SVFD Firefighters battle a house fire near Knox and Vista, 10/29/2009

Fire Suppression refers to all activities within a fire department that involve actively preparing for, responding to and engaging in tasks necessary to control and extinguish a fire.  Fires may be classified as structural, wildland (brush and timber), vehicular, rubbish, equipment and miscellaneous.  Fire suppression activities also include responses to investigate citizen concerns related to the presence of odor and / or smoke.  Different types of fires require specific equipment and personnel responses from the Spokane Valley Fire Department. 

Fire suppression activities involve the use of specialized vehicles (apparatus) known as:

• Engines carry water, hose, ground ladders and various types of tools necessary to perform specialized tasks.  A limited number of engines carry specialized hydraulic rescue tools (“Jaws of Life”) primarily used for vehicle extrication events.
• Ladders are equipped with a multiple ground ladders of various lengths, aerial ladders to reach heights greater than 65’ and specialized tools and equipment.
• Rescues carry a mobile air supply, hydraulic rescue tool, heavy lift air bags and other specialized tools and equipment. 

Each company is typically staffed with three personnel at a minimum (one company officer, one engineer and one fire fighter).  Personnel perform a variety of specialized tasks to effectively suppress a fire and account for life safety issues, they include:

• SVFD Firefighters battle duplex fire caused by gasoline explosion, 2/5/2009

  Forcible entry to secure occupancies
• Fire attack with hose lines
• Ventilation of smoke, gases and heat
• Search and rescue
• Rapid intervention and rescue of trapped fire fighters
• Salvage and overhaul to protect property and possessions
• Crew rehabilitation and medical monitoring
• Scene safety and hazard abatement  

A probable house fire will receive a response of three engine companies, one ladder company, one rescue company, two battalion chiefs (incident command officers) and an incident safety officer.  A commercial structure, apartment building or institutional properties (schools, churches, hospitals and etc) will have one additional engine company dispatched in addition to three engines dispatched for a house fire.  In the event an officer declares a “working fire”, an additional two engine companies will be assigned to the response.  Significant and escalating incidents may require dispatch of a 2^nd alarm or greater, requiring the response of additional engines, ladders, rescues and command officers to control an incident.  Surrounding fire agencies will likely be called upon to provide support at the incident site, or to respond to additional calls with Spokane Valley Fire’s response area.

 Fire suppression activities are managed under the “Incident Command System”, an organized management process to ensure all personnel, equipment and assignments are conducted within a manageable span of control, an incident action plan developed and advertised, coordinated communications, a personnel accountability system in place, and coordinated efforts and communication between multiple agencies.