peacetime and when operating in secured areas during
deployment. They must conduct the drills to become familiar with the new

FM 5-415
equipment and operations that they may need when they deploy to or with
units that require their support apart from normal missions. AR 420-90
outlines refresher drills for firefighters.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

2-13. All firefighters deploying to a TO must have the required PPE to
perform their assigned duties safely and effectively. A detachment’s sergeant
(SGT) must ensure that
• All firefighters have all of their required PPE in serviceable condition.
• Any shortages and unserviceable PPE are reported to the commander
and replaced before deploying.
• All commanders are aware of every item of PPE that is required for
normal performance of the firefighters’ duties, to include special
protective clothing that they may need for a mission (HAZMAT suits,
for example).
2-14. At a minimum, firefighters are authorized one set of structural turnouts
and one set of aluminized proximity gear. They should have both sets when
they deploy. (The aluminized proximity gear does not absorb chemicals and
would be better than structural gear if they encounter HAZMAT situations.)
The following items constitute a full set of personal protective clothing:
• Structuralfire-fighting helmet with (w/) shield; NOMEX or PBI/
kevlar hood, turnout coat, and turnout trousers w/suspenders; leather
fire-fighting gloves; rubber fire-fighting boots; positive-pressure
SCBA; and personal alert safety system (PASS).
• Crashaluminized proxmity helmet w/tinted shield, aluminized
proximity coat and trousers w/suspenders, aluminized proximity
gloves, rubber fire-fighting boots, positive-pressure SCBA, and PASS.
NOTES:
1. Never use structural or proximity gear as a replacement for the

proper HAZMAT protective gear. Many chemicals can be lethal if
absorbed or inhaled in very small quantities. If you cannot positively
identify a HAZMAT, do not compromise your crew's safety with
inadequate protective clothing.
2. All personal protective clothing must meet the current National

Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for that particular
item.
FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT
2-15. Fire-fighting tools and equipment (such as fire trucks, water tankers,
aerial ladders, hoist tools, hose, and pike poles) have been specifically
designed for use in fire-fighting operations. The type of fire station, the
primary mission of the fire department, or any unusual requirements of an
installation or surrounding community will generally dictate the type of tools
and equipment that a fire station should have. Training and practice drills
encompassing all facets of fire-fighting operations should be conducted,

FM 5-415
emphasizing that firefighters gain proficiency with the different tools and
equipment available at their particular fire station.
FIRE TRUCKS
2-16. Fire departments use several types of fire trucks. The pumping
capacities of these trucks range from 500 to 1,000 gallons per minute (GPM).
Fire-department personnel must consider the location, construction,
population, property value, existing safeguards, and availability of outside
fire-protection assistance when selecting the types of trucks needed on an
installation.
MODEL 2500L MILITARY-ADAPTED COMMERCIAL ITEM (MACI) FIRE TRUCK

2-17. This truck is the standard issue for the LB team and is designed for fire-
fighting operations such as structural, crash, fuel, and brush fires on military
installations. The rugged suspension and four-wheel-drive capability provide
traction in all terrain conditions. The MACI can be driven on or off a C-130
and a C-141 aircraft without being dismantled, or it can be air-lifted by
helicopter.
2-18. The MACI is equipped with a midship-mounted pump with a flow rate
up to 1,000 GPM at 150 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure. It is
equipped with a 660-gallon water tank and 72-gallon foam tank. The foam
system provides up to 6,000 US gallons (USG) of expanded foam with a 10:1
expansion ratio. At aircraft fires, the foam is pumped from the roof-mounted
turret at 500 GPM or from the bumper turret at 250 GPM. The pump can be
engaged at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour (mph) and will function at full
capacity while the vehicle is maneuvered.
2-19. An on-board auxiliary power unit (APU) provides electrical power and
drives a recirculating pump in temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit
( o F). A diesel-fired water heater provides heated fluid, which is circulated
through heat exchangers in the water tank, foam tank, drive engine’s cooling
system, fuel tank, and cab's heating system. The truck has removable
equipment to fight structural and brush fires and to handle crash/rescue
emergencies. See Technical Manual (TM) 5-4210-220-12 for more information
on the MACI.
MODEL A/S230-19 CRASH TRUCK

2-20. This truck is designed primarily for aircraft crash/rescue operations;
however, it can be used to fight natural-cover and structural fires. The truck
has a 1,000-gallon water tank and a 130-gallon foam tank. The P-19 has a
Hale (50 FO-P), single-stage centrifugal pump that delivers 950 GPM at 200
psi. The fire pump is powered by an air-operated power divider and has an in-
cab selector for either the water- or the foam-operating mode. The P-19 is also
equipped with a Halon system that has a 500-pound agent tank (Halon 1211),
a 110-cubic-foot nitrogen cylinder, a pressure regulator, four control valves
and associated piping, and a 100-foot hose with a Halon nozzle.
2-21. The truck is powered by an in-line, six-cylinder, four-cycle diesel engine.
This unit is equipped with a turbocharger and an after cooler for smooth,
powerful operation. The P-19 is designed to operate on various types of terrain

FM 5-415
and obstacles. See TM 5-4210-219-10 for more information on operating this

truck.
TACTICAL TANKER TRUCK

2-22. This truck is standard issue for the LC team. It consists of an M916
tractor and a 6,000-gallon water distributor tank trailer. The trailer is
equipped with an auxiliary engine and a water pump with a rated capacity of
600 GPM. It can equip a 1- to 1 1/2-inch hand line.
COMMERCIAL STRUCTURAL PUMPER TRUCK

2-23. This truck is mounted on a 4-by-2 chassis. It is designed for combating
structural fires on continental US (CONUS) installations. The truck has a
midship-mounted pump that delivers 1,000 GPM at 150 psi. It has a 400-
gallon water tank, a 55-gallon aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) tank, and a
complete set of fire-fighting equipment. See the operator's manual for more
information on this truck.
MINI-PUMP TRUCK
2-24. This truck is mounted on a 4-by-4 chassis. It has a 300-gallon water tank
and a power take-off (PTO) pump that delivers 250 GPM. The truck is
designed for an initial attack on structural, natural-cover, and small fires. See
the operator's manual for more information on this truck.
COMMERCIAL TANKER
2-25. This tanker is mounted on a 4-by-4 chassis. It is equipped with a 1,000-
gallon water tank and a PTO pump that delivers 250 GPM. This tanker is
used in all fire emergencies and supplies water for the other trucks. See the
operator's manual for more information on this tanker.
SKID-MOUNTED PUMPING UNIT

2-26. This unit is self-contained and has a power plant and pump that delivers
500 GPM. It has a water tank mounted on skids. When mounted on a
standard Army 5-ton truck, the unit is used to combat brush fires in areas
that are inaccessible to fire trucks. This unit can draft water from ponds,
lakes, rivers, and streams or from erected folding water tanks that tankers
supply.
OTHER VEHICLES
2-27. Other vehicles used in fire fighting may include transportation-motor-
pool (TMP) vehicles, jeeps, helicopters, sedans, carry-all vans, and HAZMAT
vehicles.
MAINTENANCE
2-28. To keep a fire truck in good working order, frequent inspections and
preventive maintenance must be performed. Guidelines on inspections and
maintenance are found in the appropriate TMs or operator's manuals.
Maintenance inspections are performed daily and after each emergency.
Maintenance will be done quarterly. The status of a vehicle and any
deficiencies are recorded on DA Forms 5379-R and 2404. Annually, each truck

FM 5-415
will be flow-tested. Each truck's pump capacity must meet the standards set
by the manufacturer. The guidelines for flow testing are in IFSTA Manual
106.

FM 5-415

Chapter 3
Command and Control

3-1. An LA team provides C2 and administrative support for three to seven
fire-fighting teams and coordinates engineer fire-fighting activities within
a TO. When an LA team is not deployed, the senior firefighter of an LB or
LC team provides C 2. All fire-fighting teams depend on the unit to which
they are assigned or attached for supply, food, health, religious, finance,
communication-equipment-repair, legal, and administrative services.
FIRE-FIGHTING HQ TEAM (LA)

3-2. The LA team is assigned to theater Army, corps, or division and exercises
operational command over all fire-fighting teams assigned to its AO. An LA
team’s capabilities include
• Planning fire-fighting programs for a TO.
• Supervising rescue and fire-fighting operations during aircraft crash
incidents, structural fires, vehicle emergencies, natural-cover fires,
and emergency response during HAZMAT incidents.
• Planning and conducting fire-prevention operations, HAZMAT
emergencies, and initial fire-ground investigations.
• Coordinating resupply of fire-fighting assets, agents, SCBA, and fuel.
• Coordinating mutual aid with other services and HN fire-protection
assets.
• Providing maintenance support for technical fire-fighting equipment
(MACI fire truck).
WARTIME FIRE-FIGHTING TASKS

DETERMINING MANNING REQUIREMENTS
3-3. An LA team must determine the minimum manning requirements for a
continuous 24-hour operations. It must consider sleep schedules, messing,
maintenance, and priority mission times. Continuous-operations factors must
be added in as a mission's time increases.
ASSIGNING SHIFTS
3-4. Crews must be assigned for duty according to mission needs and threat
updates. An LA team will determine the priority requirements and the
standby and alert schedules for the assigned crews. Schedules will be posted
in the fire communications center (FCC).
Command and Control 3-1

FM 5-415
INVENTORYING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

3-5. An LA team maintains the current status of the equipment and fire-
fighting supplies for continuous operations and resupply after the missions. It
also recharges the SCBA and fire-fighting agents. The team must identify
missing equipment and shortages of fire-fighting supplies to continue or limit
operations. Status boards will be located and maintained in the FCC.
ACQUIRING THE COMMANDER'S PRIORITY LIST
3-6. Fire-fighting units will not be able to fight all fires in a combat area. A
commander must determine which facilities and equipment have the highest
priority regarding life safety and mission accomplishment. Once he develops
this list, he must initiate changes as the mission requirements change. An LA
team will use this list to assign minimum manning requirements, equipment
placement, priority training, prefire plans, and fire-response plans. This list
will be posted in the FCC and updated regularly.
MAKING A FIRE-FIGHTING PLAN
3-7. An LA team will develop a fire-fighting plan by using the commander's
list, resource information, prefire plans, and experience. The plan will include
fire-prevention initiatives, response guidance, and resource management for
an overall fire-protection program.
SELECTING DISPERSAL SITES
3-8. An LA team must disperse the fire-fighting assets to protect fire-fighting
equipment, agents, and personnel from being destroyed at one time. It should
not split the fire-fighting teams to the point where they can no longer
effectively accomplish their missions, nor should it place the teams directly at
high-priority targets. Sites will be plotted on an AO’s map that is located in
the FCC.
DETERMINING RADIO STATUS AND CALL SIGNS
3-9. An LA team determines the radio disciplines and call signs for the fire-
fighting teams on the operational radio network.
LOCATING VEHICLE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND ASSETS
3-10. An LA team locates the maintenance-support and vehicle-recovery
channels.
INITIATING AN FCC
3-11. The senior fire official (SFO) will set up an FCC for reporting
emergencies, initiating responses, assigning crews, maintaining logbooks, and
overseeing the normal and emergency operations of the fire-fighting teams.
He will receive and record reports on fire damage; injuries; unexploded
ordnance (UXO); and nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) agents from fire
crews and send these reports to a higher level.
DEVELOPING MUTUAL-AID AGREEMENTS
3-12. An LA team should develop plans with the other services’ fire-fighting
assets. It should define the required assistance and request procedures for
assistance, limitations of assistance, and security considerations. If HNS is
3-2 Command and Control

FM 5-415
available, the team should develop a plan with the senior authority controlling
those assets.
LOCATING FIRE-FIGHTING ASSETS ANDESTABLISHING RESUPPLY CHANNELS
3-13. A resupply of fire-fighting agents within an AO may be hard to find. An
LA team must make establishing the resupply channel for more fire-fighting
agents for sustained operations a priority.
INITIATING THE REQUIRED TRAINING PROGRAM
3-14. Wartime operations will require training on mission-unique equipment
and facilities to ensure maximum effectiveness of fire resources. An LA team
should initiate training as soon as a commander establishes his priority list
and the team can accomplish prefire planning. Response routes, crew
assignments, and attack strategies are all part of the training.
CONDUCTING FIRE-PREVENTION INSPECTIONS OF FACILITIES
3-15. An LA team must inspect the facilities occupied by US forces to ensure
the safety of personnel and equipment. It will inspect the buildings equipped
with a fire-protection system, ensuring proper operation and serviceability.
ENSURING THAT PROTECTIVE MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO PROTECT PERSONNEL AND
EQUIPMENT
3-16. An LA team must ensure that
• The equipment is protected by a hardened position, when possible.
• The personal protective positions are built in the immediate area of
the fire-fighting vehicle's position to ensure a quick response to an
emergency. These positions should provide protection from direct
small-arms fire and from overhead artillery.
• All personnel use camouflage materials and netting properly.
PREPARING A RESPONSE CHART
3-17. An LA team will develop a fire-response chart detailing the response
routes (primary and alternate), crew and equipment assignments by targets,
and b ackup assignme nts. This resp onse p lan m ust b e upda ted as a
commander's priorities and missions change. The team will assign fire-
fighting missions according to the commander's priority list of mission-
essential assets. This chart will be located in the FCC for dispatchers to use.
FIRE-FIGHTING TEAMS (LB AND LC)

3-18. These teams perform the operational task of fire fighting within their
AO. The senior fire-fighting personnel assigned to an LB or LC team that
deploys without a HQ team will be responsible for that team. If several teams
are assigned together, the senior firefighter will take charge of the teams and
perform the functions of the HQ team.
3-19. The LB (table[s] of organization and equipment [TOE] 05510LB00) and
LC (TOE 05510LC00) teams depend on the HQ fire-fighting team (TOE
05510LA00) for C 2 and maintenance of the MACI fire truck. When that
support is not available, the senior firefighter assumes the C2 responsibility.
Command and Control 3-3

FM 5-415
Assigned to theater Army, corps, or divisions, the LB and LC teams are

allocated as follows: one per air-traffic service company and one per
headquarters and headquarters company (HHC) of the CSG; two per
petroleum supply company and two per petroleum-pipeline and terminal-
operating company. The teams
• Provide 24 hours of fire protection and personnel rescue and
administer first aid.
• Implement a fire-protection program for the logistics-storage area
(LSA), intermediate-support base (ISB), forward operating base
(FOB), and aviation and major facilities. Such facilities include but are
not limited to petroleum tank farms, petroleum-distribution sites,
open and closed warehouse facilities or general warehouses, and
enemy prisoner of war (EPW) and civilian-internee camps.
• Fight aviation fires and extricate personnel and equipment from
crashed aircraft.
• Provide fire-fighting protection against grass or brush fires within
their assigned area of responsibility when augmented with combat or
construction engineer soldiers.
• Provide 6,000 gallons of water, per trip, to support the MACI fire
truck.
3-20. An LC team will identify all bodies of water that may be used to combat
a fire or resupply empty fire-fighting vehicles. It will then develop a plan that
identifies the locations and the equipment needed to use these water sources.
The sources should be within a camp's perimeter or within a 2-mile radius of a
camp. Sources will be plotted on an AO’s map that is located in the FCC.
3-4 Command and Control

Chapter 4
Wartime Operations
4-1. During wartime and contingency operations, Army engineer fire-fighting
forces are assigned or attached to a CSG/an ASG of a theater Army area com-
mand (TAACOM) and must protect personnel, aircraft, facilities, materials, and
equipment from fire. Extensive facility, utility, and runway and taxiway damage
may occur. Under these circumstances, a commander will face many critical emer-
gency situations. Fire departments will be required to provide fire-fighting, as
well as other mission-support, requirements. Commanders at all levels employ
the resources to move and fight. To this end, fire-protection resources protect crit-
ical components needed for sortie generation, such as facilities and aircraft. This
chapter provides general guidance for planning, training, and developing wartime
and contingency-operations policies, which must be adapted to threat, mission,
and location by planners at all levels.
FIRE-PROTECTION WARTIME MISSION, LIMITING FACTORS, AND
ASSUMPTIONS
4-2. To maintain fire-protection capabilities, risks to fire-protection personnel,
vehicles, materials, and equipment must be minimized. The rules for wartime
fire-protection operations differ radically from peacetime procedures. The
presence of battle damage, chemical agents, munitions, and submunitions will
complicate fire-fighting and rescue operations.
FIRE-PROTECTION WARTIME MISSION
4-3. The preattack fire-protection mission is to
• Eliminate or reduce the fire threat to personnel, aircraft, and facilities
before an attack.
• Protect fire-protection resources during an attack.
• Provide postattack suppression and rescue response to fire incidents
that seriously jeopardize an AO’s combat-generation capability.
LIMITING FACTORS
4-4. Firefighters will probably encounter several critical problems during a
wartime environment. These conditions should be expected as the norm
rather than as the exception.
• The lack of adequate chemical-warfare-defense equipment (CWDE)
can make fire-protection capabilities minimal to nonexistent under
chemical conditions. With existing CWDE, firefighters are severely
limited during fire-fighting and rescue operations. The equipment
does not provide heat shielding, and firefighters cannot approach
intense exterior or interior fires. Due to inadequate respiratory
Wartime Operations 4-1

FM 5-415
protection, firefighters cannot attack interior fires (aircraft and

structures). Fire fighting can be attempted from a distance, but with
limited effectiveness and wa sted agents. When using CWDE,
firefighters should not attempt fire fighting and rescue unless there is
a reasonable probability of successful life-saving efforts or preserving
mission-critical assets without injury or death to themselves.
• The lack of an adequate water supply will severely limit fire-fighting
and rescue operations.
• All fire vehicles are unarmored and susceptible to major damage
during attacks.
• The firefighters will be unable to extinguish all large, totally involved
fires, such as large-frame aircraft and POL tanks. Attempts to
extinguish such fires will result in unwise depletion of available
resources due to personnel, agent, and vehicle limitations.
• Extreme climatic conditions and the use of protective equipment will
limit performance.
• Fire-protection resources will be at risk until hardening measures are
effected.
• A six-person firefighter team (LB) is capable of providing only one 12-
hour shift in support of strategic, wide-body aircraft operations. The
team must be augmented by another six-person team to complete a
24-hour operation.
ASSUMPTIONS
4-5. Fire-fighting vehicles and equipment should be available for the initial
phase of a contingency or wartime operation. Vehicle, equipment, and
manpower shortfalls must be identified to the supporting agency. Shortfalls
take time to correct. The priority should be on assets that directly affect
capabilities. Because there will not be enough firefighters to respond to all
emergencies, other services’ or HN fire-fighting assets should be used to the
maximum extent possible. Military firefighters will probably face more fires in
combat situations than they will be able to extinguish. An AO commander,
with input from an available SFO, will determine a priority of effort. With the
likelihood of these assumptions being real, firefighters must expect the
following:
• The effectiveness of fire-protection personnel will be diminished by
physical and psychological stresses because of sustained emergency-
response operations and attrition of fire-fighting personnel.
• Main operating bases (MOBs) will have adequate in-place, fire-
protection resources to provide needed protection during sudden
conflict. These resources include a trained and capable fire-fighting
and rescue force and enough fire-fighting equipment and vehicles and
chemical-protection equipment so that firefighters can survive a
chemical attack.
• Adequate fire-protection resources will be available before an attack
at MOBs, FOBs, and bare bases (BBs).
4-2 Wartime Operations

FM 5-415
• Enemy attacks might include chemical-warfare (CW) agents.

• A reattack could occur.
• Water-distribution system(s) will be damaged during an attack and
will not be totally usable for fire-fighting purposes.
• Fire-department responses will be delayed by UXO and craters or
debris in roads, taxiways, and runways. Firefighters will have to
perform explosive-ordinance reconnaissance (EOR), which will result
in a delayed arrival. When UXO is present, alternate routes will be
required.
• Some fires might progress past the incipient stage, cause major
damage, and necessitate greater depletion of extinguishing agents
because of response delays warranted by EOR.
• The fire department will not have the resources to attack and
extinguish all structural fires, respond to all rescue situations, and
support all aircraft incidents simultaneously.
• Hostile activities may deplete fire-department resources (personnel,
vehicles, and equipment), unless physical protection is provided.
PREATTACK
4-6. A preattack occurs between the time a threat is detected and an actual
attack occurs on a base. The preattack period is a transitional period from
peacetime to a wartime mode of operation. This phase may begin months
before actual hostilities occur; it will not be less than 20 days. However, a
transition may be required at any time when in a threat area. Preparation is
critical to a rapid transition and will include three distinct efforts: planning,
training, and acting. Based on the projected postattack environment, the
following minimum needs can be expected:
• Critical fire-department-support resources such as war-readiness
spares kits (WRSK), war-consumable-distribution-objective (WCDO)
levels, vehicle maintenance, food service, and personnel shelters must
be protected.
• Specific fire-suppression-and-rescue responses must be accomplished
based on their priority in relation to the start of an operation.
• Ignition and fuel sources must be removed from facilities to reduce the
possibility of responding to a postattack fire and to reduce the rescue
workload.
• Facility occupants (especially those in critical facilities) must be
trained in first-aid fire fighting so that they can extinguish or contain
fires in their incipient stage.

FM 5-415
FIRE-PROTECTION SYSTEM
4-7. Fire protection consists of many interdependent elements that contribute
to the survivability and operability of the fire-fighting force. These elements
include
• Expedient splinter protection and physical protection.
• Crash and structural rescue, C 2, and support vehicles.

• A sufficient number of trained and capable firefighters.
• Ancillary equipment, which includes proximity suits, SCBA,
recharging apparatus for SCBA, CWDE, mobility gear, and weapons.
• Consumable materials such as water, foam (Classes A and B), and
breathing air.
• Base stations and mobile and portable units for communications.
• Essential support regarding vehicle maintenance/spares, fuel, food
service, and medical resupply, facilities, and utilities.
• Adequate training in general military and contingency skills,
priorities, tactics, strategies, and procedures.
PLANNING
4-8 . P la nning is the key to successful tra nsition. A comp rehensive
understanding of what is expected can be obtained through planning
documents which are prepared by a variety of agencies at all command levels.
Preferably, plans developed before a preattack will normally be available for
MOBs. However, plans may not be available which address specific forward
operating locations that may become operational. In this event, planning will
have to be accomplished immediately after arrival. As a minimum, fire-
fighting teams must initiate the plans and actions. They should use plans that
the major Army command (MACOM), local base operations, and fire-
protection organizations develop, when available. Fire-fighting teams must
• Survey water supplies for use during postattack, including both on-
base and off-base sources (swimming pools, cooling towers, reservoirs,
tankers, pumps, wells, storage bladders, supply points, and Harvest
Eagle/Falcon mobile water-distribution systems).
• Construct expedient access routes to auxiliary water, as necessary.
• Establish a supply of pumps, hoses, and equipment for rapidly
replenishing water where hydrants are not available.
• Consider installing dry hydrants near lakes, streams, and rivers to
facilitate drafting.
• Survey the base terrain for naturally protected areas for fire vehicles,
agents, equipment, and personnel. Using natural features (ditches,
hillsides, and trenches), combined with camouflage netting, provides
effective concealment.

FM 5-415
• Identify locations, if required, where expedient construction could be

used to provide splinter protection for fire vehicles, agents, and
personnel.
• Determine how many sandbags they need to construct expedient
protective facilities. Earth berms or bermed revetments are effective
and are rapidly constructed.
• Coordinate with POL personnel to ensure that POL areas have
drainage ditches and holding areas to prevent spilled fuel from
endangering other tanks.
• Survey possible fuel-holding or tank-drainage diversion areas where
spilled fuel could burn without endangering other critical fuel
supplies.
• Identify all safe areas where munitions are not expected to impact,
and disperse assets (fuel and spare parts and fire-fighting agents) into
these areas.
• Identify the need for camouflage netting and concertina wire to aid in
concealment and security.
• Inventory all agents and other critical equipment and supplies. If
shortages exist, they must submit high-priority requests for additional
agents and equipment that they may need. The teams should try to
obtain stocks from local sources.
• Establish fire-fighting procedures for a CW environment.
• Review a facility’s priority listing. A facility’s priority system must
identify those facilities most critical to sortie generation. In a
multiple-fire operation, fire-fighting and rescue response must be
made on a priority basis based on a commander’s assessment and the
amount of fire-fighting equipment available.
• Coordinate with vehicle maintenance for the expedient and priority
repair of fire vehicles.
• Ensure that vehicle spare parts, including tires, are available and
protected. Mechanics should be dedicated to fire-vehicle maintenance,
and special levels should be established for spare parts.
• Establish duty hours and crew-change procedures.
• Determine where firefighters will be housed and establish feeding
procedures, rest periods, relief procedures, and processing areas.
Firefighters should be located as close to their dispersed location as
possible.
• Coordinate with the MACOM and local HN fire officials for support.
• Pre-position fire hoses, nozzles, and equipment at critical, mission-
essential facilities for first-aid fire fighting by occupants.
• Provide training in the use of fire-fighting equipment, when required.
• Plan dispersal and physical protection.

FM 5-415
• Locate dedicated, splinter-protected areas for fire vehicles, agents,

and personnel. These areas include the following:
— Hardened aircraft shelters.
— Earth-bermed modular revetments.
— Earth berms, trenches, or bermed trenches.
TRAINING
4-9. Intense training is required after arriving at a base of operations.
Training firefighters to adapt to a wartime operation is essential for survival.
Training base occupants on fire-protection responsibilities and providing
necessary refresher training are necessary for protecting a base’s resources.
Other training considerations are listed below:
• Conducting fine-tuning training for fire crews, including what-if
situa tions, attrition of vehicles, and personnel and materia ls
situations.
• Training in procedures required to conduct fire fighting and rescue in
a CW environment, based on the type of equipment available. While
wearing CW defense ensemble, close-in fire fighting should not be
attempted except to save lives or mission-critical assets. There must
be reasonable probability of success without undue danger to
firefighters before any fire fighting or rescue is attempted.
• Training fire-protection personnel in the tactics and strategy that they
will use during fire-fighting operations in a postattack environment,
to include contamination avoidance.
• Conducting refresher training related to survival, such as EOR; CW
defense; convoy security; defensive combat skills; base denial;
camouflage, concealment, and deception (CCD); and hardening.
• Establishing cooperation with the HN, to include joint operations, C2,

mutual training on fire-fighting equipment, and aircraft fire-fighting
and rescue procedures on host and US mission aircraft.
• Conducting refresher, first-aid firefighter training for personnel
whose duty locations are in critical facilities. Occupants must know
what to do in case of a fire; how to use available fire extinguishers,
standpipes, and installed systems; and what the risks and limitations
are in such operations.
CRITICAL ACTIONS
4-10. Fire-protection personnel must perform certain critical actions before a
conflict to ensure that fire-fighting and rescue capabilities survive. They
must
• Don chemical-protective equipment if they might be exposed to a CW
environment. They do this according to the mission-oriented
protective-posture (MOPP) level that a commander determines. In a
surprise attack, fire-protection personnel must don a complete CW
ensemble immediately.

FM 5-415
• Affix M8 paper and M9 tape to the exterior of each fire-fighting vehicle

and fire-station facility.
• Disperse personnel, vehicles, equipment, and agents to protected
areas. Agent dispersal should include both fire-department stock and
special levels. Fire-protection personnel must record the amounts and
location of all dispersed equipment and materials. They must disperse
and locate agents in the same splinter-protected areas as the fire
vehicles.
• Locate agents in at least two separate areas.
• Handle fire-fighting vehicles as follows:
— Conceal vehicles with natural cover, when possible.
— Place no more than one vehicle in one location.
— Position one vehicle to observe runways and aircraft parking areas,
when possible.
— Keep vehicles at least 300 feet away from priority 1 buildings, air-
craft, and other likely targets.
— Place vehicles in a staggered line so that all will not be destroyed
with one pass of an enemy aircraft.
• Ensure that dispersed vehicles have first-aid kits, fresh water, and
full fuel and agent tanks.
• Locate and disperse all vehicle spare parts and tires, WRSK, and
other critical materials to splinter-protected areas.
• Use expedient construction, to include providing splinter protection
and concealment for agents that cannot be moved.
• Provide splinter protection and concealment for the FCC, the fire/
crash radio-network base station, and the repeater units.
• Consider a line-of-sight (LOS) requirement between radios and
repeater units.
• Provide splinter protection and concealment for fire-vehicle fuel
supplies. Equip the tanks with hand pumps or other measures.
• Ensure that POL dikes are intact.
• Ensure that utilities and POL piping systems are isolated.
TRANSATTACK
4-11. A transattack begins with the first enemy action at a base and ends
when the base transitions to a recovery role and begins usual operations.
During a transattack, fire-department personnel will be dispersed throughout
a base so that they can observe and report the airfield-attack status. If
possible, they must note information (the number and type of aircraft
attacking a base, an attack’s intensity, base areas receiving the most damage,
and fire starts) for later relay to the FCC. Firefighters should be able to make
general observations about the type of attack in progress (air attack with

FM 5-415
various types of conventional weapons, land attack with mortars or small

arms, CWs attack, and so forth) and an attack’s duration. Observation and
reporting are incidental to the primary purpose of surviving and must not put
firefighters at risk. A runner or a secure voice radio should relay the
information once an attack is over.
4-12. All personnel must be protected with appropriate equipment, according
to the threat. These measures may have been inhibited during preattack
actions if advance attack warning was available. However, firefighters must
be prepared to cease operations instantly and don their protective equipment
in case of a surprise attack. During an attack, survival takes priority over all
other activities, including fire fighting and rescue.
4-13. Fire-protection vehicles and personnel should remain dispersed and
protected during an attack and a reattack. They should not perform fire-
fighting or rescue operations except immediate-area buddy-care activities.
Fire-protection personnel should not take cover
• Inside or beneath a fire vehicle unless it is located in a protected
dispersal location.
• Within 300 feet of priority 1 facilities, except for fire stations.
• Within 500 feet of aircraft.
• Within 1,000 feet of POL- or munitions-storage areas.
POSTATTACK
4-14. The postattack time period immediately follows an attack on a base. A
base is vulnerable to air, ground, and combined air and ground attacks, with a
vari ety of ordna nce. F ire -de pa rtm ent op era tions in the po sta tta ck
environment are critical to base operations and to generating combat sorties
as soon as possible.
TRANSITION TO BASE OPERABILITY (BO)
4-15. SFOs m ust consta ntly b e aware of the need to recover comba t
capabilities. Transitioning to BO must begin immediately following an attack.
As BO progresses through the various phases, significant attrition of
firefighters, equipment, and agents can be expected. Fire-protection personnel
should be trained for their involvement in the preattack, transattack,
postattack, and reattack phases of BO. MACOMs and commanders at all
levels should supplement this concept with guidance that is applicable to their
missions and TOs. BO plans should provide a smooth transition to recovery
operations following an attack. They should address the transition to BO in
environments where communications are intact, interrupted, or totally
destroyed.
LOCATION OF A FIRE CHIEF
4-16. A fire chief should be located where communications facilities are
available to control fire-protection resources and where physical security is in
place. A fire chief directs allocating the fire-fighting resources in concert with
command priorities and concurrent BO and base-recovery operations. A chain

FM 5-415
of command is normally established locally, with a fire chief normally

reporting to a base commander.
CONSIDERATIONS
4-17. After an a tta ck, existing ba se roadwa ys a nd ta xiways may be
impassable because of denial munitions, bomb craters, wreckage, and other
debris. Therefore, fire vehicles may have to operate fully loaded off hard
surfaces or in sand, snow, mud, rocky soil, or boggy areas. Such conditions will
make submunition detection more difficult; therefore, fire crews must be
careful to avoid rendering fire vehicles incapable of supporting BO.
4-18. Firefighters will be faced with numerous fires, extensive damage, and
injured personnel who require emergency rescue and life-saving care.
Deploying to fire-fighting and rescue locations may be complicated by UXO,
craters, pavement damage, and facility debris. Fire-fighting and rescue
operations may have to be accomplished with limited numbers of people,
equipment, and materials. Attrition will decrease the availability of
firefighters, fire vehicles, and agent levels. Commanders, in concert with fire
chiefs, must decide which fires to fight and which to let burn and which people
to rescue and which to leave to buddy care. General considerations during a
conventional attack are discussed in the following paragraphs:
Fire Spread
4-19. Fire spread within an aircraft-shelter complex is unlikely because of the
distance where hardened shelters are available. Fire spread from one
munitions storage facility to another is unlikely because of the distance
between facilities when concrete, igloo, or earth-covered construction is used.
However, fire spread of more than one storage igloo could occur if stored
munitions are detonated. When facilities are not available (such as in BB
operations), greater separation and expedient earth-berming are needed to
prevent fire spread.
4-20. Fire spread from one base structure to another in the containment areas
is possible, although less probable than in World War II. Modern facilities do
not have the surface density of wood to support sustained fire spread or fire
storms. When temporary construction (using wood) is used, fire spread is
possible unless facilities are properly separated. For tent cities, training
occupants about proper fire procedures could limit fires to one tent.
4-21. When POL tanks are ignited, unburned fuel should be pumped or
drained from the tanks if the distribution system remains relatively intact
a n d if a r ece iv er f or the f uel is available . Such action will re d uce
extinguishment time and result in a shorter burn time, if the tanks are
allowed to burn until self-extinguishment occurs. Draining the tanks away
from other storage tanks can reduce the risk of fire spread. Bladder tanks are
less of a problem. They are located at ground level and are normally bermed to
contain any spill. If properly planned, they should be separated sufficiently to
prevent fire spread. If they are not, fire spread on open ramps with multiple
aircraft could occur.

