 
On May 2, 2023, a session on fire fighting techniques was conducted with Mr. Balamurugan K, the Assistant Safety Officer, as the resource person. Nineteen attendees from the Department of Security Services participated in the session. The objectives covered various fire fighting techniques such as the fog attack, which uses a fog setting to extinguish a fire and is ideal for closed compartment fires with no wind. The indirect attack aims water at the ceiling, allowing it to drop down and extinguish the fire from above. Other techniques discussed included the direct attack, combination attack, and the two lines in method.
Firefighters, also known as firemen, typically undergo extensive technical training that includes structural fire fighting and wildland fire fighting. Specialized training areas include aircraft firefighting, shipboard firefighting, aerial firefighting, maritime firefighting, and proximity firefighting. The profession is dangerous due to the toxic environment created by combustible materials, with major risks including smoke, oxygen deficiency, elevated temperatures, poisonous atmospheres, and violent airflows. To mitigate these risks, firefighters carry self-contained breathing apparatus. Additional hazards include falls, especially in unfamiliar layouts or confined spaces with shifting debris and limited visibility, and structural collapse, which can worsen the toxic environment.
The first step in a firefighting operation is reconnaissance to locate the fire’s origin and identify specific risks. Fires can be extinguished by water, removal of fuel or oxidant, or chemical flame inhibition. However, fires are classified based on the elements involved, such as grease, paper, electrical, etc., and a specific type of fire extinguisher may be required. In the United States, fire types are classified by the National Fire Protection Association. The stages of fire include ignition, where fuel, oxygen, and heat join in a sustained chemical reaction; growth, where additional fuel ignites; and fully developed, where the fire has spread over most available fuel, reaching peak temperatures and causing significant heat damage.
