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Size Up Drill
There is a lot of talk about the different kinds of size up in regards to survivability profiling. Although I respect those views, I just don’t think we are doing ourselves in the fire service justice by creating an additional “method” for performing your size up.
I still believe that a size up is a size up and the information you gather during it, along with experience, training and knowledge, will direct you into the right direction. If the building is tenable or not; if it has burned before; if it is in poor condition; it doesn’t change how you size up. What changes is how you use the information.
That is if you have trained properly. Let’s face it, not all company and chief officers are adequately trained in giving a thorough size up and applying that information into your strategy and tactics.
So, here is a little drill that is simple but yet effective. I am going to give you four sides of a single-family dwelling and you need to size it up.
In addition, what can you tell about the layout of the house just by looking from the outside? What are the indicators or clues that you are using to make these educated guesses?
Share your experience and techniques, new officers and firefighters need this stuff, so be generous.
Train often and stay safe.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Talbot Brooks on
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I'll add on and prove my foolishness:
- Picture window likely puts living room front left, bath right rear (vent pipes), kitchen off side door and extends to wall with no windows , likely long hall down center to provide bed/bath access
- Split A/C unit - other half likely above hall - collapse hazard
- Read the smoke here carefully - pay special attention to the crawlspace (fire below is a show stopper), attic is open and fire will rip up there.
- Serious overhead exposure problems - pine tree will erupt like a torch and rain debris if it cooks off
- Lightweight construction (this looks like a pre-fab set on an older slab or a shotgun with a knee wall with many open access spaces - this fire will suck in air, burn hot and fast, and get into the attic or under the floor quickly)
- Rapid primary search with TIC, aggressive interior attack to the hallway from whichever entryway makes sense - don't get stuck in the hall
- Is this a metal roof?
- Power line likely to drop - don't go under it with hoseline, personnel, etc...
- Fire may well vent itself before you ever get the chance (lightweight materials)
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