FM 5-415
Damaged Facility Fires

4-22. Success in stopping fire spread depends on the available number of
vehicles and personnel and their capabilities and how rapidly firefighters
engage the fires. Fire fighting is impractical when burning buildings are
exposed to neighboring fires from which the heat is intense enough to sustain
the fire and reignite the building. When fires have spread through a major
portion of a building (including the spaces between the walls), the structure
will probably burn completely and cease to be a further fire threat in less time
than it would take to extinguish the fire.
4-23. Blast-damage structures can be expected to burn in one-third to one-half
the time required for unda maged structures. If a significant loss of
compartment integrity occurs (damage to interior walls), a fire will spread
faster than it would have in an undamaged structure. Blast damage will
change a fire’s environment and provide easy routes for fire spread to adjacent
compartments. Fi re spread in dama ge d buildings will be rapid and
simultaneous, in all directions, with large flame areas. The intensity of a fire
and the need for fire suppression will be lessened by keeping a fire from
penetrating into concealed spaces.
4-24. Occupants of mission-essential critical facilities must be aggressive in
first-aid fire fighting as fire-department response may be delayed. Peacetime
workplace-safety training prepares occupants for this task.
Vehicle Operability
4-25. During BO operations, fire vehicles must be maintained and repaired as
quickly as possible. Repairs should mainly consist of removing and replacing
components rather than lengthy troubleshooting and repairs. Repairing
components should occur only when time permits and vehicle downtime
cannot be improved by replacement. Major components or subsystems
expected to fail must be identified, stocked, and protected at all MOBs. Spare
parts to support collocated operating bases (COBs) and BBs normally come
from MOBs.
Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance
4-26. Explosive-ordnance-disposal (EOD) personnel will not be available
immediately to clear response routes from a dispersed location to fire and
rescue sites. The level of EOR training provided in peacetime prepares
firefighters to recognize ordnances. Therefore, firefighters must perform EOR
during response.
Decontamination
4-27. If contamination occurs, decontamination must take place. However, do
not decontaminate when it will cause a delay in response to critical fire-
fighting and rescue operations. Firefighters must remain fully protected with
the appropriate CW defense ensemble before starting decontamination
procedures.
4-28. Fire-fighting resources may be needed for personnel and large-area
decontamination under extreme conditions. However, depleting fire-fighting
resources must be considered. They should be used only when all other
sources have been exhausted.

FM 5-415
Contamination Avoidance
4-29. If attacks include CWs, firefighters must
• Avoid driving or walking through suspected chemical-agent puddles,
mists, and so forth.
• Stay under a shelter, when possible.
• Avoid leaving their vehicle during operations except to conduct a
rescue or take cover during MOPP level 4.
• Approach fires from upwind.
• Identify and isolate contaminated areas, if possible.
• Avoid dispersing chemical-agent puddles, mists, and so forth.
4-30. These measures, at a minimum, will reduce unnecessary and lengthy
decontamination procedures and allow quicker recovery after an attack.
FIRE-DEPARTMENT OPERATION PROCEDURES
4-31. Fire-department personnel will immediately assess and report damages
in their vicinity, including the presence or lack of chemicals, submunitions,
and other UXO. At the conclusion of an attack, fire crews will immediately
report the status of personnel, agents, and vehicles. War plans must address
accomplishing this task with both normal and interrupted or nonexistent
radio communications.
4-32. A fire chief directs fire vehicles to fire-fighting or rescue operations and
provides on-scene C2. He provides the base-defense operations-center (BDOC)
staff with a situation assessment regarding structural and aircraft fires; UXO
risks; vehicle, personnel, and agent status and attrition; water and agent
availability; the presence or lack of chemicals; and pavement damage. A fire
chief receives directions from a BDOC or commander and advises the
commander on whether or not to commit fire equipment. He will then employ
fire-fighting forces, as directed. If communications are out or fail, the senior
fire-protection person available at the scene will direct employing the fire-
protection resources based on information provided during preattack training.
However, he should not employ fire-fighting resources to save totally involved
aircraft or POL and other facilities. Such operations only deplete fire-fighting
resources.
4-33. Employing fire-department assets will be based on the relative value of
the response to sortie generation. Forces must be employed according to the
priority listing, which is aircraft and aircraft-support facilities. Given a choice,
a fire chief should respond to a critical aircraft-maintenance facility rather
than a single burning aircraft.
4-34. During a response, firefighters must proceed with extreme caution from
dispersed area s because of UX O. If UXO makes tra vel b y one route
impossible, they must take alternate routes. The objective is to take the
shortest possible route with minimum UXO exposures.
4-35. To ensure that fire-department resources are expanded for maximum
support of sortie generation, the commander will direct firefighters when to

FM 5-415
carry out non-fire-related operations. After each attack, the priority list
should be revised and distributed to all concerned.
REATTACK
4-36. After receiving a reattack notice, firefighters will cease all fire-fighting
actions and take cover. With no protection for fire-department assets, aircraft,
facilities, and lives could be lost. This doctrine must be clearly stated and
understood at all levels of command. If time, distance, and UXO do not allow
the return to splinter protection, crews should take advantage of the nearest
available cover and wait out an attack. During a reattack, firefighters should
make observations and complete the reports that were discussed earlier. They
must make these observations, however, without risk of injury. At the end of a
reattack, recovery actions are the same as discussed earlier except for
previously safe routes and a facility-priority list.
VEHICLE AND MANPOWER CALCULATION
4-37. Tables 4-1 and 4-2 are from Department of Defense Instruction (DODI)
6055.6. They list the minimum number of fire trucks that are required to
support aircraft which are used during stability operations, support
operations, and regional conflicts. Tables 4-3 through 4-5, pages 4-13 and 4-
14, describe the individual TOE fire-fighting-unit authorizations for
manpower and equipment.
Table 4-1. Classification of common military and civilian aircraft
Group 1: Small-Frame Aircraft (less Group 2: Medium-Frame Aircraft Group 3: Large-Frame

than 4,000 gallons) (4,001 to 15,000 gallons) Aircraft (15,001 or more
gallons)
A-7, A-10, A-37, AH-1G, AH-46 B-72, B-737 B-1, B-2, B-52, B-707, B-720,
B-747
C-7, C-12, C-26, C-23A, C-131, C-9, C-20, C-130
C-140, CH-47, CH-54
DC-9 C-5, C-135, C-137, C-141
DC-8 F-111, FB-111 DC-10
F-4, F-15, F-16, F-27, F-117, FH-227 L-188 E3-A, E-4
HH-1H, HH-53, HU-16 KC-10
O-2, OH-6, OH-58, OV-1, OV-10 L-1011
T-37, T-41, T-42, T-43, TA-55, TR-1
U-1, U-3, U-4, U-6, U-8, U-9, U-10,
U-17, U-21, UH-1, UH-21, UH-60A
WU-2
NOTE: Aircraft groupings are categorized by aircraft fuel load, to include tip and drop-off
tanks.

FM 5-415
Table 4-2. DOD minimum aircraft rescue fire-fighting vehicle allowances

Airfields Operating Description Vehicle Allowance
Permanently assigned aircraft having less than 1,000-gallon fuel To be determined by DOD component
capacity and all helicopters
Permanently assigned aircraft, less than 75 feet in length or carrying Two, with 2,000-gallon total capacity
ordnance
Permanently assigned aircraft, less than 100 feet in length or Three, with 3,000-gallon total capacity
carrying ordnance
Permanently assigned aircraft, less than 175 feet in length: Three, with 9,000-gallon total capacity
ordnance, hazardous, or high-value cargo
Permanently assigned aircraft, greater than 175 feet in length: Four, with 12,000-gallon total capacity
ordnance, hazardous, or high-value cargo
NOTE: These minimum allowances do not include specialized ARFF vehicle requirements for
airfields, such as twin agent units, rescue vehicles, and rapid intervention vehicles.
Table 4-3. Engineer fire-fighting HQ team (TOE 05-510LA00)

Personnel
Job Title MOS Rank Quantity
Fire marshal/detachment commander 21B00 1LT 1
Fire inspector 51M30 SSG 1
Fire-team chief 51M30 SSG 1
Administrative clerk 71L10 PFC 1
Total 4
Equipment
Line Description Quantity
Number
C68719 Cable telephone: WD-1/TT DR-8, 1/2 kilometer 1
C74517 Compressor unit RCP: air, 5 hp, gas- and diesel-driven, 5.1 cfm, 3,200 psi 1
H88468 Forced-entry-and-rescue equipment set: aircraft crash 1
J71543 Installation kit: MK-2147/VRC F/KY-57 W/AN/VRC-43 or AN/VRC-46 1
J88275 Installation kit, electronic equipment: MK-2418/VRC F/AN/VRC-46/64 or AN/GRC-160 1
M11895 Mask, CBR: protective field 4
Q20935 Radiacmeter: IM-93/UD 2
Q56783 Radio set: AN/VRC-64 1
R59160 Reeling-machine cable hand: RL-39 1
R72484 Repair and refilling kit: hose repair and dioxide fire extinguisher 1
R94977 Rifle, 5.56 millimeters: M16A1 4
T05028 Truck, utility: tactical, 3/4 ton, W/E M1009 1
T59482 Truck, Cargo: tactical, 5/4 ton, 4 by 4, W/E M1008 1
T62101 Siren, electric, motor operated: bracket mounted, W/D light, weatherproof 2
V31211 Telephone set: TA-312/PT 1

FM 5-415
Table 4-4. Engineer fire-fighting fire-truck team (TOE 05-510LB00)

Personnel
Crash-rescue sergeant 51M20 SGT 1
Crash-rescue specialist 51M10 SPC 2
Fire-truck operator 51M10 PFC 3
Total 6
Equipment
Number
C68719 Cable telephone: WD-1/TT DR-8, 1/2 kilometer 1
E00533 Charger, radiac detector: PP-1578/PD 1
H56391 Fire-fighting equipment set: truck mounted, multipurpose 1
K87338 Installation kit: MK-1454/U F/VRC-53 64 CRC125, 160 inches, not covered by spec kit 1
R59160 Reeling-machine cable hand: RL-39 1
T59482 Truck, cargo: tactical, 5/4 ton, 4 by 4, W/E M1008 1
T62101 Siren, electric, motor operated: bracket mounted, W/D light, weatherproof 2
V31211 Telephone set: TA-312/PT 2
Table 4-5. Engineer fire-fighting water-truck team (TOE 05-510LC00)

Personnel
Firefighter crash/rescue specialist 51M10 SPC 1
Firefighter fire-truck operator 51M10 PFC 1
Total 2
Equipment
Number
028318 Distributor, water-tank type: 6,000 gallons, semitrailer mounted (CCE) 1
K87338 Installation kit: MK-1454/U F/VRC-53 64 CRC125, 160 inches, not covered by spec 1
kit
T61171 Truck, tractor: MET 8 by 6, 75,000 GVW, W/W, C/S 1

Chapter 5
Fire-Prevention Operations
5-1. The purpose of fire prevention is to eliminate hazards and elements
that cause fires and to eliminate conditions that will contribute to a fire
spreading. In a TO, this is more important than ever. In most cases, the
available fire-fighting resources will not be adequate to handle the areas of
responsibility, which makes preventing fires more important. Effective fire
prevention requires establishing well-planned programs. Enforcing the
guidelines i n these prog rams can sav e the effort and expense of
extinguishing fires and reduce the loss of life. Fire departments must have
command support and cooperation to implement and maintain these
programs.
SECTION I. PLANS AND PROCEDURES

5-2. To enhance the effectiveness of fire inspections and assistance to a
com m unity, f ire- de pa rtm en t pe rson nel m ust b e we ll- verse d in the
organizational structure of their fire depa rtment a nd the roles and
responsibilities of each section. An integral source in a fire-inspection process
is prefire plans. These plans provide fire personnel relevant information about
a structure or an aircraft that may be involved in a fire. The information could
significantly enhance the potential success of a fire department’s operations.
If prefire plans are properly maintained and updated, firefighter safety is
increased and firefighters will know about any special hazards or dangers in
advance.
FIRE REGULATIONS
5-3. DOD, DA, and local fire-prevention regulations must be available to all
fire personnel. An installation's fire marshal prepares local fire regulations.
They must define the fire-protection functions for all areas on an installation,
such as tenant units, assigned detachments, family housing, and quarters.
Local regulations should include the following items:
• A statement on the importance of fire prevention.
• The responsibilities of people in fire prevention. People at all levels on
an installation should be included.
• The fire-safety areas, which include the location of fire exits, first-aid
stations, and fire extinguishers. Also included should be fire-reporting
and -fighting procedures.
Fire-Prevention Operations 5-1

FM 5-415
• The policies concerning smoking, fire inspections, storage areas,

electrical wiring and appliances, static electricity, flammable liquids,
f l a m m a b l e c o m p r e s se d g a s e s , e x p l o s iv e a t m o s p h e r e s , a n d
maintenance operations.
PREFIRE PLANS
5-4. Fire departments are organized so that fire personnel can protect life and
property from fire. All personnel must study their area to know what
problems exist. After analyzing the problems, they can devise prefire plans to
handle the problems. Fire-department personnel should consider the
following:
• Area one, an installation’s layout. This layout includes the streets,
roads, and alleys from a fire station to a fire scene; the location of the
water supply and the available volume and pressure; and the
buildings’ exposure.
• Area two, the availability of equipment. This area includes the types
of apparatus, vehicles, and mechanical and motorized equipment on
an installation.
• Area three, available personnel.
5-5. Prefire plans must be flexible to allow for changes in personnel and
equipment availability. The areas to consider are the—
• Location of flammable stores, hazardous-operations areas, and areas
that could be a fire’s point of origin.
• Location of hydrants and other water sources, with readings of
available amounts and pressures.
• Lengths of ladders and the proper placement spots to reach all
required areas.
• Horizontal or vertical openings, (hallways, open stairways, shafts,
false ceilings, or attics) that would be good ventilation openings.
• Best and most available apparatus for responding to a fire,
approaching buildings, conducting hose-laying procedures, and
placing water streams.
• Location of the utilities and who shuts them off and how.
• Effects of weather changes on building accessibility and response
time.
• Installed fire-protection or -detection systems, including locations and
procedures for connecting pumpers to installed extinguishing systems.
AIRCRAFT
5-6. Prefire plans for aircraft crash/rescue operations require more flexibility
than prefire plans for structural fires. Because the exact crash location is
unknown, only make general plans as to likely crash sites. When developing
prefire plans, remember the location, mission, climate, and terrain of your
installation.
5-2 Fire-Prevention Operations

FM 5-415
5-7. Prefire plans should include information on the different types of aircraft
handled at an installation. Appendix B details several Army aircraft. The
control tower can obtain specific information (number of personnel, amount of
fuel, amount and type of ordnance on board, nature of an emergency) at the
time of the emergency.
5-8. The weather, terrain, runway conditions, amount of available equipment
and remaining fuel, and crash location are some factors that govern placing
equipment at an aircraft’s crash operation. Prefire plans can only cover
general placement procedures and should allow for flexibility, based on the
situation. Other factors to consider include an aircraft's landing speed, the
wind direction and speed, and an aircraft's stopping distance. Prefire plans
should also include provisions for acquiring additional equipment.
MISSILE AND SPACE VEHICLE
5-9. Fire-protection personnel at missile and space-vehicle test or launch sites
deal with different hazardous situations. The prefire plans must include
procedures for safely storing, handling, and disposing the liquid and solid
propellants used in missile engines. Plans should include the—
• Number, type configuration, and operation of missiles or space
vehicles and related launch facilities.
• Layout of the launch site, including access roads, terrain, and water
supplies.
• Number, type, and location of support facilities.
• Location and configuration of the various propellant storage areas, the
nature of the stored materials, and the extinguishing agents which
are the safest and most effective for each type of propellant.
• Health hazards that could result from the fuels, oxidizers, other
chemicals, and additives to fuels or coolant water. Firefighters may
have to wear special protective clothing, reduce or control exposure
time, monitor instruments, or perform special procedures.
NATURAL-COVER FIRES
5-10. These fires present different problems for firefighters. Natural-cover
fires can cover various-sized areas, involve large numbers of fire-fighting
personnel, and require specialized tactics and equipment. Prefire plans are
usually limited to information about the type and quantity of available tools
and equipment, the people to contact for personnel support, the agencies
which can provide assistance, and the current weather information.
PREDISASTER
5-11. Fire-protection personnel usually assist during earthquakes, tornadoes,
and floods. Fire-fighting plans should include how to handle disasters and
how to safeguard and use the needed equipment, effectively, during a disaster.

FM 5-415
SECTION II. WATER SUPPLY
5-12. Water requirements on an installation vary daily. However, the water

supply needed for fire fighting must be met at all times. The water supply in
sources such as supply lines, wells, and pumps is often not sufficient during
high-demand periods. During low-demand periods, water should be stored for
use during high-demand periods. Stored water must also be available for
emergencies resulting from fires, power failures, breakdown of supply pumps,
or accidents. During normal use, stored water must be at or above the level
required for fire fighting.
STORAGE
GROUND STORAGE
5-13. Ground storage consists of covered tanks or reservoirs located on the
same level as a distribution system. These tanks and reservoirs are more
commonly used for receiving tanks, treatment tanks, and limited or special
storage. Some installations may have emergency reservoirs. These reservoirs
consist of small ground-storage tanks that are supplied by the distribution
system but are not permanently connected to the system.
HIGH-L EVEL STORAGE
5-14. High-level storage is the preferred storage method. Where practical, the
tanks should be located near the centers of high-water-demand areas to
equalize the pressures during periods of peak demand. One high-level-storage
method is to elevate standpipes or tanks that are mounted on columns or legs.
Another method is to locate one or more ground-storage tanks above the
distribution system. These tanks provide a head pressure similar to that of a
normal hydraulic grade line.
REQUIREMENTS
5-15. A water-supply system supplies water for domestic, industrial, and fire-
protection demands. Domestic demands include functions such as drinking,
cooking, bathing, laundering, and watering cultivated areas. Industrial
demands include requirements for areas such as central and local heating and
cooling equipment and engineering shops. Fire-protection demands include
water requirements for hose-line operations and for installed devices such as
sprinklers, standpipes, and deluge systems.
5-16. The most important factors that govern a water-supply system are the
reliability and capacity of the source, the distribution system, and the storage
facilities. A fire inspector must know of any deficiencies in a water-supply
system to cope with the available water supply during fire operations. A fire
inspector may be asked to appraise a water-supply system at an installation.
He should investigate the—
• Amount of stored water that is needed to meet an installation's
requirements.
• Type of water storage that is best suited for an installation.

FM 5-415
• Provisions for emergency supply and distribution of water.

• Type and size of a normal distribution system.
• Spacing requirements for fire hydrants in all locations.
• Amount of water that is available for fire-fighting operations at all
locations on an installation.
WATER
5-17. When practical, an installation’s primary water supply should be
acquired from a nearby municipality or private water company. When that is
not practical, the water supply may come from wells, canals, streams, rivers,
lakes, or ponds, depending on an installation’s location. The primary supply
should include a pressure source in the system. The water supply should
originate from two independent sources to ensure water availability if one
system fails.
5- 18. W hen a supp ly so urce is ground water, the fluctuation o f the
groundwater table must be considered. When a supply source is from nearby
municipalities, a fire inspector must ensure that the water-supply system is
ample and dependable. When a water source is wells, at least two wells should
be used. At a minimum, twice as much water should be available as is
consumed during an average day. Under these conditions, standby pumping
units that have power sources independent of a main system should be
available.
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
5-19. The network of mains (feeder and distributors) and fire hydrants that
make up the distribution system are laid out as either a grid or a nongrid
system. In a large water-distribution system, the mains are classified as—
• Primary feeders, which are large pipes widely spaced to feed the
smaller pipes.
• Secondary feeders, which are medium-sized pipes that help supply
water at specific locations.
• Distributors, which are small mains that feed individual fire hydrants
and other outlets.
Grid System
5-20. This system is laid out in the form of a grid iron. The piping is
interconnected from several directions. The pipes are arranged in loops and
are supplied from two or more sides. This system works best because hydrants
and other connections are fed from many directions, which will increase water
delivery. A full grid system does not have dead-end mains.
Nongrid System
5-21. This system is a one-directional flow system. Water flows from a large
primary main to smaller feeders. Generally, all feeders result in dead ends.
Some negative features of a nongrid system are an increase in friction loss, a
quick loss of pressure due to one-directional flow, an operation from dead-end
feeders, and increased deposits and foreign matter in all the piping.

FM 5-415
FIRE HYDRANTS
5-22. A dry-barrel-type hydrant (Figure 5-1) is used in areas that are
subjected to freezing temperatures. A valve is located below the freeze line
and is opened with the pressure or against the pressure. After it has been
opened and closed, any remaining water in a closed dry-barrel hydrant will
drain through a valve at the bottom of the hydrant.
5-23. A wet-barrel-type hydrant (Figure 5-1) is used in areas where
temperatures are milder. This hydrant has either a compression-type valve at
each outlet or one valve located in the bonnet to control the water flow to all
outlets.
Dry Stem nut Valve Wet
Operating
stem Hose outlet and
Operating valve seat
stem
Automatic
check valve
Drain hole
Valve
Figure 5-1. Fire Hydrants

LOCATION AND SPACING
5-24. In housing areas, the hydrants should be about 400 feet apart and
placed so that two hydrants can reach every building. Firefighters should use
no more than 300 feet of hose line. In warehouse and hanger areas, the
hydrants should be about 300 feet apart. About 18 inches should be between
the lowest hydrant outlet and grade (ground), and not more than 4 feet should
be between the operating nut and grade. The principal opening (4 1/2 inches)
should face the nearest road or approach. Hydrants that cannot be located
away from traffic (loading dock or warehouse areas) should be protected with
sturdy barriers designed to prevent damage to a hydrant without obstructing
its use.
FLOW TEST
5-25. A flow test measures the pressure of a hydrant’s system. A small main
may have only two hydrants, which should provide an accurate reading. Large
mains may have as many as five hydrants; three is a normal count. One

FM 5-415
hydrant in a system is a residual hydrant and is located the furthest from the
supply mains.
5-26. To measure the pressure in a hydrant’s system, remove the cap on a
residual hydrant and install a Bourdon pressure gauge. Open the hydrant and
record the pressure. During this test, water does not flow from the residual
hydrant. The other hydrants tested in the system are called flowing hydrants.
Remove one 2 1/2-inch cap from each flowing hydrant, and measure the outlet
diameters to the nearest 1/16 inch. Open the valves of all hydrants in the test
group in succession, and read the pressure at all hydrants. The pressure at
the flowing hydrants is the velocity pressure. The pressure at a residual
hydrant is the pressure that remains in the system. The pressure at a residual
hydrant depends on the number of flowing hydrants.
5-27. You can use a pitot tube to measure velocity pressure more accurately.
Hold a tube in the center of a water stream, 1 inch from the face of an outlet.
Depending on the readings, adjust the openings of the flowing hydrants so
that the pressure at the residual hydrant is at least 10 psi. Use these pressure
readings to compute hydrant discharges. Use the following formula to obtain
the discharge of each hydrant:
Q = av
where
Q = amount of flow, in GPM
a = cross-section area of a stream, in inches
v = velocity of a moving stream, in psi
5-28. The total discharge is the sum of all pressure readings of all flowing
hydrants in a system. Use DA Form 5384-R to calculate velocity pressure. The
velocity cannot exceed 20 psi.
5-29. The capacity of an installation’s distribution system is usually based on
a residual pressure of 10 psi. Using the test data, compute the capacity at 10
psi pressure using DA Form 5384-R. The results should be the maximum rate
at which water can be drawn from a system without reducing the pressure in
it to less than 10 psi. Use the instructions below to complete DA Form 5384-R:
• Determine which scale you should use.
• Plot the total discharge on the chart.
• Plot the residual pressure on the chart.
• Indicate where these two lines intersect.
• Plot the static pressure on the vertical scale.
• Draw a straight line from the static pressure point through the
residual pressure point on the water-flow scale.
• Read and record the GPM available flow at 10 psi per gallon.
5-30. The reading represents how much water is available if the pressure lost
in a fire hydrant, hydrant branch, and pump-section hose is disregarded. A
residual pressure of 10 psi is required when rating Army water systems.

FM 5-415
SECTION III. FIRE PREVENTION DURING FIELD-TRAINING EXERCISES (FTXS)/

DEPLOYMENTS
5-31. During a FTX/deployment, a commander is responsible for fire
prevention. He ensures that—
• A fire warden is appointed and actively supervises all fire-prevention
measures during the FTX/deployment.
• Bivouac areas, including tents, are inspected daily for fire hazards.
• Fire hazards are eliminated and regulations are enforced. These
include no storing of gasoline or diesel fuel inside a tent, no smoking
in bed (or in a sleeping bag), and not placing clothing or other
flammables close to lanterns, stoves, or stove pipes.
• Personnel are trained in using fire-fighting equipment, fire reporting,
and fire prevention.
• Fireguards are posted. (One person, clothed and alert, will be
designated as fireguard and will remain inside a tent when a heater or
a gasoline lantern is burning.)
• Personnel are trained to operate and maintain POL-consuming
devices properly.
• Candles and liquid-fuel stoves and lanterns are not left unattended
while they are burning in a tent. (When all personnel in a tent are
asleep, the stove, lantern, or candle will be turned off or put out.)
• Refueling of liquid-fuel equipment or devices does not take place in
tents.
SMOKING
5-32. All personnel must be extremely cautious when disposing of smoking
materials. During a summer FTX/deployment, a space will be cleared through
the surface litter down to mineral soil. Cigars, cigarette butts, or pipe ashes
will be placed in the cleared spot and ground into the soil until they are
completely out. SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN ANY VEHICLE and within
50 feet of any storage area. Personnel will never throw burning materials
from any vehicle. Butt cans will be provided in bivouac areas and will be
dumped into a pit covered with mineral soil or packed with snow daily.
MATCHES
5-33. Safety matches should be used. After striking any match, the person
using it will break it and feel the burnt end, ensuring that it is completely out
before throwing it away.

FM 5-415
OPEN FIRES
5-34. When hazardous conditions exist, a unit commander will prohibit open
fires. When the fire index is high, there will be no open burning. If using an
open fire is part of a summer FTX/deployment, personnel will—
• Scrape flammable materials from an area 6 feet in diameter and dig a
small hole in the center down to mineral soil for the fire.
• Keep the fire small and never build it against trees or logs or near
brush.
• Have at least one person attend the fire at all times.
• Never use gasoline or kerosene to start or quicken the fire.
• Stir the coals while soaking them with water before leaving the fire.
Likewise, they will turn and soak all sticks.
• Cover the fire pit with 6 inches of dirt that is free of leaves, twigs, and
other vegetable matter. However, before covering the pit, they will
make a final check of the ashes, ensuring that the fire is completely
out.
• Never hang wet clothing over or close to an open fire unless they post
a guard until the clothing is removed.
FLARES AND SMOKE GRENADES
5-35. Personnel who use flares or smoke grenades, or who are in an area
where they are used or dropped, will locate the remains of the device and
completely extinguish any burning residue and render any hot particles
harmless.
HEATERS
5-36. Many units rely on heaters to keep their tents warm in the winter. If
used properly, these heaters will perform well in all cold-weather regions.
However, misusing heaters can cause and has caused many fatalities in the
field. Commanders should ensure that only qualified personnel set up,
operate, and refuel these heaters. Since flames can engulf most tents in less
than 10 seconds, personnel must follow the procedures in the operator’s
manual and the guidelines discussed below:
5-37. When setting up and working with heaters, personnel must—
• Never refuel a heater that is in operation; spilled fuel could ignite.
• Always post a fireguard at night.
• Have fire extinguishers available in every tent that has a heater.
• Keep flammable materials such as pine needles or spruce boughs
away from the heater.

FM 5-415
• Always use drip pans. Without them, fuel drips directly on the ground
and could ignite.
• Never block tent exits with meals, ready to eat (MRE) cases or water
cans or by rolling snow flaps inside and holding them down with
personal gear.
TENTS
5-38. When setting up and dealing with tents, personnel must—
• Space all 5- and 10-man tents at least 10 feet apart. For larger tents,
they should space them at least 30 feet apart.
• Keep areas in and around the tents as free of debris as possible and
maintain the area at high standards. During the fire season, they
must clear the grass and brush from within 3 feet of 5- and 10-man
tents and within 10 feet of larger tents.
• Securely mount and fasten fuel cans at least 1 foot from the outside
a re a o f th e te nt. Th ey m u st a lso e q u ip f ue l line s wit h dr i p
interceptors.
• Be cautious when smoking or using flame-producing objects around
tents. Tents are not fire-resistive; they are flame-retardant, which
prevents rapid burning. They could be damage beyond economical
repair if exposed to but not destroyed by fire.
• Not use duct-type heaters (Herman-Nelson type) inside a tent or
structure. If they do use this type heater, personnel must ensure that
a minimum of 15 feet is between a tent or structure and the heater.
They must also ensure that the heating ducts are insulated with
noncombustible material where they enter a tent or structure.
Personnel must not refuel the heater until they can touch the
combustion chamber with their bare hand. They must clean up all
spills before refueling the unit.
• Install heaters according to the appropriate TM.
VEHICLES
5-39. When dealing with vehicles during a FTX/deployment, personnel will—
• Not refuel a vehicle while the engine is running or within 50 feet of
any flame-producing equipment.
• Ensure that vehicles are a minimum of 10 feet between each other
during refueling. Personnel will also ensure that a grounding cable is
connected between the dispensing and receiving vehicles.
• Not park vehicles within 10 feet of any tent or storage rack.
• Not stop or park vehicles in areas that have established fires lane.
However, personnel can load or unload vehicles in these areas, but
they must ensure that the vehicles are constantly attended.

FM 5-415
STORAGE AREAS
5-40. When considering and dealing with storage areas during a FTX/
deployment, personnel will—
• Select sites that have minimum vegetation. During the fire season,
they will remove or cut and maintain grass and brush to a 2-inch
height limit within the storage area and 20 feet around it.
• Limit storage piles to stacks that are 6 feet high, 10 feet wide, and 20
feet long. They will ensure that the ends of the stacks are at least 10
feet from each other and that they have 20-foot wide fire lanes
between the long sides.
• Maintain POL storage areas according to the TMs. They must ensure
that these areas are at least 50 feet from any tent or equipment and in
a location so that drainage (in case of a leak) will be away from
inhabited areas.
• Post special caution signs, when required by what is being stored.
• Police the area thoroughly every day, and remove all rubbish/trash to
the disposal pit area.
• Store reusable containers in separate piles.
• Store containers that hold flammables in a POL area, ensuring that
the lids are tightly closed.
• Store ammunition in igloos or in isolated areas that the ammunition
surveillance officer has approved.
CAMOUFLAGE
5-41. When dealing with concealing materials and devices from air-to-ground
observation, including nets and foliage, during a FTX/deployment, personnel
will—
• Not install camouflage within 1 foot of any muffler or exhaust system
or any other surface that may be heated under normal operating
conditions. They will securely fasten all materials that are near such
surfaces.
• Not start the engines of camouflaged equipment until they inspect the
equipment to ensure that all combustible material is clear of the
exhaust and its discharge.
• Frequently inspect camouflage material to ensure that it is securely
moored so that the wind or moving mooring points will not allow any
material to drop on a hot surface.
• Keep the open flames of all cooking equipment at least 5 feet away
from any camouflaged material.

FM 5-415
DISTRIBUTION OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

5-42. During a FTX/deployment, fire extinguishers are required as follows:
• Mess tents—two 20-pound ABC extinguishers.
• POL—four 20-pound ABC extinguishers per 15,000 gallons of POL.
• Herman-Nelson heatersone 2 1/2-pound BC extinguisher, or
equivalent.
• Vehicles—as per AR 385-55, paragraph 22.
• Maintenance tents—two 20-pound ABC extinguishers per tent.
• Sleeping tents—one 2 1/2-pound dry-chemical extinguisher,
minimum, if the tent contains any heat-producing device or open
flame.

Chapter 6
Water-Tanker Resupply Operations

6-1. Fixed water-supply systems in a combat environment will be rare.
Fire-fighting teams must be able to locate and plot all possible water
sources on a map. These areas must be secure and accessible, and if
possible, have more than one route to and from the site. Relying on water
tankers and temporary water supplies will be the standard operation.
Water tankers are allotted one per LB team.
MISSION
6-2. The mission of an LC team is two-fold. The primary mission is to provide
LB teams with an additional water supply and to maintain temporary water-
supply points when in place. An LC team must also be aware of water-
resupply points and drafting locations.
RESUPPLY OPERATIONS
6-3. When LB teams deploy to an emergency, an LC team will respond
simultaneously. Once the LB teams are in position, the LC team will set up to
resupply the primary fire-fighting unit. It can do this either through a direct
connection or by using a resupply portable drop tank, if available. Once the
tanker's water tank is empty, the crew will go to the closest water resupply/
drafting point and reload the water tank. Meanwhile, a second tanker, if
available, will be supplying the fire-fighting units.
TEMPORARY WATER SUPPLY
6-4. Temporary water-supply points will be constructed, when possible, in
high-risk areas. Each will hold 3,000 gallons of water. Temporary water-
supply points can be constructed from 3,000-gallon water-storage bladders or
lined open-top pools. The bladders or pools should be clearly marked as shown
in Figure 6-1.
For Fire-Fighting Use Only, Nonpotable.

