Apartment Fire

You arrive ( as the; Battalion Chief, Second Due Engine Co. Officer, Safety Officer or First Due Truck Co. Officer) You've got a working fire in the number two floor of a multiple occupancy apartment building. The Building is wood frame (Type V) dimensioned lumber, solid wood floor joists, truss roof with plywood deck, subfloor and sheathing; built in the mid 1970's. The first-due engine company has established a water supply, pulled a line and are getting ready for entry...
Look over both photos. Pick an officer role....

What is the Building Profile telling you?
Where's the fire going to want to go?
What are your immediate resource needs (apparatus and manpower)?
What is the projected severity level of the fire?
What are the Safety Considerations

What are your going to do (IAP), IF you were the: (pick one, OR ALL)
Battalion Chief,
Second Engine Co. Officer,
Safety Officer or
First Due Truck Co. Officer

Now get to work...

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Permalink Reply by Harley on October 27, 2008 at 4:58pm

As command, call for a 2nd alarm. Assign the next arriving company inside with another attack line for search & rescue, giving a primmary and secondary. 2. Assign a crew to the B side apt. & D apt. for search and rescue along with primmary & secondary and removal of all residents. 3. Assign a Engine Crew (4 man) to RIC and have (2) secure utilities. 4. Assign a Safety Officer for a 360 5. Have a Aerial company secure their own water supple and set up for defensive attack on A/D corner when/if the situation warrants. It appears the fire is traveling to A side apt.

Exterior water applied from the outside in from the initial crew would only spread the fire thoughout the rest of the common unit and impinge the adjoining structure. Not only would you have just 1 unit involved but possibly 2. At the same token, if the first arriving crew encountered heavy heat/fire in the common attic of Apt. A, or there was just to much fire for 1 attack line to control, I would advise them to get out and engage the Aerial for a defensive attack. In no way would I send a crew on the roof for ventilation if the attic had full involement, the fire would eventually vent it for you if.

Looking at this picture, one would assume the fire was temp. stopped at the sheetrocked walls separating A & B apts. It is a total surprise from this photo that the fire hasn't breeched the roof, considering the fire comsumption involved. Major concern would be protecting adjoining units on both sides of the middle unit with big water and write the middle unit off.

Apartment Fire

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