For THEM Tuesday : 8/5/25 - Chunk Nelms

“For THEM Tuesday”

What does search look like for you? In your organization, in your fire company, as an Incident Commander, as a fire instructor. “Search” has changed over the years. Obviously, we are still looking for 2 things, Life and Fire. But the processes, who’s responsible for it and the order at which it was performed had to change. In several places I’ve worked, search has always been priority, but it normally fell down the list of importance, mostly due to staffing issues. Things like Fire Attack, Ventilation, RIT, were higher in importance. Then somewhere down the road, Search. Well things change!

Today, search is without a doubt highest priority. 3 FF staffing hinders most of us a little, but it’s still what we are working for. Splitting your crew on the first due truck (2 In/1 Out) gives you the ability to hit both those paths we expect victims. Those areas are paths of egress and bedrooms! We have to occupy space as quickly as possible. We have to have the ability to remove those victims. Forcing rear doors and throwing ladders gives us those better options for victim removal. When additional trucks, rescues, squads, engines, whatever arrive, fill those voids on our fire ground. The engine crew is also searching while making the push. No, I’m not talking about stopping the advance to search each and every room. But they are searching their way to the fire and then the fire room. They are also responsible for protecting that path of egress for potential victim removals.

So, as I started this with, what’s search look like to you? Senior men, company and chief officers, incident commanders, fire instructors, etc., let’s have some dialog. Everyone’s opinion matters, unless you’re just looking for a fight. Nashville FD personnel, id love to talk with you!

#nelmsfireco #nfc #search #forTHEMtuesday #truckwork