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Optimization of Response and Control time of Fire and Rescue Services

Article in Research Journal of Engineering and Technology · January 2016

DOI: 10.5958/2321-581X.2016.00011.8

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 Research J. Engineering and Tech. 7(2): April- June, 2016

ISSN 0976-2973 (Print) www.anvpublication.org

2321-581X (online)

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Optimization of Response and Control time of Fire and Rescue Services

Mohamed Asif Omar. A, S.M. Tauseef, Abishek Nandan
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
*Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT:
The airport should be designed such that the firefighting services can achieve a response and control time of
within two to three minutes in a cost effective manner. The amount of water, foam, dry chemical powder and
other complementary agents required to put out the fire depends on the size of the aircraft. Airports are classified
depending on the size of the largest aircraft landing. The largest aircraft landing at the airport is B739-900 series
and hence the airport is classified as a category seven airport. By knowing the specs of the Crash Fire Tender
(CFT), we can calculate the minimum number of CFT’s required to extinguish the fire (depending on the
capacity and discharge rate of the CFT’s). By making efficient use of the resources (firefighters and CFT’s) we
can minimize the control time. Also, outdated Crash Fire Tender (CFT) can be scraped. By increasing the speed
of the CFT the response time can be significantly reduced. If the number of the CFT’s are reduced the cost due
to maintenance can be reduced and the fires can be extinguished in the most efficient way possible.

KEYWORDS: Response time, Control time, Crash fire tender, Fire fighters, Aircraft etc

1. INTRODUCTION: Response Time is considered to be the time between the

There is a chance of mass casualty due to an emergency first call to the firefighting service and the time when the
at the airport, and the speed of the responder’s and their first responding vehicle reaches its position to apply the
resources that arrive at the emergency site is of extinguishing agent at a rate of at least 50 percent of the
paramount importance. The first mission of the discharge rate of the airport category. Control Time is
responders is to secure the fire hazards in the aircraft and considered as the time taken to reduce the intensity of
thereby increase the survivability of the passengers. The fire by ninety percent. Most fire stations aim to reduce
firefighters at the airport are trained in the application of the response time and thereby reduce loss. A method in
foams and dry chemical’s which are used in which the proper siting of fire stations played an
extinguishing the burning fuel around an aircraft in order important role in reducing the loss due to fire was
to create and maintain a path for evacuating passengers. proposed by Hogg, 1968. Another method simulation
Also, if a fire is encountered in the cabin or extends into was carried out to reduce response time below five
the cabin from an external fire, the ARFF (Airport minutes by Aleisa and Savsar, 2013. A study was
Rescue and Fire Fighting) responders should work to conducted by Lee et al, 2014 so as to allocate the
extinguish these fires as well. The firefighting services to minimum number of firefighting resources to the site
be able to achieve response and control time of within before the fire spreads and becomes a large fire. Clarke
two to three minutes with a cost effective method and and Miles, 2013 suggested using evolutionary algorithms
achieve high performance. for the fire service resources to make a risk based
strategic decisions based upon a massive number of
possible solutions. Castillo and Rodriguez, 2015
conducted a study for the time taken for the firefighting
vehicles and resources to arrive at the site of forest fires.
Received on 21.04.2016 Accepted on 18.05.2016 Based on data collected fire evolution curves were
©A&V Publications all right reserved formed and can show the firefighting efficiency based on
Research J. Engineering and Tech. 2016; 7(2): 51-55. the size of the forest fire. Claridge and Spearpoint, 2013
DOI: 10.5958/2321-581X.2016.00011.8 calculated response and travel speed distribution so as to
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 Research J. Engineering and Tech. 7(2): April- June, 2016

