Offensive/defensive

[Game on]

I have noticed that during messages Kent Fire Brigade are using the terms 'crews in offensive' or 'crews in defensive mode'. Can anyone explain to me the meaning of these?
Thanks

[Peter]

These terms relate to the Risk Assessment the incident commander has carried out to decide if it is safe to go into the building to attack the fire inside - Offensive Mode, or that the conditions are unsafe perhaps due to signs of the building collapsing, when crews will stay outside and stop the fire spreading beyond the building involved - Defensive Mode. You may also hear the term 'Transitional Mode' - when the incident has been divided into sectors and one sector is defensive, one offensive - the incident is Transitional (or when you were offensive and crews are in the process of withdrawing to put defensive measures are in place.

[Game on]

Thanks Peter, I thought it might be something along them lines. It all makes sense now!

[fireftrm]

The terms extend beyong the defintions of 'inside' or 'outside' a building. They refer to whether the firefighters are in a risk area, thus you would be in offensive mode if attacking a car fire, unless this was with a jet from a distance. Anywhere where you take any control measure (BA, or a safety instruction for example) is a risk area and therefore offensive. The offensively attacking the fire/defensively simply pouring water froma  distance is a good description. The example Peter gave of stopping fire spread beyond the premises on fire is maybe tenuous as this is likely to be transitional - the prevention of fire spread may well place firefighters in a risk area, smoke/heat with additional control measures that would not apply say to the stand alone presmies with four ground monitors/water towers pouring water throught he roof. It can be difficult to give exacts on this sometimes!

[Acco]

Offesive - Attacking the seat of the fire
Defensive - Protecting Exposures, external Fire Fighting
Marginal - In offensive mode for primary S&R only (persons reported)

[messy]

Or perhaps:-

Offensive- Highly paid 'Managers' sitting around devising new terminology
Defensive- Highly paid 'Managers' sitting around justifying new terminology
Marginal- The effect of the new terminology in safely extinguishing a fire

[Acco]

You could be right there messy.

[Chris Houston]

Dear Users,

Appologies for the delay in deleting the offence posts.  Ive deleted them and banned the user.  Swearing and name calling on this forum will not be tollerated.

Ive also deleted various replies and subsequent posts, otherwise the discussion would not make much sence.

Just a quick note to the user who was banned, swearing or personal insults will not be tollerated on this forum, as you managed both with gusto, you are now banned from using this site.

Anyway, the question has been answered and the thread is now closed.