
Fire on board a vessel
Applying National Operational Guidance to incident types. Identify the knowledge, control measures and actions needed to combat the hazards you face.
Applying National Operational Guidance to incident types. Identify the knowledge, control measures and actions needed to combat the hazards you face.
Use ships plan and on-board systems in liaison with the vessel’s personnel to confirm the location of the fire
Identify the presence and effectiveness of any on board or infrastructure fixed installations
Ascertain any prior and ongoing firefighting actions taken by on board teams
Gather information from available sources to gain accurate situational awareness and understanding
Question the responsible person, other responders and witnesses to understand incident factors and history
Ensure that a scene survey is carried out at the earliest opportunity
Access any operational or site specific risk information (SSRI) and confirm accuracy
Debrief personnel that have withdrawn from a working area during an incident to gain operational intelligence and safety-related information
Maintain situational awareness and identify changes during the incident through active monitoring and regular briefings
Access any operational or site specific risk information (SSRI) and confirm accuracy
Ensure that a scene survey is carried out at the earliest opportunity
Consider using thermal imaging equipment for scanning when carrying out a scene survey
Assess the impact of the infrastructure on the incident (waterways, docks)
Investigate the scene looking for indicators of occupancy considering seating and standing capacities
Identify the location of any available ship to shore connection
Identify the safest access route, rendezvous points (RVPs) and marshalling areas, and communicate to all responders and the fire control room
Consider requesting appropriate facilities for the welfare of personnel
Consider the availability of pollution control equipment and/or pollution containment facilities on site
Make use of specialist fire and rescue service or on-site environmental protection equipment
Consider the appointment of a HMA (or equivalent) to oversee environmental protection activities
Identify the resources currently available to take immediate action and request those likely to be needed to deliver a full incident plan
Request specialist resources, considering specialist firefighting teams, fire boats, water rescue teams or tugs
Consider requesting advice from tactical advisers and subject matter experts (e.g. HMCG, SOSREP)
Confirm that required agencies have been requested or notified (e.g. Police, Ambulance, environmental agencies)
Request sufficient and appropriate additional resources
Consider requesting appropriate specialist advice
Consider requesting specialist resources from own or neighbouring fire and rescue services, or partner agencies
Inform and/or seek advice from environment agencies and/or sewage undertakers where necessary
Consider whether operational resources can be released from the incident
Regularly update the fire control room on the availability status of operational resources
Identify the safest access route, rendezvous points (RVPs) and marshalling areas, and communicate to all responders and the fire control room
Develop and organise a water/media management strategy or nominate a water officer
Consider requesting aerial or special appliances to reduce risk and demand on resources
Identify the safest access route, rendezvous points (RVPs) and marshalling areas, and communicate to all responders and the fire control room
Consider requesting appropriate facilities for the welfare of personnel
Consider the availability of pollution control equipment and/or pollution containment facilities on site
Make use of specialist fire and rescue service or on-site environmental protection equipment
Consider the appointment of a HMA (or equivalent) to oversee environmental protection activities
Identify and communicate the presence of water or other liquids to all responders
Ensure that personnel operate on the safe side of suitable existing or improvised guarding or barriers near water or other liquids
Ensure personnel working around unstable ground are secured using work restraint or fall arrest systems
Ensure that personnel wear suitable PPE and personal flotation devices when working near water or other liquids
Ensure there are alternative methods of emergency egress to a place of safety (e.g. off the vessel)
Consider the impact of the infrastructure on safe access and egress routes
Use the appropriate extinguishing method, media, techniques and equipment
Put in place covering and/or safety jets according to identified risks
Ensure that Firefighting PPE is worn in accordance with service risk assessment, procedures and training
Access past, present and future weather information from sources such as the Met Office
Consider using tactical ventilation to improve conditions and maintain access and egress routes
Consider the impact of smoke plume on downwind life risk, road users and other transport networks
Obtain advice from the hazardous materials adviser (HMA) on the size of any downwind protection zone
Ensure that all personnel wear the type of RPE identified by service risk assessments, procedures and training
Where backdraught conditions are suspected, apply media and ventilate before interior deployment
Where flashover conditions are suspected, consider direct firefighting techniques
Consider the isolation or containment of the fire compartment
Brief crews to carry out self-protection, door entry and compartment firefighting techniques