Water-supply vehicle must have clear access into
temporary water-supply sites.
Figure 6-2. Sign markings for bladders or pools
Water-Tanker Resupply Operations 6-1

FM 5-415
DRAFTING SITES
6-5. All team members should be familiar with the locations of the water-
supply points. Drafting sites should be located during reconnaissance of an
AO and recorded on the response plans. These sites should be deep enough to
sustain continuous operations. Access to the sites should be able to sustain
continuous traffic of fully loaded water-supply tankers. Team members must
be careful when positioning the vehicles along side of the stream bank. The
banks along a lake or stream a re often very unstable, and improper
positioning could result in the vehicle sliding or even overturning into the
water.
6-6. When selecting a drafting site, an LC team must ensure that the flow is
sufficient to support the draft. For example, an average stream that is 10 feet
wide and 1 foot deep will need to flow about 15 feet per minute (fpm) to supply
a 2500L fire truck. The team can measure the flow rate by throwing a stick
into the stream and measuring the distance that it floats in 1 minute.
6-7. An area the size of a football field (120 by 50 yards) that is at least 1 foot
deep will supply a 2500L for about 5 hours of continuous pumping. An LC
team should keep those figures in mind when looking at a lake or pond as a
possible drafting site. If an area has irrigation canals, the team should use
them first. The flow from such canals is over 1,000 GPM, and they usually are
easily accessible.
6-8. An LC team must maintain security during drafting operations at all
times. A drafting site is the most vulnerable area because it is usually away
from the incident site, and only a minimum number of crew members
maintain security. If possible, a security team should assist when an LC team
must resupply.
FIRE-FIGHTING OPERATIONS
6-9. An LC team performs several fire-fighting operations. It—
• Will assist LB teams in fire-fighting operations when required, unless
it is involved in water-supply/shuttle activities. When an LC team
arrives at an incident site, the senior crew member will report to the
SFO for crew assignments and instructions.
• May also fight wildland fires as a single unit or with LB teams or
other engineer assets. Because of this, an LC team needs to maintain
a minimum of 200 feet of 1 1/2-inch attack line with a combination
nozzle on its tanker.
6-2 Water-Tanker Resupply Operations

Chapter 7
Aircraft Crash/Rescue Fire-Fighting Operations
7-1. Aircraft rescue fire-fighting operations will include aircraft incidents
and accidents, MEDEVAC, search and rescue, refuel/defuel, and
maintenance standby operations.
AIRCRAFT CRASH OPERATIONS
7-2. An aircraft crash/rescue team provides support to Army aviation and to
Air Force, Navy, Marine, allied, and civil aviation assets in support of Army
operations. The types of support include, search and rescue, emergency
evacuation, forward arming resupply point (FARP), and basic life support.
7-3. The standard requirement for crash/rescue operations will be a minimum
of one LB team and one LC team. Aircraft that are over 10,000 pounds, have a
normal fuel load over 400 gallons, or have an average load of 12 or more
persons w ill require two LB teams and one LC team, as a minimum.
Additional LB teams can be assigned, if available.
AIRCRAFT EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION
NOTIFYING THE CONTROL TOWER
7-4. When notified of an emergency, the control tower will immediately
contact the FCC. The center will then dispatch the required response teams
and notify the subordinate support units. The control tower will supply as
much of the following information as possible:
• Location and nature of the emergency.
• Type of aircraft.
• Amount of fuel on board.
• Number of personnel on board.
• Types of hazardous cargo (explosives, radioactive, flammable, and/or
toxic).
• Estimated time of arrival.
7-5. The control tower must relay this information to the FCC as it becomes
available. The FCC transmits the information to the responding crews. Fire-
fighting crews will then proceed to predetermined standby positions
alongside, but clear of, the designated runway. Drivers and crews must be
ready to reposition as required.
NOTIFYING OTHER PERSONNEL
7-6. When other personnel are notified of an emergency, the FCC will notify
the control tower. When cleared from the tower, the FCC will then notify the
Aircraft Crash/Rescue Fire-Fighting Operations 7-1

FM 5-415
responding fire-fighting units. The dispatcher should try to get as much

information as possible from the caller.
STANDBY AND RESPONSE OPERATIONS
7-7. During emergencies and hazardous conditions, fire-fighting equipment
and crews will be stationed in the immediate vicinity of an aircraft or its
anticipated landing point. While on standby status, personnel will prepare the
equipment to maneuver and discharge the extinguishing agent without delay.
Fire-fighting crews will provide standby service according to the degree of risk
involved. The degree of risk and the response involved are as follows:
• Severe risk (all fire-fighting and rescue assets respond immediately).
Situations at this level include aircraft crashes or serious accidents,
emergency landings, and large fuel spills (over 100 gallons).
• Moderate risk (one fire-fighting vehicle and crew will respond or stand
by). Situations at this level include medium fuel spills (5 to 100
gallons), continuous fuel leaks, MEDEVAC aircraft activities, loading
munitions, welding aircraft, and working on open fuel cells.
• Mild risk (no standby required, fire-fighting crew[s] will maintain an
alert status). Situations at this level include helicopter auto-rotation
exercises, routine flight activities, routine maintenance activities,
engine starts, and small fuel spills (under 5 gallons).
COMMUNICATIONS
7-8. An installation should have at least two methods of receiving incoming
emergencies. The following describes several methods:
• A primary crash line is a direct two-way communication line between
the control tower and the FCC that can be activated from either
location. Other facilities that should be on a primary crash line are
m e d ic a l a nd se cu r i ty a ss e t s, b a s e o p e r a t i o ns , a nd th e H Q
(commander's staff).
• A secondary crash line is any other two-way communications system
between the tower and the FCC. A two-way radio or regular phone
lines are normal. A secondary system is a back-up system to a primary
one in case of damage or failure.
• A light signal system is a system of light codes (no vocal
communications) that a tower uses to signal vehicles and aircraft on
an airfield (see Figure 7-1).
• An airfield-flag method is used when vehicles do not have warning
lights but may be equipped with high-visibility flags so that aircraft
can see them on an airfield. The base operations will issue the flags to
vehicle operators once they receive clearance to be on an airfield.
7-2 Aircraft Crash/Rescue Fire-Fighting Operations

FM 5-415
Meaning
Movement of
Color and Aircraft on Vehicles, Equipment,
Type of Signal the Ground Aircraft in Flight and Personnel
Steady green Cleared for Cleared to land Cleared to cross, proceed,
takeoff go
Flashing green Cleared to taxi Return for landing (to Not applicable
be followed by steady
green at the proper
time)
Steady red Stop Give way to other Stop
aircraft and continue
circling
Flashing red Taxi clear of Airport unsafe - do Clear the taxiway/runway
landing area/ not land
runway in use
Flashing white Return to Not applicable Return to starting point on
starting point on airport
airport
Red and green
General warning signal - exercise extreme caution
Figure 7-1. Airfield light signal system

AIRCRAFT-ACCIDENT EMERGENCY TEAMS
7-9. Aircraft-accident response teams should be made up in three separate
groups. The following lists the personnel in each group:
• Group I (personnel are required to participate in operations
immediately). This groups consists of firefighters and crash/rescue
and medical personnel.
• Group II (personnel are required to perform related support services
as circumstances may develop). This group consists of maintenance
and wrecker personnel, a provost marshal, MP or guard personnel,
photographic personnel, and an aviation safety officer.
• Group III (personnel are required to attend if their specific duty
performance is needed). This group consists of an installation or
airfield commander, an installation fire marshal, aircraft-accident
personnel, chaplains, investigation personnel, and public affairs
personnel.
7-10. An installation commander should contact EOD personnel for help in
identifying and rendering safe all explosive hazards associated with an
aircraft. Aircraft carrying explosive cargo will require an EOD response for
technical help and disposition of explosive hazards.

FM 5-415
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
ON AN AIRFIELD
7-11. When a potential or an actual emergency occurs on an airfield, the
following emergency crews will respond accordingly:
Fire-Fighting and Rescue Crews
7-12. The duties and responsibilities for personnel in this group are listed
below:
• The crew member who receives the notification of an emergency will
immediately dispatch and advise all other crew members of the nature
of the emergency.
• Designated fire-fighting and rescue units on duty will respond
immediately. If an alert is for a potential emergency, fire-fighting
crews will align attending vehicles near the runway at predetermined
points for prompt action. Placement of the fire-fighting equipment
along a runway could be based on the nature of an aircraft emergency
and the type of aircraft involved. Crash/rescue aircraft may be started
and flown to standby positions.
• Vehicles will not proceed onto a runway without clearance from the
control tower. Taxiing aircraft will stop and will not proceed without
clearance from the tower.
• Fire crews will respond to the crash site immediately after an aircraft
impacts. They should approach the site cautiously, watching for
injured personnel and casualties.
• Crash crews will need grid maps to locate emergencies that occur off
an airfield. When necessary, the responding aircraft should locate the
crash site and then guide fire and rescue crews to it. When not
directing fire trucks, the aircraft will circle the crash site until
released by the on-scene fire official.
Medical Personnel and Ambulance Crews
7-13. The duties and responsibilities for personnel in this group are listed
below:
• The designated medical officer, ambulance crews, and emergency
room personnel will be alerted when notified of an impending or an
actual aircraft emergency.
• The designated medical officer and ambulance crews will respond to
an accident site unless the SFO has notified them that their services
are not required.
• Off-post/HN medical and ambulance services will be requested as
required.

FM 5-415
Fire Chief orSFO

7-14. The fire chief or SFO will—
• Respond to the scene of the emergency immediately when notified.
• Assume direct command of the fire-fighting and rescue operations
when he arrives at the site.
• Determine if additional assistance from other on- or off-post
organizations is required.
Provost Marshal,MP, orGuard Personnel
7-15. The personnel in this group will—
• Proceed to the scene of an accident.
• Secure the scene from unauthorized entry of personnel.
• Prohibit smoking or open flames in the vicinity of an accident site.
• Establish traffic-control points into and out of an accident site.
• Establish guard posts to control the security of the perimeter of an
accident site.
Aviation Maintenance Officer
7-16. An aviation maintenance officer will assist the accident investigation
team as required.
Photographic Personnel
7-17. Photographic personnel will—
• Respond to an accident site and record as much physical evidence as
possible.
• Assist an accident investigation team, as required.
Aviation Safety Officer
7-18. An aviation safety officer will—
• Respond to an accident site.
• Ensure that the request reports are submitted.
• Ensure that an investigation is conducted according to AR 385-95.
Chaplains
7-19. The chaplains will respond to an accident scene, when requested, and
will provide services as required.
Public Affairs Officer
7-20. A public affairs officer will—
• Respond to an accident scene, when requested.
• Maintain liaison with the local news services.
• Issue news releases, as required.

FM 5-415
OFF AN AIRFIELD
7-21. When a potential or an actual emergency occurs off an airfield,
personnel involved in the operation will follow the guidelines below:
• Predesignated emergency response crews, when notified, will respond
immediately after they are released from the tower.
• Any available aircraft in an area will be used to guide the emergency
equipment into an incident site. These aircraft will also provide any
advance information that they can about an incident site.
• Emergency equipment and personnel may have to be escorted through
the community where an incident has occurred.
• All duties will be the same as an on-an-airfield response except that
there will normally be more coordination with civilian authorities and
agencies.
• Some damage-control guidelines should be put into place if an incident
has occurred on private property.
• A larger security force may be needed because security at a site may
be harder to maintain.
• Pre-arranged assistance agreements with local fire departments,
medical-response facilities, and police agencies are important.
GRID MAPS
7-22. Each flight-operations office must have local-area grid maps. They
should be of suitable scale and cover at least a 15-nautical-mile radius center
on an airfield. Copies of the grid maps will be posted in each location where
emergency calls are received. Additional maps will be located in each
responding vehicle assigned to emergency crews. All supporting vehicles and
aircraft identified in the airfield fire-fighting and rescue plan will also have
grid maps.
7-23. All personnel assigned to the fire-fighting, rescue, and medical-support
elements will acquaint themselves, as part of the training program, with the
terrain surrounding an airfield. This includes becoming familiar with the
locations and bearing capacity of the roads, bridges, culverts, trails, and other
significant terrain features within a 15-nautical-mile area of the airfield.
Personnel will do this through map orientation and personal inspection.
7-24. When notified of an incident, personnel will be given the location or
section on the grid map. They will clearly identify the area and repeat the
information back to the dispatcher. Emergency personnel will then locate the
site on the grid map and respond. All personnel assigned to the emergency
crews will be proficient in reading and locating points on a grid map and in
being able to navigate to those points.

FM 5-415
SCHEDULED AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION

7-25. At installations where fire-fighting crews and equipment are available,
fire crews will—
• Be notified of aeromedical evacuations in advance to permit
mobilization. At least one LB fire truck with crew will respond.
• Take a strategic position for rapid response in case of a landing or a
takeoff accident.
• Stand by in the immediate area of an aircraft when incapacitated
patients are onboard and during loading and unloading.
• Ensure that an aircraft is not fueled when patients are onboard except
when absolutely necessary.
• Be required to stand by during takeoff, landing, loading, and
unloading of patients and during refueling operations. Crew members
will position the fire trucks to provide maximum fire protection to
personnel and the aircraft.
• Follow an aircraft, during takeoff, to the run-up area and remain
there until it is airborne. A crash crew will remain on alert status
until an aircraft clears the traffic pattern.
• Follow an aircraft from the ramp to the parking area during landing.
The fire crews will position themselves to provide maximum coverage
of the rescue paths, personnel, and aircraft. Fire crews will remain on
standby until all patients have been loaded or unloaded.
SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS
7-26. Fire-fighting personnel might conduct search and rescue operations with
aviation personnel and assets. If they do, they will perform rescue and life-
saving procedures from an aircraft and/or with an aircrew.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF THE INJURED
7-27. Firefighters can assist in the emergency evacuation of the injured. (Such
a duty is not considered primary for them.) They are trained in basic life
support and first-responder-level medical care.
FARP OPERATIONS
7-28. Fire-fighting teams will support aviation units as required. Security will
be a primary concern when operating in a forward area; therefore, fuses will
be removed from the sirens and emergency lights. Fire-fighting crews will
subdue all highly visual areas on the truck with materials available. All
driving will be conducted under blackout conditions. Fire protection will be
limited to rescuing personnel in the event of a crash and suppressing fires of
mission-essential equipment and resources. When operating out of the
immediate area of the FARP, a security force must be provided.

FM 5-415
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
7-29. The following list describes some HAZMATs associated with aircraft:
• Liquid and gaseous oxygen. Oxygen is a powerful oxidizer in the liquid
and gaseous states. It is colorless, odorless, and slightly heavier than
air. Liquid oxygen is pale blue and slightly denser than water.
• Hydrazine. At room temperature, hydrazine is a clear, oily liquid with
an odor similar to ammonia. It is a health hazard in the liquid and
vapor forms. Hydrazine is combustible and explosive.
• Beryllium. In a dust or powder form, beryllium is a silvery material
resembling aluminum powder.
• Magnesium. Magnesium is a silvery metal that looks like aluminum
but is lighter in weight.
• Depleted uranium. Depleted uranium is used as counterweights in
some aircraft. The weights are coated for protection.
• Ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is 99.5 percent (by weight) basic
ammonia (NH3) and is normally a pungent, colorless vapor.
• Liquid hydrogen. Liquid hydrogen is a nontoxic, transparent,

colorless, and odorless liquid of low viscosity.
• Nitrogen tetroxide. Nitrogen tetroxide fumes vary in color from light
orange to reddish brown to blue or green, at low temperatures.
• Carbon-graphite composite fibers. Composite fibers are bonded
together for strength to form parts for aircraft. The majority of all
operational aircraft now in use contains composite fibers in varying
amounts and locations.
• Sulfurhexaflouride gas (SF-6). SF-6 is colorless, tasteless, and
nontoxic. It is heavier than air and is nonflammable and noncorrosive.
This gas reacts with water to form hydrofluoric acid.
• FC-77. FC-77 is a nonreactive, noncorrosive, nonflammable inert
liquid. When heated above 572ºF or when electricity is passed through
the solution, some forms of nerve gas may evolve.
• Triethylborine (TEB). TEB is used as a fuel additive to provide rapid
ignition of a nonhypergolic fuel or propellant. It is an extremely toxic
and volatile liquid with a sweet, pungent odor.
• Lithium thionylchloride. This HAZMAT is a soft, silvery, highly
reactive metallic element that is used as a heat-transfer medium in
thermonuclear weapons and alloys.
AIRCRAFT PREFIRE PLANS
7-30. Aircraft prefire plans are located in Appendix B. All Army aircraft and
primary Air Force aircraft that support Army operations are listed. Additional
information can be located in Air Force Technical Order (TO) 00-105E-9 and
Soldier Training Plan (STP) 5-51M14-SM-TG.

FM 5-415
TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES OF FIGHTING AIRCRAFT FIRES

7-31. AR 420-90 states that training will be conducted according to DODI
6055.6. All personnel conducting airfield fire-fighting duties shall be DOD
certified at the level of airport firefighter. Supplemental training will be
conducted from the STP 5-51M14-SM-TG and IFSTA Manual 206.
AIRCRAFT FIRE-FIGHTING AND CRASH/RESCUE
7-32. Rescuing aircraft crash victims takes precedence over all other
operations until no further life hazards are involved. After rescuing victims,
firefighters extinguish fires and limit further damage to an aircraft. Each
rescue situation is different, and the SFO has the authority to change
procedures and use all the equipment and resources available to complete a
rescue. All installations will create and enact prefire plans to handle crash
and rescue emergencies.
AIRCRAFT ENGINES
7-33. Fixed-wing aircraft will have an opposed-cylinder or turboprop, single-
or multiple-engine configuration. Helicopters will have a gas-turbine, single-
or multiple-engine configuration. A turboprop engine creates the same type of
thrust that a jet engine creates; therefore, do not approach the aircraft from
the rear or around the exhaust. Short circuits in the electrical systems and
broken fuel and oil lines are the main sources of fires in gas engines. During
start-up and shutdown of a gas engine, you should watch for fuel being
drained or pumped through the engine.
AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
7-34. Many of the systems in an aircraft can be potential fire hazards.
Component systems in an aircraft include the following:
• Fuel.
• Installed fire extinguishing.
• Electrical.
• Hydraulic.
• Oxygen.
• Anti-icing.
• Canopy jettison.
• Seat ejection.
• Escape.
• Ordnance.
7-35. To prepare for aircraft accidents, firefighters must recognize all the
systems and potential hazards in an aircraft. Figure 7-2, page 7-10, shows the
color-code designations on the pipes for some of the aircraft systems. For
safety, firefighters should know the color codes before entering a damaged
aircraft.

FM 5-415
Figure 7-2. Color symbols for extinguishers

FM 5-415
FUEL
7-36. A fuel system stores and distributes fuel to the engines. Fuel tanks,
portable bladders, lines, control valves, pumps, and other components are
located throughout a n aircraft. Ne wer aircra ft a re eq uipped wi th a
crashworthy fuel system that contains self-sealing tanks, breakaway valves,
and fuel vent lines. Although crashworthy, this system may still leak fuel.
When an aircraft crashes, the force of the impact can rupture fuel lines and
tanks. Sparks, electrical short circuits, static-electricity discharges, hot
surfaces, and hot exhaust gases are possible ignition sources.
7-37. Fuel tanks may be separate units installed between an aircraft’s
structural framework or built in as part of a wing. In fixed-wing aircraft, fuel
tanks are usually located in the wings and possibly in the fuselage. In most
helicopters, the fuel tanks are located in the fuselage. Some aircraft carry
auxiliary fuel tanks located under the wings or in the cargo area. Upon severe
impact, these tanks usually rupture and set the entire fuselage on fire. Fuel
lines in Army aircraft are quick-disconnect, self-sealing types. Some fuel
systems are pressurized to maintain a steady fuel flow. When these systems
develop leaks or broken lines, fuel may spray out and create a major fire
hazard.
INSTALLED FIRE EXTINGUISHING
7-38. Many aircraft are equipped with this extinguishing system. A pilot can
activate the system to extinguish fires throughout the aircraft. The system
consists of pressurized containers, tubing, nozzles, fusible devices, and
electrical or mechanical appliances for controlling the agent.
ELECTRICAL
7-39. This system supplies the current for all the electrical and avionics
equipment. The principal fire hazard is the electrical wiring short-circuiting
or arcing. In a crash, a large number of wires could be torn or damaged.
Moving the aircraft could produce sparks that ignite fuel vapors.
7-40. Batteries are usually located in the fuselage, wings, or engine nacelle.
Before an aircraft is moved after a crash or a fuel spill, disconnect and secure
the battery and the battery cable ends. Alkaline or nickel cadmium batteries
can overheat from internal shorting or thermal runaway. When a crash crew
detects an overheated battery, they should use the following guidelines:
• If flames are present, use available extinguishing agents.
• If flames are not present but smoke, fumes, or electrolytes are emitted
from the battery or vent, lower the battery temperature using a water
fog and ventilate.
• If flames, smoke, gases, or electrolytes are not emitted from the
battery or vent tubes, ventilate.
HYDRAULIC
7-41. This system consists of hydraulic-fluid reservoirs, pumps, various
appliances, and tubing. A pressure pump moves the hydraulic fluid through
the piping system. The hydraulic systems will remain pressurized even
though the engines have stopped. You must be cautious not to cut pressurized

FM 5-415
hydraulic lines during rescue or fire operations. When a pressurized hydraulic

line ruptures or is cut, the fluid is released in a highly flammable fine mist.
When sprayed on the hot brakes, exhaust, or electrical components, the fluid
may ignite.
OXYGEN
7-42. Aircraft used for high-altitude operations have an extensive oxygen-
supply system for life support and propulsion. The oxygen is stored in a
gaseous or liquid state. Army aircraft use either a fixed or portable oxygen
system. Oxygen may be found in one or more containers located in the
fuselage. Aircraft equipped with high-altitude ejection seats will have small,
gaseous oxygen bottles as part of the survival kits. These bottles are for
emergency use when a crew member ejects at a high altitude or when the
normal oxygen system fails. You must recognize oxygen containers that have
been ripped from their locations by the impact of the crash. Leave the
containers where they are and cordon off the area until trained personnel
remove the containers.
7-43. Two hazards exist with the oxygen systems: explosion and the increased
availability of oxygen to support combustion. Oxygen intensifies fuel burning
as it is present. Danger of explosion is caused by the mixture of liquid oxygen
with flammable materials.
7-44. Another explosive situation occurs when the oxygen-storage tank or
liquid-oxygen (LOX) container is exposed to intense heat or severe impact.
LOX is light blue and transparent and has a boiling point of -297ºF. By itself,
it is not flammable, but it does contribute to the combustion of other
materials. When fighting fires involving LOX, cut off the fuel or oxygen
supply. Blanketing or smothering agents are ineffective against LOX.
ANTI-ICING
7-45. Anti-icing fluids are usually an 85 percent alcohol, 15 percent glycerin
mixture; however, some systems will use a 100 percent alcohol mixture. The
location and size of the tanks containing anti-icing fluids vary with aircraft
type. Separate tanks are provided for alcohol and alcohol-glycerin mixtures.
Single-engine aircraft and helicopters usually carry 3 to 4 gallons; larger
aircraft may carry from 6 to 40 gallons of anti-icing fluids. Although anti-icing
fluids are not considered great fire hazards, their presence must be considered
because of the alcohol in the system.
ORDNANCE AND AIRCRAFT
7-46. Ordnance in or on aircraft (small-arms ammunition, missiles, rockets,
flares, or bombs) can be cargo or armament. You must identify aircraft
carrying ordnance to prevent injuries during fire-fighting and rescue
operations. Cargo of hazardous munitions and armament are classified by
their reaction characteristics. See Chapter 11 for more information on fighting

FM 5-415
HAZMAT fires. Ordnance materials are stored in various areas on aircraft.

The following lists some general locations for specific aircraft types:
• Under the wings and inside or along the fuselage in a fighter.
• In the forward or aft fuselage in a cargo plane.
• Under the wings and in the bomb bay in a bomber.
• Under the wings and in the nose in a helicopter.
SPECIAL HAZARDS
7-47. Crash-rescue personnel have no problem categorizing rockets, missiles,
bombs, and cannons as explosive hazards. However, there are other hazards
which are explosive and can be just as lethal as any bomb or rocket. These are
aircraft ejection seats, canopy jettisons, and explosive canopies. Almost all Air
Force fighters have canopy jettisons and/or ejection seats. The Army’s OV-1
Mohawk has a Martin-Baker ejection seat. The AH-64 Apache and AH-1
Cobra helicopters have explosive charges built into the canopies. The aircrew
or rescue crew can activate the charge. Both of these hazards require
firefighters to become very familiar with procedures to disarm them or place
them on safety. Sometimes the situation is out of a rescue crew’s hands. They
may be subject to dangerous fragments when a pilot detonates the canopy or
the force of a crash jettisons a seat. See TO 00-105E-9 for more information on
how to handle these devices safely.
DANGER
Use extreme caution when approaching
aircraft known to have special hazards!
FLAMMABLE MATERIALS IN AIRCRAFT

7-48. The following materials carried in aircraft can cause problems for
firefighters:
• Aviation gasoline (AVGAS), jet fuel, and hypergolic fuel mixtures.
• Hydraulic fluids.
• Bottled gas (oxygen).
• Anti-icing fluids.
• Pyrotechnics, ammunition, and other ordnance.
• Metals (magnesium), which were discussed above.
AVIATION GASOLINE
7-49. The flash point of AVGAS is about -49ºF. It will give off enough vapors
in any weather condition to form an ignitable mixture in the air, near the
surface of the liquid. The vapor flammability limits in the air are between 1
and 7 percent, so very small amounts of AVGAS can form sufficient vapors to
carry the flame away from the initial ignition. AVGAS flames will spread
between 700 and 800 fpm. Autoignition occurs between 825 and 960ºF.

FM 5-415
JET FUELS
7-50. The two most common jet fuels firefighters encounter at an aircraft
incident are Jet A and Jet B. Both can represent a significant hazard to the
cra sh survivo rs and the firefighters. Firefighters need to know the
characteristics of each fuel and the best way to extinguish a fire that results
from either fuel and prevent reignition once the fire is out.
Jet A Fuel
7-51. This is a kerosene-grade fuel with a flash point between 45 and 95 ºF,
depending on the mixture. Jet A fuel will mix with air above the flash point
and become flammable when the fuel-to-air mixture is just under 1 percent.
Th e u p p e r fla mm ability lim it is just o ve r 5 p e rc en t. A uto ign ition
temperatures range from 440 to 475ºF with a flame-spread rate of less than
100 fpm. Jet A fuels do not spread as rapidly as gasoline. Jet petroleum (JP) 5
is a Jet A fuel used in some military aircraft.
Jet B Fuel
7-52. This fuel is a blend of gasoline and kerosene with a flash point at -10 ºF.
JP4 is a Jet B fuel used in military aircraft. Flammable limits range from 1
percent to just over 7 percent. The lower limit of 1 percent makes any fuel
potentially dangerous when spilled. Autoignition temperatures range between
470 and 480 ºF. The flame-spread rate of Jet B fuels is 700 to 800 fpm. At
higher temperatures, the flame-spread rate across any jet fuel is increased.
HYPERGOLIC FUEL MIXTURES
7-53. These fuels are mixtures of specific fuels and oxidizers used as
propellants in some missiles and rockets. Hypergolic fuels are stored
separately and ignite when they come in contact with each other, without an
ignition source. Mixtures of fuels and oxidizers that do not react or ignite
when combined are called anergols or are anergolic mixtures. The reaction
time of hypergolic mixtures varies according to substance and temperature.
However, in cold weather, combustion may be delayed until enough fuel and
oxidizer accumulate in the firing chamber.
7-54. Other compounds, such as triethylaluminum (TEA) or TEB, react when
air or oxygen is introduced. These chemicals are termed pyrophorics and must
be maintained under an inert atmosphere. TEA and TEB are used as missile
igniters. You must wear special protective clothing and use SCBA when fires
involve oxidizers and fuels. Health hazards resulting from such fires include
poisoning, frostbite, and chemical burns.
FUEL CHARACTERISTICS
7-55. Upon impact, aircraft fuel tanks may fail, creating fuel mists. The fuels
readily ignite under aircraft impact conditions. Under these conditions, fuel
mist is as equally flammable as fuel vapors. A constant threat of reignition
(flashback) in fires involving large amounts of AVGAS or jet fuels exists. You
must be aware of flashback possibilities.

FM 5-415
AIRCRAFT INCIDENTS
7-56. Aircraft frequently develop minor difficulties while in flight. Even
though appropriate action is taken on board to correct the problem, a standby
fire crew is required on the airfield when the aircraft arrives. Other types of
emergency situations that fire crews deal with are discussed below:
WHEEL, BRAKE, ANDTIRE FIRES
7-57. These problems occur in fixed-wing aircraft. Wheels and brakes are
compounds of combustible metals. Fire crews must know the procedures for
suppressing fires consisting of these metals. During a fire, pressure builds in
the tires. Fire crews should approach tires from the front or back, never from
the side.
WHEELS-UP L ANDINGS
7-58. These landings result from hydraulic-system failure or pilot error. This
type of emergency may or may not produce a fire. Extreme heat from the
friction between the aircraft and the ground and the ruptured fuel tanks and
the lines could produce a fire.
WATER CRASHES
7-59. Fuel floating around an aircraft could come in contact with hot engine
parts and ignite, making rescue of personnel difficult. Trapped air may keep
the aircraft afloat, so any attempt to enter it should be made from under the
waterline.
NOSE-DIVE CRASHES
7-60. The impact from a nose-dive crash is so disastrous that there is usually
not much chance for rescue operations.
BUILDING CRASHES
7-61. These crashes present several problems:
• Fire spreads rapidly due to excessive fuel leakage over a wide area.
• Rescue operations involve the aircraft and the building.
• The area around the building should be searched and evacuated.
• Fuel could enter storm drains, and the fuel vapors could surface in
other areas, creating other hazards.
HILLSIDE CRASHES
7-62. With these crashes, the aircraft could disintegrate or, if it hits obstruc-
tions, cartwheel and cause structural components to break away. Also, aircraft
personnel may be thrown from the wreckage. Reaching these crashes is the
main problem for rescue personnel.
HELICOPTER CRASHES
7-63. Helicopters are of light construction and will usually break up in a
crash. The rotor system, undercarriage, and tail will disintegrate, leaving the
cabin or fuselage. Fuel leaks are the main concern. Most of the helicopter's

FM 5-415
controls are cable systems, and in a crash, these cables could entangle the
crew and occupants.
NO-FIRE CRASHES
7-64. With these crashes, fuel spills or leaks are present but have not ignited.
You should wear protective clothing, and all nonessential personnel should
clear the area. As soon as possible, fire crews should apply a foam blanket,
stop leaks, and secure or remove the ignition sources from the area.
RESPONSE PROCEDURES TO AN AIRCRAFT EMERGENCY
7-65. Responding crews must approach a crash scene cautiously. Aircraft
personnel may have been thrown clear or escaped from the aircraft. When
responding to an aircraft emergency, fire and rescue crews should consider—
• The best route to the scene.
• Alerting the support agencies.
• The terrain.
• The weather.
• The type of aircraft.
• The weapons or armament on board.
• The presence of HAZMATs.
• The type of crash.
• The obstacles at the scene.
FIRE-TRUCK POSITIONS
7-66. The SFO at the crash scene decides where to position fire trucks. The
normal pattern is for turrets to cover the escape and rescue paths and for
hand lines to cover the secondary paths. If the aircraft is carrying armament
or has explosive jettison-type canopies, the SFO must be careful and cautious
when deciding where to position the fire apparatus. When only one truck
responds, the crew chief decides where to position the vehicle.
INITIAL ATTACK
7-67. The most effective method of quick attack is a mass application of
extinguishing agents through large-volume turrets, with minimum use of
hand lines. The priority in the initial attack is to open and secure rescue and
escape paths and to keep any spilled fuel from igniting during rescue
operations. When available, two rescue personnel will be at each entry point.
They should enter and exit through paths maintained by the turrets and hand
lines.
RESCUE ENTRANCES
7-68. The quickest way into an aircraft is through normal entrances. When
this is not possible, rescue personnel will use emergency entrances or make
cut-in entrances. Figure 7-3 shows aircraft access entrances.

FM 5-415
Standard
7-69. Door configurations vary with aircraft type. Entrances may be located
on either side or both sides of the fuselage. Aircraft door hinges are on the
forward side and open outwardly. The opposite side of the door contains the
latch mechanism. On most aircraft, the emergency-release mechanism is on
the hinge side.
Areas which may be cut without

severing wires or tubing are
marked yellow or black or both.
Cut three
sides and
peel down.
Serrations prevent an ax
blade from going entirely
through the skin of a plane;
jamming occurs.
Figure 7-3. Aircraft access

Emergency
7- 70 . S o me ai rcra ft ha ve esca pe hatche s or e scap e p a nels ma de of
thermoplastic polymer or metal. The hatches usually have an external release
handle with the location and operating procedures marked on the adjacent
surface of the fuselage. If the handle is inoperable or inaccessible, rescue
personnel can use a crash ax and drive the pointed edge through the escape
hatch or panel, close to the corner or edge. They will continue to use this
procedure to knock out a section large enough for a swift entry.
Cut-In
7-71. Cut-in areas are indicated by broken yellow lines. These areas should be
free of obstacles so that rescue personnel will not cut through heavy structural
members or rupture fuel, electrical, or oxygen lines. Rescue personnel should
cut fuselage skin carefully to prevent igniting fuel vapors. They will cut along
three sides of the yellow lines and use the bottom as a hinge to pull the section
outwardly (see Figure 7-4, page 7-18).

