Ryan Parker

Search and Rescue

EMS and Fire Science

5-6-2014

Introduction
Hot as hell with only the guy next to you to rely on, what place could this be?
Only be a fire would fit that description. The job described in this essay is structural fire
search and rescue and will tell what the job consist of and the salary in different states
in America. As well as the type of schooling that is required for the job and the types of
colleges that provide the schooling.
Job Description and Duties
The job description and duties that are required of search and rescue are as the
following. While many firefighters will never rescue a victim from a fire, almost all will be
a part of a search team operating in the fire environment. Additionally, all Firefighters
will work as part of fire ground operations supporting SAR. Firefighters must have a
thorough understanding of search operations and how to conduct searches in all
environments and conditions. Some of these are duties done by search and rescue
tactical paramedic support, tool hoisting, high angle rope rescue, swift water rescue,
trench rescue, confined space rescue, building collapse, and cold water rescue. The
daily routine is to clean the house and make sure everything is in working order so that
nothing is goes sideways when their on the job.
The Levels of Firefighter
The first few levels are the trainees and the small levels. Then the next would be
officers and the chiefs. There are also the Federal and Military level firefighters that
have to go through a whole different kind of training for different kinds of situations. The
different ways they get trained in foam and jet fuel extinguishing. There is also a level of
voluntary firefighting which doesnt get paid much but is mainly for a community instead
of a full career. They have different shifts that make it so small towns can still have a fire
station so they are not left open to fires as much.
Pay in States
In the state of Michigan a full time firefighter in the 50
th
percent gets paid around
$45,100 on average. In other state such as California the 50
th
percent gets paid
$71,000, in the state of Maine the 50
th
percent gets paid $29,000, in the state of Texas
the 50
th
percent gets paid $45,900, and in Florida the 50
th
percent gets paid $47,700.
Then in the United States annual pay for a firefighter is about $45,200.
Schooling
The amount of schooling that you need to do to become a firefighter depends on
where you want to work at. If you want to work in a big city you have to have fire one
and two along with a paramedics. If you want a smaller city what is required is fire one
and two and emr training. For a volunteer firefighter in the state of Michigan fire one and
two is required to work on at station.
What is a Structural Fire?
Buildings that are made of flammable materials such as wood are different from
so called "fire-resistant" buildings such as concrete high-rises. Generally a fire-resistant
building is designed to limit fire to a small area or floor. Other floors can be safe simply
by preventing smoke inhalation and damage. All buildings suspected of being on fire
must be evacuated, regardless of fire rating. While sometimes fires can be limited to
small areas of a structure, wider collateral damage due to smoke, water, and burning
embers is common. Utility shutoff is typically an early priority of arriving fire crews.
Furthermore, fire prevention can take on a special meaning for property where
hazardous materials are being used or stored. Some firefighting tactics may appear to
be destructive, but often serve specific needs. For example, during ventilation
firefighters are often forced to open holes in the roof or floors of a structure to remove
smoke and heated gases from the interior of the structure. Such ventilation methods are
also used to improve interior visibility facilitating locating victims more quickly. This also
helps to preserve the life of trapped or unconscious individuals as it vents the poisonous
gases from inside of the structure. Vertical ventilation is absolutely vital to firefighter
safety in the event of a flashover or backdraft scenario. Releasing the flammable
gasses through the roof often eliminates the possibility of a backdraft and by the
removal of heat the possibility of a flashover is reduced significantly. Flashovers, due to
their intense heat and explosive temperaments are almost always fatal to firefighter
personnel. Precautionary methods, such as busting a window out, often reveal
backdraft situations before the firefighter enters the structure and is met with the
circumstance head-on. Firefighter safety is the number one priority. Whenever possible,
movable property is moved into the middle of a room and covered with a heavy cloth
tar. Other steps may be taken to divert or remove fire flow runoff retrieving/protecting
valuables found during suppression or overhaul, and boarding windows, roofs.
Other Jobs of a Firefighter
Firefighters are the first responders to HAZMAT incidents. The Occupational
Safety and Health Administration standard. The four level of HAZMAT are First
responder operations level, Hazardous materials technician, and Hazardous materials
specialist. EMS-based paramedics are typically trained to the awareness level, whereas
career and volunteer firefighters are often trained to the operations level or better. Other
nations have trained only elite firefighters and rescuers to do HAZMAT so that funding
and equipment could go to fewer stations. This gives departments elite HAZMAT
personnel and high-grade equipment for an incident. Departments place these
companies in stations where they can be very mobile.
What to do on the Job for Fire Control
Fire control consists of depriving a fire of fuel oxygen heat and-or the chemical
chain reaction that are necessary to sustain itself or re-kindle. Firefighters are equipped
with a wide variety of equipment to accomplish this task. Some of their tools include
ladder trucks pumper trucks tanker trucks fire hose and fire extinguishers. Very frequent
training and refresher training is required. Structure fires may be attacked generally
either by interior or exterior resources or both. Interior crews using the two-in two out
rule may advance hose lines inside the building find the fire and cool it with water.
Exterior crews may direct water into windows or other openings or against other nearby
fuels exposed to the initial fire. Hose streams directed into the interior through exterior
wall apertures may conflict with and jeopardize interior fire attack crews. A proper
command structure will plan and coordinate the various teams and equipment to safely
execute each tactic.
The Search and Rescue
Rescue operations consist of searching for and removing trapped occupants of
hazardous conditions. Animals may also be rescued if resources and conditions permit.
Generally triage and first aid are performed outside as removal from the hazardous
atmosphere is the primary goal in preserving life. Search patterns include movement
against room walls and methodical searches of specific areas by designated teams.
Unlike a fire control team a rescue team typically moves faster but has no hose to follow
out to safety through the smoky darkness. A rescue rope may be needed for tethering a
team involved in exceptionally dangerous conditions.












Work Cited Page
http://www.clarkfr.org/training/Training%20Manual/TM%20Articles/Article_1-
03_SAR.pdf
http://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/Knowledgebase.nsf/0/C835A12BEE5BC620852570430
0467A49?OpenDocument
https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/fstems/training/becomff.html
http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/servi21.shtml