Ten Minutes in the Street: "Just a Little off the Sides"

Building and Occupancy Risk Assessment and Profiling
Let’s look at some size-up opportunities and risk assessment observations at a typical commercial strip center. I want to leave the details out of the narrative, and thought it would be a great opportunity for everyone to share what they “See” in the images presented.

What are we typically looking at when we arrive on scene? In the absence of anything visible from the street side, we at times may neglect to pick up on key building, occupancy and structural features that further lend to operational considerations related to fire suppression, fire behavior, fire dynamics, structural stability, safety, integrity etc….

I offer you this; you have a single story commercial structure consisting of a strip center arrangement. From there, it’s up to you to provide what you see, suspect, expect, presume, anticipate, assume, guess, think, believe…

Let’s discuss factors and considerations as to age, building type, construction, stability, safety, operational considerations, fire load, roof systems, structural features, hazards, access, egress, apparatus placement, fire areas, exposures, extension, occupancies, etc and more…

What have been your experiences in fires within similar structures and occupancies? What’s the biggest challenge operationally, or from a safety perspective?

Building and Occupancy Risk Assessment and Profiling is a mission critical skill, that can define an operational strategically and tactically and can set it into motion in a positive or detrimental manner.

At first glance there’s not a whole lot on the “sides”…but it’s more than meets the eye… “Just a little off the sides, please”

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Permalink Reply by Smoke Eater on October 26, 2009 at 10:58pm

I would say that this one is going to have wooden trusses for the roof. There are multiple occupancies. I did notice what looks like fire walls which would help to slow down the fire. The only problem is that plumbers and electricians drill holes through these to run lines, leaving a hole for fire to travel through. So even if a fire occurs in one of the occupancies, crews should search the rest of the building for extension. There are a couple of A/C units on the roof which is going to be a safety issue if the fire has "eaten" up the trusses. The overhang would be a huge safety issue if heavily involved in fire. There may not be sprinklers due to the fact that I don't see an FDC anywhere outside the structure. It looks like there is a hydrant directly across the parking lot from the "A" side of the structure. First in could grab that for a water supply. If the parking lot is full, apparatus placement is going to get tough.
Now my question is are we looking at only the building that has the sides labeled or are we looking at the whole complex? If that's the case then I can go a little further.

Stay safe everyone!!!!

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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on November 4, 2009 at 5:09pm

Just adding to already stated:
age, building type, construction

Older (30yr+) ordinary construction, commercial structure. The "A" side of the building does have what appears to be fire walls and maybe 3 different uniots comprising that side. The other side is tough to tell if there are fire walls.

stability, safety, operational considerations, fire load, roof systems, structural features, hazards

Like Capt 703 thinks, I will also go with a wood truss for the roof system, depending upon fire location and burn time, collapse potential needs to be considered and not operating to close. Fire load may vary, looks like a barber shop and some vacant stores. Roof systems do have HVAC units on top for a dead load. No visible skylights or other vent type of features to make vent easier if vertical vent is an option. Since there is no good "natural" type of ventilation and with the big windows, taking them out could be backdraft potential. Hazards, can vary, any remodeling or rearraging the inside, are the fire walls really intact? access, egress, collapse potential, etc.

access, egress
This is the biggest reason to reply to this and was thinking about this before and noticed there are no back doors to any of the stores, at least along the "D" side of the structure. Meaning if there was a fire and crews went in, there really isn't too many other options to get out. Doesn't really give any occupants any second way out either unless there is some common space conained inside.

apparatus placement, fire areas, exposures, extension, occupancies,

A good 360 would be imperative here and reading smoke would be key, especially if smoke was seen coming from the motar joints in the masonry. Biggest exposure concern is the other strip mall in proximity, but also the other stores of the structure. Given the conditions seen upon arrival, the best bet may be some big lines spraying into the roof system from the windows/doors, from a distance.