FM 5-415
Typical emergency
entrance markings
Cut here for

emergency rescue.
Figure 7-4. Emergency cut-in areas

VICTIM RESCUES
7-72. After gaining entrance, rescue personnel should locate and determine
the condition of injured victims. If they cannot control hazards, they must
evacuate the victims immediately. If evacuation is not possible, rescue
personnel should attempt to keep the fire away from trapped victims. They
must be careful when removing victims pinned in wreckage to prevent
aggravating existing injuries or causing additional ones. If possible, they
should obtain medical advice before moving injured victims. To remove a
victim from the aircraft, one rescuer works from within or on the aircraft and
another rescuer stays on the ground. The rescuer on the aircraft removes the
victim from the aircraft and hands the victim to the rescuer on the ground.
Together they carry the victim to safety.
7-73. All Army aircraft have seat belts and many have shoulder harnesses.
Seat belts and shoulder harnesses are constructed of strong, webbed material
and are difficult to cut. Rescue personnel must be familiar with the release
mechanisms of these belts and harnesses. Figures 7-5 and 7-6 show different
seat belts and shoulder harnesses. Figure 7-7 shows how to cut a harness.

FM 5-415
Figure 7-5. Seat belt and harness Figure 7-6. 5-point harness
Figure 7-7. Cutting a double harness

FM 5-415
EXTINGUISHMENT AND OVERHAUL

7-74. Extinguishment usually occurs after rescue personnel complete rescue
operations. Tankers or backup crash trucks assist in applying water or
extinguishing agents. Light and air units and wreckers or cranes are used
when necessary. Rescue personnel must overhaul all aircraft, even if fire does
not occur. Overhauling includes—
• Inspecting the aircraft thoroughly to ensure that no hidden dangers
remain.
• Securing the electrical system and disconnecting the batteries.
• Tagging, removing, and relocating bodies. (Medical authorities
usually perform this function.)

Chapter 8
Structural Fire-Fighting Operations
8-1. This chapter addresses many of the basic priorities and procedures
that will be used throughout the rest of this manual for other fire-fighting
purposes. The structural fire-fighting mission will include responding to
all fire incidents that involve structures (including TO structures), tents,
warehouses, and hangers. Responding to structural fires will be according
to the fire-response chart. Factors such as total fire involvement, life
hazards, fire-fighting resources, security, and mission-essential priorities
will determine the type and degree of response.
SECTION I. FIRE OPERATIONS

8-2. Fire operations include all actions from the time a call comes into an FCC
to the after-action review that is conducted following an incident. Responding
to an incident, fighting a fire, rescue, and salvage/overhaul are considered
components of fire operations.
STRUCTURAL OPERATIONS
8-3. When a crew chief or an SFO arrives at a fire scene, he assesses the
situation and decides what actions firefighters will take. The crew chief/SFO
bases his decisions on different factors. Prefire plans list constant factors such
as the type of building construction, the building’s dimensions, or the fire-
department connection/standpipe locations. The weather; traffic; use of the
building; types of materials stored; and time, size, and location of a fire are
changing factors.
8-4. Fire crews must conduct prefire plans on all high-priority/high-target
facilities. Response routes (primary and alternate), water sources, hazardous
areas, and an attack strategy can all be determined before an incident occurs.
If the crew is familiar with the facilities, the fire-fighting operations could
occur quickly. DA Form 5378-R (see Figure 8-1, page 8-2) should be filled out
for this purpose. If the form is not available, the following information should
be included on the prefire plan:
• Building identification.
• Construction type.
• Occupancy.
• Response requirements.
• Special hazards, such as HAZMATs storage and presence of
significant quantities of asbestos.
Structural Fire-Fighting Operations 8-1

FM 5-415
• Water supply.
• Building sketch.
Figure 8-1. Sample DA Form 5873

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION
8-5. When notified of an emergency, the dispatcher should try to get as much
information as possible from the caller. The FCC will dispatch the required
response teams and notify the subordinate support units. The FCC will supply
as much of the following information as available to the responding crews:
• Location and nature of the emergency.
• Number of personnel involved.
• Types of HAZMATs involved (explosives, radioactive, flammable, and/
or toxic).
STRATEGY AND TACTICS
8-6. The strategy and tactics employed at a fire scene are based on the
situation. The on-scene SFO's evaluation of the situation will dictate how,
when, and where firefighters will attack or control a fire. The SFO’s ability to
evaluate the incident correctly will determine the overall success or failure of
the fire-fighting efforts. Although there are SOPs for most fire-fighting
incidents, the SFO must be prepared for rapid changes and adjust the
8-2 Structural Fire-Fighting Operations

FM 5-415
strategy and tactics accordingly. The following factors could have a large
effect on those efforts:
ACCESSIBILITY TO A FIRE
8-7. Conditions such as mud, snow, evacuations, traffic jams, ditches across
roads, and blocked alleys can prevent easy access to a fire. To prevent delays,
the crew chief should check such conditions before fire crews depart to a fire.
FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT
8-8. Some fire emergencies require additional equipment and personnel. One
way to determine the need for more equipment is for the SFO to observe the
nature and extent of a fire's progress. Another way is to consider the volume of
water or other extinguishing agents that are available in relation to the
estimated requirements, which are annotated on the facility response card
(prefire plan). To determine how much water is needed at a fire, use the
following formula and example:
GPM = N (LW/3)
where—
GPM = amount of water needed for a fire
L = building length, in feet
W = building width, in feet
N = number of floors in the building
Fully involved building= 100%

50 percent-involved building= 50%
25 percent-involved building= 25%
8-9. To cover the exposures, take 25 percent of the fire flow for each exposure.
For example, you have a fully involved two-story house that is 30 by 72 feet
with two exposures. Multiply 30 by 72, divide by three, and multiply by 2 to
get the total GPM needed to extinguish a fire. Take 25 percent of the fire flow
for each exposure and add to the other GPM to get the total GPM needed for a
fire.
BUILDING FEATURES
8-10. An SFO must consider the following factors to determine when a
building could collapse:
• Type of construction (brick, wood, or aluminum siding).
• Percentage of the building involved in fire.
• Extent of the damages.
• Length of the burning time.
• Types and quantities of the materials in the building.
• Ability of the materials to absorb water and expand.

FM 5-415
8-11. After assessing these factors, the SFO determines if the fire crews can
use ladders or enter the building to fight a fire.
PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS
8-12. The SFO should examine the building's protective equipment: sprinkler
systems, fire doors, fire shutters, and wired glass windows. He should
determine if these devices will be effective during a fire operation.
EXPOSURE HAZARDS
8-13. The SFO examines exposures such as furnishings, adjacent rooms, or
areas where fire spread is most likely, so that fire crews can effectively attack
a fire. For example, if a fire is in the basement, a quick attack on the areas
where the fire could spread could stop the fire.
8-14. Heat radiation or heated smoke and gases from the initial fire could
endanger exposures such as the roofs and walls of adjacent buildings. In an
advanced fire, fire crews must protect exposed buildings. They should consider
the wind direction, the ground slope, the distance between buildings, and the
extent of the fire's spread before taking action. However, life hazards, the
content value, or the current need could determine the fire crews’ actions.
TIME OF EMERGENCY
8-15. The month, day, and hour are important factors in a fire emergency. For
example, a fire in a school building at 0900 hours on a Tuesday in late
September could present different problems than a fire in the same building
at 2100 hours on a Tuesday in early July. Fire crews must know if people are
in a building before beginning fire-fighting operations.
HAZARDS FROM CONTENTS
8-16. The crew chief must determine if a building contains explosive stock,
toxic fumes, chemicals, acids, compressed-gas cylinders, and high-voltage
wires. When these items are heated or subjected to a hose stream, they could
be a safety hazard.
STRUCTURAL FEATURES
8-17. Most modern buildings have continuous foundations of concrete, brick,
or stone. The foundation wall that supports the frame construction may
extend above the ground. Figure 8-2 shows arrangements of structural
components.
EXTERIOR WALLS
8-18. The list below describes various types of exterior walls:
• Masonry walls. These walls are usually 8 to 12 inches thick,
depending on the material used. Masonry walls provide the best fire
protection.
• Masonry-veneered walls. These are frame walls that have wooden
support members with one veneer of brick or stone. The upright,
wooden support members in these walls are studs. Studs are usually
2- by 4-inch pieces, spaced at 16-, 18-, or 24-inch intervals. Fire stops
are usually short, 2- by 4-inch wooden pieces placed in walls, ceilings,

FM 5-415
partitions, and stairways between the studs at each floor level and at
the upper end of the stud channels in the attic. Fire stops cut off the
draft in the walls and help prevent fire and smoke from spreading.
Figure 8-3, page 8-6, shows fire stops.
Tile flu liner

Ridge board
Metal flashing
Rafter
Roof decking
Shingles
Ceiling joist
Top plate
Eave closure
Wood siding
Sheathing
Stud
Sole or sill
Header
Rigid insulation and/or shear
Plaster or Sheetrock
Brick veneer
Finish floor
Rough floor
Cross bridge
Joist
Box sill
Plate
Anchor
Foundation
Basement floor
Footing
Figure 8-2. Arrangements of structural components
• Wooden-frame walls. These walls are constructed entirely of wood.

The wood is usually treated with fire retardants to enhance the fire

FM 5-415
resistiveness of the wood. Fire stops are of the same type and used in
the same way as masonry-veneered walls.
• Metal walls. These walls are constructed of metal sections or panels
and are fastened to wooden studs with bolts or screws. Metal walls
may have a painted or porcelain-coated surface
Fire stops
Figure 8-3. Fire stops

ROOFS
8-19. Roofs are constructed in layers using different materials. The main
support comes from the rafters, which run at right angles from the beam and
ridge of the roof. Sheathing covers the rafters. Sheathing is 4- by 8-foot sheets
of 1-inch plywood or 1-inch boards. Thin metal sheets or felt paper is nailed
over the sheathing. The final layer can be a layer of tar or asphalt, 4- by 8-foot
metal sheets, or other types of waterproof coverings. Figure 8-4 shows
different types of roofs.
Shingled Roofs
8-20. These roofs are made of small sections of material (wood, asphalt,
fiberglass, or metal) that are fastened to sheathing. To open shingled roofs,
strip off the shingles and cut away the sheathing.

FM 5-415
Mansard
Flat Shed
Gable
Butterfly
Hip
Gambrell
Arch
Lantern
Figure 8-4. Roof types

Composition Roofs
8-21. These roofs are made of one to six sheets of roofing material nailed to the
sheathing. Hot asphalt is spread over the entire covering and allowed to cool.
To open these roofs, first cut and roll back the covering and then cut the
sheathing close to the joists to make an opening.
Metal Roofs
8-22. These roofs are made of metal sheets that are crimped or soldered
together and fastened to the sheathing. Use a pike pole or similar tool to open
them. When using a fire ax to cut a roof, use short, quick, forceful strokes to
prevent the ax from striking other fire personnel and from catching in
overhead obstructions. Make diagonal cuts close to a joist or stud. Do not cut
with the grain of the board.
8-23. In flooring, roofing, or sheathing, make a cut at a 60-degree angle
instead of straight down. Cut diagonal sheathing the direction of the
sheathing so that the chips will split outward. If you make cuts against the
sheathing, the ax may bind. Make cuts through a lath-and-plaster wall in a
direction diagonal to the grain. After cutting the boards, use the pick end of
the ax to pry and remove the boards.
FLOORS
8-24. In older buildings, wooden floors are laid double on joists, which are
generally set on 16-inch centers. The subfloor is usually laid at a 45-degree

FM 5-415
angle to the joists and the finish floor laid at right angles to the joists. To open
these floors, cut through the subfloor and the finish floor. Both cuts should
follow the side of the joists toward the inside of the required opening. In
mobilization-type buildings, a single floor is laid directly on joists, which are
set on 16-inch centers. Open single floors the same as flat roofs.
DOORS
8-25. Doors can be swinging, revolving, sliding, or overhead. Before using
force, try the door. If the door is locked, examine it to determine the forcible-
entry method to use. Wooden, swinging doors are panel, slab, or ledge. Doors
in residential buildings usually open inward and doors in public buildings
open outward. Slab doors are either hollow- or solid-core. Hollow-core doors
are constructed of wooden strips formed into a grid or mesh. Solid-core doors
are constructed of solid material. The core can be either tongue-and-groove
blocks or boards glued in the frame or a fire-resistant, compressed mineral
substance.
DOOR LOCK AND FASTENER
8-26. On a swinging door, the lock is a bolt (bar) that protrudes from the door
to the fastener (metal keeper), which is part of a door jamb. The bolt may be
part of the lock assembly or it may be separate. Use forcible entry to spring
the jamb so that the bolt passes the keeper. Outside doors in barracks, store
buildings, and recreation halls are set either against stops in the frame or
against a rabbeted shoulder in the door jamb. Insert the wedge of a door
opener just above or below the lock to gain entry. Use a spanner wrench with
a wedge end when leverage is not a problem.
FORCIBLE ENTRY
8-27. You can use forcible entry to open roofs, floors, skylights, partitions,
walls, and locked doors and windows. You must know how the building is
constructed to determine the best places for forcible entry. Practice handling
and using forcible-entry tools to ensure safety during an operation.
DOORS
8-28. Before using forcible entry to open a door, determine how the door hangs
on the frame and how the door locks. Locks are either surface or mortised and
can be pried until they spring free. Usually, the best method for opening these
locks is to remove the hinge pins from the hinge with an ax or a spanner
wrench.
Overhead Doors
8-29. Forcible entry on steel, overhead, rolling doors is difficult. These doors
can only be opened by operating the gears and chain. Prying may spring the
doors so that the gears will not function. Some doors have glass windows.
Break a section of the glass to reach the latch and raise the door. On overhead
lift doors, pry upward from the bottom of the door using a crowbar or claw
tool. After the lock bar breaks, the door opens.

FM 5-415
Stopped-Frame Doors
8-30. On these doors, raise the stop with a sharp wedge and swing the door
clear of the fastener. When using a door opener, separate the lock and the
jamb so that the lock passes the keeper.
Rabbeted-Frame Doors
8-31. Method 1: Split the jamb or break the lock bolt with a door opener.
Insert the opener and push the door inward. Method 2: Insert a wedge above
or below the lock and pry the door until the bolt passes the keeper. The door
and jamb will be slightly damaged, but the door will close.
Double Doors
8-32. Open double doors by prying between the doors until the bolt clears the
keeper. If an astragal or wooden molding covers the opening, remove it before
inserting the wedge. Many double warehouse doors are secured with a bar
that is dropped in the stirrups, which are located on the inside of the wall. Use
forcible entry by battering down the door. On brick walls, batter a large hole
through the wall and crawl through the hole and unlock the doors. This
method is usually the quickest and least destructive entry method.
Latched Doors
8-33. Night latches will normally yield to the same prying tactics as mortised
locks. However, if night latches are fastened to the door with screws, remove
the locks by hitting them with a heavy object, such as a battering ram. When a
battering ram is not available, push your shoulder against the side of the door
opposite the hinges to spring the lock.
Single-Hinged Doors
8-34. On single-hinged doors locked with a hasp and padlock, such as those on
sheds and stables, use a door opener to pry or twist off the hasp staple.
Fire Doors
8-35. These doors are mainly used to protect openings in division walls of
vertical shafts. On fire doors that close automatically, pry open the doors
using forcible-entry tools. On fire doors with exterior openings, force the lock
by prying between the jamb and lock. Block the open fire doors to prevent
cutting off the water supply in a hose line or trapping yourself in the building.
WINDOWS
8-36. A working knowledge of the various types of windows is necessary to
effect successful forcible entry with minimal damage. This is only possible by
becoming familiar with the types of windows used in your AO and learning
how they operate.
Factory-Type Windows
8-37. These windows consist of steel sashes that are often set in the frame so
that only a portion of the window can open. The movable portion is either
pivoted at the center or hinged at the top and latched on the inside. Factory-
type windows have small panes. Breaking the glass near the latches is the
fastest, simplest entry method.

FM 5-415
Check-Rail Windows
8-38. These windows have two frames (sashes) that are in contact at the top
and bottom horizontals. If the window has no weights, the sash locks either
with bolts in the window stiles or with a friction lock pressing against the
window jamb. Open these windows by prying upward on the lower sash rail. If
the window is locked on the check rail, the screws of the lock give way and the
sashes separate. When the window is locked with spring-activated bolts,
break or bend the sash before raising the sash. Pry the window where the lock
is located.
Basement Windows
8-39. Open these windows the same as a door in a rabbeted frame. If you pry
at the center of the lower rail, you can pull or spring the lock.
Casement Windows
8-40. Open these windows the same as double doors. When these windows are
locked, break the glass to enter. Wooden casement sashes are generally
hinged at the top and locked at the bottom or top. In some instances, breaking
the glass causes less damage than other entry methods. If you follow the
procedure below, the glass falls down away from your hands and to your side.
• Use an ax, crowbar, or pike pole.
• Stand to the windward side of the glass pane that you intend to break,
if possible.
• Strike the top of the pane.
• Keep your hands above the point of impact.
CEILINGS
8-41. Use a pike pole to open plastered ceilings. Break the plaster and pull off
the laths (Figure 8-5). Pull the metal and composition ceilings from the joists.
Board ceilings are difficult to remove because the lumber resists when you
jam a pole between the boards.
WALLS
8-42. Wooden-framed walls are constructed of wooden or fiberboard sheathing
that is nailed over studs. The exterior siding, which may be wooden clapboard,
board and batten siding, stucco, or other exterior finishes, is fastened over the
sheathing. Open these walls as you would floors and roofs. Metal walls are
metal sheets that are either fastened to wood or metal studs with bolts,
screws, or rivets or are welded to metal studs. Use a breach-entry method.
FENCE LOCKS
8-43. Wood, metal, masonry, or woven-wire fences usually have gates that are
locked with padlocks and hasps. Either pull these locks apart, using a claw
tool, or cut the locks, using a cutting tool.

FM 5-415
Figure 8-5. Opening a plastered ceiling

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
8-44. The following are some of the safety precautions and procedures you
should use during forcible-entry operations:
• Try opening a door or window before prying it.
• Carry your tools safely.
• Watch for explosive materials.
• Block open a door or window after entering, if possible.
• Place your tools in a safe place to avoid tripping.
• Stand to the side when breaking the glass; remove all jagged pieces.
• Block all overhead doors (up position) after entering.
• Be aware of obstructions and bystanders when using an ax; keep the
area clear whenever possible.
• Watch for electrical wires and pipes when opening walls and ceilings.
• Make one large opening rather than several small ones.
VENTILATION
8-45. Ventilation is the systematic removal of smoke, heat, and toxic gases
from a structure and the replacement of these gases with cooler air.
Ventilating an area makes rescue and fire-fighting operations safer. In rescue
operations, a ventilated area decreases the danger for trapped occupants

FM 5-415
because the hot, toxic gases are channeled out of the structure. In fire-fighting
operations, a ventilated area increases the fire crew's visibility and makes the
working area more bearable. After fire crews properly ventilate an area, they
can enter the area and locate and extinguish the seat of the fire. Proper
ventilation usually reduces the chance of back draft.
8-46. An SFO decides when fire crews ventilate an area to avoid problems. If
fire crews are not ready and told to ventilate, a fire could advance to a more
difficult stage. If fire crews ventilate too late, a back draft could occur, causing
extensive property damage, injury, or death. When a building is not
immediately ventilated, the smoke and gases rise, spread, and fill the entire
room or structure (mushrooming). When this occurs, fire crews must ventilate
the area quickly before starting fire operations.
TYPES
8-47. The three basic methods of ventilation are horizontal (cross), vertical
(top), and forced. The two subtypes of forced ventilation are mechanical and
hydraulic. Vertical ventilation involves opening the structure directly above
(or as close to) the seat of a fire as possible. Horizontal ventilation involves
opening one side of the structure and then the opposite side (probably
windows) to remove heated gases and smoke. Forced (mechanical) ventilation
uses blowers or ejectors at a doorway or window to help remove the smoke and
heated gases.
Horizontal
8-48. To cross ventilate, first open one side of the structure so that the heat
and smoke can escape, and then open the other side so that the fresh air can
enter the structure. Cross ventilation is more effective in certain types of
structural fires than in others, such as the following:
• Residential buildings, when the attic is not on fire.
• Buildings with windows near the eaves.
• Attics of residential buildings with louver vents in the walls.
• Involved floors of multistoried structures.
• Buildings with large, unsupported open spaces under the roof. In this
situation, a fire is not contained by fire curtains nor has the structure
been weakened by the burning process.
8-49. You must consider wind conditions when cross ventilating. If there is no
wind or if it is too windy, cross ventilation is not effective. Determine the wind
direction and ventilate. First, open the top section of the windows on the
leeward side to relieve the smoke and heat pressure. Second, open the lower
section of the windows on the windward side to allow cool air to enter. Figure
8-6 shows horizontal ventilation.
8-50. Consider the interior and exterior building exposures when cross
ventilating because you may have to route a fire. Be cautious; fire could
spread from cross ventilating. Do not block the wind flow once you establish a
cross-ventilation pattern. If the cool air flow is interrupted, hot air and gases
could fill up the structure. If possible, avoid using an opening in the cross-
ventilation pattern for applying a hose stream.

FM 5-415
Figure 8-6. Horizontal ventilation

Vertical
8-51. Opening roofs is the primary method of top ventilation (Figure 8-7). To
top ventilate, cut a hole in the roof above the seat of a fire. Hot air currents
rise and remove the heat and gases. Before ventilating, consider—
• Coordinating your efforts with the ground and attack units.
• The wind direction.
• Obstructions or weight on the roof.
• Additional escape methods, such as a lifeline to the roof.
• Installed roof openings as a ventilation source.
• The size and number of the holes to cut.
• The condition of the structural supports.
• Possible accidents from opening.
.
Figure 8-7. Top ventilation

FM 5-415
Forced
8-52. Forced ventilation uses two removal techniques. Negative-pressure
ventilation uses smoke ejectors to develop artificial circulation and pull the
smoke out of a structure. The ejector is placed by a window, door, or roof vent.
Positive-pressure ventilation uses a blower or smoke ejector to force air (at a
doorway or window) into the structure creating a pressure differential. The
higher pressure that is created inside the building forces the smoke through
openings to the outside (area of lower pressure). The hydraulic technique uses
a hand line with a fog pattern (at a door or window) to draw heat and smoke
out of the building. In forced ventilation, mechanical blowers, fans, and fog
streams move the air currents out of the structure.
Portable Machines
8-53. When using gasoline- or electric-powered, portable fans, locate them so
that they will either pull out the smoke or force in fresh air. Place smoke
ejectors at the highest level to draw out more heat. Seal a fan with curtains or
drapes so the air cannot circulate around the fan and reduce its effectiveness.
Fog Streams
8-54. When using fog streams, fire crews must be inside the area that they are
ventilating. The nozzle man will place the hose stream in an area at the top of
the windowsill with just enough fog pattern to fill the window opening about
3/4 and hold the nozzle there. The smoke and heat will be drawn into the
pattern and forced out of the structure.
COMMON ROOF TYPES AND OPENING TECHNIQUES
8-55. The more common roof types that a firefighter will encounter are listed
below:
• Flat roof. To ventilate a flat roof—
— Locate the roof supports.
— Mark the roof area to be cut.
— Use an ax to remove the built-up material or metal.
— Cut the wood decking diagonally along the joist toward the
center of the hole that you are making.
— Use short strokes when chopping. If you use high strokes,
clear the area and check for overhead obstructions.
— Pry up the roof boards with the pick head of an ax. Use the
blunt end of a pike pole, or similar tool, to knock through the
ceiling.
— Use power tools when necessary, such as a rotary-disc saw
(K-12 saw) or chain saw, to speed up the operation.
• Pitched roof. To ventilate a pitched roof—
— Determine where to make an opening, and place a roof ladder
on either side of the opening. Use the ladder for support.
— Remove the shingles or roofing felt.

FM 5-415
— Cut the sheathing along each side of the rafters.

— Remove the sheathing boards with the pick of an ax.
— Use the blunt end of a pike pole to knock down the ceiling.
• Metal roof. To ventilate a metal roof, either pry up the metal sheets with
a prying tool or cut the metal sheets with a cutting saw.
• Arch roof. To ventilate an arch roof, use the same procedures as for flat
or pitched roofs. Roof ladders will be difficult to handle; use aerial or
long, straight ladders.
• Installed roof openings. Be aware that a building can contain several
types of roof openings: skylights, scuttle hatches, stairways, and
ventilators (Figure 8-8). You can easily force most of these open without
damaging the roof. If possible, use these openings to save time.
Figure 8-8. Roof openings

8-56. Do not disrupt top-ventilation patterns. With an opening in the roof of a
structure, the natural convection of air currents expels the heat and gases.
When this flow is interrupted, ventilation is ineffective. Do not direct a hose
stream into ventilated openings. Heat and gases cannot escape. Direct hose
streams above the horizontal plane of the opening to control hot embers and
sparks. When deciding to ventilate, the SFO should—
• Ensure that the firefighters doing the ventilating wear full protective
clothing and SCBA and that they stand on the windward side of the cut.
• Provide a secondary means of escape.
• Prevent personnel from walking on spongy roofs.
• Ensure that firefighters work from ladders to prevent slipping and
sliding.

FM 5-415
• Ensure that a hand line is positioned at the roof when the cut is made
to provide protection to the firefighters on the roof.
• Ensure that the firefighters are cautious when using power tools.
LOCATION
8-57. The SFO should consider the following factors when determining a
ventilation site:
• Availability of the installed roof openings.
• Location of a fire and the direction in which he wants the fire crews to
draw the fire.
• Type of building construction.
• Wind direction.
• Extent of the fire and conditions of the structure and its contents.
• Bubbles or melting of roof tar.
• Indications of roof sag.
SECTION II. RESCUE
8-58. The primary function of rescue operations is to remove victims from

inescapable places. A firefighter's first consideration is to save lives. He does
this by removing victims from hazardous situations, carrying them to a safe
place, and administering first aid. Rescue personnel must act cautiously when
transporting victims to ensure that further injuries do not occur.
PROCEDURES
8-59. When performing rescue operations in a building, firefighters should—
• Always wear full protective clothing and SCBA.
• Not attempt rescue operations if the building is unsafe because of
advanced fire conditions.
• Ventilate the building before entering it, if a back draft is possible.
• Work in pairs, when possible, and keep in contact with each other.
• Develop a plan and work from it to avoid becoming disoriented.
• Carry forcible-entry tools.
• Use a charged hose line when operating on the floor above a fire.
• Tie a rope to their body for safety when working in the dark or under
extremely hazardous conditions.
• Remember the direction that they turned to enter a room. They should
keep in contact with a wall while moving around and ventilate the
area, if doing so will not enhance a fire.

FM 5-415
• Exit a room by turning in the opposite direction from which they

entered the room.
• Feel the doors before opening them. They should stand to one side,
keep low, and open the door. If fire is behind the door, they should
close the door to contain a fire temporarily so that they can continue
searching. Once they complete a search, they should report their
findings to the SFO.
• Stay low, move cautiously (Figure 8-9), and carry a hand light.
Figure 8-9. Rescue position

• Stay alert and use all their senses. Occasionally they should pause
during the search and listen for signs or signals (moans, coughing,
cries for help) from trapped victims.
• Watch for weakened structure or hot spots.
• Follow a wall if they lose their direction. If they see a hose line, they
should crawl along the hose line; it will lead them to a nozzle man or
outside.
• Follow a wall to the nearest window and signal for help if they become
trapped. If they cannot find a window, they should stop momentarily
and consider other escape actions.
• Push a door slowly, if it is initially difficult to open. A victim may be
blocking the door. They should feel behind the door and check for a
victim. They should not kick the door open.

FM 5-415
SEARCH PATTERN
8-60. Your main consideration in a search is locating victims in relation to a
fire. A primary search is a rapid search of the building to verify removal of all
victims. A secondary search is a thorough search of a fire area after initial fire
control. Always work in pairs when searching for victims. First check the fire
floor and then the floor directly above the fire. If personnel are available,
conduct rescue operations on both floors.
8-61. If multiple rooms or apartments lead into a center hallway, conduct a
search in a series. Enter the first room and turn right or left to establish the
search pattern. When exiting the room, turn in the same direction as you
entered and continue searching. Always exit a room as you entered it to
ensure a complete search. After searching a room, mark it as stated in your
standing operating procedure (SOP). Doing so avoids duplicating efforts. If
you abort a search or are removing a victim, exit the area by turning in the
opposite direction from which you entered the area.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
8-62. Whether searching a room or an entire building, use a systematic
approach. Do not just go into an area and start a haphazard search. Evaluate
each area quickly and start a search and rescue based on your evaluation.
ROOMS
8-63. After entering a room, follow the wall around the room. Keep low and
feel ahead for obstacles or pitfalls. Reach out with your hand or foot to cover a
greater area. Keep in constant and direct contact with the wall. This method
brings you back to your entry point (Figure 8-10). Search the center of the
room (Figure 8-11).
8-64. Search all areas: behind the furniture; inside the closets, toy chests, and
bathrooms; and on top of and underneath the beds. Follow the search pattern
to avoid overlooking any area. Flip a mattress into a U-shape, indicating that
you have searched the room.
COLLAPSED BUILDINGS
8-65. A building's condition determines the difficulty that you will have in
rescuing victims. First, rescue the victims whom you can easily reach so that
they can receive medical attention. Second, rescue victims who are in areas
that are difficult and require more time to reach.
8-66. When the floor supports fail in any building, the floors and roofs may
drop in large sections, causing the floors and roofs of the lower levels to
collapse (pancake collapse, Figure 8-12, page 8-20). When heavy loads of
furniture and equipment are located near the center of a floor, the excess
weight may cause the floor to collapse. Figure 8-13, page 8-20, shows a V-type
collapse.

FM 5-415
Table
Coffee
table
Bookcase
Fireplace
Figure 8-10. Searching a room’s perimeter
Speaker
Speaker
Stereo Table
Coffee table
TV
Bookcase
Fireplace
Figure 8-11. Searching the center of a room

FM 5-415
Figure 8-12. Pancake collapse
Figure 8-13. V-type collapse

FM 5-415
8-67. To reach a buried or trapped victim, you may have to dig a tunnel.
Tunneling is a slow, dangerous process. Try other rescue methods before
tunneling. Do not dig tunnels to conduct a general search of an area. However,
you can use tunnels to reach a void under a floor to continue a search. The
following lists some tunneling procedures:
• Start a tunnel at the lowest level possible.
• Dig the tunnels large enough to accommodate the firefighters and
victims.
• Do not construct the tunnels with abrupt turns.
• Drive the tunnels along a wall when possible. Doing so simplifies the
framing required to prevent cave-in.
CAVE-INS
8-68. Use either shoring or cribbing to hold back weakened earth formations
in a building or to secure tunnel openings and passages. Shoring is a series of
timbers or jacks used to strengthen a wall or prevent collapse of a building or
earth opening. Cribbing is usually adapted to roof and ceiling supports, but it
can be used on walls.
8-69. Do not force beams, floor sections, or walls back into place. This action
may cause further collapse and damage. When removing debris, watch for
timbers or rocks that hold up other portions of earth or debris. Moving these
pieces could cause a collapse or slide. Leave the timbers or rocks in place.
ELECTRICAL CONTACT
8-70. If a victim is in contact with electrical wires, do not touch the victim or
the wire until the victim is clear of the wire. If the victim is not free from the
w ire or the w ire will not e nda nger yo u, use a p ike po le (m a de of a
nonconductive material) to rescue the victim. Hook the victim's clothing and
drag the victim clear of the wire.
VEHICLES
8-71. To rescue victims from vehicles, you must know basics about motor-
vehicle design, hand and power tools, and patient care. You must also be
prepared to face victims who are badly burned, mortally injured, or hysterical.
Safety Considerations
8-72. Observe safety precautions during an operation. Wear complete turnout
gear during the operation. The following lists hazards resulting from vehicle
accidents:
• Fire and its products.
• Glass fragments.
• Sharp metal edges on vehicles.
• Flying glass and metal.
• Dangerous chemicals and radiation.