find the time taken for the fire service resources to arrive The quantity of water required is calculated by the
at the site of the structure fire. The response time was formula:
found for urban and rural areas and distributions were QT = Q1 + Q2
prepared and compared with fire intervention model. Q1 = the quantity of water required for the practical
Tabirca et al, 2015 proposed the use of algorithms to critical area control,
relate dynamic safety with building hazard emergency. Q2 = the quantity of water required for the
extinguishment of the remaining fuel,
2. METHODS AND METHODOLOGY: QT = the total water required.
Table 1: Classification of airport category based on aircraft overall The water required for the practical critical area control
length and maximum fuselage width. (Q1), is expressed as:
Category of Over-all Length of Maximum Width of
Airport Aircraft (Meters) Fuselage (Meters)
Q1 =AP x T x R
1 0 > x ≤ 8.9 2 T = time of application,
2 9 ≥ x ≤ 11.9 2 R = the rate of application,
3 12 ≥ x ≤ 17.9 3 AP = the practical critical area,
4 18 ≥ x ≤ 23.9 4
5 24 ≥ x ≤ 27.9 4 Table 3: Q2 value for different Category of Airport
6 28 ≥ x ≤ 38.9 5 Category of Airport Q2=percentage of Q1
7 39 ≥ x ≤ 48.9 5 1 0
8 49 ≥ x ≤ 60.9 7 2 27
9 61 ≥ x ≤ 75.9 7 3 30
10 76 ≥ x ≤ 89.9 8 4 58
5 75
Method 1: To calculate the amount of water required to 6 100
extinguish the fire 7 129
The critical area aims to control the area of fire around 8 152
the fuselage. It aims to rescue the occupants in an 9 170
aircraft. 10 190

2.1 The formula for calculating the total amount of

water required to extinguish the fire
The formula for the theoretical critical area “AT”

Table 2: Formula for Theoretical critical area for different Over-all

length
Over-all length (Meters) Theoretical critical area AT
P ≤ 11.9 (12 m+ Q) x P
12 ≤ P ≤ 17.9 (14 m+ Q) x P
18 ≤ P ≤ 23.9 (17 m+ Q) x P
P ≥ 24 (30 m + Q) x P
Q = the width of the aircraft fuselage,
P = the over-all length of the aircraft.

The practical critical area AP = (2/3) theoretical critical

area AT,
AP = (2/3) AT,
Graph 1: Airport Category Vs Q2=Percentage of Q1

Table 4: Calculations for B 739-900 series

Time of application of Aircraft Theoretical Practical Q1= The amount of Q2= QT= Total
water = 1 minute Critical Critical Area water required for Percentag water
Area “AT” ”AP” (m2) practical critical area e of Q1 required
(m2) (LPM) (LPM) (L)
For a foam having Length Width 1445.1 963.91 7904.06 10196.24 18100.30
performance level A the (P)=43.1 (Q)=3.53
rate of application = 8.2L Meters Meters
per square meter
For a foam having 1445.1 963.91 5301.5 6838.9 12140.44
performance level B the
rate of application = 5.5L
per square meter

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 Research J. Engineering and Tech. 7(2): April- June, 2016

of the CFT is 5000 LPM. Two CFT’s can discharge

Method 2: To calculate the minimum number of Crash
20000 liters in two minutes. A minimum of Minimum of
Fire Tenders (CFT’s) required and the savings made by
Two CFT’s are required to extinguish the fire in 2-3
scraping the outdated CFT
minutes.
There are two types of CFT’s available at the airport.
One is the Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 CA-5 and the other is
Due regard should be made to provide a vehicle to
the Agni Shatru.
replace those which have become temporarily
unserviceable. The airport of Category Seven can have a
2.2 Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 CA-5
Maximum of Three CFT’s.
Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 CA-5 has a water tank capacity
of 12000 liters. The CFT is capable of discharging a
2.3 Agni Shatru
maximum of 5000 LPM. The minimum number of crew
The Agni Shatru model is an outdated model that can
members required are 4. The CFT is capable of shooting
throw water only up to a range of 60 meters. The Airport
water up to distance of 85 meters from its roof turret.
requires a maximum of Three CFT’s. This CFT is an
extra can be sold/scraped.
2.2.1 For a foam having performance level A:
A minimum of 18100 liters of water is required for the
Method 3: Analysis of Minimum Amount of
largest aircraft B 739-900 series. Since the discharge rate
Extinguishing Agent
of the CFT is 5000 LPM. Two CFT’s can discharge
A minimum rate of application of 8.2 L per min per m2
20000 liters in two minutes. A Minimum of Two CFT’s
for a foam having performance level A and 5.5 L per
are required to extinguish the fire in 2-3 minutes.
min per m2 for a foam having performance level B is
required for foam production with water.
2.2.2 For a foam having performance level B:
A minimum of 12140 liters of water is required for the
largest aircraft B 739-900 series. Since the discharge rate
Table 5: Calculations for finding the minimum amount of extinguishing agent required to extinguish the fires of all categories.
Time of application of water = 1 minute
Airport Category Length (P) Meters Width (Q) Meters Theoretical Critical Area “AT” (m2) Practical Critical Area ”AP” (m2)
1 8.9 2 124.6 83.1
2 11.9 2 166.6 111.1
3 17.9 3 304.3 202.96
4 23.9 4 501.9 334.76
5 27.9 4 948.6 632.71
6 38.9 5 1361.5 908.12
7 48.9 5 1711.5 1141.5
8 60.9 7 2253.3 1502.95
9 75.9 7 2808.3 1873.13
10 89.9 8 3416.2 2278.6

