Reading the Fire - second edition

The art of tactical decision-making under stress.

Making a rapid and accurate incident size up would be one of the most challenging decision making processes faced by any profession. Fireground time frames are measured in seconds, and the review process in minutes. The stakes are high as making correct decisions can mean the difference between life and death. 

Every fire sends out signals that can assist the firefighter in determining the stage of fire development, and most importantly the changes that are likely to occur. This skill is essential to ensure the safest and most efficient firefighting strategy and tactics are employed. Being able to "read a fire" is the mark of a firefighter who is able to make decisions based on knowledge and skill, not guess work or luck.

Shan Raffel, Fire Australia Journal, May 2002, page 11

This book focuses on giving firefighters the ability to recognise the key visual patterns of fire behaviour, and to use this knowledge to develop the safest and most efficient manner.

Shan Raffel has served as a career firefighter in Brisbane Australia between May 16,1983 to July 16, 2021. His career took a serious change in 1994 after two of his colleagues were killed in the line of duty while conducting fighting operations in a relatively routine fire in a small motorcycle dealership. The coroner's report was unable to identify the cause of two extreme fire events that "caused severe burns, dislocating them from the hose line and rendering them unconscious".In 1996, two other colleagues were seriously injured after being caught in an extreme fire event while conducting search and rescue operations in a smoke-laden section of a Backpackers Hostel in Rockhampton. These events motivated him to develop an extensive report that led to an official international study of compartment fire behaviour training (CFBT) in 1997. He studied at the leading training institutions in Sweden and the UK. Over the next three years, he developed the first nationally recognized CFBT program in Australia. Subsequently, he has assisted numerous fire services around the world in the development of their training facilities, instructors, and teaching materials.In 2009 he was awarded a "Churchill Fellowship" to research "Planning Preparation and Response to Emergencies in Tunnels". This resulted in an intensive ten-week international research tour. This included leading fire services, training centres and tunnel operators in the USA (FDNY), Canada, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland. This knowledge was critical in the development of emergency response plans for the 3 largest road tunnels in Australia. His practical training experience spans 26 countries, and his International Compartment Fire Behaviour Training Instructors program gained international credentialing through the Institution of Fire Engineers recognition process in 2018. The International Tactical Ventilation Instructors course was given IFE recognition in 2022. www.linkedin.com/in/shanraffelSince his early retirement from the Fire Service in July 2021, Shan has focused his energy on the development of internationally validated CFBT Instructor development courses. His passion for excellence and safety embraces a broad international network of likeminded professionals.

Benjamin Walker is a globally acclaimed presenter and international compartment firefighting instructor. He started his career in the Metropolitan Tyne & Wear Fire Brigade, working and commanding some of Europe's busiest fire stations. Following a spell at a small rural fire department, he took a study sabbatical in the United States, obtaining several fire service certifications and studying FEMA's Emergency Management qualifications.Returning to the UK to train the London Fire Brigade in compartment firefighting, he was recognised by the Institution of Fire Engineers, winning the Godiva Award and subsequent works and contributions led to award of the Fellowship of the Institution aged 40. He has had operational spells at Fire EMS departments in the USA including riding out with Chicago Fire Department, Newport FD and studying Emergency Medicine at Roger Williams University, Providence, Rhode Island.In demand as a presenter and instructor, he has taught on multiple occasions at the world's largest conference, FDIC in Indianapolis, and remains determined in his pursuit of reducing firefighter line of duty deaths worldwide. He appears as a firefighting subject expert for Sky News, BBC, Russia Today and many other media outlets, writing for The Guardian, FIRE, Fire Risk Management, Fire Engineering and more.Ben is the Chief and Director of Ignis Global Ltd, a bespoke Fire and Safety Consultancy in the UK, providing training and safety/risk management advice to Fire Services, industry, and private clients. Ignis Global is also an official education provider of ABBE (Awarding Body for the Built Environment) on behalf of Birmingham City University, courses offered include Diploma and Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment, Award in Fire Door Surveying. Fire Safety Auditors (with WFST), Technical Rescue Instructor (with IRRTC) with many more are also available. Ben and Shan remain at the cutting edge of international operations knowledge and scientific advances. They strive to presenting this essential information in an accessible and clear manner for firefighters wherever they are the world. Stay honest, open, and forthright, without fear.