FIRST-DUE
BY BOB PRESSLER
You are the officer of the first-arriving engine company for this fire. As you proceed down the street toward the address, smoke is visible rising into the afternoon sky. The chief reports that he will be delayed, so the fire is yours to run. The initial response to this incident is two engines and one truck company, with a total of 12 firefighters.
30-SECOND SIZE-UP
Photo 1. Your initial size-up should show a 112-story, wood-frame structure approximately 30 feet wide and 50 feet deep. Immediate forcible entry will not be a problem, as the front door is wide open. The building is occupied by some type of recreational surf and snowboard business, which is evident by the advertising signs visible on the front of the building. The building is newer looking, and there is a strong possibility that the roof assembly is constructed of lightweight wood trusses. The fire`s location is not easily determined from the exterior, but most fires in commercial occupancies start toward the rear where the utilities and work areas are often located. The heavy, dark smoke indicates an advanced fire and that you should summon additional help.
By using the rules “A.D.U.L.T.S.” for handline selection (see “The 21/2-Inch Handline” by Andrew A. Fredericks, December 1996, page 40), you find that you are unable (U) to determine the fire area, and you may be dealing with one (L) large, uncompartmented fire area. These two factors suggest that a 21/2-inch handline should be stretched to attack this fire. The larger handline gives needed fire flow, reach, penetration, and knockdown capabilities while affording the crew protection. Accordingly, you will order the first engine company to stretch a 212-inch handline to the front door (photo 2).
There are two different schools of thought as to where you should be positioned as initial IC. One says stay at the front of the fire building, establish a command post, remain there until relieved by a higher-ranking officer, and then meet up with your company. Another says give the initial size-up on arrival and remain with your company for firefighting operations. The level of experience and training of your company officers will determine which option you choose. In a well-trained fire department, the officer may stay with his crew, as the second- and third-arriving officers will be able to see the tactics he has already employed and do what is necessary to support them. Letting the officer remain with the company usually ensures that the line will get advanced to the seat of the fire.
If you decide to stay with the handline, certain things must be covered while the line is stretched and charged. You should take a quick look at as many sides of the building as possible; by going to both front corners, you see three sides of the building and determine how deep the building is.
You must also ensure that you have or your chauffeur will establish a water supply. Some departments operate off booster tank water while water supply is being established. This tactic is up to individual departments and is based on many factors, including fire size, booster tank size, time of the second engine`s arrival, hydrant locations, and experience of the firefighters operating the handline. Whether you drop your own feeder line or are to be supplied by the second engine, your chauffeur should notify you when he has hydrant water.
Photo 3. On arrival, truck company personnel must look to support the engine company`s advance. They should look to perform horizontal ventilation both front and rear and report back to you on conditions on the side(s) of the building that you have not seen or on any changes in conditions that will affect the attack.
At this fire, two skylights in the rear of the building on the exposure two (B) side of the building have self-vented, and fire is roaring 10 feet over the roof line. The location of the main body of fire inside the building is now known.
The truck company should also have spotted the side doors that are directly under the venting fire. These doors should now be forced, and if the engine company is having trouble advancing through the occupancy, a second line may be able to be brought in through this entrance to attack the fire. If this back door is used, the interior crews must be notified before water is started so that they can withdraw to an area of safety.
Photo 4. At this fire, the second line was stretched to the front door to back up the first line`s position. Some horizontal ventilation has been performed, but due to the visible decals on the front windows, the entire glass panes were not removed. The second half of the front door is still in the closed position, and this should be forced open before the second line proceeds into the fire building. This will give both companies a larger area to back out through in case conditions deteriorate.
Two members of the truck company, the inside team, should join with the advancing engine crew and perform searches as the line advances. These firefighters should also open some examination holes in the ceiling to check for extension in the attic area above the advancing engine.
Photo 5. As additional resources arrive, a third handline is stretched and the tower ladder is supplied. Because the inside teams were not able to advance through the store to the fire area, the third line was used through the rear doors, and the fire was darkened down.
The master stream was also used on the tower ladder but through the skylights. Use extreme care when operating streams into ventilation openings. This practice only serves to prevent the fire from venting and usually will spread the fire throughout the area under the vent area. At this fire, the tower ladder bucket might have been used from ground level and the stream directed through the side doors and up into the involved attic area.
LESSONS LEARNED
Size-up is an ongoing process that starts with receipt of the alarm and continues until the fire is extinguished or the building burns down. The IC must be able to evaluate new information, such as the self-venting skylights, and change the attack plan accordingly.
Handline size should be based on fire conditions, and all personnel must know when to stretch what size line. Too small an initial handline will only let the fire increase in size and spread farther into the structure.
When dealing with buildings that may have lightweight roof components, a decision should be made early in the attack as to whether roof ventilation will be required and if it is safe enough for firefighters to perform it. A heavy smoke condition or advanced fire in the attic space should influence the IC`s judgment. When in doubt, don`t send them out. If operations are to be performed, use all natural openings provided, like these skylights, or cut the roof and then abandon the roof positions.
Do not operate outside streams into ventilation openings. This only tends to spread the fire. Windows that are vented to assist the engine`s advance should be completely cleaned out for maximum air movement. All door openings should also be made as wide as possible to facilitate firefighters` moving through them.
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BOB PRESSLER, a 22-year veteran of the fire service, is a firefighter with Rescue Company No. 3 of the City of New York (NY) Fire Department. He created and produced the videos Peaked-Roof Ventilation and SCBA Safety and Emergency Procedures for the Fire Engineering video series “Bread and Butter” Operations. Pressler has an associate`s degree in fire protection engineering from Oklahoma State University, is a frequent instructor on a wide range of fire service topics, and is a member of a volunteer department.