Table 5:Cont...
For a foam having performance level A the rate of application = For a foam having performance level B the rate of application = 5.5L
8.2L per square meter per square meter
Q1= The amount of water Q2= Percentage QT= Total water Q1= The amount of water Q2= Percentage of QT= Total water
required for practical of Q1 (LPM) required (L) required for practical Q1 (LPM) required (L)
critical area (LPM) critical area (LPM)
681.48 0 681.48 457.09 0 457.09
911.2 246.02 1157.22 611.3 164.97 776.27
1664.33 499.3 2163.6 1116.32 334.89 1451.19
2745.09 1592.15 4337.24 1841.22 1067.90 2909.12
5188.27 3891.2 9079.47 3479.90 2609.92 6089.88
7446.58 7446.58 14893.17 4994.66 4994.66 9989.32
9360.8 12,075.5 21436.33 6278.6 8099.4 14378
12324.19 18732.78 31056.97 8266.23 12564.66 20830.9
15359.71 26111.51 41471.22 10302.24 17513.80 27816.04
18684.56 35500.67 54185.23 12532.32 23811.37 36343.69

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 Research J. Engineering and Tech. 7(2): April- June, 2016

2.4 Minimum Number of Crash Fire Tenders The airport has four firefighters that are in excess. They
required can be put to better use. There is an extra CFT in standby
The minimum number of firefighting vehicles are mode. This CFT can also be operated during
provided below. emergencies. By increasing the number of CFT’s the
discharge rate increases and thereby the Control Time
also decreases.
Table 6: Minimum Number of CFT’s for Foam having Performance
Level A and Foam having Performance Level B. Method 5: To calculate the Control Time and the
Airport Minimum number of Minimum number of
category CFT’s for Foam CFT’s for Foam having percentage of time saved by increasing the number of
having Performance Performance Level B CFT’s.
Level A Control Time is considered to be the time taken to
1 1 1 reduce the intensity of fire by ninety percent.
2 1 1
3 1 1
4 1 1 2.5 The formula to calculate the control time and the
5 1 1 percentage of time saved by increasing the number of
6 2 1 CFT’s.
7 2 2
8 3 2 To calculate the Control Time “C”
9 4 3
10 5 4
C=

Method 4: To make optimum use of the Firefighters

The airport is required to have Eighteen firefighters per To calculate the percentage of time saved by increasing
shift as per their standards for category seven airport. the number of CFT’s from two to three “L”
Each CFT requires a minimum of four operators. L=
The number of fire fighters are in excess.
The Minimum Number of firefighters required are 4x
(CFT) +2x (Ambulance)+1Watchtower+1 Communicate
with ATC
(4x2)+ (2x2) +1+1=14 firefighters required.
Table 7: Calculations for finding the control time and the percentage of time saved by increasing the number of CFT’s.
Time of application of Aircraft Amount of Amount Amount Control Control Percentage of
water = 1 minute water taken of water of water Time with Time with time saved by
to discharge discharge discharge discharge increasing the
extinguish d by two d by from two from three number of
the fire (L) CFT’s three CFT’s CFT’s CFT’s from
(LPM) CFT’s (Seconds) (Seconds) two to three
(LPM) (%)
For a foam having Length Width 18100.30 10000 15000 108.6 72 33.7
performance level A (P)=43.1 (Q)=3.53
For a foam having Meters Meters 12140.44 10000 15000 72.6 48.6 33.05
performance level B

