TEFF:  The Ten Essential Factors in Firefighting By Patrick Withen June 30, 2003

This study is concerned with “Protection on the Fireline” especially as it relates to Human Dynamics, Personnel Protection and High Reliability Organizations.

It has been understood for some time that the number of firefighting rules and regulations imposed upon the line firefighter has become unwieldy.  After the South Canyon Fire Tragedy in 1994 it was resolved by top fire management not to add any more rules.  But with the seemingly inevitable fireline deaths since then, more rules have indeed been added, even if they did not come in the form of a checklist.

The following analysis consolidate 59 of the present fire guidelines* to create the Ten Essential Factors in (Wildland) Firefighting (TEFF).  Furthermore, this analysis matches the TEFF with the risk management process, trigger points, a trend analysis, and appropriate fireline tactics, ranging from engagement, to modification of engagement tactics, to disengagement tactics.  Perhaps never before has one analysis brought together these five components:  rules, risk management, a trends analysis, trigger points, and tactics.

The TEFF were formulated in 2002 by giving firefighters each of the 59 fire guidelines and asking them to group them into logical categories, and by an analysis of keywords found in each guideline.  The TEFF were then circulated to firefighters and fire managers for input.  In the summer of 2003, the TEFF was operationalized on a trial basis by means of a TEFF Card which lists the TEFF and a trends analysis on one side and the Fire Suppression Tactics on another side.  This card, including a sheet of instructions** and a feedback survey were circulated among firefighters and fire overhead for use on the fireline.

The proposed presentation will offer an analysis of how the consolidation of the 59 fire guidelines was done, the results of the operationalization of the TEFF Card, and a brief overview of the relationship of the TEFF and the 59 fire guidelines to the newest trend in fireline safety / analysis devices:  the plethora of Incident Organizers.

The author, Patrick Withen is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Organizational Studies and Chair of the Dept. of Social Sciences at the University of Virginia at Wise, and is a Smokejumper for the U.S. Forest Service, out of McCall, ID.      

SCHOOL SEASON Patrick Withen  Associate Professor of Sociology      & Chair of the Dept. of Social Sciences  University of Virginia at Wise  1 College Ave.  Wise, VA  24293 276-376-4526    office pwithen@virginia.edu    email

FIRE SEASON Patrick Withen McCall Smokejumpers PO Box 1065 McCall, ID  83638 276-393-5268     cell pwithen@virginia.edu    email

         

APPENDIX A: INSTRUCTIONS:  The Ten Essential Factors in (Wildland) Firefighting  (TEFF) “Are You TEFF Enough?”

The TEFF Card consolidates 59 standard firefighting guidelines, including the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders, the 18 Situations That Shout Watch-Out, the Downhill Line Construction List, the Common Denominators on Tragedy Fires, etc.  TEFF assumes the firefighter has a strong background in the 59 firefighting guidelines.

NOTE:  The TEFF Card is on a trial run.  If successful it may be used to reduce paperwork, cards, etc.

On side one of the TEFF Card are the Ten Essential Factors in Firefighting (TEFF) and a trends scale.  On the other side of the TEFF Card are the three levels of Fire Suppression Tactics including Engagement, Modify, and Disengagement,.

To use the TEFF Card, at the beginning of shift, mark or mentally note two boxes for each of the Ten Essential Factors.  First, mark current conditions at the beginning of the shift.  Second, mark the conditions you expect at the peak of burning period.

Then, throughout the day, as you use the Risk Management Process and as conditions change, update your TEFF Card to represent current conditions.  You may specify specific trigger points (i.e. lost the Lookout, fire roles out on underslung line, etc.) which cause you to Modify your Fire Suppression Tactics.  Second, you may watch for trends, or degradation of several of the TEFFs that might cause you to Modify your Fire Suppression Tactics.

Feedback:    We need your input!  Mark your most appropriate response, and make comments!!

1.  I found the TEFF Card to be useful.    

A	B	C	D	E
Strongly Agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly Disagree

2.  How many shifts did you use the TEFF?  ___________________

3.  I think we are better off using the 10 & 18, and not the TEFF Card  

A	B	C	D	E
Strongly Agree	Agree	Neutral	Disagree	Strongly Disagree

 

4.  Rank your top three preferences for fire guidelines by indicating 1, 2 & 3 _________ 10 Standard Firefighting Orders  _________ 7  Look Up, Down & Around Factors _________ 18 Situations that Shout Watch-Out  _________ 4  LCES _________ 7  Downhill Line Construction Checklist  _________ 9  Wildland Urban Watch Outs _________ 10 TEFF _________ 4  Common Denominators of Fire Behavior on Tragedy Fires _________ Some combination of the above, such as  ________________________________________

5.  What is your highest Redcard Qual?  ________________________________________________________

The TEFF Card could be improved by:  __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ MAKE COMMENTS ON OTHER SIDE !!                         Patrick Withen          McCall Smokejumpers          PO Box 1065          McCall, ID  83636  

----------------------------------------------------------------Fold-------------------------------------------------------------------                                

--------------------------------------------------Staple  or Tape along this Fold Line----------------------------------------

WRITE COMMENTS HERE, and fold to the inside.  You may include your name & email address if you would like to be kept informed on the development of TEFF      

Contact: Patrick Withen McCall Smokejumpers PO Box 1065 McCall, ID  83638 208-634-0385   Fax           208-634-0378   Operations           276-393-5268   Cell    

APPENDIX B:  The TEFF Card    

Side One of the TEFF Card:  

COULD NOT FIT IMAGE IN ALLOWABLE UPLOAD SPACE      

Side Two of the TEFF Card          

COULD NOT FIT IMAGE IN ALLOWABLE UPLOAD SPACE          

APPENDIX C:  Footnotes

* The 59 fire guideline include the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders, the 18 Watch Out Situations, the 7 Downhill Line Construction Checklist, the 4 Common Denominators of Fire Behavior on Tragedy Fires, 7 Look Up, Down & Around Factors, the 4 LCES Components, and the 9 Wildland Urban Watch Outs.

** The TEFF Card and the TEFF Card Instructions are included in Appendix A