West Metro Fire Protection District Tower Task Book Developing Firefighter Instructions This is the Tower Task Book you will be required to complete during your one month rotation on a Tower. While it is the intent for you to learn Tower operations, procedures, and functions during your assignment; you can learn these items regardless of the apparatus you re working on. You will remain permanently assigned to the station for one month but you may be asked to rove in order to meet the staffing needs of the district. Throughout this time it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure this portion of your task book is completed. Working at a Tower company provides you with a unique opportunity to learn about very specialized areas of the fire service. You will learn about Tower placement and operations, advanced forcible entry techniques, how to utilize different ground ladders, ventilation techniques, search techniques, and extrication. At the completion of this rotation, you will be expected to have an understanding of a Tower s capabilities and limitations. You will be taught how Towers operate as a team with engine companies and how West Metro utilizes these very specialized apparatus and crews. Page 1 of 13
Task #1 A. Meet with your Evaluating Officer and get his/her expectations of you. B. Discuss your task book with them come up with a game plan to complete the tasks. Discuss with your Officer what your role and duties are at: 1. Medical calls 2. Fire alarms 3. An automobile accident 4. An automobile accident with extrication required 5. Structure fires 6. Roof operations / Ventilation 7. Tech rescue calls 8. In the station Page 2 of 13
Task #2 Meet with the Engineer and thoroughly go through the Tower to learn what equipment is carried and where they are located. Answer the following questions in written form and provide them to your officer: 1. What is the amount of water carried on the Tower/Rescue in your current station? 2. What size and how much attack hose is carried on the Tower/Rescue in your current station? 3. What size and how much supply hose does the Tower/Rescue carry? 4. What is the longest ground ladder carried in your station? 5. What is the longest ground ladder carried by any West Metro apparatus? 6. What is the maximum reach of the Tower? 7. What is the maximum volume of flow that can be achieved with the Tower? 8. What types of calls does the Tower normally respond to? 9. What is the minimum staffing level on each Tower and Heavy Rescue in the District? 10. What stations house a Tower and/or Heavy Rescue in the District? 11. What is the weight of the Tower and/or Heavy Rescue? 12. What is the clearance height of the Tower or Heavy Rescue? 13. Can you list three pieces of specialized apparatus that are carried on a Tower and/or Heavy Rescue that you would not normally find on a West Metro Engine Company? 14. Climb up to and down from the bucket while the ladder is deployed. 15. Effectively and efficiently enter and exit the bucket while deployed to a structure. 16. Know how to correctly operate all latches and safety bars. 17. Correctly use a ladder belt. 18. What is the maximum load of the bucket on the Tower? 19. Identify all anchor points in and around the bucket. 20. Identify all tools that are available in and around the bucket. 21. Hook into and breathe from the tower supplied air. Page 3 of 13
Task #3 1. Per SOP 314, describe what actions should be taken when your heads up display shows amber, or 50%? Also, red, 25% 2. Demonstrate calling a MAYDAY and giving a LUNAR for two different situations presented to you by the Officer (use a drill ground channel). 3. Identify the location of SCBA cleaning equipment in the station and demonstrate the following to your Officer: a. Cleaning and sanitizing your SCBA. b. Completing a daily check of the SCBA. c. Completing a weekly check of the SCBA. d. Checking the emergency escape system and how to deploy it. Page 4 of 13
Task #4 With your crew, you are to actively participate in and become familiar with setting up a Tower apparatus. Please complete the following tasks: 1. As a member of a team, deploy the Tower to two separate buildings within the district 2. Determine the target(s) to be achieved. 3. Discuss and designate the apparatus position prior to set-up. 4. Set-up and deploy the Tower to the pre- designated target(s). 5. The Firefighter shall (under the direct supervision of an experienced operator) operate the basket to understand the smooth operation of the basket controls. First Address, date, and time: Second Address, date, and time: Page 5 of 13
Task #5 As a member of a team, deploy a 35-foot ladder to a balcony and a roof within the district. The Firefighter shall climb the ladder to the pre- designated target. If the 45-foot Bangor ladder is available, deploy it as a member of the team. (5 reps not to be done on the same day) Page 6 of 13
Task #6 Identify three items you may be looking for when you are sizing up a roof for ventilation. Present and discuss this list with the Officer. Discuss with your Officer why coordinated ventilation is so important and how West Metro accomplishes this objective. Make a list of appropriate tools that you would need to effectively ventilate a peaked roof on a two-story home. Identify additional tools you would consider for a flat roof and a peaked roof on a three-story apartment building. Present and discuss these lists with your Officer. Identify by compartment number and without looking, where these tools are on the Tower. Check your answers while looking at the apparatus with your Officer. Make arrangements to come down to the Training Center to cut two (2) holes in one of the vertical vent props. Discuss and demonstrate Positive Pressure Ventilation with your officer and crew to answer the following questions: 1. Describe the concept of PPV? 2. What is the purpose of pressurizing the stairwell? 3. When using multiple fire service fans, what is the correct orientation of the fans? 4. What are two of the questions that should be asked of a Building Engineer? 5. Set up a PPV scenario at the fire station. Page 7 of 13
Task #7 SEARCH: Functioning as a member of a team, complete a primary search of a given location (i.e. the fire station). Simulate radio traffic to the Officer What should be said upon completion of the primary search? Discuss the differences between primary search and secondary search and the benchmarks for each. LARGE AREA SEARCH: As a member of a team, complete a large area search drill under the direction of the Officer. As a member of a team, complete a rope assisted search drill under the direction of the Officer. VEIS: Discuss with the Officer/crew in detail what VEIS stands for? What items must be identified in the size-up prior to conducting VEIS on the fireground? Demonstrate a simulated VEIS in the fire station, or at the Training Center. Page 8 of 13
Task #8 Conduct a building survey of two buildings within your first in area and identify the forcible entry methods and tools that would be most appropriate for the structure. Demonstrate five (5) forcible entry techniques for inward and outward swinging doors using a forcible entry prop. (Five (5) reps may be done in one day) Page 9 of 13
Task #9 Schedule a date and time where the Developing Firefighter can be given a thorough tour of the Heavy Rescue. It is best accomplished by roving the Developing Firefighter to the Heavy Rescue Station for a single shift, or arrange for the Heavy Rescue to come visit your station. Complete an orientation to the capabilities of the Heavy Rescue with a senior crewmember or engineer from the Heavy Rescue. List four items/tools that are carried on the Heavy Rescue that are not carried on any other apparatus in the district. 1. 2. 3. 4. Also, identify one capability the Heavy Rescue has that can t be found on any other staffed apparatus in the district. Page 10 of 13
Task #10 AIRBAGS: Correctly set-up and inflate each style of airbag on the apparatus. Identify the location, size, type, and capacity of the airbags that are carried on the Tower apparatus. List: CRIBBING: Build a box crib using the cribbing on the Tower apparatus. What is the maximum allowable height of a box crib given the diameter and length of the cribbing carried on the apparatus in the station? List: Page 11 of 13
Task #11 The Officer should show the firefighter how to effectively use the crash recovery software available on the apparatus. List 2 makes of cars you looked up and any special hazards: Page 12 of 13
Task #12 Conduct an exit interview with the Evaluating Officer to discuss your needs and where you can improve. Page 13 of 13