Method 6: To calculate the Response Time

Table 8: Mock Drill
1 Date of Practice 29/01/2016
2 Time of Fire Call from ATC 11:52:00
3 CFT departed the Fire Station at 11:52:05
4 CFT reached the site at
First CFT 11:53:35
Second CFT 11:53:37
5 Distance Covered 1.75 Kms
6 Response Time 90 Secs
7 First jet of extinguishing media projected on fire at 11:53:40
8 Fire Extinguished at 11:54:20
9 Control Time 40 Secs
10 Extinguishing Media
Water 3200 litres
AFFF Compound 20 litres

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 Research J. Engineering and Tech. 7(2): April- June, 2016

2.6 The formula to calculate the speed of the CFT 4. CONCLUSION:

Thus the response and control time of the Airport Rescue
Speed = and Fire Fighting services has been optimized. By
increasing speed of the CFT the response vehicles can
reach the site quicker and thereby the response time is
2.7 Calculations to find the speed of the CFT and reduced. By making optimal use of the resources, the
response time number of firefighters, who are in excess can operate the
The CFT travelled 1.75 Kms in 90 seconds. CFT which is in standby mode. Since the number of
Speed of CFT = 1.75/90 = 0.01944 Km/Sec CFT’s increases the discharge rate also increases and so
Speed of CFT = 0.01944x60x60 = 70 Kmph the control time also decreases. Also the extra CFT, if
If speed is increased to 80 Kmph. scraped can help make a saving.
Time = Distance (Km) / Speed (Km/hr)
Time = 1.75/80 = 0.021875 hrs 5. REFERENCES:
Time = 0.021875x60x60 = 78.75 Seconds. [1] Hogg, Jane M. "The siting of fire stations." OR (1968): 275-287.
[2] Aleisa, Esra, and Mehmet Savsar. "Modeling of Firefighting
Operations through Discrete Event Simulation." International
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Journal of Computer Theory and Engineering 5.4 (2013): 678.
Method 1: The minimum quantity of water required for [3] Lee, Yohan, Byungdoo Lee, and Kyung Ha Kim. "Optimal spatial
extinguishing the fire for B739-900 series has been allocation of initial attack resources for firefighting in the republic
of Korea using a scenario optimization model." Journal of
calculated. Mountain Science 11.2 (2014): 323-335.
[4] Clarke, Alastair, and John Christopher Miles. "Strategic Fire and
Method 2: The minimum number of Crash Fire Tenders Rescue Service decision making using evolutionary algorithms."
(CFT’s) required is calculated based on the quantity of Advances in Engineering Software 50 (2012): 29-36.
[5] Castillo, E., and Francisco Rodriguez. "Determining response
water required for extinguishing the fire and a savings times for the deployment of terrestrial resources for fighting forest
can be made by scraping the extra CFT. fires: A case study: Mediterranean-Chile." Ciencia e investigación
agraria: revista latinoamericana de ciencias de la agricultura 42.1
Method 3: The minimum quantity of water required for (2015): 97-107.
[6] Claridge, Ed, and Michael Spearpoint. "New Zealand fire service
extinguishing the fire for all airport categories is response times to structure fires." Procedia engineering 62 (2013):
calculated. 1063-1072.
[7] Tabirca, Sabin, Laurence T. Yang, and Tatiana Tabirca. "Fire
Method 4: We have made optimum use of the Hazard Safety Optimization." Procedia Computer Science 51
(2015): 2759-2763.
Firefighters at the airport.

Method 5: The Control Time and the percentage of time

saved by increasing the number of CFT’s is calculated.
By increasing the number of CFT’s and thereby
increasing the discharge rate the control time can be
reduced.

Method 6: The Response Time is calculated if the speed

of the vehicle is increased. By increasing the speed of
the CFT the response time can be reduced.

The airport has three Pre-Determined Positions (PDP’s)

near the runway. The fire department uses only two of
the three PDP’s. When an aircraft lands one CFT is
positioned near the middle of the runway. The other CFT
is positioned at the end of the runway opposite to the
direction the aircraft is landing. By making optimal use
of resources we can make use of the CFT in standby
mode and position it at the third PDP at the start of the
runway where the aircraft lands. Also a direct path can
be laid from the fire station connecting to the three Pre-
Determined Position’s. This will reduce the Response
Time during emergencies.

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