Manage the vessel's ventilation systems in conjunction with the vessel's personnel
Consider leaving unopened doors closed to prevent the unnecessary spread of smoke and fire gas
Consider using appropriate ventilation techniques for any products of combustion
Identify presence of hazardous materials on board (e.g. cylinders, illegal activities)
Identify if the vessel is compliant with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code
Identify potential sources of biological contamination (e.g. waste from sanitary conveniences)
Pass information to the vessel's officers on the amount of water that is being used in the sectors
Identify bodies of water, unstable ground and risks of falling from height in working environment
Consider the effect of weather conditions and time of day on the working environment
Ensure that all personnel are briefed on the current hazards, risks, control measures and tactical mode
Implement measures to maintain access and egress during the incident
Establish, identify and communicate safe traffic routes, establish clear zones and equipment points
Provide lighting to illuminate hazards to personnel in poorly lit environments
Ensure that personnel have access to the appropriate PPE
Consider task rotation when personnel are carrying out manual handling tasks
Manage their working environment and workload to mitigate the effects of stress and fatigue, and to optimise their personal resilience
Consider using machinery or other equipment to assist with manual handling
Request additional or specialist resources to assist with manual handling tasks
Consider the task, individual capabilities, load and environment (TILE) when carrying out risk assessments for manual handling
Ensure personnel adopt the provided safe system of manual handling
Comply with service protocols when handling substances that are hazardous to health
Ensure personnel cover open wounds, cuts and grazes with a waterproof dressing prior to operational activity
Comply with hygiene arrangements and do not eat, drink, smoke or vape
Restrict the access of persons to premises or a place if they reasonably believe an emergency to have occurred
Why? | Expectations? | Benefit vs Risk? |
Maintain the safety of all personnel, other responders and the public
Save life and reduce harm
Prevent escalation, contain and extinguish the fire considering all ignition sources
Maintain the safety of all personnel, other responders and the public
Save life and reduce harm
Minimise the impact of the incident and fire service actions on any identified environmental risk
Carry out any rescues or lifesaving actions
Carry out a dynamic risk assessment, identify hazards, evaluate risk and implement safe systems of work
Declare the tactical mode and communicate to personnel at the incident ground and in the fire control room
Carry out and formally record analytical risk assessments at suitable intervals
Establish emergency arrangements appropriate to the type, size and complexity of the incident
Protect surrounding environment and infrastructure from thermal radiation and fire spread
Apply the firefighter safety maxim and safe person principles at incidents
Identify and communicate the hazard area and establish a safe working area as soon as is practicable
Use situational awareness to anticipate the likely development of the incident and evaluate the potential consequences of a range of actions
Develop and communicate an incident plan to relevant personnel, including the fire control room
Regularly review and update incident plan in response to active monitoring of the situation against expected outcomes
Review the tactical mode following active monitoring and briefings with sector commanders
Periodically review the analytical risk assessment using situational awareness from active monitoring
Apply the joint decision model process to ensure effective joint decision-making at multi-agency incident
Identify the need to evacuate and develop a strategy in liaison with partner agencies
Establish an appropriate muster point and communicate its location to all personnel, and other responders if present
Secure the scene to ensure evidence is preserved for internal and external investigations
Carry out an environmental risk assessment and monitor the impact of tactics on the identified risk
Secure the scene to ensure evidence is preserved for internal and external investigations
When evacuation is necessary, identify the number of people affected and develop a plan
Consider the appropriate speed of intervention to limit fire development
Select appropriate firefighting media (e.g. water, foam, dry powder, CO2)
Select appropriate firefighting equipment (e.g. extinguisher, hose reel, main jet, cutting extinguisher)
Gain access to premises causing minimal damage considering the urgency of the situation
Establish and resource a casualty care point
Determine whether people should be advised to evacuate, shelter in place or 'stay put'
When evacuation is necessary, identify the number of people affected and develop a plan
Instigate and communicate hygiene arrangements, facilities and consider decontamination
Implement an appropriate protection plan when an identified nature conservation site is at risk
Create and resource a suitable casualty care point, evacuate unaffected people to a place of safety
Ensure communication systems are effective in subsurface and tunnel environments
Conduct regular communication checks to ensure equipment continues to function
Establish and maintain an incident ground communication plan considering other agencies and remote resources
