Published by Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University

The term 3D Fire Fighting refers to techniques and tactics used by firefighters to assert an element of control over deteriorating fire conditions inside fire-involved structures, or compartments. This objective of taking control of interior conditions at the outset of fire operations is based upon the ‘safe-person-concept’ where an immediate risk-based approach, evaluating risk versus gain, is applied at the earliest opportunity, i.e.; on fire service arrival.
In the past it has been common for firefighters to direct their initial attack strategy towards the visible fuel-phase fire while neglecting the hidden dangers of the gaseous-phase fire or exposure. This fundamental error has cost many firefighters their lives on several occasions.
The techniques and tactics used to safely gain access to a fire compartment or structure, advance in safely, and mount an effective attack on the fire are described in some detail in the text. This training manual intends to show firefighters that compartment fires in the gaseous-phase are potentially more lethal than those in the fuel-phase. There are references to traditional forms of mounting an attack on the fuel-phase fire, as well as the relatively ‘new-wave’ approaches developed by firefighters in Sweden and England during the 1980s for dealing with the hazards of flashover, backdraft, smoke explosion, and other forms of fire gas ignition. These techniques include zone control (buffer and safe-zoning), 3D water-fog applications into the gaseous-phase to suppress flaming and inert un-ignited fire-gas accumulations, tactical venting options that address both opening up and closing down (confining) a fire, as well as direct (straight-stream) and indirect (fog) methods of fire suppression.
‘Read all there is to read…take note of the advice given in this training manual…learn the indicators…understand how a fire is likely to behave when confined or unleashed…learn how you may counter dangerous conditions that threaten to overrun you and compromise your position…take into account the essential fire-ground action plan… if you can hold on to just 10 vital key points from this book and CD, they might save your life one day’………

Updated: Gallery - Sando and Stuttgart

International Fire Instructors Workshop - Sweden 2008 (report)  (Pictures)