FM 5-415
• Tool failure.
• Unstable vehicles.
Assessment
8-73. An alarm-room operator must obtain as much information about a
vehicle emergency as possible. He should record the—
• Location of the accident.
• Number and types of vehicles involved.
• Number of people injured and the types of injuries.
• Information on any special hazards at the scene.
• Name of the person calling and the call-back number.
Stabilization and Access
8-74. If a vehicle is on its side or upside down in a gully or on a hillside, do not
rock or push the vehicle. Stabilize any vehicles that are in such difficult
positions. Use jacks, wedges or cribbing, or come-alongs. In emergencies, use
the bumper jacks or ropes or open the trunk lid and hood. Do not tip a vehicle
if victims are trapped inside.
8-75. Choose the easiest route available to gain access to a victim. Try opening
the doors. If they are jammed, break a window. If any window is broken in the
accident and the frame is not bent, remove a victim through that window. If
not, break the rear window. This window provides a large opening, and glass
should not fall on the victim as readily as from a side window. The primary
objective is to gain access and stabilize and protect the victim from further
injury from sparks, glass, metal, and extrication tools.
8-76. After accessing the vehicle, stabilize the victim. Try to identify any life-
threatening injuries, and administer first aid when necessary. Vehicle parts
(steering wheel, seats, pedals, dashboard) often trap a victim. Free the victim
from any vehicle parts and treat his injuries. The following is a checklist
covering injuries and treatment:
• Watch for breathing problems. Open an airway, when necessary.
• Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Treat for shock.
• Control the bleeding.
• Immobilize the victims that have fractures or spinal-cord, neck, and
back injuries.
• Position the victims according to sustained injury.
• Strap the victims in securely.
VICTIM CARE AND REMOVAL
8-77. If the situation and time permit, carefully try to remove all the victims
from an incident. However, if a fire, an explosion, or some other danger is

FM 5-415
imminent, use whatever method you can to remove the victims and yourself
from the area immediately.
CARRIES
8-78. If a victim cannot walk or has severe injuries, carry him. Use any of the
following carries that is appropriate for the situation:
• One-man-supporting carry. Use this method if a victim is in the prone
position. Assist him to a sitting position and then to his feet. Grab one
arm, place it over your shoulder, and secure his arm by holding his
wrist. Place your other arm around his waist and help him walk.
• Two-man-supporting carry. This method is similar to the one-man
method except that the victim puts an arm over a shoulder of each
firefighter. Each firefighter secures the victim’s arm by grabbing his
wrist. Firefighters place their other arm around his waist for support.
• Lone-rescue carry. If you have difficulty raising a victim to carry
him—
— Place the victim on his back.
— Push his feet close to his buttocks and hold his feet in place
with your foot.
— Grab the victim’s hands and rock him up and down several
times.
— Jerk him up, at the top of the upswing, and onto your
shoulder.
• Fireman's carry. To execute this carry—
— Kneel on one knee near the victim’s head and turn his face
down. Place both hands under his armpits and gradually work
your hands down the side and across his back.
— Raise the victim to his knees.
— Take a firm hold across his back.
— Hold the victim around his waist with your right arm, grab
his right wrist with your left hand, and draw his arm over
your head. (Change sides if the victim is wounded on the right
side.)
— Bend at the waist and knees, and pull the victim’s right arm
down over your left shoulder so that his body comes across
your shoulders. At the same time, pass your right arm
between his legs and grab his right knee with your right hand.
— Lift the victim as you straighten up.
— Grab the victim’s right wrist with your right hand.

FM 5-415
• Two-firefighter carry. In this method, two firefighters form a chair

with their arms to carry a victim. To execute this carry—
— Each firefighter kneels on one side of the victim, near his hips,
and raises him to a sitting position, supporting him by placing
an arm around his back.
— Each firefighter slips his free arm under the victim’s thighs
and clasps each other’s wrist.
— The firefighters rise slowly and lift the victim from the
ground. When erect, they adjust their upper arms to form a
comfortable back rest to secure the victim. If he is conscious,
the firefighters should tell him to place his arms around their
necks.
• Chair carry. In this method, two firefighters carry a victim in a chair.
To execute this carry—
— The firefighters should place the victim on his back.
— One firefighter grabs the legs of the victim and raises his legs,
buttocks, and back. The other firefighter slips the chair under
the victim.
— One firefighter is in front and one is in back of the chair. They
grab the chair, tip it to a 45-degree angle, and walk forward.
• Extremities carry. This is a good carry method when a victim is
conscious or unconscious and does not have leg or back injuries. Two
firefighters execute this carry. To do so, the—
— Firefighters lay the victim on his back with his feet apart.
They face each other, one standing between the victim’s legs
and the other at the victim’s head. They kneel and raise the
victim to a sitting position.
— Firefighter at the victim’s head grabs him from behind, plac-
ing his arms around the victim’s body under the armpits.
— Firefighter standing between the victim’s legs turns around
and grabs the victim’s knees.
— Firefighters rise and carry the victim.
• Severe-injuries carry. If a victim is severely injured, at least three
firefighters should carry the victim. To execute this carry, the—
— Firefighters must designate one person to be the leader who
will give the commands.
— Firefighters stand on one side of the victim.
— Leader gives the command prepare to lift.
— Firefighters kneel on the knee nearest the victim’s feet: one
firefighter at the victim’s shoulders, one at his hips, and one
at his knees.

FM 5-415
— Firefighters place their hands and forearms under the victim’s

neck and shoulders; pelvis, hips, and small of the back; and
knees and ankles.
— Firefighters, at the command lift, raise the victim and place
him on their knees.
— Firefighters, at the command prepare to raise, slowly turn the
victim on his side toward them until he rests in the bend of
their elbows.
— Firefighters, at the command rise, slowly rise to a standing
position, holding the victim close against their chests.
— Leader gives the command march, if the firefighters can move
forward, and all lead off on the left foot. If they must move
sideways, the leader gives the command side step left (or
right), and all lead off with the foot the leader commands.
— Firefighters reverse the operation to lower the victim, at the
command of the leader.
OTHER REMOVAL METHODS
Dragging
8-79. Drag a victim when only one firefighter is available and speed is
important. To drag a victim—
• Roll him onto a coat, blanket, or similar object.
• Grab the object on each side of his head; lift him so that his head and
shoulders are off the ground.
• Drag him to safety.
Using a Stretcher
8-80. Use the same procedure for placing a victim on a stretcher as for
preparing to lift in a severe-injuries carry.
Using a Ladder
8-81. Use a ladder as an escape means when a victim is trapped on a floor
above ground level. If he is conscious, descend the ladder first. Keep your
arms around him and one knee between his legs for support. To rescue an
unconscious victim—
• Raise a ladder just above the window where you are making the
rescue.
• Pass a lifeline underneath the bottom rung so that the rope feeds from
the underside of the ladder.
• Thread the rope up and over three consecutive rungs when you reach
the bottom of the windowsill.
• Feed about 20 feet of rope through the window. A ground crew will
assist in feeding the rope.

FM 5-415
• Step into the room, tie the rope around the victim, and assist him onto
the window. The ground crew will help lower the victim to the ground.
• Use a stokes basket to lower a victim if he has severe injuries. Lace
him inside the stokes and lower him to the ground.
SECTION III. CONTROL AND EXTINGUISHMENT
8-82. Rescuing victims is the primary concern of any fire operation. The
secondary concerns are fire control and extinguishment and related
procedures essential to preserving property. Before starting extinguishing
operations, fire crews must consider the type, quantity, and locations of the
materials in the building.
LOCATING A FIRE
8-83. Structural fires generally fall into two categories, interior and exterior.
Both involve the same basic materials but in different conditions, quantities,
and proportions. Fire crews can often observe an interior structural fire
through open doors or windows; sometimes they must enter the structure to
locate a fire. A red or orange glow usually indicates the presence or location of
a fire.
INTERIOR FIRES
8-84. These fires normally involve excessive smoke and ventilation problems,
back-draft possibilities, and difficulty in locating the fire. Fire crews must
anticipate suffocation possibilities for themselves and building occupants.
Interior fires do not threaten adjacent buildings unless the roof or walls of the
burning building collapse. A delay in controlling a fire, rekindling before fire
crews arrive, or widespread smoldering before ventilation could cause the
building to collapse. Fire crews should not use a hose line inside the building
until they see a fire or if they need a fog curtain to reach the seat of a fire.
EXTERIOR FIRES
8-85. Fires outside of a building could start from various causes (discarded
cigarettes or embers falling on rooftops). Also, an exterior fire could result
from an interior fire burning through the roof or outside walls. A fire crew's
main objective is to prevent a fire from spreading to other buildings.
CONFINING A FIRE
8-86. After locating a fire, try to confine it to its point of origin. Cover the
internal exposures with hose streams, and shut the external doors and
windows to localize a fire. The leeward side of a fire is the most difficult to
approach. The wind carries the heat and smoke toward the fire crews.
However, the leeward side is a good place to make a fire stop and prevent a
fire from intensifying and spreading.
8-87. Attack a fire from as many sides as possible. Use proper ladder work and
ventilation procedures when locating, confining, and closing in on a fire. If
there is a danger of back draft, position and charge hose lines before opening
them. Watch for heavy smoke escaping from cracks around doors or beneath

FM 5-415
eaves. This is a sign of back draft. Close in on a fire as conditions permit. Do

not advance hose lines too quickly; a fire could rekindle and spread. When
using extinguishing agents on Class B fires, back up the agents using a water-
fog line or a foam line. This precaution guards against a flashback of Class B
materials.
8-88. Walk cautiously when working in dark areas or on weakened floor
supports. Crawl on your hands and knees, if necessary. If large cracks appear
in masonry walls, leave the area immediately. When advancing a hose line in
radiated heat, use the helmet shield to protect the face piece of the air pack.
The nozzle man receives the impact of a fire's heat, so rotate the firefighter at
this position to ensure that each person rests and cools off. If you must retreat
from a forward position, follow a hose line back to safety.
SECTION IV. SALVAGE AND OVERHAUL
8-89. Salvage is the prevention of excessive fire, smoke, and water damage.
Firefighters move material either outside the burning building or to an area
not involved in a fire. The amount of salvage work firefighters must do
depends on the amount of salvage equipment available, the number of
personnel available, the type and amount of material involved in a fire, and
the storage method of the material. Overhaul is the complete check of all
structures involved in a fire. Firefighters look for hidden fires, ensure that all
sparks and embers are extinguished, and look for and protect the area
containing the cause of a fire.
PROTECTION PROCEDURES
8-90. You can cause excessive damage to stored material if you use large
amounts of water to extinguish a fire or improperly apply water, such as using
a straight stream instead of a water fog. Cover the material stored on lower
floors with large tarpaulins. If possible, move the material outside or to an
area in the building not involved in a fire. Cover heavy crates, packing cases,
machinery, and similar articles. Wipe dry and oil all metal. Protect food items
from smoke and water exposure.
8-91. To prevent excessive water damage, apply water to the base of a fire.
Watch for leaky hose connections. Do not spray water on dry material. Do not
over spray absorbent-type materials. The excess weight could collapse the
floors. After extinguishing a fire, use sawdust to absorb the water and to form
barriers so that you can direct the water through doorways or other openings.
If necessary, drill holes in the wooden floors for drainage.
8-92. Remove valuable items as soon as you extinguish a fire. Remove debris
from the building; sweep the floors; and remove excess water with brooms,
squeegees, and water vacuums. In administrative, HQ, and other office
buildings, cover the records and files with canvas covers and secure the
records. If a roof has been damaged, cover the hole with a tarpaulin or roofing
paper. If the roof is destroyed, the post engineers should install temporary
roofs of canvas truck covers.

FM 5-415
SALVAGE COVERS
8-93. Salvage covers have a number of functions. They are used to cover
furniture and carpet and are used as carpet runners and catch basins to divert
water outside the structure during and/or after fire-fighting operations are
completed. If used in a timely manner, salvage covers can save valuable
property and prevent unnecessary smoke and water damage.
TYPES
8-94. Conventional salvage covers are made from closely woven, waterproof
canvas materials. The covers have reinforced corners and hems with
grommets for hanging or draping the covers. Newer covers are made of
polyethylene plastic and are lightweight. They are not affected by alkalines,
oils, acids, caustics, or solvents. These covers remain flexible in subzero
temperatures; will not mold, mildew, or absorb moisture; and are not affected
by abnormal temperatures.
MAINTENANCE
8-95. Clean salvage covers by spraying them, scrubbing them with detergent,
and rinsing them thoroughly. Examine the covers for damages after they are
dry. Make sure that the covers are completely dry before folding and placing
them in service. To roll a salvage cover, bring the ends together in the center
of the cover. Continue this process to the desired width. Complete the
operation by rolling the cover.
THROWS AND SPREADS
8-96. The most common type of salvage-cover throws are the one-man throw,
the two-man spread, the counter payoff, and the catch basin. What needs to be
covered and how much manpower is available will determine the method
used.
• One-man throw. Use the following procedures to throw and spread a
12- by 14-foot salvage cover:
— Place the center of the folded cover over your forearm and
grab the bottom of the fold.
— Grab the three folds, with your other hand, between the
thumb and fingers, thumb down.
— Swing your arm up and over your shoulder and place the
three folds over the back of your hand to give weight to the
throw. Bring your hand forward and throw the cover over the
object with a straight-arm throw.
— Open the cover and tuck the edges in at the bottom.
• Two-man spread. Two firefighters should use the following procedures
to carry and spread a 14- by 18-foot salvage cover:
— One firefighter carries the cover. He grabs the grommet ropes
at the corners nearest his body. The second firefighter grabs
the remaining ropes and moves away from the first fire-
fighter.

FM 5-415
— Both firefighters drop the cover and stretch it out near the
material to be covered. They drop the inside edge of the cover
while holding the outside edge.
— The firefighters raise the outside edge and cover the material,
allowing the air to balloon the cover. This ensures correct
placement. They should tuck all corners and edges in at the
bottom.
• Counter payoff. Use this method to cover material to prevent damage,
destruction, or disarrangement of the material. This method requires
two firefighters. One firefighter holds the cover by the bottom fold.
The second firefighter grabs the top fold and walks backward. Both
firefighters raise the cover as it unfolds and place it over the material.
They tuck in the cover's edges at the bottom.
• Catch basin. To catch large amounts of water dripping through a floor
or ceiling, use a salvage cover to construct a deep catch basin. Place
furniture, boxes, or other items in a circle or square beneath the leak
(Figure 8-14). Spread the salvage cover over the framework, tuck in
the loose edges, and tie the cover to the items. To catch small amounts
of water, use a salvage cover to construct a shallow basin. Roll two
sides of the cover in about 5 feet. Roll the other sides in about 1 foot.
Lift the corners in and tuck under to lock the corners.
Figure 8-14. Catch basin

• Water chute. Use a water chute to drain water from a ceiling to the
windows or doors. Spread a salvage cover over two pike poles and roll
the poles toward the center to form the chute. The water's weight will
tighten the rolls (Figure 8-15, page 8-30). An alternate method of
constructing a water chute is by using S-hooks, cord, salvage covers,
and pike poles. You can tie light rope or heavy cord through the
grommets to support the covers. To protect interior structures and
contents from water damage, use canvas covers as stairway drains to

FM 5-415
direct the water from upper floors to a lower level and outside. Figure
8-16 shows how to form a chute on a stairway.
Figure 8-15. Spreading a salvage cover
Figure 8-16. Forming a chute on a stairway

FM 5-415
OVERHAUL
8-97. During this operation, check the entire structure to ensure that hidden
fires or embers do not cause reignition. The salvage methods you execute
during an operation will affect any required overhaul work.
STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS
8-98. Before searching for hidden fires, determine the building's structural
condition. Check for weakened floors, spalled concrete, weakened steel roof
members, offset walls, opened mortar in wall joints, and melted wall ties.
Cover or block off holes that have been burned or cut in the floor. Block off
approaches to damaged stairways or elevator shafts. Pull down walls or
chimneys that are weak and possibly dangerous.
HIDDEN FIRES
8-99. You can detect hidden fires by sight, touch, or sound. Look for discolored
materials, peeling paint, or smoke emitting from cracks, cracked plaster, and
dried wallpaper. Feel the walls and floors. Listen for popping, hissing, and
crackling sounds. Carefully check the entire area to determine a fire's spread.
If a fire spreads to other areas, determine its path. Check for hidden fires in
• Floor beams. If the ends that enter a party wall are burned, flush
water into the voids in the wall. Check the far side of the wall to see if
fire or water has come through.
• Areas containing insulation. Remove insulation because it can hide
fires for prolonged periods.
• Casings. If a fire has burned around windows or doors, open the
casings and inspect for fire.
• Cornices. If a fire has burned around the roof, open the cornices and
inspect for fire.
• Concealed spaces. Open the areas below floors, above ceilings, or
within walls and partitions. Remove only enough material to check for
hidden fires. Move any room item that could be damaged during
overhaul operations. Do not overhaul weight-bearing members.
SECTION V. INVESTIGATION AND RETURN TO SERVICE

8-100. Investigating a fire involves looking for and safeguarding evidence that
could determine the cause of a fire. This procedure could occur during control,
extinguishment, and overhaul operations. If fire personnel suspect arson, they
should inform fire investigators (LA team).
INITIAL INVESTIGATION
8-101. Take colored photographs of the entire fire scene. If arson is suspected,
label items, such as gasoline cans, cotton trails, film trails, candles, oil-soaked
rags, cleaning-fluid containers, matches, and cigarettes. Labels should include

FM 5-415
the name of the person who found the item and where and when the item was
found. Take notes on the following items:
• The number of people present when the fire personnel arrived.
• The number of fires burning when the fire personnel arrived.
• The color and aroma of the smoke.
• The color of the flame and from where it was coming.
• Where the doors were locked (inside or outside).
• The condition of the contents and if they were disarranged.
• The nature of the burning material.
• The wind direction, humidity, temperature, and general weather
conditions.
• The direction of the fire's spread.
• The condition of the area where the fire may have started.
• The statements from observers who may have seen unusual
occurrences before the fire broke out.
8-102. Make detailed sketches of the area. These sketches may be needed
during a board of inquiry or investigation proceedings, especially if an
arsonist is brought to trial.
8-103. If the fire building contained classified documents or equipment (reels
of film, models drawings, files), the SFO should request that guards be posted
over the area until the classified material is moved to a secure location. Since
firefighters are not authorized to examine classified materials, they must be
careful during salvage and overhaul operations. They should set aside
classified items in a designated area for proper authorities to examine.
8-104. Before returning to the station, the SFO should gather all the facts
necessary to complete the required fire-report form, Department of Defense
(DD) Form 2324 or DD Form 2324-1. This report should include the—
• Type of alarm.
• Location of the fire.
• Building number.
• Description, origin, cause, and confinement of the fire.
• Property damage.
• HAZMATs (type, amount, path of released substances).
• Containment measures taken during and after fire-fighting
operations.
• Agents used.
• Time required to extinguish the fire.
• Number of personnel near the burning structure.

FM 5-415
• Mileage traveled.
• Weather.
• Remarks made by people around the burning structure.
ORIGIN OF A FIRE
8-105. In a serious fire (loss of life, extensive property damage), the fire
marshal or another person from higher fire-department HQ may assist in the
investigation as an impartial party. The investigators may collect more
detailed information than required. The information may include the—
• Reasons for delay in the alarm.
• Extensive spread of the fire.
• Heavy property loss.
• Inability of occupants to escape.
• Fire-fighting methods used.
• Adequacy of the water supply.
• Correction of previously noted deficiencies.
8-106. In a less serious fire, the information recorded on the fire report is
sufficient. However, until all evidence is examined, you may not accurately
account for a fire's origin and cause and the damage estimates.
8-107. To locate a fire's origin, you may have to reconstruct the walls, replace
the loose boards and doors, or rearrange the furniture. Obtain as much
information as possible about the types of materials that were in an area.
Examine the remains because they can indicate the direction of the heat flow.
However, factors such as drafts can also affect a fire's spread and heat flow.
The condition of metals, grass, wood, plastics, and other materials are good
indications of the temperatures at certain spots.
WOOD
8-108. Char depth indicates the length of time that wood burned. Most woods
will char at the rate of 1 inch per 40 to 45 minutes burn time at 1400 to
1600°F. Demarcation lines between charred and uncharred material are
indicators of the type of heat involved. For example, if you chop or saw
through charred boards located near a fire's origin, there should be sharp,
distinct lines between charred and uncharred wood. This will occur if the fire
was fast and intense and extinguished quickly. The wood will show a
gradation of char and a flat, baked appearance throughout, if a fire was long
and slow.
GLASS
8-109. Glass is composed principally of silicon and lime. Glass will soften at
1200° to 1400°F and will become molten above 1600°F. Examining the glass

FM 5-415
can provide information as to how a fire's heat reacted on the glass or if other
forces acted on the glass.
• Heat. The following explains how heat can react on glass:
— Broken pieces from windows in clear, irregular, block-shaped
pieces indicate a rapid, intense buildup of heat in a 1- to 5-
minute time frame.
— Heavily glazed pieces with little or no stain indicate an
intense heat with a slow buildup.
— Heavily stained pieces with no crazing indicate a slow buildup
with considerable smoke. Half-moon checks on a stained side
indicate that the glass was still in the frame during a fire and
that water splashed on the glass.
— Unstained or heat-checked pieces found on the floor indicate
that the glass was broken by intense heat early in a fire.
• Other forces. The following lists reactions glass has from other forces:
— Clear, long, rectangular pieces inside a building indicate that
some other force (forced entry) broke the glass.
— Radial cracks in glass emitting from the point of impact and
concentric cracks around the point of impact indicate that the
glass was broken by a blow from a hard object. The glass near
the break comes out in rectangular- or triangular-shaped
pieces.
— Thermal cracks in glass have no pattern and pieces are odd-
shaped.
— High-intensity explosives (dynamite) cause glass to sliver.
— Low-intensity explosives (dust or gas) cause glass to break off
in chunks.
METAL
8-110. Most chromium or shiny metal surfaces, such as light fixtures,
toasters, and irons, turn different colors when subjected to intense heat. The
color variance could indicate the progress of a fire.
CAUSE OF A FIRE
8-111. When investigating the cause of a fire, first consider common causes,
such as discarded cigarettes, overheated or defective stoves or flues, faulty
electrical appliances, and slag or sparks from welding and cutting machines.
If none are the cause of a fire, question all the people who are at the fire scene
(mainly building occupants), the people who were present at the time of or
immediately before the discovery of the fire, and the people who had left the
building and may have returned. When investigating a fire's cause—
• Reconstruct all the areas as much as possible.
• Determine the heat path and the fire's point of origin.

FM 5-415
• Determine the approximate burning time.

• Evaluate the combustion characteristics of the materials involved.
• Compare similar materials and situations, if possible.
• Fit the known facts to the various possibilities.
• Compare the information from the occupants and neighbors as to the
activities before the fire.
8-112. Extensive investigations are required for high property-loss fires or
those involving loss of life. Appointed officials, assisted by the fire marshal
and appointed aides, usually conduct these investigations. Before moving or
shoveling out any material, carefully examine the layers of material as you
work to the floor. This method could show the sequence of materials burned
from the point of origin. In a fire, aluminum and similar alloys will melt fairly
early, splash or run on other materials, solidify at lower temperatures, and
protect the material from further damage.
LOSS ESTIMATE
8-113. Loss estimates are calculated after you complete salvage operations.
Inventory all remains and compare that list with a prefire inventory list. Loss
includes damages from smoke, heat, water, and fire. Installation engineers
often assist in estimating loss value. The fire chief examines the fire scene and
writes a brief description of the extent of the physical damage.
8-114. On an installation, the organization that is responsible for construction
contracts estimates partial losses of Army structures. Total structural loss is
the structural value taken from a recent prefire real-property report. Because
construction costs fluctuate, evaluators should make an estimate based on
current restoration costs. Vehicle and aircraft losses will be determined by
replacement in kind for partial losses and recorded inventory value less
salvage for total losses.
8-115. When preparing a preliminary report, the fire chief should not go into
detail in a loss estimate. If available, the fire chief should use the estimate
that the evaluators provide. If the two estimates vary greatly, a further
investigation may be necessary. Either party may have overlooked important
evidence during their evaluation, which would account for a discrepancy.
FINAL ACTION
8-116. In large fire operations, the SFO must obtain as much information as
possible, such as the names of witnesses, statements, photographs, a sketch of
the building, and the location of apparatus and hose lines. Firefighters not
involved in salvage and overhaul operations should return to the station.
Crew chiefs should double check the area to ensure that all the equipment and
tools are back on the fire apparatus. If a building occupant borrows fire
equipment, the fire personnel must have a receipt for the equipment and leave
instructions on returning the equipment.
8-117. Before leaving, reload hose lines in the bed of the fire truck in case an
emergency occurs before returning to the fire station. If you used only a few
sections, you may roll and stack the hose line on the tailgate.

FM 5-415
RETURN TO QUARTERS
8-118. Once back at the station, the crew chief in charge reports on the status
of his truck to the alarm-room operator. He also notifies the alarm-room
operator when his truck is back in service. The fire chief or crew chief
completes the required fire reports and makes entries in the daily log book.
Firefighters—
• Check the fire apparatus.
• Wash the tires and inspect them for cuts, nails, and other damages.
• Check and resupply the fuel, oil, and water levels in the radiator and
booster tank.
• Replace the used hose lines with clean, dry hose lines.
• Wash the dirty hose lines and place them on racks to dry.
• Roll clean, dry hose lines.
• Wash wet salvage covers, inspect them for cuts and tears, and hang
them to dry.
• Inspect the ladders for damages.
• Clean and dry all dirty and wet tools and appliances.
• Apply a light coat of oil on the metal surfaces that might rust.
• Wash the entire fire apparatus to remove mud, dirt, and carbon.
8-119. After completing all clean-up operations, the crew chief or assistant
chief should conduct a general discussion with all fire personnel involved in
the operation. The crew chief should review the entire operation, pointing out
negative and positive aspects of the firefighter's actions. Before conducting a
general discussion, the crew chief should administer private reprimands as a
means of correcting individuals who committed serious mistakes. If the entire
crew needs improvement, the crew chief should conduct training sessions and
drills. If an individual or the entire crew does exceptionally well, the crew
chief should extend praise during the general discussion.

Chapter 9
Miscellaneous Facility-Based Fire-Fighting Operations
9-1. Miscellaneous fire fighting generally refers to any fire-fighting
activity that does not involve structural or crash/rescue fire fighting.
Tactical petroleum terminals (TPTs), logistics bases, internment/
dislocated civilian camps, and general support hospitals are some of the
special mission areas that firefighters support. These infrequently
encountered, vital missions probably require firefighters to focus even
harder on training because they see so little of them.
TACTICAL PETROLEUM TERMINAL
MISSION
9-2. One of the major facilities that will require fire-fighting support in the AO
will be the TPT. The mission of the fire-fighting team with a TPT in its AO
will be to—
• Position organic fire-fighting teams.
• Conduct sustainment training of POL crews to use the organic fire-
fighting equipment.
• Respond to all incidents involving the TPT.
SITE DESIGN
9-3. The TPT has organic fire-fighting equipment in its design, but the
equipment is a first-response measure only. The fire-prevention section of the
LA or the LB team will conduct an on-site inspection to ensure that the fire-
fighting suppression sets have been placed in the most effective locations. The
TPT personnel will inspect within their area to ensure that—
• Berms are properly placed around storage areas in case of leaks or
spills.
• All leaks and spills are reported as required, to include the
appropriate Army safety and environmental protection functional
offices.
• The areas are spaced out to control the spread of fire.
TRAINING
9-4. Personnel assigned to a TPT will have little or no training on how to use
fire-suppression equipment. Therefore, fire-fighting teams will have to train
Miscellaneous Facility-Based Fire-Fighting Operations 9-1

FM 5-415
key personnel at the terminal so that TPT personnel can perform in case of an
emergency. Training will include—
• Putting the fire suppression sets into service.
• Conducting daily preventive maintenance checks and services (PMCS)
of the set and their personal protective clothing.
• Using the sets effectively in an emergency.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
9-5. In any incident, the fire-fighting teams should respond to extinguish the
fire and contain the vapors. They will also ensure that fire-suppression sets
are reserviced and back in operation in a timely manner.
9-6. When responding to fires in a TPT, the fire-fighting teams must ensure
that they do not cause more damage than the fire; therefore, prefire planning
is important in a TPT. Networks of piping, valves, pumps, and storage
bladders will be interconnected throughout the site. Special care should be
noted for shut-off valves and response routes.
9-7. If a storage unit is fully involved and extinguishing the fire poses more of
a threat because of vapors, the fire-fighting teams will protect the other
storage areas and allow the fire to burn. Controlling runoff is very important
in fighting a fire in a TPT. Firefighters must channel the runoff and control it
to ensure proper cleanup after extinguishing the fire.
FIRE-SUPPRESSION EQUIPMENT
9-8. The basic load in a TPT will be 18 fire-suppression equipment sets. Table
9-1 lists the components of one set; Figure 9-1 shows one set. Each set must be
inspected and placed in service, according to TM 10-4210-235-13, before a TPT
can operate.
Table 9-1. Items in one fire-suppression equipment set
Number Component
1 Trailer-mounted, twin-agent unit, 100-gallon AFFF, premixed/250-pound Purple K, 150-foot attack
line
1 Auxiliary hose cart with additional 150-foot attack line
3 Set of aluminized protective gear, 1 each of small, medium, and large
5 20-pound, dry-chemical extinguisher
3 Complete recharges for twin-agent unit
9-9. The fire-suppression equipment sets are designed so that the POL
handlers use them as a first response to a fire. Pre-positioning the sets is key
to their successful use in an emergency. Once the sets are in place, they are
considered fixed. The sets must be placed close enough to the danger areas
(300 feet maximum for the attack line) but not in the immediate area to
preclude their use. Each storage area should be accessible by at least two sets.
Additional sets should be in loading and unloading areas where pumps are
located. If possible, a free set should be available for hooking up to a vehicle
and repositioned, as required, to support other fixed locations in case of an
incident.
9-2 Miscellaneous Facility-Based Fire-Fighting Operations

FM 5-415
Figure 9-1. Fire-suppression equipment set

FM 5-415
LOGISTICS BASE
9-10. Fire-fighting teams assigned to major logistics bases will be involved in
emergencies involving internal and external storage, bulk POL products,
HAZMAT storage, tent cities, vehicles, and personnel incidents. Their
missions will include the following:
FIRE PROTECTION AND PREVENTION
9-11. Fire-fighting teams will assist in planning a base. The LA team should
be available to the commander during site planning and once the operations
begin. Fire prevention should be a high priority on a commander's list. Access
to storage areas must allow for movement of fire-fighting apparatus, including
water tankers. Temporary water points should be placed for maximum usage
in high risk areas. Areas that store HAZMATs should be noted on response
charts, and all crews must be made aware of these areas. Material data sheets
should be available before an incident occurs for prefire planning.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
9-12. Fire-fighting teams must ensure that—
• HAZMATs are stored according to current safety and environmental
protection regulations.
• All reactive materials are stored in separate locations in case of a
breech of containers.
• All personnel, including the fire-fighting crews, who work in an area
where containers are stored are aware of the possible dangers
involved with a container breech.
OTHER MISSIONS
9-13. Fire-fighting teams on a logistics base will also assist in rescue
operations and in emergency medical services, as required.
INTERNMENT/DISLOCATED-CIVILIAN CAMP
9-14. Fire-fighting teams assigned to protect internment/dislocated-civilian
camps are responsible for the following:
• Fire protection and prevention. Fire prevention should be a high
priority on the commander's list.
• Assistance in base planning. Fire-fighting teams will be required to
assist in base planning. Members of the LA team should be available
to the commander during site planning and once operations begin.
They should ensure that access to their stations allows for movement
of fire-fighting apparatus, including water tankers.
9-4 Miscellaneous Facility-Based Fire-Fighting Operations

FM 5-415
GENERAL-SUPPORT HOSPITAL
9-15. Fire-fighting teams assigned to protect a hospital are responsible for the
following:
• Fire protection and prevention. Prevention should be a high priority
on the commander's list. Fire-fighting operations must be quick and
confining the fire, a priority. Prefire plans and control points should be
developed during set up or as soon as possible. The fire-prevention
section must monitor the storage of HAZMATs and compressed
gasses.
• Support of all MEDEVAC missions. Fire-fighting teams will assist
medical personnel in evacuating the sick and injured, when required.
• Assistance in base planning. Members of the LA team should be
available during site planning and once the operations begin. They
should ensure that access to their stations allows for movement of fire-
fighting apparatus, including the water tankers.

Chapter 10
Fire-Fighting Operations Involving Explosives
10-1. This chapter addresses the basic knowledge that firefighters need to
handle incidents when munitions, ordnance, or chemical weapons are
involved in a fire. The chapter will show the various types of warning
signs/placards, how to mark ordnance, and what ordnance should look
like. Emergency procedures on when to fight such fires or when to
evacuate will be discussed. The last section will cover UXO. In recent
operations, lack of knowledge and/or training about UXO has killed more
soldiers than the enemy has. Whether at an incident or responding to one,
firefighters need to know how to report UXO.
RESPONSIBILITIES
COMMANDERS
10-2. All commanders are responsible for preventing accidents involving
personnel operations and activities under their jurisdiction. They are
responsible for storing and transporting nuclear, chemical weapons and
munitions, and any other HAZMATs. Commanders will ensure that—
• Personnel who handle and transport HAZMATs understand the
procedures to initiate when spills, leaks, fires, and other emergencies
occur. Chapter 11 details procedures personnel should use in
HAZMAT fires.
• Fire departments in the mutual-aid agreement chain are informed of
the type of situation that they are responding to and the procedures to
use at the scene.
• SOPs address nuclear, chemical, and HAZMAT control and
movement, fire-equipment placement, exposure control, and
evacuation procedures.
FIRE DEPARTMENTS
10-3. Fire departments provide C 2 , fire extinguishment, and HAZMAT
stabilization at an emergency site. After controlling an emergency, fire-
department personnel monitor the cleanup operations to prevent further life
or property loss.
SUPPORT AGENCIES
10- 4. Fi re dep artments a re not equip ped to ha nd le large HA ZMA T
emergencies. They will need assistance from many of the following:
• Bioenvironmental engineer.
• Base environmental coordinator.
• NBC section personnel.
Fire-Fighting Operations Involving Explosives 10-1

FM 5-415
• Containment and decontamination personnel.

