Promotional Scenario #7

Promotional Scenario #7

At 18:30 hours on Friday September 1st, an alarm is transmitted for a reported fire at 349 Main Street.

Pre-incident information for 349 Main Street identifies the building as a 30’x100’, one-story, ordinary constructed (Class 3) hardware store with standard flat roof and a three foot high parapet wall. Surrounding properties are: Exposure B – 3-story frame, mixed occupancy with 8 residential apartments over an antique furniture store. Exposure D – Kitchen supply store that is a similar attached structure with a common/shared cockloft.

As the officer of Engine Co.1 the first unit to arrive, you observe fire inside the rear of the Hardware store on the first floor concentrated in the B/C corner, with a heavy smoke condition throughout the store. A light haze of smoke is also visible in the D exposure. You notice the furniture store is closed. There are numerous occupants in the apartments above the furniture store, some curious as to all the commotion. Initial reports indicate all occupants have evacuated the hardware store except for the owner who is gathering receipts from the register. All patrons have evacuated the kitchen supply store. A few workers are still inside.

It is a cloudy day with light rain and a temperature of 82 degrees. Wind is 15 mph out of the east gusting to 20 mph. Two Engine Companies, one Ladder Company and a Battalion Chief are assigned.

QUESTION:

1. As the first arriving officer and current Incident Commander, what are your concerns at this incident, and what actions will you take based on those concerns?

Student Note: Take 5 minutes to prep this. 10 minutes to answer. Good Luck!

Answer Key:

Construction /Class 3 – Must anticipate fire spread through all concealed spaces and voids common to this type of construction.
Construction/Class 3 Taxpayer– Must anticipate fire spread throughout the store and into the common cockloft with Exposure D.
Construction/Class 3 Taxpayer – Must anticipate limited and fortified entrances and exits: most notably in the rear. Assign resources to the “C” side early.
Construction /Class 3 taxpayer – If heavy fire exits via the front showroom window, we must anticipate collapse/failure of the parapet wall.
Occupancy / Hardware store – Rapid fire growth due to stock. Stretch and operate 2-1/2” hose lines for reach and penetration.
Occupancy / Hardware store – Hazardous Material issues due to occupancy content. Must also be mindful of water runoff from fire department operations causing an environmental concern. Request Hazardous Material Unit to respond.
Apparatus and Staffing – Insufficient, transmit a second and third alarm. Third alarm will report to a designated staging area.
Resources – Additional resources are needed. Use Promotional Prep’s 2U PERS WAR as your guide
Occupant Life hazard – Store owner still inside. Numerous occupants still occupying the attached three story frame. Several workers still in the kitchen supply store – Need to assign resources to search/rescue and evacuate the fire store and exposures B and D.
Firefighter Life Hazard – Fires in hardware stores present significant concerns due to combustible, flammable and explosive stock. Obtain a copy of MSDS/Right to Know Information.
Firefighter Life Hazard – We have to anticipate multiple ceilings, some of old tin creating a concealed space for fire to travel and a difficult space to open up. These same spaces can produce back draft conditions. Charged hose lines and with means of egress is a must when opening/pulling ceilings.
Water Supply –Assign Engine Companies to establish primary and secondary water supplies for fire attack and exposure protection.
Auxiliary appliances – Although the exercise does not indicate any, if there are any sprinkler systems within the row, we would assign resources to supply the fire department connections (FDC) for those buildings.
Street Conditions – Generally streets (Main Street) that serve commercial occupancies will have numerous parked cars affecting apparatus placement and operations. Efforts must be taken to ensure engine company placement and a sufficient and effective “scrub” area for the arriving ladder company(s).
Weather/82 degrees with a 15-20 mph wind out of the east. Warm temperatures will require early relief and rehab for members. A Canteen service should be requested early. Winds above 10 mph blowing in any direction with an attached row of buildings causes concern. In this exercise a 15-20 mph blowing out of the east toward the higher/attached wood frame causes added concerns regarding fire spread and exposure protection.
Exposures – Assign and manage resources in exposures B and D.
Exposures – Search and evacuate. Control utilities. Open up, check and halt fire extension. Stretch 1-3/4” hose lines into both buildings. Extension concerns are the common cockloft into the D exposure, and the frame exterior and open light and air shafts of the B exposure.
Area/structures – Square footages associated with the hardware store, kitchen supply store (30’x100’) as well as the antique store will present challenges due to their size and probable maze like configurations. Members will utilize search ropes with disciplined air monitoring to provide for added safety. The fire store will require a 2-1/2 inch hose(s) for added reach, penetration, and extinguishing capability.
Area/incident scene – From either your 360 degree view of the incident, or from information relayed to you by the roof team, obtain information regarding smoke and fire conditions, life hazard concerns, and accessibility in the rear.
Location and extent of fire – Information is indicating that the fire is in the B/C corner of the store on the first floor. If fire exits through the roof, the wind will push the fire toward the B exposure. Light and air shafts and the frame exterior of the B exposure will need to be protected. Additionally, we have to anticipate fire extension into the cockloft spreading into the D exposure store. As mentioned in the Exposure Size-Up concern, resources will be assigned to the interior and roof of exposures B and D.
Time – Time of the incident (18:30) indicates that most residents will be home in the attached three story frame. Also at this time, we have to also assume heavy traffic and how that may add to response times.
Height – The hardware and kitchen supply store should be easily laddered. Exposure B will require an aerial ladder to access the roof. All roofs/windows of all buildings should have multiple means of egress in/on and off.

Student Note: As you know from our seminars, the above is a bulleted list of information. You will need to expand your oral communications to clarify your thoughts!

References:
Promotional Prep, Lt./Captain Promotional seminars
Fire Ground Size-Up, Terpak – Jersey City
Assessment Center Strategy and Tactics, Terpak – Jersey City
Fire Ground Operational Guides, Terpak – Jersey City/Viscuso – Kearny NJ
Collapse of Burning Buildings, Dunn – New York

For additional information:

Text Books:

Assessment Center Strategy and Tactics from Fire Engineering Books
Fire Ground Operational Guides from Fire Engineering Books
Fire Ground Size-Up from Fire Engineering Books