Fireground Factors 202.02 Flashcards
Size up is defined as?
An appraisal of magnitude or dimensions of an event or incident
Critical Fireground Factors are meant to?
Be used as a tool to assist the incident commander with simplifying complex information into 7 distinct categories
Critical unknown information
Incident action plan and initiate an attack based on incomplete information compiled in an initial size-up which leaves the incident Commander with significant questions regarding the incident structure, conditions and/or occupancy.
The effective management of each fireground factor requires Command to apply all methods of information gathering and communication. Also knowns as forms of size up. What are these methods?
Visual, Recon, Preplan
What is the visual form of size up?
- Obvious observation
- Gained by actual looking at a tactical situation from the outside.
Reconnaissance
Not visually available, gained by sending someone to check out, go see, look up, research, advise call, go find. “ completion of the 360 then receiving an information. Oriented report.
Preplanning and Familiarity
Gained through C.A.D., bldg drawings, haz materials. Increases info for command from an outside of a tactical situation
Building
-Size
- Roof type (bow string, bar joist, etc.), and condition
- Roof covering (concrete, composite, tile)
- Interior arrangement/access (stairs, halls, elevators)
- Construction type
- Age
- Condition (faults, weaknesses)
- Value
- Compartmentation/separation
- Vertical/horizontal openings (shafts, channels)
- Outside openings (doors and windows/degree of security)
- Utility characteristics (hazards/controls)
- Concealed spaces/attic characteristics
- Exterior access
- Effect the fire has had on the structure (at this point)
- Time projection on continuing fire effect on building
Fire
- Size
- Extent (% of structure involved)
- Location
- Stage (inception, free‐burning, flashover)
- Direction of travel (most dangerous)
- Time of involvement
- Type and amount of material involved (structure/interior finish/contents)
- Type and amount of material left to burn
- Product of combustion
Occupancy
- Specific occupancy
- Type/group (business, mercantile, public assembly, institutional, residential, hazardous,
industrial, storage, school) - Value characteristics associated with occupancy
- Fire load (size, nature)
- Status (open, closed, occupied, vacant, abandoned, under construction)
- Occupancy associated characteristics/hazards
- Type of contents (based on occupancy)
- Time (as it affects occupancy use)
- Loss Control profile/susceptibility of contents to damage/specific loss control needs
(computers, business records, etc.)
Life Hazard
- Number of occupants
- Location of occupants (in relation to the fire)
- Condition of occupants (by virtue of fire exposure)
- Incapacities of occupants
- Commitment required for search and rescue (personnel, equipment, and Command)
- Fire control required for search and rescue
- Needs for EMS
- Time estimate of fire effect on victims
- Exposure of spectators/control of spectators
- Hazards to fire personnel
- Access rescue forces have to victims
- Characteristics of escape routes/avenues of escape (type, safety, fire conditions, etc.)
Arrangement
Access, arrangement, and distance of external exposure
- Combustibility of exposures
- Access, arrangement, and nature of internal exposures
- Severity and urgency of exposures (fire effect)
- Value of exposures
- Most dangerous direction (avenue of spread)
- Time estimate of fire effect on exposures (internal and external)
- Obstructions to operations
- Capability/limitations on apparatus movement and use
Resources
- Personnel and equipment on scene
- Personnel and equipment responding
- Personnel and equipment available in reserve or in Staging
- Estimate of response time for additional resources
- Condition of personnel
- Capability and willingness of personnel
- Capability of Command personnel
- Availability of hydrants
- Supplemental water sources
- Adequacy of water supply
- Built‐in private fire protection (sprinkler, standpipe, alarms)
- Outside agency resource and response time
Other Factors and Conditions
- Time of day/night
- Day of week
- Season
- Special hazards by virtue of holidays and special events
- Weather (wind, rain, heat, cold, humid, visibility)
- Traffic conditions
- Social conditions (strike, riot, mob, rock festival)