• Medical personnel.
FIRE DIVISIONS
DIVISION 1
10-5. Division 1 deals with Hazard Class 1.1 materials, which are explosives
and liquid propellants. The primary hazard is mass detonation. The
Department of Transportation (DOT) classifies this division as explosive Class
A. When dealing with this hazard, firefighters—
• Perform rescue operations before extinguishing a fire.
• Attempt to extinguish a fire if nonexplosive and explosive materials
are separated or if the fire chief approves extinguishing procedures.
• Take protective cover if personal safety is in jeopardy.
DIVISION 2
10- 6. Divisio n 2 d ea ls with Ha za rd Cla ss 1 .2 m aterials, which are
fragmentation ammunition and explosives. The primary hazard is explosion
with fragments. When dealing with this hazard, firefighters—
• Fight a fire when possible. If not possible, they prevent it from
spreading.
• Provide protection from fragments because such items could detonate.
DIVISION 3
10-7. Division 3 deals with Hazard Class 1.3 materials, which are ammunition
and explosives. The primary hazard is mass fire. The DOT classifies this
division as explosive Class B. When dealing with this hazard, firefighters—
• Fight the fire, if explosives are not directly involved.
• Immerse the white phosphorus (WP) in water or continuously spray it
with water if WP ammunition is involved.
• Apply dry sand or dry powder if hexachloroethane (HC) and
incendiaries are involved.
• Allow magnesium to cool if pyrotechnics and magnesium incendiaries
are involved and if the magnesium is not on flammable materials. If
the magnesium is on flammable materials, they spread a 2-inch layer
of dry sand or powder on the floor, rake the burning material onto the
layer, and mix them together. They protect the adjacent facilities and
equipment. Firefighters will not use carbon dioxide (CO2), Halon
extinguisher, or water.
10-2 Fire-Fighting Operations Involving Explosives

FM 5-415
DIVISION 4
10-8. Division 4 deals with Hazard Class 1.4 materials, which are ammunition
and explosives. The primary hazard is moderate fires without a blast hazard.
When dealing with this hazard, firefighters—
• Fight the fires.
• Should be aware that minor explosions could occur, resulting in the
release of hot fragments.
FIRE SYMBOLS
10-9. Figure 10-1 shows the fire symbols that identify the fire divisions. The
background color is orange, and the number that identifies the division is
black. The symbol color follows the DOT labels and placards for explosive
Classes A and B . Symbols indicating special hazards, such as toxic chemicals
and nuclear weapons, are displayed in addition to the fire symbols.
24 in 8 in
24 in
Background: Orange No.
Fire Division 1 12246; see GSA catalog.
Fire Division 2
Hazard Class 1.1
Hazard Class 1.2 Numbers: 10 inches high and
24 in 2 inches thick; black No.
17038; see GSA catalog.
24 in
Fire Division 3 Fire Division 4

Hazard Class 1.3 Hazard Class 1.4
Figure 10-1. Fire symbols

10-10. Fire symbols are displayed on the exterior of buildings and storage
sites containing explosives or ammunition. Removable placards or boards
showing the symbols may be used on buildings or storage sites in which
explosive contents frequently change. The symbols must be visible to

FM 5-415
approaching fire-fighting crews from the maximum practicable distance. Fire

symbols are not required on earth-covered magazines or on outdoor riveted
sites restricted to storing hazard Class 1.1, (18)1.2, (12)1.2, and (08)1.2
materials. However, for safety, commanders may designate blocks in earth-
covered magazines as areas containing HAZMATs and may require the
display of the appropriate fire symbol.
10-11. Warehouses and other facilities used for storing empty explosive
containers that have not been decontaminated will display a division 4
symbol. Buildings containing radioactive materials will use the standard
radiation symbol described in 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 20.1901
and 20.1902.
10-12. While on Army installations, all railroad cars and vehicles containing
ammunition, explosives, a nd HAZM ATs must displa y a fire symbol.
Installation railroad cars and vehicles not destined for movement off the
installation shall display at least two fire symbols. Installation transport
vehicles destined for shipments off the installation, commercial railroad cars,
and motor vehicles will display placards according to DOT regulations when
containing ammunition or explosives. Fire symbols or placards are placed on
all transport vehicles before loading and are removed after unloading. See
Figures 10-2 and 10-3 for placard locations on railcars and vehicles.
DOT placards
(on both ends and sides)
Car ID number
match to waybill
Product name
Emergency info
Figure 10-2. Placard placement on railcards

FM 5-415
DOT placards
State(s) license plate(s)
Product name
Spec./cert./data plate(s) license plate(s)
Emergency info
Figure 10-3. Placard placement on trucks
10-13. When the fire symbols or topography- and vegetation-shield symbols

are not displayed on structures, maintain a master list or map indicating the
storage-site locations, fire and chemical symbols, and empty sites. Update and
post this list or map at all the entrances, control stations, and control points
servicing the storage location. Fire-fighting, guard, and emergency forces
should have a copy of this list or map. This provision for lists and maps does
not apply to chemical agents and chemical-munitions storage and operating
facilities. The personnel in charge of HAZMAT storage or shipping are
responsible for changing the fire symbols or DOT placards when necessary.

FM 5-415
CHEMICALS
10-14. Storage and operating facilities and vehicles that deal with chemical
agents and munitions will display the appropriate chemical-agent symbol.
Figure 10-4 shows the chemical-hazard symbols. The color of symbol 1 (Figure
10-4) will indicate which set of protective clothing that fire crews must wear.
Symbol 2 (Figure 10-4) is posted when there is a presence of incendiary and
readily flammable chemical agents. This symbol indicates that fire crews
must wear breathing apparatus. Symbol 3 (Figure 10-4) is a warning against
extinguishing a fire with water. A dangerous reaction will occur if water is
applied. This symbol may be posted with other symbols, if required.
10-15. Below is a description of the chemical-symbol sets. If fire crews are
equipped with heat-resistant bunker gear and a protective mask or a SCBA,
they do not need the protective clothing identified in sets 2 and 3 when
fighting fires involving materials identified in these sets.
• Set 1. The symbols in this set have a blue background and a red rim
and figure. The symbol indicates the presence of highly toxic chemical
agents that may cause death or serious damage to bodily functions.
Fire crews must use the M9 protective mask or SCBA and
impermeable suit (hood, boots, undergarments, coveralls, gloves, and
protective footwear).
• Set 2. The symbols in this set have a blue background and a yellow
rim and figure. The symbol indicates the presence of harassing agents
(riot-control agents and smokes). Fire crews must use the M9
protective mask or SCBA, coveralls, and protective gloves.
• Set 3. The symbols in this set have a blue background and a white rim
and figure. The symbol indicates the presence of WP and other
spontaneously combustible materials. Fire crews must use the M9
protective mask or SCBA and flame-resistant bunker gear.
10-16. Table 10-1, page 10-8, shows the chemical agents most used in
ammunition and the combinations of chemical-hazard symbols that are
required on chemical-storage facilities.

FM 5-415
Symbol 1 Symbol 2 Symbol 3

Wear full protective clothing Wear breathing Apply no water
apparatus
Color: Color: Color:
Background is blue. Background is blue. Background is white.
Figure and rim are Figure and rim are Circle and diagonal are
Red for set 1 protective white. red.
clothing. Figures are black.
Yellow for set 2 protective
clothing.
White for set 3 protective
clothing.
Note: Colors per GSA Catalog: red No. 11105, blue No. 15102, yellow No.
13538, white No. 17875, black No. 17038
1. G-type nerve agents 2. VX nerve agent 3. Incapacitating agent BZ
4. H-type mustard agents 5. Lewisite
Figure 10-4. Chemical-hazard symbols

FM 5-415
Table 10-1. Chemical agents used in ammunition
Chemical Agents and Breathing Apply no

Fillers in Ammunition Full Protective Clothing Apparatus Water G VX BZ H L
Set 1 Set 2 Set 3
GB X X
VX X X
H, HD, HT X X
L X X
CL, CG, CK, CN, CNS, X
CS, BBC, DA, DC, DM,
FS, FM
HC X X
BZ X X
WP, PWP X
TH, PT X X
IM, NP X
TEA, TPA X X
Colored smokes X
FIRE-FIGHTING PROCEDURES
10-17. How to fight a particular fire will depend on the type of ordnance
involved, how long the fire has been burning, how large the fire is, how long
the ordnance has been exposed to the fire, and whether or not any personnel
are trapped. The SFO must make a quick, accurate decision. However, any
decision that he makes must ensure the crew’s safety above all considerations.
AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES
10-18. The fire crews must know the specific reactions that occur when
ammunition and explosives are exposed to heat or fire. They must be informed
of the known hazards and conditions that exist at a fire scene before
proceeding to a fire. Ammunition fires containing explosives and chemical
agents require special precautions. The crews will follow the procedures for
the fire division covering the materials involved in a fire.
Divisions 1 and 2
10-19. Materials in these divisions could detonate, causing a moderate-to-
severe fragmentation hazard. The fire crews will not approach the area closer
than 1,000 feet for every 50,000 pounds of explosives involved in a fire. Mobile
equipment will be kept at a protected location. The fire chief and SFO of the
responding unit determine if the facility is safe to approach. They agree on
procedures and then direct fire crews on how to approach the facility and

FM 5-415
extinguish a fire. The same procedures apply to protecting adjacent buildings

from fire.
Division 3
10-20. Fires involving materials in this division produce wide-spread, intense
radiant heat that is dangerous to personnel and equipment. If a fire is minor
and controllable, fire crews will confine operations to preventing it from
spreading to other buildings.
Division 4
10-21. Generally, materials in this division present only a fire hazard. The fire
crews fight a fire with portable and mobile fire-extinguishing equipment until
it is extinguished.
CHEMICAL WEAPONS
10-22. Chemical weapons are designed to cause injury, disability, or death
from skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion of chemical agents. Responding
crews must approach the emergency scene cautiously. The success of a
chemical-rescue operation will depend on the—
• Knowledge that the fire crews have about chemical-weapons
procedures.
• Training that personnel receive using rescue equipment.
• Implementation of suggested changes or improvements that result
from discussions about chemical incidents.
10-23. Chemical weapons contain flammables or explosives that propel and
disseminate the chemical agent. When exposed to high heat, the agent is
consumed and dissipated; however, responding crews cannot accurately
determine if a fire has consumed the chemical. Therefore, they must assume
that these chemicals are present and must use extreme caution when in or
near the smoke from such chemical fires. Military installations that routinely
handle chemical weapons will have teams or fire-rescue personnel trained and
equipped to perform rescue and decontamination operations. Most fire
departments will have HAZMAT teams to assist when necessary.
10-24. The chemicals in weapons are stored as a solid, liquid, or gas but are
disseminated as a gas. Therefore, fire crews may not see spills or agents on
the ground. They must recognize the symptoms of chemical contamination.
The five basic categories of chemical agents and the exhibited symptoms of
exposure follow:
Nerve Agents
10-25. Nerve agents are designed to cause death or disability by disrupting
the voluntary nervous system (arms, legs, and throat) and the involuntary
nervous system (eyes, lungs, and heart). The agents are inhaled or absorbed
through the skin. Symptoms include pinpointing of the pupils, tightness of the
chest, runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea, followed by total paralysis and
death.

FM 5-415
Blister Agents
10-26. Blister agents cause severe blistering, disability, and injury to mucous
membranes (mouth, throat, lungs, and eyes). The liquid or fumes of blister
agents are inhaled or absorbed by the skin. Symptoms include formation of
blisters in the lining of the mouth, throat, and lungs.
Blood Agents
10-27. Blood agents inhibit the blood from using and transporting oxygen to
muscle and tissue. Blood agents are absorbed through the skin. Symptoms
include disruption of the victim's metabolism and eventual suffocation.
Choking Agents
10-28. Choking agents, which are inhaled, cause inflammation of tissues and
of the air passageways. Symptoms include restricting and narrowing of the air
passageway, causing the victim to choke.
Riot-Control Agents
10-29. Riot-control agents cause eye irritation and skin burns. The agents are
absorbed through the skin. Symptoms include burning sensations and
excessive tearing. When notified of a chemical accident, the responding crews
will don SCBA and rubber suits, if available. If this equipment is not
available, the crews will don full turnout clothing. When turnout clothing is
used, access to contaminated areas is restricted.
10-30. The responding crews will advance to the emergency site using the
most direct route, keeping in mind wind direction, temperature, and other
weather conditions. The fire crews should approach a fire from the upwind
side to minimize their exposure. If winds are low or variable, the hazardous
areas will be broad. If winds are high, the hazardous areas will be narrow, but
will extend further downwind.
10-31. At the scene, the technical advisor determines the action of the
responding crews. If a rescue or life-threatening situation does not exist, the
fire crews' actions will be to evacuate personnel and prevent a fire from
spreading to other areas. If rescue is necessary and the fire crews have
adequate protection, they enter the site from the upwind side and cover
burning materials with AFFF before attempting rescue operations. When
rescue is possible, the rescue personnel—
• Locate the victims.
• Wash the victims' faces with plain water.
• Move the victims to a safe, upwind location.
• Examine the victims for injuries and agent symptoms.
• Wash the victims’ open wounds with clear water and cover them with
an uncontaminated dressing.
• Release the decontaminated victims to the medical personnel.
10-32. After completing rescue operations, all fire-department personnel will
remove their contaminated clothing and wash or shower, using a 5-percent
bleach-in-water (HTH) solution. They will check each other for agent

FM 5-415
symptoms. No personnel or clothing will be allowed from a site until the

commander's technical representative certifies that the clothing and
personnel have been decontaminated.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
10-33. DA policy states that fire personnel should continue to fight a nuclear-
weapons or nuclear-components fire as long as they can—
• Prevent loss of life or serious injury.
• Prevent contaminants from scattering, especially plutonium.
• Save burning aircraft, vehicles, and structures and any nuclear
contents.
• Prevent property or material damage.
10-34. Nuclear weapons are designed to prevent nuclear yield if accidentally
detonated. However, nuclear weapons can yield nuclear material if the mass
of nuclea r material receives eve n compression b y the detonation of
surrounding high explosives. The high explosives and nuclear material are
the most hazardous components of nuclear weapons. Other components may
produce hazards; however, precautions taken against the high explosive and
nuclear materials adequately cover other components.
10-35. Burning high explosives have certain characteristics that fire crews
should recognize. The high temperature that oxidizes the explosive causes
torching (a hot, forceful flame from burning petroleum fuels or other
materials). The smoke of burning explosives has a lighter color than the
smoke of other burning fuels. As high explosives burn, they melt and drip,
flow, spread, and mix with surrounding materials. High explosives can pick
up impurities that make them more dangerous than before they melted.
10-36. Nuclear materials disperse as finely divided particles when the high
explosives in the weapons impact or detonate. The nuclear materials in the
weapons disperse as oxides if they burn. These particles and oxides are alpha
emitters that have very short ranges and cannot pierce the skin. When
particles or oxides are suspended in the air, they can be swallowed or inhaled
or absorbed through cuts in the skin (a more dangerous source of entry into
the bloodstream).
10-37. Inhaling oxidized nuclear material is the principal method by which
personnel are contaminated. The hazards are reduced once the particles settle
to the ground. Fire crews must be careful not to disturb these particles once
they have settled. If they must enter a contaminated area, they should—
• Occupy the area as little as possible.
• Use the SCBA or respirators and wear protective clothing.
• Use a wet handkerchief over their nose and mouth if the SCBA or
respirators are not available.
10-38. In any nuclear-weapons emergency, the first priority is to evacuate all
nonessential personnel. The minimum clearance distance is 3/4 mile. The SFO
assesses the situation and decides whether to fight a fire, maintain fire-
fighting efforts, or withdraw from the scene. The amount of time available to

FM 5-415
fight a fire varies from a few minutes to an indefinite period, depending on the
weapon casings and the intensity and proximity of the fire to the nuclear
weapons.
10-39. When possible, fire crews should cool the weapons while controlling a
main fire. Water is the most effective agent for cooling. If the available water
supply is adequate, they may be able to cool the weapons and extinguish a
main fire simultaneously. If the water supply is not adequate for both
operations, fire crews should use other agents, such as AFFF, to cool the
weapons. The disadvantage of AFFF is that it conceals the extinguished but
dangerous residue. If the nuclear weapons are in an area adjacent to a fire,
fire crews must try to cool the weapons while extinguishing the fire. If the
water supply is not adequate to cover both operations and the weapons are in
an area where heat absorption is minimal, they should extinguish the fire.
10-40. When an explosion is imminent, fire crews must withdraw to an area at
least 2,000 feet from the fire. They must not attempt to fight the fire. After fire
crews do extinguish a fire, they should withdraw to a minimum distance of
2,000 feet from the fire area. Trained disposal and decontamination teams will
be the only authorized personnel allowed in the fire area to monitor the
activity of the nuclear weapons. All fire personnel and equipment that may be
contaminated from the smoke of burning nuclear weapons will be isolated in a
separate area. Trained teams will monitor the fire personnel and equipment
and release them after decontamination is completed.
10-41. The military services and the Energy Research and Development
Administration (ERDA) maintain trained teams. These teams are responsible
for and equipped to detect radiation, neutralize weapons, and decontaminate
areas containing explosives or nuclear materials. When the military or ERDA
is notified of a nuclear-weapons accident, they will dispatch any of the
following to the accident area:
• Nuclear emergency teams.
• EOD detachments.
• Radiological-contamination (RADCON) teams.
• Alpha teams.
• Radiological emergency medical teams (REMT).
10-42. On the battlefield, one common hazard is the UXO emergencies that
fire-fighting units will respond to as the EOD unit s conduct their UXO
reconnaissance. Because of this, fire-fighting units must coordinate with EOD
before entering an area that is contaminated with UXO.

FM 5-415
UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE
DROPPED MUNITIONS
10-43. Dropped munitions are those munitions that are dropped by high-
attack aircraft or by helicopter. They may be designed to explode on impact or
as an airburst, or they may lie in place until disturbed. Dropped types of UXO
include the following subgroups:
• Bombs—includes general purpose; demolition; rocket-assisted, armor-
piercing; fragmentation; chemical; fire; incendiary; and smoke bombs.
• Submunitions—includes mines and grenades.
PROJECTED MUNITIONS
10-44. Projected munitions are fired by artillery, rockets, or mortars. They
may be designed to explode on impact or as an airburst, or they may lie in
place until disturbed. Subgroups of projected munitions include the following:
• Projectiles—includes artillery, fine-stabilized, and rocket-assisted
projectiles.
• Mortars—includes high explosives, illumination rounds, and WP/
smoke rounds.
• Rockets.
• Guided missiles.
• Rifle grenades.
THROWN AND PLACED MUNITIONS
10-45. Thrown munitions are commonly referred to as hand grenades. They
are classified as fragmentation, offensive, antitank, smoke, and illumination.
Pla ced munitio ns a re refe rre d to a s la nd mines. The two typ es are
antipersonnel and antitank.
UXO HAZARDS
10-46. UXO is a hazard to a fire-fighting team because it can kill people and
destroy objects, or it may delay a team's response to an emergency, thus
causing more destruction. Fire-fighting crews must be observant of response
routes and of the AO, especially when responding during or immediately after
an attack. Vehicle operators must be aware of all the activities occurring
around the vehicle at all times. Crews must watch the entry and exit points
for any signs of placed charges set to inflict injuries or death to emergency
crews. UXO hazards may also be present at aircraft incidents. The munitions
may be scattered on the area of the incident from the impact.
UXO SPOT REPORT
10-47. When crews encounter UXO, their first action should be to stay clear of
the area and report to the higher command. An UXO spot report will contain

FM 5-415
as much of the following information as possible and be forwarded to the

supporting EOD team(s) by the most expeditious means available:
• Line 1—date/time group.
• Line 2—reporting activity unit identification code (UIC) location
(grid).
• Line 3—contact method (radio frequency, call sign, phone number).
• Line 4—type of munitions (dropped, placed, projected, thrown).
• Line 5—NBC contamination.
• Line 6—resources threatened.
• Line 7—impact on mission.
• Line 8—protective measures taken.
• Line 9—recommend priority (immediate, indirect, minor, no threat).

Chapter 11
HAZMAT Incidents and Fire Procedures
11-1. This chapter sets the doctrinal standards for actions that the initial-
response team will take when responding to a HAZMAT release in the TO.
The chapter also outlines the minimum requirements and specific
operating guidelines that should be considered when dealing with
HAZMAT incidents. All Army fire-fighting teams and soldiers who
respond to HAZMAT incidents and the incident commanders who are
responsible for managing HAZMAT incidents should follow these
recommendations.
SECTION I. HAZMAT INCIDENTS
SCOPE
11-2. Engineer fire-fighting teams will initially handle HAZMAT incidents
that they encounter during operations in a combat environment or stability
operations and support operations. The degree of response and mitigation of
the incident will depend on available resources and the danger to personnel
and equipment. The mission of the fire-fighting teams is to provide initial
control and containment, investigate, decontaminate, safeguard, and secure
the scene of the HAZMAT incident.
11-3. The following items are guidelines for initial-response teams dealing
with HAZMAT incidents in a TO. Most of the guidelines also apply to
installation fire-fighting detachment initial-response teams.
• Initial-response teams do not correct HAZMAT release sites. They will
do everything possible to contain a spill. A specialist (probably
contracted) will correct a situation.
• Since each initial-response team is different, the area commander will
establish an initial-response team or teams to meet the threat of a
HAZMAT release.
• Releases that will require an initial response are located in the rear
areas.
• Releases in a main battle area will not require an immediate response;
however, they must be corrected after a battle is over.
• During contingency operations, a HAZMAT incident may require
initial-response actions, depending on the mission and the HN's
requirements.
HAZMAT Incidents and Fire Procedures 11-1

FM 5-415
RESPONSIBILITIES
11-4. Whether military or civilian, all leaders must know how and what to do
in case of a HAZMAT incident. The following paragraphs will define those
responsibilities and who must carry them out. Regardless of size, a HAZMAT
incident can have a serious impact on an operation in either a tactical or
nontactical environment.
DEPLOYED MILITARY PERSONNEL
11-5. All military and civilian personnel deployed to a TO will immediately
report incidents involving hazardous wastes (HWs) or HAZMATs through
their chains of command. All commanders will forward the reports of these
incidents to the division or corps Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 (Operations and
Plans) (G3).
FIRE-FIGHTING TEAMS
11-6. All fire-fighting units responsible for HAZMAT incidents will be
prepared to respond to all HAZMAT incidents within their AO. The primary
operational goal of the fire-fighting teams/HAZMAT response teams when
dealing with HAZMATs will be isolating and containing the materials.
INCIDENT COMMANDER
11-7. The incident commander will assume control of the scene beyond the
capabilities of the first-responder's awareness level. The commander must
have training at least equal to that of the operational-level responder's and
have additional training relating to HAZMAT incident management. No
matter what the level of the incident or the personnel operating at an
incident, the incident commander must be trained and competent in the
following areas:
• The unit’s SOPs and the TO’s response plans.
• The emergency operations plans.
• The hazards and risks of operating at a scene.
• The unit’s and HN’s resources.
• The importance of decontamination.
• Incident-reporting requirements for before-, during-, and after-
response operations.
11-8. The incident commander works from the strategic level and develops the
overall response objectives; he should not become involved in tactical
operations. He is responsible for the safety of the response personnel, the
soldiers in an affected vicinity, and the public. He controls an incident and
ensures that only minimal harm occurs to the environment and property.
HAZMAT-INCIDENT RESPONSE PROCEDURES
11-9. The fire-fighting teams and the SFO or noncommissioned officers
(NCOs) arriving on the scene of a HAZMAT incident must meet many basic
11-2 HAZMAT Incidents and Fire Procedures

FM 5-415
objectives. These objectives parallel those associated with a fire response and
include the following:
• Sizing up the situation and establishing command.
• Controlling access to the scene, securing the scene, and isolating the
hazard.
• Identifying the hazard and evaluating the risk.
• Rescuing and evacuating personnel and victims.
• Staging the resources.
• Confirming that applicable hazardous-substance-release reporting
requirements have been met.
• Reevaluating the situation (ongoing).
SIZING UP AND ESTABLISHING COMMAND
11-10. The first step in a HAZMAT incident is to size up the situation and
establish command. Sizing up is an ongoing process and impacts all the
phases of planning and decision making that take place during any incident.
Sizing up starts when an incident is dispatched and continues through the
entire incident as more information is obtained. Upon receiving a report of a
potential HAZMAT incident from military, civilian, or HN sources, the LA
team shall initiate a HAZMAT response.
NOTE: HAZMAT incidents could affect tactical missions; the local
commands should be contacted immediately.
11-11. An initial HAZMAT response may consist of—

• First responders.
• A local unit/area response team, if applicable or available.
• An incident commander.
• Other fire-fighting teams.
11-12. A HAZMAT incident requires a more cautious, methodical, and
deliberate sizing up than most fire situations. Prematurely committing
equipment and personnel to unknown, potentially hazardous situations or
locations must be avoided. Recognizing and identifying HAZMATs must be
performed first. (In HAZMAT incidents involving military personnel and
equipment, response teams should already know what materials are involved
because of the placards that are on the containers or buildings and the
documentation that is on file.)
11-13. After sizing up the situation, the incident commander will establish a
set of objectives and the amount of resources that are needed to accomplish
the objectives. Factors such as preplanning information, reports from
responsible parties or witnesses, odors, visual factors (placards, labels,
container size and shape), time, location, and weather play a vital role in
formulating the objectives. The critical step to objective development is
identifying the hazard and assessing the potential harm.

FM 5-415
11-14. First responders should always size up a situation conservatively, with

an orientation toward public health and safety. They should concern
themselves with their safety and that of the personnel in the vicinity. The
SFO will notify the adjacent units and response teams.
CONTROLLING ACCESS TO THE SCENE, SECURING THE SCENE, AND ISOLATING THE HAZARD
11-15. The first action that the commanding officer should take during a
HAZMAT incident is to close all access areas to the scene. (If necessary, he
could establish controlled access areas to secure a given area properly and
prevent needless exposure to dangerous substances.) If the quantity of
chemicals or materials involved in the incident is significant, then the
incident commander will advise the area commander and his chain of
command.
11-16. In most cases, establishing a controlled access area should start with
an outside perimeter and work toward isolating the HAZMAT incident. The
hot, warm, and cold zones should be established after the outer perimeter is
secured. As soon as the zones are defined, and possibly marked with different
tape colors, personnel should be assigned to control entry to the zones. These
zones are defined as follows:
• Hot—the area that immediately surrounds a HAZMAT incident and
then extends far enough to prevent adverse effects from HAZMAT
releases to personnel outside the zone. The zone is also referred to as
the exclusion zone or restricted zone.
• Warm—the area where personnel and equipment are decontaminated
and the hot-zone support takes place. It includes control points for the
access corridor and thus assists in reducing the spread of
contamination. The zone is also referred to as the decontamination,
contamination reduction, or limited-access zone.
• Cold—the area that contains the command post (CP) and other
support functions that are deemed necessary to control an incident.
The zone is also referred to as the clean zone or support zone.
11-17. The incident commander will establish control as soon as possible.
Doing so is necessary to control and direct the operations and movements of
the on-site personnel to prevent possible contamination. A site map that
shows wind direction and topography could be helpful. Boundaries for the
various control zones are established using information based on the—
• Contaminant.
• Wind speed and direction.
• Degree of risk (toxicity) from the HAZMATs.
• Size and location of the spill or release.
• Tactical situation.
• Other factors that are gathered at the incident site.
11-18. Personnel should move only through the access control points to
prevent contamination across the zones. Assigned team members should
monitor the control zones to ensure that they are properly located as an

FM 5-415
incident progresses. Depending on the incident, the control zones may have to
be expanded or reduced.
IDENTIFYING THE HAZARD AND EVALUATING THE RISK
11-19. Once a scene is initially secured, the access controlled, and the hazard
isolated, the types of HAZMATs must be more positively identified. The
inc id en t co m m a nd e r wi ll s ec ur e ad d itio na l in f or m atio n F u rth er
identification is necessary to assess the risk that the hazards present to the
fire personnel, populace, resources, and environment. Knowing more about a
HAZMAT allows the first responders or a HAZMAT team to do the following:
• Determine who must be evacuated.
• Define what personal protective equipment must be used.
• Establish the decontamination sites and procedures.
• Relocate the zones and areas as necessary.
• Identify the needed resources.
• Identify any environmentally sensitive areas.
• Determine what experts and contractors may be required.
RESCUING AND EVACUATING PERSONNEL AND VICTIMS
11-20. Another important factor that the incident commander must evaluate
is what is needed to rescue and evacuate victims. Firefighters should not
attempt rescuing the people at HAZMAT incidents unless their own safety can
be assured. Initial rescue actions should be on removing the ambulatory
people from immediate danger. The more complicated rescues or extrications
should be evaluated first and then a possible rescue attempt made.
11-21. If a victim cannot be saved or is already dead, fire-fighting teams
should not attempt a rescue if they will be at risk. They could be exposed to an
unk nown ch em ical o r a po ten tia l exp losio n, which m ak es the ri sk
unacceptable. For information on the suggested minimum safe distances for
eva cuating personnel, see the North A merican Em ergency Response
Guidebook. When determining the safe distance, fire-fighting teams should
use the worst-case criteria, because it is better to evacuate too large an area
than too small an area.
11-22. When fire-fighting teams rescue contaminated victims, the incident
commander must arrange to isolate, decontaminate, and treat the victims, as
well as the rescuers, as possible casualties. Fire-fighting teams, therefore,
must be familiar with handling contaminated people, to include having full
protective clothing and equipment available. The incident commander may
have to establish a holding area for the contaminated victims until they can be
decontaminated or the treatment personnel can be protected. This holding
area should be located close to the decontamination area and be considered
part of the hot zone. Some of the safety considerations that should be

FM 5-415
addressed before attempting to rescue victims during a HAZMAT incident

emergency are listed below:
• Has the location of the victims been confirmed?
• How much time will the rescue require? Are the victims trapped by a
vehicle or other debris?
• Are the victims conscious or responsive?
• How long have the victims been trapped or exposed to the HAZMATs?
Can they function on their own?
• Is the leaking material pooling or vaporizing around the victims?
• What are the hazardous properties of the material involved in the
incident?
• Is a large fire or explosion likely?
• What is the release rate of the escaping HAZMATs? What is the
concentration of the material in the area by the victims?
• Does the PPE that is available to the rescuer offer a reasonable level
of protection against the HAZMATs?
• Is the vehicle or the structure resting in a stable position?
• Are the skill and experience levels of the rescuer(s) adequate?
• Are the proper tools available to initiate a rescue?
• Are adequate personnel resources available for support positions, such
as fire suppression, safety, and back-up crews?
• Is decontamination possible?
STAGING THE RESOURCES
11-23. Staging is divided into two levels. Level I involves positioning the
standard equipment that occurs as part of any routine response. Equipment
and personnel are staged as defined by internal SOPs. Level II involves
designating an area in a safe location that provides access for the arriving
units and for the units that are assigned to work. A Level II area is usually
established after the initial size-up is completed. The incident commander
ensures that the arriving units are directed into the appropriate staging area.
11-24. In HAZMAT incidents, Level II staging is recommended because it
keeps uncommitted units in a safe location. The area must be far removed
from a HAZMAT scene to prevent the worst foreseeable outcome from
affecting operations. The route to the Level II staging should not expose
personnel to any danger. When units are expected to be on standby for a long
time, the Level II staging may be placed at the nearest base camp. It can also
be in another area that is close to the incident and offers the personnel a place
to eat, rest, or plan and review their potential role. The incident commander
must keep a sufficient level of resources in the staging area to handle any
escalation of an incident.

FM 5-415
REEVALUATING THE SITUATION

11-25. The incident commander must constantly reevaluate a HAZMAT
incident and his resources as he obtains new information about them. He does
this to ensure that the response process will lead to a safe and proper control
of the hazard, cleanup, decontamination, and termination of the incident.
Also, he must continually update the chain of command and local area
commanders.
FIRST RESPONDER
11-26. First responders are those likely to witness or discover a HAZMAT
release and those who would be expected to begin emergency-response
procedures. First responders include truck drivers, train crews, MP, and
others whose duties require them to work in facilities where HAZMATs are
transported, stored, or used. Responders are not expected to take any action
that would require a great deal of training and experience; their actions are
basic and limited.
11-27. First responders may be involved in several different roles and
responsibilities at HAZMAT incidents beyond the initial-action stage. The
fire-fighting/HAZMAT teams are frequently manned only to a level that
allows them to deal with the complex and specialized technical issues during
an incident. The other tasks that are required to support a fire-fighting/
HAZMAT team must fall to the first responders. They and a HAZMAT team
must be able to work together and function as an effective team. This
teamwork approach allows the incident commander to manage the incident in
a safe and timely manner. First responders are the support system for the
HAZMAT team. Tasks typically assigned to first responders include entry
control, decontamination, and logistical and medical support. Other tasks that
first responders might do include diking and blanketing nonlethal liquid
substances or transferring liquids from damaged containers.
ENTRY CONTROL
11-28. First responders may control the entry point from a cold zone to a
warm zone. If they do, they can allow only those people with specific
assignments and who are wearing the appropriate protective equipment to
enter a warm zone. This task may be assigned to the MP who are supporting
the AO.
DECONTAMINATION
11-29. Special attention will be given to personnel and equipment during all
HAZMAT operations. Efforts will be made to minimize the number of
personnel and the amount of equipment in a contaminated area. The specific
decontamination procedures necessary to handle a particular product must be
determined carefully. Before fire-department personnel enter a contaminated
area, the incident commander shall set up a decontamination station.
Weather and/or other factors may make decontamination outdoors impossible.
If so, the nearest suitable firehouse (or similar facility) shall be used to
decontaminate all personnel and apparatus. During the decontamination
process, close attention must be given to water runoff. Wherever possible, this
water will be collected and properly disposed of.

