What is the role of tactics in firefighting?

Tactics in firefighting play a crucial role in implementing specific actions to achieve objectives during an emergency response. Tactics involve the practical execution of strategies that have been developed based on the situation at hand. For instance, once a strategy is established—such as identifying the best approach to control a fire—tactics come into play by detailing how firefighters will execute that strategy on the ground.

In a firefighting scenario, the tactical decisions can include the methods of extinguishing the fire, the establishment of fire lines, the entry points for teams, and the prioritization of efforts based on the fire's behavior and the environment. This direct application of tactics ensures that resources are used effectively to mitigate the incident, save lives, and protect property.

This understanding underscores the significance of tactics over broader concepts like setting long-term goals, which are more strategic in nature, or delivering resources and communicating with other agencies, which are important but serve a different function in the overall emergency response framework. The essence of tactics lies in their responsiveness to the immediate challenges and objectives faced at a fire incident.