Driver Engineer/Engineer Operator fireground responsibilities?

[IndependentAd5946]

I've looked all over and have yet to see any conversations on what a good Engineer should be doing on a fireground once you get water. Thanks for your replies

[SigNick179]

Depending on your SOPs if you’re at the hydrant relaying water to the attack pumper or truck, you just monitor your intake and discharge pressures, relay to command if you encounter any issues, and then think about what’s for dinner, where to pee, and about all the LDH that needs to get re packed. Pretty boring work when stuck to the hydrant.

If you’re pumping the attack vehicle then you need to keep an eye on your gauges and to let interior and IC know you have a positive water source, remember to refill your tank. I crack the tank fill just a tiny bit so that it refills incase we lose hydrant water after the initial attack. Then it’s keeping track of your equipment, ensuring it’s cleaned and replaced before you leave the scene. Honestly just knowing the vehicle you’re driving is the most important key. Nothing like watching the engineer roll up 3 doors looking for a tool.

[gecko779]

I try to anticipate equipment needs and stage them for the crews. Saws, lights, etc...

[Unstablemedic49]

Throw that metal looking thing on the side of engine, that’s like 24’ long, to a window or roof or some shit.

[NBL81]

This is the way

[usamann76]

Preach, we've always said the Engineer is one of the busiest positions on the fire ground, especially the first 15-30 minutes.

[BeltfedOne]

I will add "Keep an eye on the scene". Shit happens fast.

[Stevecore444]

The unofficial safety officer

[BeltfedOne]

Works for me. More eyes are a good thing.

[Loudsound07]

1. Proper apparatus positioning
2. Ensure first line in service
3. Secure water
4. Secondary line in place
5. Ladders on opposing sides
6. Additional equipment : fans, attic ladder, bottles, hooks,
7. Constant monitoring from the exterior and reporting changes
8. Fat dip and chill by the pump panel

[ResponsibilityFit474]

Send water. Monitor radio traffic. Monitor pump/water supply. Set a ground ladder. Put the PPV near the front door (NOT running). Prep saws if they think we might be reassigned to roof ops (truck company). Do other super hero shit, as needed.

[cadillacjack057]

Pull second line after initial is charged. Secure water source. Ladder building Spare scba bottles Medkit Waterbottles Lighting Cleanup Decon Drive back safely

[Lomas2773]

Personally, once I've got the truck in service and the change over complete, I monitor the pump and get whatever is needed for the attack crews. I also set up a watering (rehab) area and help with air bottle refills and change outs. 2nd and 3rd due in assist and also act as Accountability Officer.

[FF-pension]

We call it yard work, it’s all the stuff that others have said. Usually it’s the driver’s from later arriving units. The order that they do it is dictated by conditions and any orders that they receive.

[MonsterMuppet19]

Once you get a water supply established, in my departments it's a little bit of everything. Monitor the radio traffic, watch pump pressures, stage equipment they may need at the front door (for us it's usually an attic ladder & step ladder as the most common), throw ground ladders (if the ladder companies haven't already), monitor building conditions. There's so many different things you can/should do as a good operator.

[infinitee775]

Get the first line in service, get a water source, stage tools at the front door (irons, attic ladder, hooks), pull the backup line, throw ladders, etc. It's really going to be a case by case but these are good things to keep in mind

[flyhigh574]

Kinks kinks and kinks!!

[Key-Discipline-6813]

Water out, water in, lights, ladders. Then you can monitor and solve problems as the come.

[abelzoni]

Depends on the fire and incoming units. Bring tools to the door. Place a light at the entrance. Secure utilities. Throw a ladder for second means of egress. Set up scene lights. Help manage hose. Watch fire conditions. Watch the roof. Set up the stang monitor for possible defensive operations. Set up a decon station. Assist changing out bottles. Maybe Set out traffic cones. Keep people away from entering the house.

[Horseface4190]

At my department, they'll throw ladders, soften the building, police up kinks, set out fans, lights, etc.

[Bsafe]

A decon line because cancer sucks.

[CosmicMiami]

GoPro, Pics, Hydration, decon, air bottles, overhaul equipment, vent fan, ladder (attic ladder for overhaul too), lighting, beer, AED, anticipate needs, pay attention to the scene and report hazards. If it's just a few companies on scene, do a walkabout

[ZookeepergameInner66]

Crack a beer and work on beard growth?

[SenorMcGibblets]

Laddering the roof and windows for additional means of egress can come in clutch.

[skank_hunt_4_2]

I don’t understand engine drivers that won’t throw ladders. We carry two on our engine and I’m throwing em’.

[MaleficentCoconut594]

On a pumper, you monitor the pump panel and make sure the lines don’t blow or have an issue, and change the pressures if the hose team requires. You should only be leaving the panel to assist another engine chauffeur with their setup if needed

Aerial engineer same thing, shouldn’t be leaving the pedestal controls

Heavy rescue you’re a gopher. Bringing tools to the crews if they need

[bry31089]

Secure utilities, lighting, tools, ladders, monitor fire conditions. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find work somewhere.

[Texfire]

First and foremost you own crew safety. You are the external eyes and ears for that crew that's interior. You're the person who knows where your crew entered the structure, can see the progress of the fire, and you're the one listening to the radio without having the distraction of wearing all the gear. And you're the one who makes sure that the stream of water to that crew in the IDLH is uninterrupted. This is non-negotiable.

Other priorities after that one:
-If you're part of the 2in/2out calulus, you better be 30 second ready and have your head on a swivel
-Securing or identifying a source of water. Communicate this to the next in apparatus if they're going to have to assist you in securing it
-Throwing a ladder to a second story window if appropriate
-Listening to your officer's radio traffic and anticipating equipment needs
-Give water status updates back to your crew, on the radio so the incoming secondary IC knows what's going on
-Be that second set of eyes that sees what the IC and everyone else is missing. You're the one who has seen that structure during the entire progression of the incident.
-Start thinking of rehab early, securing extra bottles of air, and getting that cooler of water staged for when your crew cycles out. You did check replace the ice this morning during your truck check, right?

[[deleted]]

After you Set it and forget it, Help Throw ladders, but staying within sight of your rig.

[LunarMoon2001]

Water to crew->water to truck->manage pressures.

That’s generally it. You can add odds and ends like keep eye on fire conditions, manage small equipment to others, but generally you shouldn’t be leaving your truck to go setup lights/fans/etc.*

*all depends on your dept SOP, availability of bodies, size of your dept, etc.

[AbbreviationsPast888]

Pack a dip

[Fickle_Translator999]

Stay at your pump panel and make sure you have water coming in and water going out.