FM 5-415
SUPPORT
11-30. Support may encompass a wide variety of functions to assist a fire-
fighting/HAZMAT team, to include—
• Laying out equipment (suits, radios, and tools).
• Logging information.
• Assisting the entry and backup/rescue team in dressing.
• Communicating.
• Moving bulk equipment.
• Providing rapid-reaction teams.
MEDICAL SUPPORT/EMERGENCY MEDICAL SUPPORT (EMS)
11-31. EMS tasks include those usually associated with basic and advanced
life-support treatment of patients or personnel exposed to toxic chemicals.
Advanced life-support personnel should function under the direction of a
military or civilian medical facility that can best meet and manage the victims
who were exposed to toxic substances. Medical personnel will remain in the
Level II staging area. Only the incident commander can allow them to enter
any other area to provide medical services.
INCIDENT COMMAND
11-32. Incident-command procedures should be used at major HAZMAT
emergencies. For major emergencies, you will need to use the resources of and
coordinate with units outside the local unit for resolution. The incident
commander should establish a CP. He must consider the location of a CP
carefully to ensure that it is safe from contamination. He will also determine
the safe areas and the restricted areas. The restricted areas will have either a
hot, warm, or cold zone.
11-33. Personnel and equipment not immediately needed will be maintained
in a ready condition within the Level II staging area. The MP may be called
on, as needed, to maintain these restricted areas. The incident commander
will ensure that the situation is continually monitored to detect any change in
spills, run-off, or vapor clouds. Additional evacuation or other measures
should be ordered, as needed.
NOTES:
1. When the specific properties and methods of handling a material
are absolutely certain, the incident commander will communicate
either directly or indirectly with the Chem-Trec Office at (800) 424-
9300 CONUS and (703) 483-7616 outside CONUS, 24 hours a day. If you
use the outside CONUS number, you can place collect calls and Chem-
Trec will accept them.
2. For incidents involving explosives and/or ammunition, call the US
Army Operations Center at (703) 697-0218/0219.
SAFETY PROCEDURES AND SITE SAFETY

11-34. When dealing with a HAZMAT release, following safety procedures is
critical for a successful mission and the safe removal of the spill in a timely

FM 5-415
manner. HAZMAT incidents present unusual threats that may result in

immediate injury (burns from a flash gasoline fire) or long-term injury
(unexpected future illness from brief exposure to poisons). The severity of
harm from exposure to a HAZMAT depends on the composition and basic
properties of the material; the dosage, route, and conditions of exposure; the
susceptibility of the person exposed; and other factors. All unit personnel
must be extremely cautious to ensure minimum exposure.
11-35. Some of the immediate effects of high-level, brief exposures include
burns, rashes, nausea, loss of eyesight, and poisoning. Prolonged exposure to
low doses of certain materials can cause chronic lung disease, heart disease, or
sterility. Firefighters working in a HAZMAT release area must follow specific
safety considerations. They must—
• Walk cautiously to avoid tripping.
• Never walk on drums and be very careful when working with stacked
drums.
• Always stand to the side when opening doors of vehicles containing
HAZMATs.
• Always use a pike pole to open the doors because the items inside the
vehicle have probably shifted during the accident.
• Determine the condition of all containers before trying to move them.
• Assume all unlabeled containers contain HAZMATs.
• Stay out of all liquid material when possible.
• Always ground and bond when transferring flammable liquids.
• Stay upwind of the release.
• Spend as little time as possible in the hot zone to avoid prolonged
exposure.
• Always have a decontamination area set up.
• Always have a backup team ready.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
11-36. Early into an incident, the response team should obtain as much
information as possible about the immediate and long-term health effects of
the material and the way it reacts. All unidentified materials should be
considered harmful until proven otherwise.
PROTECTION OF PERSONNEL
11-37. Full protective equipment and clothing should be the minimum
protection for all personnel who are in an incident's area. This rule is very
important when the HAZMAT class is unknown, the approach to the incident
is downwind, or the harmful effects are obvious (for example, victims are
down or the surroundings are discolored). Information on health aspects will
obviously determine the type of personal protection required to operate safely
inside a contaminated area and will ultimately assist the incident commander
with determining the response teams' objectives.

FM 5-415
OPERATIONS
11-38. Personnel assigned to work in a potentially dangerous HAZMAT area
should have an operations plan for that area. The command and the personnel
assigned to work in such an area should develop the plan. However, the
incident commander and an officer assigned to carry out the operations
usually develop the operations plan. Including the incident commander in the
developing process helps to—
• Determine the objectives.
• Determine if the proper tools are available for plugging or controlling
a spill.
• Reduce exposure time of the personnel at the incident.
• Establish the areas of responsibility.
11-39. The plan should include other factors such as the following:
• Personnel assigned to work within an incident's area should never
enter the warm or hot zone until the health risks and how the
material reacts have been checked.
• Units are not to enter a vapor cloud or otherwise contaminated area
until the area is deemed safe or until personnel wear proper protective
clothing.
11-40. Because the conditions in a HAZMAT area can deteriorate at any time,
changes may be necessary. Determining and enforcing any changes should be
based on an evaluation of the conditions, a judgment of alternatives, and the
experience and training of the persons suggesting the changes. Above all,
safety in determining and enforcing changes must be the top consideration.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT
11-41. A MEDEVAC vehicle/ambulance should be positioned upwind of a
HAZMAT release at the perimeter of the incident's area. Doing so prevents
the ambulance and personnel from being contaminated or from spreading a
contaminant. Medical personnel should be briefed on the materials involved
in an incident so that they can prepare for potential problems. If possible, one
fire-fighting team should be assigned to a medical-treatment area to assist
with decontamination. The team could help in removing contaminated
clothing, operating emergency showers, and administering general treatment.
If poisons are involved, the manufacturer and/or a poison-control center for
treatment information should be contacted, in case there is injury or
contamination.
11-42. When airborne contaminants are involved, additional eyewash kits and
oxygen may be needed. Specifically requesting these supplies, rather than
additional medical units, may be necessary. There are several problems
related to emergency medical personnel safety that should be considered:
• Medical personnel usually do not have positive-pressure SCBA and
should not be committed to a dangerous area without protection.

FM 5-415
• Victims of HAZMAT incidents may be contaminated and could

contaminate emergency medical personnel, hospital personnel, and
others.
• Medical personnel should consider the reactivity of HAZMATs when
handling victims (for example, oxygen could cause a deflagration).
• Contact lenses of victims should be removed and their eyes flushed
well.
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
11-43. Protecting personnel during a HAZMAT incident must begin before one
occurs. A clearly written policy about wearing PPE and clothing must be
established and enforced at the unit level. You must learn and know about the
necessity of PPE before responding to an incident. Full protection includes the
helmet, positive-pressure SCBA, coat, pants, rubber boots, and gloves. Full
PPE and clothing prevent vapors, liquids, and solids from contacting the skin.
11-44. At many incidents, your conventional gear is insufficient. For example,
corrosives can eat away turnout coats in 1 to 2 minutes. In such an incident,
you will need clothing that is especially designed to protect against a specific
hazard. You will need vinyl or rubber acid suits, for example, when operating
in corrosives, concentrated anhydrous ammonia, and some types of poisons.
Several safety problems, and their solutions, associated with PPE and
clothing include the following:
COMMUNICATING INSIDE ACID SUITS
11-45. You must adopt and practice hand signals to use when you are in
trouble. The most important are—
• “Cool me down.”
• “I'm low on air.”
• “My suit has been breached.”
• “Let's back out.”
REMOVING FACE PIECES BEFORE LEAVING AN AREA
11-46. Always walk clear of an incident area to where others are breathing
without protective equipment. Decontaminate your clothing by letting
someone else flush it with water. Never take your gloves off to remove the
breathing apparatus face piece until your clothes have been decontaminated.
11-47. If a HAZMAT incident involves poisons or radioactive materials, a
separate decontamination site should be established. This area should be used
only for cleaning or disposing of equipment. If your clothing has been
contaminated with any of these materials, use that site. Also, the runoff water
from cleaning should be retained by diking or diverting or by using ponds.
WORKING WITH AN AIR SUPPLY
11-48. Always keep your air cylinders full, and check their gauges before
entering an incident area. Never use compressors within 2,000 feet of any
HAZMAT incident. Contaminants may enter the filtering system and the

FM 5-415
resupplied air cylinder. Never fill cylinders downwind of a spill, leak, or

burning fire. The purpose of PPE and clothing is to shield or isolate
individuals from the chemical, physical, and biological hazards that they may
encounter during HAZMAT responses.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
11-49. Small hand tools are readily accessible, easy to use, and relatively
inexpensive. When used with readily available supplies, hand tools can
effectively control nearly 80 percent of all HAZMAT container leaks. For
example, a 1-inch hole in a leaking gasoline drum can be controlled to a slow
drip by driving a wooden plug into the hole. One way to determine the tools
you may need is to survey the HAZMAT sites in your response area and
compile a kit, or kits, accordingly. Table 11-1 shows a list of items to include in
response kits.
Table 11-1. Suggested tools for response kits
Tools Equipment Expendable Supplies
Flashlights Portable hand pumps Wood and plastic plugs

Pocketknife for carving wooden plugs Explosimeter Aluminum and lead tape
Medium-weight ball-peen hammer Epoxy
Rubber mallet Gasket materials
Sledge hammer Drum clamps
8-inch vice grips Recovery drums/
overpacks
10-inch crescent wrench
Wire brush with long handle
Slip-joint pliers
Bolt cutter capable of cutting heavy chain
Hacksaw with quick disconnect for blades
Screwdriver set with various blades
Ratchet screwdriver
Pliers, regular and needle nose
Tin snips
Sheet-metal shears
Point, flat, half-round, and rat-tail files
Chisel set for cutting metal
Drive socket sets, 3/8 and 1/2 inch
Box-and open-end wrench set

FM 5-415
SECTION II. HAZMAT FIRE PROCEDURES

NUCLEAR FIRES
11-50. The first person to see a fire involving nuclear materials should use the
following procedures:
• Report the fire to the nearest military or municipal fire department.
• Ask the first arriving official (police or fire department) to notify the
nearest military installation or EDRA office.
• Give immediate assistance to personnel, when possible.
• Keep away from the fire except to save lives. Highly explosive
components may detonate.
• Remain upwind and uphill from the fire.
• Use any available method to prevent smoke from entering your eyes,
nose, and throat.
STORAGE FIRES
11-51. Weapon-storage facilities will vary with geographical areas. Normally,
a weapon-storage area will be in—
• An underground magazine.
• An earth-covered igloo magazine.
• Outdoor storage.
• Rudimentary storage.
11-52. Personnel at weapon-storage locations are restricted in using
flammable materials a nd fla me-producing devices. B ecause of these
restrictions and the high order of supervision and care required, fires seldom
occur in these facilities. However, other fire potentials, such as a building's
electrical system, the storage hydraulic systems, and the systems on forklifts,
may be present and should be considered, eliminated, or controlled. When a
fire occurs in a weapon-storage location, the first person to see the fire should
use the following procedures:
• Send another person to notify the fire department as soon as possible.
• Apply extinguishing agents immediately to extinguish the fire or
control its spread.
• Cut off the electrical power.
• Remove items such as forklifts to a safe area, if necessary.
• Remove all the weapons from the storage location and relocate them a
safe distance from the fire, if possible.

FM 5-415
RAIL FIRES
11-53. The first person to see a rail fire should—
• Send another person, if possible, to the fire department to get help.
• Apply agents, immediately, from portable extinguishers.
• Isolate the burning car.
• Inspect the burning car's interior to see if the fire has penetrated.
• Fight the fire with any available fire-fighting equipment if the fire has
reached the interior but the weapon is still safe from fire.
• Remove all the weapons, if possible.
• Evacuate all personnel when an explosion is imminent.
TRANSPORT-VEHICLE FIRES
11-54. Some of the most common causes of vehicle fires are electrical short
circuits, collisions, improper fueling techniques, overheated brakes and tires,
broken fuel lines, and careless smoking habits. Because vehicle fires can occur
anywhere and anytime, the courier and driver must know and understand the
procedures to combat a fire. Personnel who operate transport vehicles should
use the following procedures to combat fire emergencies:
• Try to prevent the weapon's highly explosive component from
detonating. If possible, separate the burning tractor from the van
containing the weapon, apply agents from portable fire-extinguishing
equipment, and unload the weapon from the vehicle.
• Evacuate all personnel from the area if the situation involves spillage
of flammable liquids or petroleum fuels or the detonation of a
weapon's highly explosive component. Roadblocks should be
established with a minimum distance of 3/4 mile.
TACTICAL-VEHICLE FIRES
11-55. A fire involving tactical vehicles will vary in origin. Depending on the
seriousness and the location of a fire in relation to the weapon, the driver and
courier will either combat the fire immediately or evacuate the area before
fighting the fire. The local military commander (not the fire-department
incident commander) determines the action to take under emergency
conditions.
11-56. You need to ascertain whether a fire involves just the ordnance (rockets
and missiles) or the ready-to-launch rockets or missiles on a launcher. If a fire
involves the carrying vehicle or launcher, try to unload the vehicle and isolate
the complete weapon from the fire. If you cannot unload the vehicle, position
the vehicle or launcher so that the rocket will impact on a solid earth mass,
which will help if the motor ignites.
WEAPON-OPERATION FIRES
11-57. Electrical fires are most likely to occur during electrical testing or
monitoring of a weapon. A fire may occur in a warhead section, in the cables

FM 5-415
leading to the weapon, or in the test equipment. Only qualified personnel

should deal with electrical fires. Personnel at the storage site should use the
following fire-fighting procedures when weapons are not in shipping
containers:
• Use a fire extinguisher to fight a fire while it is in the incipient state.
• Cut off the power from the weapon or tester. If smoke or flames
emanate from the wiring, use Halon to extinguish the flames. Smoke
from some electrical apparatus may be toxic. Take the necessary
measures to prevent breathing the fumes.
MISSILE FIRES (WITH OR WITHOUT WARHEADS)
11-58. When flammable and explosive components for guided missiles and
heavy rockets are properly stored, fire-prevention precautions and fire-
extinguishing procedures are simple. The missiles' training manuals or
standard texts list the appropriate extinguishing agent for each combustible
component.
11-59. When a missile is being placed in the ready condition, the flammable
and explosive components are close together. The method and duration of a
fire-extinguishing action changes. Extinguishing actions are further
complicated because one agent may not be correct for other components
involved.
11-60. Because missiles are different in type, size, and design, fire personnel
cannot establish general-fire plans and standards to cover all missiles.
Commanders of missile units must have detailed fire plans, and every
member of the unit must know what to do in any circumstance. When a fire
does occur, all personnel not involved in extinguishing the fire or relocating
other missiles will evacuate the area.
INERT M ISSILE
11-61. An inert missile is an unfueled missile without a warhead, boosters,
solid propellant motors, or other dangerous components. Use the following
procedures when an inert missile is involved in a fire:
• Use any available extinguishing agent and appliance.
• Do not direct straight water streams against burning magnesium. A
violent reaction and splattering of the molten metal will occur.
• Use a chemical extinguisher or water to extinguish the fires that are
adjacent to the burning magnesium. Doing so helps reduce the
temperature of the magnesium below its ignition point.
PARTIALLY COMPLETED MISSILE
11-62. When a partially or completely fueled, liquid-propellant missile,
without a warhead or boosters, is involved in a fire, direct large volumes of
water at its base. Use foam if the burning fuel is a flammable liquid. If a fire is

FM 5-415
on the ground, try to flush the burning fuel away from the missile or try to
relocate the missile. All personnel will evacuate the area when and if—
• The surface of the missile starts to melt.
• You can see the brilliant white glow of burning magnesium.
• Destroying the missile cannot be prevented.
• Smoke and flames prevent you from determining the condition of the
missile.
COMPLETE MISSILE
11-63. When a missile is fueled and it contains a warhead, take action only if
you can extinguish the fire or control it so that the missile will not be
enveloped in flames. If a fire is on the ground, apply large volumes of water or
foam to flush any burning liquid away from the missile. If the water supply is
sufficient, direct a water stream on the surface of the missile to cool it.

Appendix A
Metric Conversion Chart
To Convert Into Multiply By

Acres Square meters 4,047.0
Cubic centimeters 28,320.0
Cubic feet Cubic meters 0.02832
Liters 28.32
Cubic inches Cubic meters 1.639 x 10-5
Liters 0.01639
Centimeters 6.0
Kilometers 3.048 x 104
Feet Meters 0.3048
Millimeters 304.8
Cubic feet 0.1337
Gallons Cubic inches 231.0
Cubic meters 3.785 x 10-3
Liters 3.785
Centimeters 2.540
Inches Meters 2.540 x 10-2
Millimeters 25.40
Centimeters 1.609 x 105
Miles (statue) Kilometers 1.609
Meters 1,609.0
Centimeters per second 44.70
Miles per hour Kilometers per hour 1.609
Kilometers per minute 0.02682
Pounds Kilograms 0.4536
Pounds per square inch Kilograms per square meter 703.1
Square centimeters 929.0
Square feet Square meters 0.09290
Square millimeters 9.290 x 104
Square miles Square kilometers 2.590
Square meters 2.590 x 106
Tons (short) Kilograms 907.1848
Tons (metric) 0.9078
Centimeters 91.44
Kilometers 9.144 x 10-4
Yards Meters 0.9144
Millimeters 914.4
NOTE: For temperatures: Celsius = 5/9 (F° - 32°), and Fahrenheit = 9/5 (C° + 32°).
Metric Conversion Chart A-1

Appendix B
Aircraft Prefire Plans
B-1. Firefighters could encounter many different types of aircraft in a TO.
The aircraft will be either rotary wing or fixed wing. The armament and
hazards of these aircraft can be varied, extensive, and quite lethal.
Firefighters must acquire and maintain knowledge of the aircraft
particular to their AO. A copy of TO 00-105E-9 should be available to the
CFR crews. This manual contains most of the fixed-wing and rotary-wing
aircraft, crash/rescue data, and aircraft specifications for all the services.
Because the TO is not always available, this appendix will contain most of
the aircraft that Army firefighters in a TO may encounter.
FAMILIARIZATION
B-2. The different types of aircraft make fire fighting and rescue complex. For
successful operations, you should be familiar with the following aspects of
Army aircraft:
• The characteristics of the various types of aircraft, for visual
identification.
• The locations of the entrance points.
• The locations and capacities of the fuel tanks.
• The locations and capacities of the oil tank, hydraulic reservoir, and
anti-icing reservoir.
• The locations of the batteries.
• The locations of the oxygen cylinders.
• The features of the ejection seats: how to operate the seats and how to
prevent accidental ejection.
SPECIFICATIONS
B-3. Pages B-3 through B-101 are extracts from TO 00-105E-9. The extracts
are of aircraft that have been identified as primary Army aircraft and/or Air
Force aircraft that support Army missions.
B-4. The rotary-wing aircraft, helicopters, addressed in this appendix are
the—
• AH-1 Huey Cobra, pages B-3 through B-7.
• AH-64 Longbow Apache, pages B-8 through B-13.
• CH-47 Chinook, pages B-14 through B-17.
Aircraft Prefire Plans B-1

FM 5-415
• CH-54 Tahre-Skycrane (National Guard and Reserves), pages B-18

through B-20..
• OH-6 Cayuse, pages B-21 through B-23.
• OH-58 Kiowa, pages B-24 through B-26.
• UH-1 Iroquois, pages B-27 through B-30.
• UH-60 Blackhawk, pages B-31 through B-33.
B-5. The fixed-wing aircraft addressed in this appendix are the—
• C-5 Galaxy, pages B-34 through B-46.
• C-12 Huron, pages B-47 through B-53.
• C-17 Globemaster III, pages B-54 through B-80.
• C-130 Hercules, pages B-81 through B-89.
• C-141 Starlifter, pages B-90 through B-95.
• OV-1 Mohawk, pages B-96 through B-99.
• U-21 King Air, pages B-100 and B-101.
B-2 Aircraft Prefire Plans

FM 5-415
AH-1 Huey Cobra

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
A-H 64 Longbow Apache

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
CH-47 Chinook

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
CH-54 Tahre-Skycrane

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
OH-6 Cayuse

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
OH-58 Kiowa

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
UH-1 Iroquois

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
UH-60 Blackhawk

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT
C-5 Galaxy

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
C-12 Huron

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
C-17 Globemaster III

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
C-130 Hercules

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
C-141 Starlifter

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
OV-1 Mohawk

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415

FM 5-415
U-21 King Air

FM 5-415

Appendix C
Ammunition Identification Chart
Type of Old System New System

Projectile
Toxic Gray with green

chemical Gray with markings,yellow
agents green band if with
(casualty markings Nonpersistent Persistent explosive burster
agents) including including
G-series V-series
- 1 green - 2 green 1 green band
band bands
Irritant Gray with red Nonpersistent Gray with red

agents (riot- markings 1 red band markings,yellow
control band if with
agents) explosive burster
1 red band
Illuminating Gray with white markings and band White with black markings, OD with white
markings and band for separate loading projectiles
Smoke Gray with yellow markings and band Light green body WP, PWP Other smoke
Light red markings, yellow band Black

markings
Incendiary Gray with purple markings Light red with black markings
and band
Counter- OD with black markings Aluminum with black markings,

measure brown band if with low-explosive
(leaflet) burster
Ammunition Identification Chart C-1

Glossary
1LT first lieutenant
ACM air crew member

AFB Air Force base
AFFF aqueous film-forming foam
AIT advanced individual training
AL TRN alternate
ammo ammunition
amp amphere(s)
AO area of operation
approx approximately
APU auxiliary power unit
AR Army regulation
ARFF aircraft rescue fire fighting
ASG area support group
ASP ammunition supply point
ATM air turbine motor
attn attention
aux auxillary
AVGAS aviation gasoline
batt battery
BB bare base
BDOC base-defense operations center
BL boom line
BO base operability
BS boom station
BZ oksilidin
Glossary-1
FM 5-415
C Celsius
2
C command and control
CA California
CAIRA chemical accident or incident response and assistance
CASP chemical ammunition supply point
CB Halon 1301
CBR chemical, biological, radiological
cc cubic centimeter(s)
CCD camouflage, concealment, and deception
CCE commercial construction equipment
cert certification
cfm cubic foot (feet) per minute
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CG phosgene
chem chemical
CK cyanogen chloride
CL chlorine
CN chloroacetophenome
CNS central nervous system
COB collocated operating base
confinement The procedures taken to keep a material in a defined or local area.
containment The actions taken to keep a material in its container, such as to stop a release of the
material or reduce the amount being released.
contaminant A hazardous material that physically remains on or in people, animals, the
environment, or equipment, thereby creating a continuing risk of direct injury or a risk of
exposure outside of the hot zone.
contamination The process of transferring a hazardous material from its source to people,
animals, the environment, or equipment, which may act as a carrier.
control The defensive or offensive procedures, techniques, and methods used in the mitigation
of a HAZMAT incident, including containment, extinguishment, and confinement.
control zones The designation of areas at a HAZMAT incident based on safety and the degree of
hazard. Many terms are used to describe the zones involved in a HAZMAT incident. For this
manual, these zones are defined as the hot, warm, and cold zones.
CONUS continental United States
CO2 carbon dioxide
CP command post
Glossary-2
FM 5-415
CPG co-pilot gunner

CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CS O-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile
CSA corps storage area
CSG corps support group
CTA common table of allowances
ctr center
CUCV commercial utility cargo vehicle
CW chemical warfare
CWDE chemical-warfare-defense equipment
DA diphenylchloroarsine
DA Department of the Army
DC ciphenylcyanoarsine
DC District of Columbia
decontamination The physical and/or chemical process of reducing and preventing the spread of
contamination from persons and equipment used at a HAZMAT incident.
degradation (1) A chemical action involving the molecular breakdown of protective-clothing
material or equipment due to contact with a chemical. (2) The molecular breakdown of the spilled
or released material to render it less hazardous during control operations.
DD Department of Defense
DDESB Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board
dia diameter
disag disengage
disch discharge
DM Diphenylaminochloroarsine
DOD Department of Defense
DODD Department of Defense directive
DODI Deparment of Defense instruction
DOT Department of Transportation
DSA division support area
ea each
elec electrical/electric
emer emergency
Glossary-3
FM 5-415
EMS emergency medical support

eng engineer
engr engineer
environmental hazard A condition capable of posing an unreasonable risk to air, water, or soil
quality and to plants or wildlife.
EOD explosive-ordnance disposal
EOR explosive-ordnance reconnaissance
EPC electrical power center
EPW enemy prisoner of war
ERDA Energy Research and Development Administration
et seq and the following ones
ext exterior
F Fahrenheit
FARP forward arming resupply point
FC-77 inert liquid
FCC fire communications center
FEDS flotation-equipment deployment system
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
first responders Those personnel that are likely to witness or discover a HAZMAT release in the
course of their normal duties, may be the first on the scene of an emergency involving HAZMATs.
First responders are expected to recognize HAZMATs presence, protect themselves, call for
trained personnel, and secure the area. In certain situations, first responders may be required to
take actions to confine and contain spills. In a TO, the first responders will normally be the unit
personnel that caused the material release or are responsible for the spill area.
FL Florida
FM tittanium tetrachloride
FM field manual
FOB forward operating base
fpm foot (feet) per minute
FPORI fire-protection operational-readiness inspection
FS fuselage station
FSS fire-suppression system
ft foot (feet)
FTX field training exercise
fus fuselage
Glossary-4
FM 5-415
fwd forward
G3 Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 (Operations and Plans)

gal gallon(s)
GB sarin
GCP gunner cockpit
gen generator
GPM gallon(s) per minute
GRD ground
GS general support
GSA General Services Administration
GTC auxiliary power unit
H levinstein mustard
hazard/hazardous Capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, or the environment
capable of causing harm.
HAZMAT hazardous material: A substance (gas, liquid, or solid) in a quantity or form that may
pose an unreasonable risk or is capable of causing harm.
HC hexachloroethane
HD distilled mustard
HHC headquarters and headquarters company
HMIS Hazardous Material Information System
HN host nation
HNS host-nation support
HP horsepower
HQ headquarters
ht height
HT mustard-T mixture
HTH bleach-in-water solution
htr heater
HVAR high-velocity aircraft rocket
HW hazardous waste
ID identification
IFSTA International Fire Service Training Association
Glossary-5
FM 5-415
in inch(es)
inbd inboard
Inc incorporated
incident commander The person responsible for all decisions relating to the management of the
incident. The incident commander is in charge of the incident site. This individual will normally
be the fire-fighting team HQ commander who has been trained in HAZMAT incidents. This
individual may initially be the local commander who is responsible for the involved equipment,
materials, or spill area until trained fire-fighting teams arrive at the site.
info information
Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization Organization to consult in an
emergency when an incident involves the release or potential release of HAZMATs, with or
without fire.
ISB intermediate-support base
ISBN international standard book number
JP jet petroleum
km kilometer(s)
L lewisite
lb pound(s)
LA engineer fire-fighting HQ team
LB engineer fire-fighting fire-truck team
LC engineer fire-fighting water-truck team
LH left hand
LOS line of sight
LOX liquid oxygen
LRA local reproduction authorized
LSA logisitics-storage area
LT left
MA Massachusetts
MACI military-adapted commercial item
MACOM major Army command
max maximum
MD Maryland
Glossary-6
FM 5-415
MEDEVAC medical evacuation

MET mobile-equipment transport
METL mission-essential task list
MIL-HDBK military handbook
misc miscellaneous
mitigation Actions taken to prevent or reduce loss, human injury or death, environmental
damage, and property damage due to the release or potential release of HAZMATs.
mm millimeter(s)
MO Missouri
MOB main operating base
monitoring equipment Instruments and devices used to identify and quantify contaminates.
MOPP mission-oriented protective posture
MOS military occupational specialty
MP military police
mph mile(s) per hour
MRE meals, ready to eat
NASP nuclear ammunition support point

nav navigator
NBC nuclear, biological, chemical
NCO noncommissioned officer
NEA nitrogen-enriched air
NFPA National Fire-Prevention Association
NH 3 basic ammonia
No. number
non ess bus nonessential BUS
norm normal
NP neptunium
OB observer
OBIGGS onboard inert gas-generating system
OD olive drab
OK Oklahoma
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Act
Glossary-7
FM 5-415
outbd outboard
Pam pamphlet
PASS personal alert safety system
penetration The movement of a material through a suit's closures, such as zippers, buttonholes,
seams, flaps, other design features of chemical protective clothing, and through punctures, cuts,
and tears.
permeation A chemical action involving the movement of chemicals, on a molecular level,
through intact material.
PFC private first class
PMCS preventive maintenance checks and services
P.O. post office
POL petroleum, oils, and lubricants
PPE personal protective equipment: Protective clothing and equipment that is designed to
protect the wearer from heat and/or HAZMATs contacting the skin or eyes. Protective clothing is
divided into four types: structural fire-fighting clothing, liquid-splash protective clothing, vapor
protective clothing, and high-temperature protective clothing.
psi pound(s) per square inch
PT platinum
PTO power take-off
PTU power-train unit
PWP plasticized white phosphorous
pwr power
RADCON radiological contamination

recp receptacle
release Any situation leading to a HAZMAT, HW, or petroleum products being freed from its
normal container. A release occurs when there is any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring,
emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing of
HAZMATs into the environment.
remediation Any action that permanently eliminates any threat that a release site may pose to
public health or the environment.
removal Any action taken to deal with environmental emergencies.
REMT radiological emergency medical team
response That portion of incident management in which personnel are involved in controlling
(defensively or offensively) a HAZMAT incident. The activities in the response portion of a
HAZMAT incident include analyzing the incident, planning the response, implementing the
planned response, and evaluating progress.
Glossary-8
FM 5-415
rev reverse
RH right hand
rpm revolution(s) per minute
RT right
sampling The process of collecting a representative amount of gas, liquid, or solid for analytical
purposes.
SCBA self-contained breathing apparatus
SF-6 sulfurhexaflouride gas
SFO senior fire official
SGT sergeant
SM soldier’s manual
SOLL special operations, low-level
SOP standing operating procedure
SPAAT hydraulic rescue drill
SPC specialist
spec specification
SSG staff sergeant
sta station
stabilization The point in an incident at which the adverse behavior of the HAZMATs is
controlled.
STP soldier training publication
TAACOM theater Army area command

TAAMS The Army Maintenance Management System
TC training circular
TEA triethylaluminum
TEB triethylborine
TG trainer’s guide
TH thorium
TO technical order
TO theater of operations
TOC tactical operations center
TM technical manual
TMP transportation motor pool
Glossary-9
FM 5-415
TOE table(s) of organization and equipment

TPA terephthalic acid
TPT tactical petroleum terminal
TRADOC United States Training and Doctrine Command
TSA theater storage area
TX Texas
TYP typical
UIC unit identification code

US United States (of America)
USAES United States Army Engineer School
USG United States gallon(s)
UXO unexploded ordnance
VX nerve agent
w/ with
WCDO war-consumable distribution objective
WL water line
WP white phosphorus
WRSK war-readiness spares kit
WS wing station
Glossary-10
References
SOURCES USED
These are the sources quoted or paraphrased in this publication.
JOINT AND MULTISERVICE PUBLICATIONS
DODD 6055.9. Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board (DDESB) and
DOD Component Explosives Safety Responsibilities. 29 July 1996.
DODI 6055.6. Department of Defense Fire and Emergency Services Program.
15 December 1994.
ARMY PUBLICATIONS
AR 40-5. Preventive Medicine. 15 October 1990.
AR 200-1. Environmental Protection and Enhancement. 21 February 1997.
AR 200-2. Environmental Effects of Army Actions. 23 December 1988.
AR 385-10. The Army Safety Program. 23 May 1988.
AR 385-30. Safety Color Code Markings and Signs. 15 September 1983.
AR 385-40. Accident Reporting and Records. 1 November 1994.
AR 385-55. Prevention of Motor Vehicle Accidents. 12 March 1987.
AR 700-141. Hazardous Material Information System (HMIS). 1 July 1997.
STP 5-51M14-SM-TG. Soldier’s Manual and Trainer’s Guide MOS 51M,
Firefighter Skill Level 1/2/3/4. October 1990.
TC 5-400. Unit Leaders’ Handbook for Environmental Stewardship. 29
September 1994.
TM 5-4210-219-10. Operator’s and Operation Maintenance Instructions for
Aircraft Crash and Structural Fire Fighting Turck, USAF Type A/532P-19. 16
June 1984.
TM 5-4210-220-12. Operator’s and Unit Maintenance Manual for Truck, Fire
Fighting, 1,000 GPM Multipurpose, Model 2500L. 30 October 1987.
TM 10-4210-235-13. Operator’s, Unit, and Direct Support Maintenance
Manual For Fire Suppression Equipment Set Model FSES-1 (NSN 4210-02-
370-4912). 30 September 1994.
OTHER MILITARY PUBLICATIONS
TO 00-105E-9. Aircraft Emergency Rescue Information Fire Protection. 12 May
1994. (Order this TO from HQ AFCESA/DF, 139 Barnes Drive, Tyndall AFB,
FL 32403-5319.)
References-1
FM 5-415
NONMILITARY PUBLICATIONS
10 CFR 20.1901. Caution Signs. Office of the Federeal Register National
Archives and Records Administration. US Government Printing Office. 1997.
10 CFR 20.1902. Posting Requirements. Office of the Federeal Register
National Archives and Records Administration. US Government Printing
Office. 1997.
Environmental Law Handbook. 12th Edition. Government Institutes, Inc.
Rockville, MD. 1993.
FEMA. Hazardous Materials Incident Analysis. Student Manual. 1984. (http:/
/www.fema.gov [click on search].)
FEMA. Recognizing and Identifying Hazardous Materials. 2nd Edition.
Student Manual. 1991. (http://www.fema.gov [click on search].)
Handbook of Occupational Groups and Series. US Office of Personnel
Management. Office of Classification. Washington, D.C. September 1993.
IFSTA. Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting. 3rd Edition. October 1995. (ISBN:
0-87939-099-9.) (http://www.ifsta.org [click on catalog].)
IFSTA. Hazardous Materials Training for First Responders. Washington, DC
1990.
IFSTA Manuals. (Purchase from the following source: Oklahoma State
University, Fire Publication Publications, Stillwater, OK 74078-0118.) (http://
www.ifsta.org [click on catalog].)
NFPA. Hazardous Materials Response Standards Handbook and Sets. 2nd
Edition. 1993. (http://www.nfpa.org [click on product information and then
NFPA codes and handbooks and sets].)
North American Emergency Response Guidebook. United States Department
of Transportation. 1996. (ISBN: 7-55547-000-70.)
OSHA 29. CFR 1910.120. Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency
Response. 1 July 1997.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED
These documents must be available to the intended users of this publication.
AR 50-6. Nuclear and Chemical Weapons and Material, Chemical Surety. 1
February 1995.
AR 385-64. Ammunition and Explosives Safety Standards. 22 May 1987.
AR 385-95. Army Aviation Accident Prevention. 20 May 1991.
AR 420-90. Fire and Emergency Services. 10 September 1997.
AR 600-55. The Army Driver and Operator Standardization Program
(Selection, Training, Testing, and Licensing). 31 December 1993.
AR 611-201. Enlisted Career Management Fields and Military Occupational
Specialty. 26 June 1995.
AR 725-50. Requisition, Receipt, and Issue System. 15 November 1995.
References-2
FM 5-415
AR 735-5. Policies and Procedures for Property Accountability. 28 February

