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"On-Scene; Five Story, Brick with Heavy Fire Showing on the Number 1 and 2 floors...."
OK, we've been working some smaller scale operations scenarios to date. Let's kick this up a few notches and see if we can generate some discussions, and put some "virtual "sweat and stress on you.
Think about printing these images and the scenario out and tabletop this with your command or company officers or other firefighters. Look at specific issues affecting firefighter safety; operational logistics; strategic incident action planning (IAP); tactical operations; structural collapse considerations; area-wide impacts (exposures) and logistics; incident command organizational structure; resources needed etc….
You're first due; (Engine Company or the Battalion Chief). Time is 23:30 hrs. Arriving on the Charlie "C" side); You have a vacant building complex consisting of five structures, Type III Construction (Brick and Joist-Heavy Timber). Fire showing on the number 1 and 2 floors of building #4 and extending. There is a light wind 5 MPH coming in from the Delta side. There are hydrants at every street intersection. Look over the images and get a feel for the severity of the incident and the magnitude of the operations. Start asking yourself the following questions;
What can I tell or predict about this building type and it’s characteristics?
How can I predict the buildings will perform under heavy fire conditions?
What am I considering in terms of fire loading and fire suppression needs (GPM)?
What are my considerations for firefighter safety?
What’s my IAP going to look like?
What’s my Incident Command ORG Chart going to look like?
What do I need for resources? Immediately or within the next 15 or 30 minutes, or beyond?
How do I organize the incident scene? What type of command (ICS) resources do I need to effectively and safely manage these operations?
What are my immediate strategic considerations?
What are my tactical considerations?
What's my life safety concerns?
What are my top THREE (3) Concerns; strategically and tactically (3 for each)
If you’re not sure about how these types of buildings are constructed or perform under fire conditions, do some research, look over some trade journals or look online. There a number of great resources and books out there. Consider this a great opportunity to expand your horizons and get some new insights or sharpen some existing KSA’s.
I think that’s enough for now. Let’s see how the comments and replies go and we can add further info and data later if needed.
Have fun….and stay safe.
Remember; Building Knowledge = Firefighter Safety.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Don Zimmerman on
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EVAC the building and do the urban renewal method, surround and protect the exposures. The picture says it all. To search the building will take to long and you will need 50 FF just for that. It will take 50 more to protect exposures for at least 36 hours maybe. If you showed up with 6, go to people first and get them moved away and to safety. Ok I moved the above from the other discussion.
To add more now that I have seen the pictures. You will lose the next structure to the left, you may lose part of the other one when the burning one falls down, Evac all three and move to the far corner of the empty lot, order transit busses to house people and get a school open for about 400 people.
Safety, Everyone goes home!!!! This is a no win, protect the exposures from long range, 1.5 the height of the building.
Zimm -
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Permalink Reply by Christopher J. Naum, SFPE on
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Thanks for the great reply and shared insights. You made mention of the Detroit Warehouse Fire. It occurred on March 12, 1987 and resulted in three (3) firefighter LODDs.
Detroit Warehouse Fire Claims Three Firefighters (March 12, 1987)A massive fire destroyed two large warehouse complexes and resulted in the deaths of three members of the Detroit Fire Department on March 12, 1987. The circumstances were particularly unusual in the fact that the fatalities resulted from two separate incidents, in different buildings, almost 3 hours apart. The manner in which the fire conditions changed very rapidly, resulting in one fatality and several injuries, is also unusual and could easily have resulted in several additional fire fighter deaths
I've attached the USFA report that provides the details - Attachments:
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Detroit LODD March1987.pdf, 2.2 MB
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Permalink Reply by kel229 on
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This maybe crazy, but what if you vented the roof above the stairwells and elevators shafts. Heavy timber construction buildings last a long time in fires. I think with fire on the 1st and 2nd floor there is no fire at the roof. Vent the roof, give the fire and smoke somewhere to go and fight it from the windows. Maybe you don't save the building, but if the fire is going up maybe you don't lose the adjunct buildings. Just a thought.
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