Ten Minutes in the Street:

Your company has arrived on scene at a building that apparently is either VACANT or initially appears Unoccupied. You have moderate fire evident upon arrival on the Alpha side. In this case, what are you going to do strategically or tactically? What are your presumptions, can they be validated, what is at risk in your dynamic risk assessement and size-up?

Here are some basic definitions to keep us all on the same playing field;

Vacant: refers to a building that is not currently in use, but which could be used in the future. The term “vacant” could apply to a property that is for sale or rent, undergoing renovations, or empty of contents in the period between the departure of one tenant and the arrival of another tenant. A vacant building has inherent property value, even though it does not contain valuable contents or human occupants.

Unoccupied: generally refers to a building that is not occupied by any persons at the time an incident occurs. An unoccupied building could be used by a business that is temporarily closed (i.e. overnight or for a weekend). The term unoccupied could also apply to a building that is routinely or periodically occupied; however the occupants are not present at the time an incident occurs. A residential structure could be temporarily unoccupied because the residents are at work or on vacation. A building that is temporarily unoccupied has inherent property value as well as valuable contents.

From a risk assessment and safety standpoint, what are your options or what does your organization, SOPs, or department “culture” drive you to do? Is it business as usual? You know what I mean; “..you pull up on street side, do a quick size-up, yup-we’ve got a fire, seems safe enough, now let’s get to work, we’ve got a job.” Do you go offensive, interior operations or defensive? Assume you have plenty of resources and everything is favourably on your side today.

Also HERE for recent post