Paramedic-Firefighter Roles At Fire Scenes

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#1: Paramedic - Captain

Announces a summary of fire conditions over the radio channel, dons protective equipment,  dismounts fire truck and performs a 360° building survey, communicates any additional findings over the radio channel, determines fire attack position (inside vs. outside), assists with forcing entry into the building if necessary, helps advance the hose line into the building and directs the crew’s work, directs search for fire and trapped persons, removes any victims located, directs application of water onto the fire, assigns tasks to the next 2 arriving fire trucks, maintains command of the firefight until a chief officer arrives.

#2: Paramedic - Firefighter

Dons protective equipment, dismounts the fire truck, pulls 200 feet of fire hose off of the truck, stretches the hose out towards the entry point of the building, bleeds air from the hose line and checks the water spray pattern, advances the hose line into the building, searches for fire and trapped persons, removes any victims located, locates the fire, sprays water on the fire and surrounding contents until all fire is extinguished, salvages owners’ belongings where possible.

#3: Paramedic - Firefighter

Dons protective equipment, dismounts the fire truck, pulls 200 feet of fire hose off of the truck, stretches the hose out towards the entry point of the building, forces entry into the building if necessary, advances the hose line into the building, searches for fire and trapped persons, removes any victims located, locates the fire, balances the hose line while paramedic-firefighter #2 sprays water on the fire, performs ventilation to remove smoke and fire gases, opens ceilings and walls in search of hidden fire extension, salvages owners’ belongings where possible.


#4: Paramedic - Firefighter - Apparatus Engineer

Drives the fire truck to the fire scene and parks the apparatus in an appropriate location with respect to the burning building, dons protective equipment, engages the water pump, operates the pump control valves to send pressurized water to all hose lines being used in the fire fight, establishes a connection to a fire hydrant to supply water to the fire truck’s pump, sets up exterior scene lighting when necessary to minimize potential for injuries, gathers and delivers any tools requested by crews working inside the burning building, tracks the inventory of all tools and equipment used on the scene, ensures safe operation of the fire truck during firefighting efforts.