Tactics, command, leadership

the better. By shooting water into the actual fire the destruct ive
sequence is directly affected in this way. This action would also
probably reduce the intensity of the blaze, causing a reduction
in, for example, the spread of hot ash and heat radiation. Besides
the intensity of the fire being reduced or it extinguished totally,
the risk of it spreading to surrounding buildings is also reduced.
Sometimes the resources required to reduce the effect of the de-
structive sequence can be minimal. A full suit firefighter could,
for example, by closing a valve, reduce or completely prevent an
emission of chemicals thus avoiding the formation of a gas cloud.
Obviously considerably more resources would be required to eva-
cuate people in the risk zone should such a cloud form. Closing
off extensive risk areas in many cases calls for large resources.
The dynamics of the situation itself can also be taken advantage
of in the tactical configuration of a response operation. In addition
to the physical destructive sequence the reactions of people invol-
ved can also play a part in the inherent dynamics of the situation.
Good provision of information can result in advantageous activity
on the part of the victims. Inherent dynamism can for example be
employed when resources are short and while waiting for addi-
tional resources to arrive. It could also concern a fire that spreads
with varying intensity in different parts of a forest, for example,
meaning that efforts in certain areas can temporarily be reduced
and the resources concentrated to fight the then more intense
areas. The construction of buildings affects the configuration of
a response operation also. In an attic fire in a block of flats with
a concrete framework it may be advantageous to let the fire burn
in a controlled form since an attempt to extinguish it could result
in excessive water damage. This entails allowing the fire to take its
course, to a certain extent, rather than attempting to influence it.
Measures must be taken, however, to ensure that the fire does not
spread in any way within the building or to surrounding objects.
In addition a measure of issuing information may be required to
explain and justify the reason for this line of action.
The configuration of a total response operation can vary in cha-
racter in time and space. In situations where the capacity of the
resources to execute measures exceeds the need, all the neces sary
measures can be applied simultaneously. If the resources are avai-
lable to rescue all the victims and stop a chemical discharge at the
same time as other pending threats are cov ered, the whole opera-
tion can be based on high expectations. In such cases when exces-