You're First-Due: What Would You Do?

Published Wednesday, November 9, 2011 | From the November 2011 Issue of FireRescue

Editor’s note: Now more than ever, company officers and fire instructors are looking for inexpensive, easy ways to instruct their crews on the basics. Although simulations can’t replace street-level experience, they can help you prepare for the high-risk, high-stress decision-making required on the fireground. Sims are a great way to enhance crew continuity and refine company-level performance. FireRescue has teamed up with Digital Combustion to provide you periodic, free simulations. We’ll introduce the scenario in the magazine, then provide you with details on how to access the online simulation. It’s a prepackaged resource; all you have to do is share it with your crew! —Tim Sendelbach

The Scenario
Incident type: Two-story residential fire
Time: 12:15 pm (today’s date)
Units Dispatched: Use the standard response for your agency
Temperature/Wind Speed: Use today’s weather conditions
Location of Hydrants: Hydrants are located on each corner of the neighborhood with 500 feet of spacing in between.

Discussion
With the provided information and videos, consider the following questions:

What would you include in your initial on-scene report?
Are there any specific hazards to be considered based on the presenting conditions?
Where should the first-arriving engine be positioned? Why?
Where should the first-arriving truck be positioned? Why?
What are your immediate tactical priorities?
What is the survivability profile of this fire? How will that impact your incident action plan?
Would this incident require any additional resources? If so, what resources would you call for?
How does the building construction type affect your tactics?
What line/nozzle would you pull for initial attack?
What line/nozzle/positioning would you use for back-up?
What type of ventilation would you request?
Describe the duties of the RIT/RIC for this incident.

Photos and videos provided by Digital Combustion

Arrival Front

Arrival Rear

3 Minutes Front

Based on the visible conditions:

Would you adjust your initial incident action plan?
Has the victim survivability profile changed? Why or why not?
Has the fire progressed from a room an content fire to structure fire? If so, what indicators do you see?
Would you modify your strategy (Offensive to Defensive)? Why or why not?
What safety concerns do you have?

3 Minutes Rear

5 Minutes Front

Based on the visible conditions:

Would you adjust your initial incident action plan?
Has the victim survivability profile changed? Why or why not?
Has the fire progressed from a room an content fire to structure fire? If so, what indicators do you see?
Would you modify your strategy (Offensive to Defensive)? Why or why not?
What safety concerns do you have?

5 Minutes Rear

Follow-up exercise: Complete the ICS 201 form and discuss your incident action plan, incident objectives, etc.

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