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Permalink Reply by john hall on December 20, 2008 at 6:26pm

I'll take a stab.
- construction type is ordinary looking at the age of the buildings and surroundings.
- Risk profile would be life safety if the upstairs is occupied and fire spread to the B side exposure. Firefighters doing searches need hose or search rope. The upstairs could be junk storage and there probably one entry/exit point.
-operational concerns would be fire spread to B and D exposure, parapet wall, store sign, and awning. Also looking at the second floor windows there has been modifications with possible dropped ceilings. Obvious danger of fire in the cock loft.
-IAP would be quick primary of second floor. Hold fire to room of origin and keep fire from horizontal extension by aggressive vertical ventilation.
- The stability and collapse concern are low at this time due to size of fire and type of construction. If fire makes it past room of origin and into voids anticipate floor/ceiling in V collapse. Again the parapet sign/awning needs to be watched and standing by the front door is a no no.
-I would expect this fire to to grow vertically and then spread horizontal through void spaces to B side exposure and later if unchecked to D side.
-I wish I knew if the upstairs are apartments or storage, what is kept in the building, do I have access to the rear for my truck co.
- If the fire extends into the exposure I would ramp up safety due to it’s no longer a room and contents fire but a structure fire and then structural stability becomes a concern. I hope early on extra alarms were called so crews are in place in the exposures and you don't have to wait for help while the block begins to burn.