This has generated some great discussions... We look forward to hearing what you have to say.
Based on the picture above ask yourselves the following questions:
• Identify the construction features of the building that will help to increase or decrease fire spread.
• List any construction features that may impact the safety of crews operating in or around the building.
• Identify size-up information. What does the situation tell you?
Where will your first line go? How about the second line?
• What is the Benefit to be gained by taking the Risk?
• Is this a Go or No Go situation?
Are there any other considerations to assist our decision to Go or No Go? Is there anything else to add?
Special thanks to Caldwell Clark (FCFD Engine 30) and Fairfax City Medic 33/C for the picture.
4 comments:
This appears to be a T-shaped garden apartment, a duplex or maybe even a triplex. The rear (fire section) appears to be an off set extension of the building or may even be another building butted up against the duplex. This could be a maintenance shop, storage area, boiler room or another apartment. Looking at the Bravo side, it looks as though there may be a chimney stack, which could be causing the fire area to appear as an off set extension of the building. The chimney may be from a boiler or previous boiler. A 360 walk around would provide more information. It is hard to tell from the picture if smoke is even pushing out of the adjoining residential area (side Alpha), but it looks like there may be smoke coming from the front doors). No smoke in this area may indicate we are dealing with a structure that is adjoined on the exterior, but perhaps not so much on the interior (possible fire wall, etc.).
Time of day and type situation...night time fire, residential occupancy and cars in the driveway tell me we have to suspect occupants evacuated and/or trapped.
Construction type is likely to be Ordinary (type 3) or wood (type 5). This could be confirmed by looking for a row of brick headers every 5-7th row and pre-plan information. It also looks like energy efficient windows were added, which may indicate a renovation at some point and delay in windows blowing out from heat conditions and maybe even limited smoke.
Assuming ordinary construction, the structure will stand up well to fire conditions before structural stability is compromised. However, this type of construction allows for rapid fire spread through common vertical voids pipe chases, etc.
Fire is showing from the first floor on side Baker with auto exposure to the second floor and roof line soffit area. It is safe to say we have extension on the second floor and within the attic space. We also have exposure to the cars. The fire is showing from what appears to be a doorway, but it may even be a window. I can't tell if there is a second floor window above, but I am assuming there is.
The roof style is likely to be pitched, flat, hipped or a combination. Looking at the auto exposure, it appears there is a soffit area, which would tell me I'm dealing with some type of pitch, not a flat roof. I do not see cock-loft vents, so safe to say I'm not dealing with a flat roof or rain roof.
Once the actual layout of the building is determined from our walk around and perhaps a quick interview of by-standards (occupants) we can determine where our lines will go. The first line (1 3/4) should go to the first floor fire, preferably from the unburned side. This may come in from side Alpha or possibly side Bravo, depending on the room of origin and how it relates to the rest of the structure. A quick sweep of the area around the cars and the Bravo side will help to reduce exposure to the cars and auto exposure prior to moving in.
The second line should back up the first if needed or can advance to the second floor. Third line should go to the attic space. Any other lines shall take care of immediate exposures and shall act as back up lines.
This is a go situation. The fire is extending, but is still manageable. Time of day and type occupancy indicates lives may be in danger. A reliable confirmation by residence that everyone has evacuated should cause fire personnel to continue their size up, risk/benefits profile and proceed cautiously with fire attack.
Entry and laddering on side Alpha is good to conduct a search and evacuation, to check fire conditions and attack, and to confirm the interior layout of the building and how it relates to the fire area. Good communication and a coordinated attack will prevent opposing lines and pushing fire on searching firefighters.
A picture tells a thousand words, but clearly a 360 walk around would offer us more insight as to what is actually going on at this fire. This stresses the value of taking time to conduct your walk around and teaching everyone that size up is ongoing and not something that is only conducted by the officers. Everyone should be looking at the big picture and conducting their own personal size up. What you catch that an officer may not have may make or break the situation.
Be Safe!
Leatherlungs8 has left a new comment on your post "You Make the Call!":
Let me begin by informing you that I was on this fire, nevertheless, I will try to be unbiased in my reply. It is my intention to provide you with the facts about this incident as it is my hope that you, the reader, may be able to learn or reinforce a lesson from it as I have. I was unable to participate in the critique, so the opinions that I offer are solely my own and do not represent any of my coworkers or the department in and of itself. That's my desperate attempt at a disclaimer, anyhow.
Without further ado; the fire was in a single family, brick colonial, 2 stories from the front, one from the rear. The fire began in the garage (quadrant B) and auto extended to the floor above as well as to the suffits. The occupants were out of the house upon arrival of the first in unit. Given the circumstances, the fire had gained considerable headway into the living space. The initial attack line was advanced through side Alpha, this was done to fight the fire from the unburned side and to protect the stairs for firefighters that would soon be searching above. I am unsure of where the second line was advanced to so I will refer you to "the Book". Our procedures typically dictate that the second line be stretched to the floor above, given those plans are not deviated from by the OIC or the crew from the first line does not need assistance. As I see it, there is no reason to believe that this did not occur.
It is imperative to remember that we, as firefighters took an oath (in one way or another) to protect live and property. Hoselines are advanced to specific locations to protect life, both civilian and, in this case, firefighters, cover exposures (interior / exterior), and confine and extinguish the fire. The gain is that we do what the public has called upon us to do. The risk is obvious as this is a dangerous occupation, however it is minimized, not only by good communication and a coordinated effort, but discipline as well.
I am blessed to belong to a department that practices all of the above on a regular basis. I am equally blessed to be assigned to a station / shift that trains hard, consistantly.
On this particular incident, however, the first due truck was delayed, thereby decreasing the efforts of a coordinated attack. As a result, the first due officer was placed in a difficult predicament. Whereas normally the crew from the truck would find the fire and work their way back in search of victims, the engine officer had to decide whether to commit the line to a given location or break off and try to find the fire before committing the line. If you think that there is an easy answer to this I would encourage you to think again. Since the truck had not yet arrived, ventilation was delayed. Although the fire had self vented, the crew was still met with zero visibility conditions just inside the front door. Now, take a moment to place yourself in this man's shoes (or boots!). Do you take the chance of committing the line to the wrong place, possibly having the fire get behind you? Or, do you rely on your instincts and protect the remainder of the crew by leaving them tethered to a hoseline by the front door? Do you risk one life or three?
Good, bad, or indifferent (you decide!), this officer decided to take the later of the two options. The Mayday occurred after he found the fire and became slightly disoriented while returning to direct his crew. To be more precise, his foot became entangled and he asked for assistance after issuing a Mayday.
I ask you what you would do in this particular situation not to express the severity of the incident. Just the same, my intent is not to place blame. As it were, the officer that needed assistance, remained calm, cool and collective during all of his radio transmissions and if you asked him, he referred to it as being not a "big deal" afterwards. Rather, I ask you this to emphasize that we are all a entracte piece of the puzzle. As a team, we are dependant on each other's actions. Through discipline, we are expected to perform these actions in a timely manner. When we leave out just one piece of the puzzle, we are no longer complete and the results will, more then likely, have a domino effect.
In closing, I will say that experience was gained at this fire, by all who were willing to embrace it. As a reminder, though, how many times have you read about an incident that went sour very rapidly? Better yet, think about all of those LODD or Near-Miss reports in which a survivor referred to the incident as a "bread and butter" or "typical" fire.
Please, don't just be safe, but practice and preach it!
Friends DON'T let friends work on Engine 430
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