🔥 RECEO VS — Fireground Priorities
Tactical Priority Order · Offensive vs Defensive Strategy · Transition Indicators | The Firefighter Medic
RECEO VS — Full Reference Card
Tactical Priority Order
⚠️ These are priorities, not rigid sequential steps. Modern tactics recognize that rapid extinguishment often IS rescue. V and S can begin concurrently when resources allow.
R
Rescue
Life safety first. Known or suspected victims.
E
Exposures
Protect adjacent structures from fire spread.
C
Confinement
Stop fire from spreading further.
E
Extinguishment
Put the fire out.
O
Overhaul
Search for hidden fire after knockdown.
V
Ventilation
Coordinate with attack. Improves conditions.
S
Salvage
Protect property from water/smoke damage.
R – Rescue → Life safety is ALWAYS first
E – Exposures → Prevent fire spread to adjacent structures
C – Confinement → Stop fire movement
E – Extinguishment → Put it out
O – Overhaul → Find and eliminate hidden fire
V – Ventilation → Coordinate with suppression
S – Salvage → Minimize property damage
⚔️ Offensive vs. Defensive Strategy
✅ OFFENSIVE
- Savable life present — interior attack is survivable
- Resources can control fire
- Structure is not compromised
- Water supply is established
- Crews can operate safely inside
🚫 DEFENSIVE
- No savable life / no survivable space
- Structure is compromised
- Fire has overtaken the building
- Available resources cannot control fire
- MAYDAY — multiple crews in difficulty
- Loss of water supply
📊 Strategic Decision Tree
🔍 Is there a savable life?
YES → Is interior attack survivable?
YES → OFFENSIVE ✅
NO → Rescue from exterior only
NO → Rescue from exterior only
NO → Is structure salvageable?
YES → Weigh risk vs. benefit
LOW RISK → OFFENSIVE ✅ HIGH RISK → DEFENSIVE 🚫
NO → DEFENSIVE — protect exposures only 🚫
LOW RISK → OFFENSIVE ✅ HIGH RISK → DEFENSIVE 🚫
NO → DEFENSIVE — protect exposures only 🚫
⚡ Transition Indicators (Offensive → Defensive)
🚨 When ANY of these occur, transition to defensive immediately and evacuate all crews.
- Structural compromise — audible sounds, visible failure, sagging floors or roof
- Fire takes over the building — no survivable space remaining
- Available resources cannot control fire progression
- MAYDAY with multiple crews in difficulty
- Loss of water supply
- Rapid fire spread or unexpected flashover
📢 Evacuation Signal
📯 Three (3) short blasts on the air horn + emergency radio traffic = all personnel evacuate immediately.
- All interior crews withdraw to exterior immediately upon signal
- Establish PAR (Personnel Accountability Report) after evacuation
- Transition to defensive operations
- No reentry until IC declares it safe
Key Concept: Rescue Priorities
Search Priority Order
- Most severely threatened, most savable — not just closest to fire
- Primary search: rapid, systematic, before fire control
- Secondary search: thorough, methodical, after knockdown
- Victims in greatest danger, greatest probability of survival get priority
💡 Rapid extinguishment often IS the best rescue tactic — removing the fire threat saves everyone inside simultaneously.
Key Concept: Ventilation Timing
Coordinate Ventilation with Attack
- Premature ventilation without attack can accelerate fire spread
- PPV (Positive Pressure Ventilation): open attack line BEFORE starting fan
- Vertical ventilation: coordinate with suppression crews below
- Uncoordinated ventilation = dangerous flow path changes
- Defensive mode: ventilation not used — cooling from exterior only
Key Concept: Salvage Operations
Protect Property While Fighting Fire
- Cover contents with salvage covers to protect from water damage
- Water chutes/runners to direct water out of structure
- Remove or protect irreplaceable items early
- Document damage for insurance/investigation
- Can begin concurrently with overhaul when resources allow