Fire departments use ventilation blowers or fans to pressurize a structure prior to suppressing a fire. This pressurization tactic, called the positive pressure ventilation (PPV), can assist in the venting of smoke and high temperature combustible products. It makes attacking the fire easier than without PPV.

The PPV fan tactical operation is to get the hoseline ready at the door, move the fan to an area outside the door, usually about 10 feet from the opening so that the air cone will completely cover the door opening when running. When the personnel are dressed in protective gear, they open the door with water ready to spray. The sudden influx of air to the air-starved environment will cause the fire to rapidly burn. The rapid burning will make the smoke clear and lift from the floor. This allows personnel to get into the building quickly and extinguish the flames.

Also, in the same situation, after the fire is extinguished, personnel can control smoke removal using the fan. They close all the doors and windows in the structure. They then place the fan outside an opening, usually a door or window, and force air into the building. The fan is placed usually about 10 feet from the opening. The idea is to cover the opening completely with the air cone from the fan to push pressure into the building. Firefighters then run the fan at a high speed to create large CFM's of air and they open a window, door, etc. on the opposite side of the structure to allow the smoke to be forced out of the building.