January-February 2010 Issue

	January-February 2010

Vent, Enter, Search (VES): Essentials for an Effective and Safe Operation

By Larry Yoell

Vent, Enter, Search (VES) is a fireground tactic that has grown substantially over the past few years. If done safely, and at the right time during the incident, it can be a valuable and potentially lifesaving operation. It is a potentially dangerous tactic for firefighters to undertake, especially if the decision is made to search above the fire floor or behind the seat of the fire. These hoseless searches are often questioned by command officers, but education and proper training are key to securing management support for the operation.

This operation must be performed by an experienced firefighter who possesses a keen understanding of fire behavior, reading smoke, proper search patterns and techniques, Mayday declaration procedures, and timely and disciplined communications to interior attack crews. It is a fireground tactic that must be performed in a systematic and timely fashion to be successful.

This operation may be performed by two or more firefighters, or by one firefighter who may also be acting as the "birddog" firefighter on the building’s exterior.

My department has adopted the philosophy of performing this operation when the conditions of the incident are favorable. It takes discipline to only perform this tactic in the right situation. The fire conditions and location of the search in direct relationship to active fire must be carefully considered.

There are key components that must be followed if the decision is made to conduct VES. We will discuss these items in this article.

Communication: Communicating with the interior attack crew is probably the most important initial component of a VES operation. The coordinated effort between fire attack and the creation of horizontal ventilation openings to gain access is critical. The firefighter who will be performing the VES operation must communicate his intentions to the interior company officer. He must communicate what he observes on the building’s exterior as it relates to fire and smoke behavior, progression of fire spread, location of active fire, and where he wishes to make the opening to gain access. If this is done with a coordinated effort, the effectiveness of the operation will be greatly enhanced. It may also create a more tenable atmosphere for interior attack crews, and any potentially trapped victims, by horizontally venting the fire to the exterior. Once in agreement with the interior attack crew, openings may be made through a window or door. Proper forcible entry techniques should always be utilized.

Reading Smoke, Fire Behavior, and Pre-Entry Techniques: Once an opening has been made, it is crucial that the smoke conditions are sized-up properly. If opening an upper level window, observe the level of smoke emitting from the window. Is the smoke level at the top of the opening only, or is it below the sill? Is the smoke ’angry’ and under pressure? Smoke color is also an important observation. This will give a clear indication of the advancement of fire into the chosen area of entry, or if flashover conditions are imminent.

Windows and doors should be removed completely before access is made. Prior to entering the search area, the firefighter should visually observe the room from the doorway or window opening. Look under the smoke level to get a layout of the floor plan. This will give the firefighter an idea of whether to take a right or left lead into the room. Sound the floor with a tool. It is my belief that a six or eight foot hook is the tool of choice for this type of entry. Reach out as far as possible in all directions to sound and feel the floor. It may also be possible to utilize your hook to grab hold of the window sill. This may allow the firefighter to stretch out to the end of the hook to secure the interior door to the search area. It is also advisable to have a halligan tool or flat head axe during the search.

Search Techniques: Once entry is made, it is imperative that the interior door to the search area is closed. It is of the utmost importance that the room is compartmentalized, further protecting the firefighter from any advancing fire and smoke. Locate a small piece of furniture or other object and place next to the entry point. This will allow for quick identification of the egress point if conditions worsen and immediate evacuation is necessary. If there is nothing available, punch a hole in the dry wall just beneath the window sill for identification purposes. Search the room utilizing proper techniques. Use a right or left hand lead to search the area. Using both hands while searching is imperative. This makes it much easier to remember items already encountered during your search. Tactile memorization of the items in the search area will make for an easier return to the egress point if conditions worsen. It will also enhance your ability to quickly move back to your egress location without having to turn and go all the way back along the wall. If you know your exact location in relation to the egress point, a quick path to that location may be achieved. The same holds true if a victim is located during the search. Remember to count corners in each room as you search. Communicate verbally often with your search partner if you are working as a team. It may be good practice to leave one firefighter at the entry point as a safety measure.

It is also crucial to know your exact location in the fire building. If you entered a second story window on the B-C corner of the building, you must communicate this entry location and direction of lead search to the Incident Commander, operations officer, and interior crews. Rapid Intervention Team members will want to know your exact location if the need to declare a "mayday" for any reason should arise. As previously mentioned, counting the corners as you search will further assist you in knowing exactly where you are in the fire building.

Remember to manage your breathing air. It is critical to monitor air levels in your cylinder. Always be aware of how long you have been on air, your exertion levels, time you’ve been in the building, and how far into the building you’ve traveled. Remember that exiting will need to take place at some point during the operation. Reserve enough air to get back to your entry point safely.

Once the search is completed, exit the search area from the entry point and move to the next location, entering from the exterior. Communicate your actions as previously outlined. Communicate again upon completion of your operation. Give an ‘All-Clear’ or degree of search completed to the IC or Operations.

MAYDAY: Remember the "mayday" rules. The "LUNAR" (Location, Unit Number, Name and Rank, Assignment, Resource Needs) acronym is mandatory information to relay if you need to declare a mayday. An example would be, “This is firefighter Jones from Rescue 1, I’m on the second floor, ‘B’-‘C’ corner of the building conducting a VES operation. I took a left hand lead from the window and I’m near corner three. Need rescue for low air pressure and disorientation.” Stay calm and try to correct the problem yourself if possible. Never delay calling a mayday! Most firefighter injuries and fatalities occur because we fail to call for help soon enough. Know your departments SOP’s regarding mayday activation.

Training and education is the key to performing a safe VES operation. If done properly, it can be an effective tactical operation that may save lives.

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