In the premier episode of Season 3 of “5-Alarm Task Force,” we are pleased to welcome back a dear friend and great supporter of the podcast, Capt. Robby Owens, Sr. (@averagejakeff) as we discuss “Tactic and Terminology.”
As we have heard from other guests, especially line officers and above, no singular tactic is appropriate for every working structure fire. What almost all agree on, are the two words that they believe are appropriate, “It Depends!”
The first arriving officer who assumes initial command has precious little time to ascertain all the factors facing him/her as they pull up on the scene. Of course, the determination of whether or not people may be trapped must be foremost in the initial IC’s mind. As is, the initial method of attack he/she feels will best suit this particular fire for the first arriving apparatus. Will it be an engine? Will the truck company arrive first? What if it’s the Heavy Rescue?
Capt. Owens discusses how important it is for the first front-line personnel, initial IC and even whoever assumes IC, not to pigeon-hole the methodology of tactics without having the benefit of a full-360 and other pertinent information.
Capt. Owens also brings up today's far-too-common practice of on-line bullying occurring on social media by firefighting personnel who may not agree with the bravado and “bash through the front door at all costs” thinking by some, especially those who hide behind anonymous social media identities.
Welcome to Season 3 of “5-Alarm Task Force!”