1994.
CTA 50-900. Clothing and Individual Equipment. 1 September 1994.
CTA 50-909. Field and Garrison Furnishings and Equipment. 1 August 1993.
CTA 50-970. Expendable Items (Except: Medical, Class V, Repair Parts and
Heraldic Items). 21 September 1990.
DA Pam 50-6. Chemical Accident or Incident Response and Assistance
(CAIRA) Operations. 17 May 1991.
DA Form 2028. Recommended Changes to Publication and Blank Forms. 1
February 1974.
DA Form 2404. Equipment Inspection and Maintenance Worksheet. 1 April
1979.
DA Form 4119. Fire Hose Record. 1 June 1973.
DA Form 5164-R. Hands-on Evaluation (LRA). September 1985.
DA Form 5165-R. Fields Expedient Squad Book (LRA). September 1985.
DA Form 5376-R. Individual Training Evaluation Record (LRA). January
1985.
DA Form 5377-R. Fire and Emergency Services Training Record (LRA).
December 1996.
DA Form 5378-R. Facility Response Card (LRA). September 1992.
DA Form 5379-R. Apparatus Maintenance Checklist (LRA). January 1985.
DA Form 5380-R. Fire Apparatus Test Record (LRA). January 1985.
DA Form 5381-R. Fire Risk Management Survey (LRA). December 1996.
DA Form 5382-R. Hazard Deficiency Inspection Record (LRA). September
1992.
DA Form 5383-R. Hot Work Permit (LRA). September 1992.
DA Form 5384-R. Water Flow Test (LRA). September 1992.
DD Form 2324. Fire Incident Report. January 1995.
DD Form 2324-1. Summary No-Loss Fire Emergencies Report. January 1995.
DOD 6055.6 -M . Department of Defense Fire and Emergency Services
Certification Program. December 1995.
DOD 6055.7-M. Department of Defense Fire Incident Reporting Manual.
December 1995.
MIL-HDBK-1008C. Fire Protection for Facilities, Engineering, Design, and
Construction. June 1997.
NFPA Codes and Standards. (Purchase from the following source: NFPA,
ATTN: Publication Sales Department, 1 Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9146,
References-3
FM 5-415
Quincy, MA 02269-9146.) (http://www.nfpa.org [click on product information

and then national fire codes and standards].)
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
These sources contain relevant supplemental information.
AR 58-1. Management, Acquisition and Use of Administrative Use Motor
Vehicles. 15 December 1979.
AR 95-1. Flight Regulations. 1 September 1997.
AR 95-2. Air Traffic Control, Airspace, Airfields, Flight Activities and
Navigation Aids. 10 August 1990.
AR 420-70. Buildings and Structures. 1 October 1997.
AR 420-74. Natural Resources: Land, Forest, and Wildlife Management. 1 July
1977.
AR 500-60. Disaster Relief. 1 August 1981.
DODD 6055.9-STD. DOD Ammunition and Explosives Safety Standards.
October 1992.
FM 3-9. Potential Military Chemical/Biological Agents and Compounds. 12
December 1990.
FM 5-1. Engineer Troop Organizations and Operations. 27 July 1971.
FM 10-67. Petroleum Supply in Theaters of Operation. 16 February 1983.
FM 10-68. Aircraft Refueling. 29 May 1987.
FM 10-69. Petroleum Supply Point Equipment and Operations. 22 October
1986.
FM 10-71. Petroleum Tank Vehicle Operations. 12 May 1978.
FM 21-2. Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks (Skill Level 1). 3 October 1983.
FM 21-3. Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks (Skill Levels 2, 3, and 4). 1 May
1981.
FM 25-5. Training for Mobilization and War. 25 January 1985.
TM 9-1300-206. Ammunition and Explosive Standards. 30 August 1973.
TM 38-600. Management of Administrative Use Motor Vehicles. 13 September
1979.
TM 38-750. The Army Maintenance Management System (TAMMS). 31 May
1981.
NFPA. Life Safety Code Handbook. 17th Edition. 1997. (Purchase from the
f o llo w in g s o u r c e : N F PA , AT T N : P ub lic at io n S a le s De p a rt m e n t, 1
Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9146, Quincy, MA 02269-9146.) (http://
www.nfpa.org [click on product information and then NFPA code handbooks
and sets].)
References-4
FM 5-415
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134. Respiratory Protection. 1 July 1997.

OSHA 29 CFR 1930.1200. Bloodborne Pathogens. 1 July 1997.
Public Law 91-596. OSHA, Title 29 United States Code, 651 et seq. 29
December 1970. (Purchase from the following source: Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325.)
Public Law 93-498. Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974. 26
October 1974. (Purchase from the following source: Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325.)
Uniform Building Code Manuals. (Purchase from the following source:
International Conference of Building Officials, 5360 South Workman Mill
Road, Whittier, CA 90601-2298.)
References-5
FM 5-415
References-6
Index
A Group II , 7-3
aeromedical evacuations, 7-7 Group III, 7-3
AFFF. See aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). water crashes, 7-15
aircraft emergencies wheel, brake, and tire fires, 7-15
building crashes, 7-15 wheels-up landings, 7-15
communication methods aircraft emergency information, 7-1
airfield-flag method, 7-2 aircraft systems, 7-9
light signal system, 7-2 color-code designations, 7-9
primary crash line, 7-2 electrical system, 7-11
secondary crash line, 7-2 extinguishing system, 7-11
extinguishment, 7-20 fuel system, 7-11
fire risks hydraulic system, 7-11
mild, 7-2 oxygen-supply system , 7-12
moderate, 7-2 ambulance crews. See aircraft emergencies,
severe, 7-2 responding personnel, medical/ambulance
helicopter crashes, 7-16 crews.
hillside crashes, 7-15 ammonia. See hazardous material (HAZMAT),
initial attack, 7-16 ammonia.
no-fire crashes, 7-16 ammunition supply point (ASP), 1-2
nose-dive crash , 7-15 ammunition. See fire fighting, fires involving
off an airfield, 7-6 ordnance.
on an airfield , 7-4 AO. See area of operation (AO).
overhaul, 7-20 APU. See auxiliary power unit (APU).
positioning fire trucks, 7-16 aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), 2-6
rescue entrances, 7-16 area of operation (AO), 1-1
cut-in type, 7-17 area support group (ASG), 1-2
emergency type, 7-17 ASG. See area support group (ASG).
standard type, 7-17 ASP. See ammunition supply point (ASP).
rescuing victims, 7-18 auxiliary power unit (APU), 2-5
responding personnel AVGAS. See aviation gasoline (AVGAS).
aviation maintenance officer, 7-5 aviation gasoline (AVGAS), 7-13
aviation safety officer, 7-5 aviation maintenance officer. See aircraft
chaplains, 7-5 emergencies, responding personnel, aviation
fire chief or SFO, 7-5 maintenance officer.
fire-fighting and rescue crews, 7-4 aviation safety officer. See aircraft
medical/ambulance crews, 7-4 emergencies, responding personnel, aviation
photographer, 7-5 safety officer.
provost marshal, MP, or guard
personnel, 7-5 B
public affairs officer, 7-5 bare base (BB), 4-2
response procedures , 7-16 base operability (BO), 4-8
response teams base-defense operations center (BDOC), 4-11
Group I , 7-3 BB. See bare base (BB).
Index-1
FM 5-415
BDOC. See base-defense operations center chemical ammunition supply point (CASP), 1-2
(BDOC). chemical warfare (CW), 4-3
beryllium. See hazardous material (HAZMAT), chemical weapons. See fire fighting, fires
beryllium. involving chemical weapons.
bleach in water (HTH), 10-10 chemical-warfare-defense equipment
blister agents. See fire fighting, fires involving (CWDE), 4-1
blister agents. choking agents. See fire fighting, fires involving
blood agents. See fire fighting, fires involving choking agents.
blood agents. COB.See collocated operating base (COB).
BO. See base operability (BO). collocated operating base (COB), 4-10
Bourdon pressure gauge, 5-7 command and control (C2), 1-2
brake fires. See aircraft emergencies, wheel, contingency operations, 4-1, 4-2
brake, and tire fires. corps storage area (CSA), 1-2
building crashes. See aircraft emergencies, corps support group (CSG), 1-2, 3-4
building crashes. CPR. See cardiopulmonary resuscitation
building features, 8-4 (CPR).
doors, 8-8 CSA. See corps storage area (CSA).
floors, 8-7 CSG. See corps support group (CSG).
locks and fasteners, 8-8 CW. See chemical warfare (CW).
types of exterior walls, 8-4 CWDE. See chemical-warfare-defense
masonry, 8-4 equipment (CWDE).
masonry veneered, 8-4
metal, 8-6 D
wooden frame, 8-5 DA. See Department of the Army (DA).
types of roofs, 8-6 Department of Defense (DOD), 2-1
composition, 8-7 Department of Defense Instruction
metal, 8-7 (DODI), 4-12
shingled, 8-6 Department of the Army (DA), 2-1
and the fire-protection program, 2-1
C Department of Transportation (DOT) , 10-2
C2. See command and control (C2). Class A explosives, 10-2
camouflage, concealment, and deception Class B explosives, 10-2
(CCD), 4-6 depleted uranium. See hazardous material
camouflage. See fire prevention, and (HAZMAT), depleted uranium.
camouflage during an FTX. division support area (DSA), 1-2
carbon dioxide (CO2), 10-2 DOD. See Department of Defense (DOD).
carbon-graphite composite fibers. See DODI. See Department of Defense Instruction
hazardous material (HAZMAT), carbon- (DODI).
graphite composite fibers. doors. See building features, doors; forcible
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), 8-22 entry, on doors.
carrying a victim. See victim carries. DOT. See Department of Transpotation (DOT).
CASP. See chemical ammunition supply point drafting sites. See water supplies, drafting
(CASP). sites.
cave-ins. See searching and rescuing victims, at DSA. See division support area (DSA).
cave-ins.
CCD. See camouflage, concealment, and E
deception (CCD). emergency room personnel. See aircraft
ceilings. See forcible entry, through ceilings. emergencies, responding personnel, medical/
chaplains. See aircraft emergencies, ambulance crews.
responding personnel, chaplains. enemy prisoner of war (EPW), 3-4
Index-2
FM 5-415
Energy Research and Development division 4, 10-9

Administration (ERDA), 10-12 divisions 1 and 2, 10-8
EOD. See postattack, and explosive-ordnance fires involving riot-control agents , 10-10
disposal (EOD). HAZMAT fires and incident commander’s
EOR. See explosive-ordnance reconnaissance responsibilities, 11-2
(EOR). operations. See hazardous material
EPW. See enemy prisoner of war (EPW). (HAZMAT), fire-fighting
ERDA. See Energy Research and Development operations involving.
Administration (ERDA). teams, 1-1
evacuating injured personnel, 7-7 See also logistics bases, fire-fighting
explosive-ordinance reconnaissance (EOR), 4-3 teams and planning for; tactical
explosives. See fire fighting, fires involving petroleum terminal (TPT), training
ordnance. for fire-fighting teams.
and the threat, 1-1
F and training, 1-1
fans. See ventilating, using portable fans. initial-response type, 11-1
FARP. See forward arming resupply point LA, 2-2, 3-1, 3-3, 9-1, 9-4
(FARP). LB, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 6-1, 7-7, 9-1
FC-77. See hazardous material (HAZMAT), LC, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 6-1
FC-77. mission statement, 1-2
FCC. See fire communications center (FCC). protecting hospitals, 9-5
fire chief. See aircraft emergencies, responding protecting interment and dislocated-
personnel, fire chief or SFO. civilian camps, 9-4
fire communications center (FCC), 3-1, 7-1 responding to HAZMAT incidents, 11-2
fire divisions, 10-2 supporting Force XXI, 1-1
See also fire symbols. tools and equipment, 2-4
division 1, 10-2 wartime tasks, 3-1
hazard class 1.1 , 10-2 acquiring the commander’s priority
division 2, 10-2 list, 3-2
hazard class 1.2 , 10-2 assigning shifts, 3-1
division 3, 10-2 conducting fire-prevention inspections
hazard class 1.3 , 10-2 of facilities, 3-3
division 4, 10-3 determining manning requirements,
hazard class 1.4 , 10-3 3-1
fire extinguishers. See fire prevention, using determining radio status and call
fire extinguishers during an FTX. signs, 3-2
fire fighting developing mutual-aid agreements, 3-2
crews. See aircraft emergencies, ensuring that protective measures are
responding personnel, fire-fighting taken, 3-3
and rescue crews. establishing resupply channels, 3-3
drills, 2-3 initiating a training program, 3-3
fires involving blister agents, 10-10 initiating and FCC, 3-2
fires involving blood agents, 10-10 inventorying equipment and supplies,
fires involving chemical weapons, 10-9 3-2
fires involving choking agents, 10-10 locating fire-fighting assets, 3-3
fires involving nerve agents, 10-9 locating vehicle maintenance
fires involving nuclear weapons/ personnel and assets, 3-2
components, 10-11 making a fire-fighting plan, 3-2
fires involving ordnance, 10-8 preparing a response chart, 3-3
division 3, 10-9 selecting dispersal sites , 3-2
Index-3
FM 5-415
fire hydrants, 5-6 fire-protection requirements, 1-1

dry-barrel type, 5-6 planning for, 1-1
flow test, 5-6 fires
discharge calculation, 5-7 calculating various losses , 8-35
velocity pressure calculations, 5-7 clean-up operations at the fire station, 8-36
locations and spacing, 5-6 confining them, 8-26
wet-barrel type, 5-6 exterior type, 8-26
fire marshal, 2-1 final actions, 8-35
fire prevention, 5-1 initial-investigation procedures, 8-31
and camouflage during an FTX, 5-11 interior type, 8-26
and natural-cover fires, 5-3 investigating its cause, 8-34
and prefire plans, 5-2 locating them, 8-26
for aircraft crash/rescue operations, 5-2 searching for its origin, 8-33
runway conditions, 5-3 examining glass, 8-33
and smoking during an FTX, 5-8 examining metal, 8-34
during a field training exercise (FTX), 5-8 examining wood, 8-33
regulations, 5-1 first responders
using fire extinguishers during an FTX, tasks, 11-7
5-12 controlling entry to an incident, 11-7
using flares and smoke grenades during an decontaminating equipment and
FTX, 5-9 personnel, 11-7
using heaters during an FTX, 5-9 providing basic support, 11-8
using matches during an FTX, 5-8 providing medical support, 11-8
using open fires during an FTX, 5-9 fixed-wing aircraft , 7-9
using storage areas during an FTX, 5-11 flammable materials in aircraft, 7-13
using tents during an FTX, 5-10 flares. See fire prevention, using flares and
using vehicles during an FTX, 5-10 smoke grenades during an FTX.
fire protection floors. See building features, floors.
and engineers, 2-1 flow test. See fire hydrants, flow test.
and natural disasters, 5-3 FOB. See forward operating base (FOB).
and other agencies, 2-1 fog streams. See ventilating, using fog streams.
at space-vehicle test or launch sites , 5-3 foot (feet) per minute (fpm), 6-2
elements, 4-4 forcible entry, 8-8
programs, 2-2 and locks, 8-10
training, 2-1 on doors, 8-8
wartime mission, 4-1 double type, 8-9
fire symbols. See symbols, for fires. fire type, 8-9
fire truck, 2-5 latched type, 8-9
See also aircraft emergencies, positioning overhead type, 8-8
fire trucks. rabbeted-frame type, 8-9
commercial structural pumper, 2-6 single-hinged type, 8-9
commercial tanker, 2-6 stopped-frame type, 8-9
maintenance, 2-6 safety precautions during an operation, 8-
military-adapted commercial item (MACI), 11
2-5, 3-1 through ceilings, 8-10
mini-pump, 2-6 through walls, 8-10
Model A/S230-19 crash truck, 2-5 through windows, 8-9
skid-mounter pumping unit, 2-6 basement type, 8-10
tactical tanker, 2-6 casement type, 8-10
fire-protection operational-readiness check-rail type, 8-10
inspection (FPORI), 2-1 factory-type, 8-9
Index-4
FM 5-415
forward arming resupply point (FARP), 7-1, 7-7 lithium thionylchloride, 7-8
forward operating base (FOB) , 3-4, 4-2 magnesium , 7-8, 10-2
fpm. See foot (feet) per minute (fpm). medical treatment during an incident,
FPORI. See fire-protection operational- 11-10
readiness inspection (FPORI). nitrogen tetroxide, 7-8
FTX. See fire prevention, during a field operations, 2-2
training exercise (FTX). protection from, 11-9
responding to an incident, 11-2
G controlling access to the incident, 11-4
gallon(s) per minute (GPM), 2-5 evaluating the risk, 11-5
GPM. See gallon(s) per minute (GPM). evaluating victims, 11-6
grid maps, 7-6 identifying the hazard , 11-5
grid system. See water supplies, grid system. isolating the hazard, 11-4
guards. See aircraft emergencies, responding reevaluating the incident, 11-7
personnel, provost marshal, MP, or guard rescuing victims, 11-5
personnel securing the area, 11-4
sizing up/establishing command, 11-3
staging resources, 11-6
H safety procedures during an incident, 11-8
hazardous material (HAZMAT), 1-2, 9-5, 10-1 suits, 2-4
ammonia, 7-8 sulfurhexaflouride gas (SF-6), 7-8
beryllium , 7-8 tools to use in an incident, 11-12
carbon-graphite composite fibers, 7-8 triethylborine (TEB), 7-8, 7-14
depleted uranium, 7-8 white phosphorus (WP), 10-2
effects of exposure to, 11-9 working in a dangerous area, 11-10
FC-77, 7-8 HAZMAT. See hazardous material (HAZMAT).
fire incidents in a TO, 11-1 HC. See hazardous material (HAZMAT),
fire-fighting operations involving hexacholorethane (HC).
commanders’s responsibilities , 10-1 headquarters (HQ), 2-1
fire-department responsibilities , 10-1 heaters. See fire prevention, using heaters
support from other agencies, 10-1 during an FTX.
fires helicopters, 7-9
involving missiles, 11-15 See also aircraft emergencies, helicopter
inert type, 11-15 crashes.
ones with warheads, 11-16 hillside crashes. See aircraft emergencies,
partially completed type, 11-15 hillside crashes.
involving nuclear materials , 11-13 HN. See host nation.
involving rail cars, 11-14 HNS. See host-nation support (HNS).
involving tactical vehicles, 11-14 hospitals. See fire fighting, teams, protecting
involving transport vehicles, 11-14 hospitals.
involving weapon-storage facilities, host nation (HN), 2-2
11-13 host-nation support (HNS), 2-3
when testing a weapon, 11-14 HQ. See headquarters (HQ).
hexachloroethane (HC), 10-2 HTH. See bleach in water (HTH).
hydrazine, 7-8 hydrazine. See hazardous material (HAZMAT),
incidents, 3-1 hydrazine.
liquid and gaseous oxygen, 7-8 hydrogen. See hazardous material (HAZMAT),
liquid hydrogen, 7-8 liquid hydrogen.
Index-5
FM 5-415
I military police (MP), 2-2

intermediate-support base (ISB) , 3-4 See also aircraft emergencies, responding
ISB. See intermediate-support base (ISB). personnel, provost marshal, MP, or
guard personnel.
mission-essential task list (METL), 1-1
J
mission-oriented, protective posture (MOPP),
jet fuels, 7-14
4-6
Jet A, 7-14
MOB. See main operating base (MOB).
Jet B, 7-14
MOPP. See mission-oriented, protective
posture (MOPP).
L MP. See military police (MP).
line of sight (LOS), 4-7 mph. See mile(s) per hour (mph).
liquid oxygen (LOX), 7-12 MRE. See meals, ready to eat (MRE).
lithium thionylchloride. See hazardous
material (HAZMAT), lithium
N
thionylchloride.
NASP. See nuclear ammunition supply point
locks and fasteners. See building features,
(NASP).
locks and fasteners.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),
logistics bases, 9-4
2-4
fire-fighting teams and planning for, 9-4
NBC. See nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC).
handling HAZMATs, 9-4
nerve agents. See fire fighting, fires involving
other fire-fighting missions, 9-4
nerve agents.
logistics-storage area (LSA), 3-4
NFPA. See National Fire Protection
LOS. See line of sight (LOS).
Association (NFPA).
LOX. See liquid oxygen (LOX).
nitrogen tetroxide. See hazardous material
LSA. See logistics-storage area (LSA).
(HAZMAT), nitrogen tetroxide.
no-fire crashes. See aircraft emergencies, no-
M fire crashes.
MACI. See fire truck, military-adapted NOMEX clothing, 2-4
commercial item (MACI). nongrid system. See water supplies, nongrid
MACOM. See major Army command system.
(MACOM). nose-dive crashes. See aircraft emergencies,
magnesium. See hazardous material nose-dive crashes.
(HAZMAT), magnesium. nuclear ammunition supply point (NASP), 1-2
main operating base (MOB), 4-2 nuclear weapons/components. See fire fighting,
major Army command (MACOM), 4-4 fires involving nuclear weapons/components.
Martin-Baker ejection seat, 7-13 nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC), 3-2
matches. See fire prevention, using matches
during an FTX.
O
meals, ready to eat (MRE), 5-10
open fires. See fire prevention, using open fires
MEDEVAC. See medical evacuation
during an FTX.
(MEDEVAC).
ordnance, 7-12
medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), 1-2
See also fire fighting, fires involving
medical personnel. See aircraft emergencies,
ordnance.
responding personnel, medical/ambulance
overhaul operations, 8-27, 8-31
crews.
checking a building’s structural condition,
METL. See mission-essential task list (METL).
8-31
mile(s) per hour (mph), 2-5
checking for hidden fires, 8-31
oxygen. See hazardous material (HAZMAT),
liquid and gaseous oxygen.
Index-6
FM 5-415
P reattack, 4-12
PASS. See personal alert safety system (PASS). and fire protection, 4-12
personal alert safety system (PASS), 2-4 regulations. See fire prevention, regulations.
personal protective equipment (PPE), 2-4 REMT. See radiological emergency medical
communicating when wearing acid suits, team (REMT).
11-11 rescue crews. See aircraft emergencies,
during a HAZMAT incident, 11-11 responding personnel, fire-fighting and
removing equipment during a HAZMAT rescue crews.
incident, 11-11 rescue operations
working with an air supply, 11-11 in a building, 8-16
petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL), 1-2 response kits. See hazardous material
photographer. See aircraft emergencies, (HAZMAT), tools to use in an incident.
responding personnel, photographer. riot-control agents. See fire fighting, fires
POL. See petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL). involving riot-control agents.
postattack, 4-8 roofs. See building features, types of roofs;
and a fire chief, 4-8 ventilating, roofs.
and avoiding contamination, 4-11
and damaged facilities, 4-10 S
and decontamination, 4-10 salvage covers, 8-28
and explosive-ordnance disposal (EOD), conventional type, 8-28
4-10 maintenance of, 8-28
and fire spread, 4-9 throws and spreads, 8-28
and fire vehicles, 4-10 catch basin, 8-29
fire-fighting operations, 4-8 counter payoff, 8-29
pound(s) per square inch (psi), 2-5 one-man throw, 8-28
power take-off (PTO) , 2-6 two-man spread, 8-28
PPE. See personal protective equipment (PPE). water chute, 8-29
preattack, 4-1, 4-3 salvage operations, 8-27
performing critical actions, 4-6 SCBA. See self-contained breathing apparatus
planning for fire protection, 4-4 (SCBA).
training for fire prevention, 4-6 search and rescue operations, 7-7
prefire plans. See structural fires, prefire searching and rescuing victims, 8-18
plans. and emergency medical treatment, 8-22
protecting material during a fire, 8-27 at cave-ins, 8-21
provost marshal. See aircraft emergencies, by tunneling, 8-21
responding personnel, provost marshal, MP, from vehicles, 8-21, 8-22
or guard personnel. in collapsed buildings, 8-18
proximity gear, 2-4 in contact with electrical wires, 8-21
psi. See pound(s) per square inch (psi). in rooms, 8-18
PTO. See power take-off (PTO). seat belts in aircraft, 7-18
public affairs officer. See aircraft emergencies, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA),
responding personnel, public affairs officer. 2-2
senior fire official (SFO), 3-2
R See also aircraft emergencies, responding
RADCON. See radiological-contamination personnel, fire chief or SFO.
(RADCON) teams. SF-6. See hazardous material (HAZMAT),
radiological emergency medical team (REMT), sulfurhexaflouride gas (SF-6).
10-12 SFO. See senior fire official (SFO).
radiological-contamination (RADCON) teams, shoulder harnesses in aircraft, 7-18
10-12 smoke grenades. See fire prevention, using
Index-7
FM 5-415
flares and smoke grenades during an FTX. tents. See fire prevention, using tents during
smoking. See fire prevention, and smoking an FTX.
during an FTX. theater Army area command (TAACOM), 4-1
storage areas. See fire prevention, using theater of operation (TO), 2-1
storage areas during an FTX. theater storage area (TSA), 1-2
structural fires tire fires. See aircraft emergencies, wheel,
building’s protective equipment, 8-4 brake, and tire fires.
building-content hazards, 8-4 TO. See theater of operation (TO).
building-exposure problems, 8-4 TOE. See table(s) of organization and
calculating water requirements for, 8-3 equipment (TOE).
causes for building collapse at, 8-3 TPT. See tactical petroleum terminal (TPT).
equipment for, 8-3 triethylaluminum (TEA), 7-14
fire-fighting mission, 8-1 triethylborine. See hazardous material,
notification of, 8-2 triethylborine (TEB).
prefire plans, 8-1 TSA. See theater storage area (TSA).
information in, 8-1 tunneling. See searching and rescuing victims,
road conditions leading to, 8-3 by tunneling.
strategy and tactics at, 8-2
time element, 8-4 U
sulfurhexaflouride gas (SF-6). See hazardous unexploded ordnance (UXO), 3-2, 4-3
material (HAZMAT), sulfurhexaflouride gas dropped-munitions type, 10-13
(SF-6). hazards of, 10-13
symbols projected-munitions type, 10-13
for chemicals, 10-6 spot report for, 10-13
set 1, 10-6 thrown- and placed-munitions type, 10-13
set 2, 10-6 United States gallons (USG), 2-5
set 3, 10-6 USG. See United States gallons (USG).
for fires, 10-3 UXO. See unexploded ordnance (UXO).
for nuclear weapons, 10-3
for special hazards , 10-3
for toxic chemicals, 10-3 V
placement on buildings, 10-4 vehicles
placement on vehicles, 10-4 information about and emergency, 8-22
placment on railcars, 10-4 safety precautions during an operation,
8-21
vehicles. See fire prevention, using vehicles
T during an FTX.
TAACOM. See theater Army area command ventilating
(TAACOM). roof openings, 8-15
table(s) of organization and equipment (TOE), roofs, 8-14
3-3 arch type, 8-15
tactical petroleum terminal (TPT), 9-1 flat type, 8-14
fire-support mission, 9-1 metal type, 8-15
fire-suppression sets, 9-2 pitched type, 8-14
other duties for fire-fighting teams , 9-2 using fog streams, 8-14
site design and fire equipment location, 9-1 using portable fans, 8-14
training for fire-fighting teams, 9-1 ventilation, 8-11
TEA. See triethylaluminum (TEA). cross, 8-12
TEB. See hazardous material (HAZMAT), forced, 8-14
triethylborine (TEB). horizontal, 8-12
Index-8
FM 5-415
sites, 8-16 wartime tasks. Seefire fighting, wartime tasks

vertical, 8-13 water crashes. See aircraft emergencies, water
victim carries crashes.
chair carry, 8-24 water supplies, 5-4, 6-1
extremities carry, 8-24 distribution system, 5-5
fireman’s carry, 8-23 distributors, 5-5
lone-rescue carry, 8-23 primary feeders, 5-5
one-man-supporting carry, 8-23 secondary feeders, 5-5
severe-injuries carry, 8-24 drafting sites, 6-2
two-firefighter carry, 8-24 grid system, 5-5
two-man-supporting carry, 8-23 ground storage, 5-4
victim removal high-level storage, 5-4
by dragging, 8-25 nongrid system, 5-5
using a ladder, 8-25 primary source for an installation, 5-5
using a stretcher, 8-25 requirements for, 5-4
temporary points, 6-1
W WCDO. See war-consumable distribution
walls. See building features, types of exterior objective (WCDO).
walls; forcible entry, through walls. wheel fires. See aircraft emergencies, wheel,
war-consumable distribution objective brake, and tire fires.
(WCDO), 4-3 wheels-up landings. See aircraft emergencies,
war-readiness spares kit (WRSK), 4-3 wheels-up landings.
wartime windows. See forcible entry, through windows.
mission. See fire protection, wartime WP. See hazardous material (HAZMAT), white
mission. phosphorus (WP).
operations, 4-1 WRSK. See war-readiness spares kits (WRSK).
Index-9

Us Army Fire-Fighting Operations

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Us Army Fire-Fighting Operations

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Us Army Fire-Fighting Operations

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

FM 5-415

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distriution is unlimited.

SUPPORTING FORCE XXI

Fire-Fighting Basics 1-1

• Supply (area support)one LB team for each of the following: 5

• Provide command and control (C2) of non-fire-fighting assets used

1-2 Fire-Fighting Basics

Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment 2-1

• Coordinates fire-protection matters with all other activities on an

TEAM LA, FIRE-PROTECTION HQ

TEAM LB, FIRE TRUCK

2-2 Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment

TEAM LC, WATER TRUCK

Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment 2-3

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

1. Never use structural or proximity gear as a replacement for the

2. All personal protective clothing must meet the current National

2-4 Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment

MODEL 2500L MILITARY-ADAPTED COMMERCIAL ITEM (MACI) FIRE TRUCK

MODEL A/S230-19 CRASH TRUCK

Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment 2-5

and obstacles. See TM 5-4210-219-10 for more information on operating this

TACTICAL TANKER TRUCK

COMMERCIAL STRUCTURAL PUMPER TRUCK

SKID-MOUNTED PUMPING UNIT

2-6 Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment

Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment 2-7

2-8 Organization, Responsibilities, and Equipment

Command and Control

FIRE-FIGHTING HQ TEAM (LA)

WARTIME FIRE-FIGHTING TASKS

Command and Control 3-1

INVENTORYING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

3-2 Command and Control

FIRE-FIGHTING TEAMS (LB AND LC)

Command and Control 3-3

Assigned to theater Army, corps, or divisions, the LB and LC teams are

3-4 Command and Control

Wartime Operations 4-1

protection, firefighters cannot attack interior fires (aircraft and

4-2 Wartime Operations

• Enemy attacks might include chemical-warfare (CW) agents.

Wartime Operations 4-3

• Crash and structural rescue, C 2, and support vehicles.

4-4 Wartime Operations

• Identify locations, if required, where expedient construction could be

Wartime Operations 4-5

• Locate dedicated, splinter-protected areas for fire vehicles, agents,

• Establishing cooperation with the HN, to include joint operations, C2,

4-6 Wartime Operations

• Affix M8 paper and M9 tape to the exterior of each fire-fighting vehicle

Wartime Operations 4-7

various types of conventional weapons, land attack with mortars or small

4-8 Wartime Operations

of command is normally established locally, with a fire chief normally

Wartime Operations 4-9