Ensure that all personnel are briefed on the current hazards, risks, control measures and tactical mode
Communicate the incident situation to other responders via fire control using the M\ETHANE message protocol
Provide a structured brief when handing over and taking over command
Communicate findings of analytical risk assessment to all personnel and other agencies
Establish communication with remote tactical advisers, subject matter experts and specialist resources
Establish effective communications with other emergency services and relevant people as soon as possible
Identify the safest access route, rendezvous points (RVPs) and marshalling areas, and communicate to all responders and the fire control room
Communicate any change in the tactical mode of a sector of the incident to personnel at the incident ground and in the fire control room
Communicate objectives, priorities and tactics to be adopted in resolving the incident
Deliver clear, concise and timely briefings to crews, command support functions and other agencies
Regularly pass information to fire control regarding incident progress
Establish an appropriate muster point and communicate its location to all personnel, and other responders if present
Ensure that all appropriate environmental agencies are informed of the incident when required
Use the most effective methods for communicating with people who are either directly or indirectly involved in the incident
Establish an appropriate muster point and communicate its location to all personnel, and other responders if present
Control access to the inner cordon using methods proportionate to the type, size and complexity of the incident
Form their command structure in accordance with the priorities and demands of an incident
Ensure that appropriate inner and outer cordons are established and communicated following an assessment of risk to all people present
Control access to the inner cordon using methods proportionate to the type, size and complexity of the incident
Appoint competent safety officers to monitor specific hazards or activities
Instigate a tactical withdrawal of personnel when the mode changes from offensive to defensive
Commit only minimum number of essential personnel to hazard area
Consider establishing a forward control point
Be prepared to adopt a leadership role at multi-agency incidents
Establish a scene access control point to log all people operating within the inner cordon when appropriate
Consider the use of command support systems and equipment where required
Monitor the performance of personnel and where necessary modify plans to available competences
Record the details of the transfer of command; this should be done at the incident ground and in the fire control room
Instigate a safety sector at large or complex incidents under the control of a safety sector commander
Implement exclusion zones if intolerable risks to safety are identified
Request police assistance to establish a traffic cordon or air exclusion zone if necessary
Request an air exclusion zone through the appropriate authority if required
Maintain effective command and control in an emergency situation
Carry out a roll call of personnel at the scene following an emergency evacuation of responders
Communicate the tactical withdrawal and emergency evacuation arrangements to all personnel
Ensure that hazards, potential hazards and control measures are identified when handing over responsibility for health and safety to the responsible person
Instigate and co-operate with post incident investigations where necessary
Ensure that effective supervision of operational activity is maintained until the conclusion of the incident
Instigate and co-operate with post incident investigations where necessary
Ensure that hazards, potential hazards and control measures are identified when handing over responsibility for health and safety to the responsible person
Consider taking appropriate steps to secure premises or vehicles after access or entry has been gained by force
Consider whether operational resources can be released from the incident
Conduct an inventory check and record any defects or deficiencies
Consider decontamination of personnel, PPE and equipment prior to redeployment
Consider the condition and serviceability of PPE when assessing operational readiness for redeployment
Secure the scene to ensure evidence is preserved for internal and external investigations
Gather relevant information for the incident recording system
When appropriate instigate a review of existing guidance following the use of operational discretion
Ensure differences in information are resolved and systems updated following the closure of an incident
Compile and secure all incident command paperwork (e.g. analytical risk assessment and decision logs)
Ensure that waste products created by the fire and rescue service are disposed of legally and responsibly
Follow service protocols for reporting concerns about the mental or physical well-being of themselves or other individuals
Consider decontamination of personnel, PPE and equipment prior to redeployment
Firefighter Safety Maxim
"At every incident, the greater the potential benefit of fire and rescue actions, the greater the risk that is accepted by commanders and firefighters. Activities that present a high risk to safety are limited to those that have the potential to save life or to prevent rapid and significant escalation of the incident."
A standard type of abbreviated informative message should also be considered as an early first impression of the incident, such as: