Promotional Scenario #13

Promotional Scenario #13

Taxpayer Fire 

Oral Assessment exercise:

At 04:30 hours on a cold March morning, you are dispatched to a reported fire at 220 Madison Ave. The building located at 220 Madison Ave. is a 1-story row of stores constructed of Class 3/Ordinary design. Within the row, there are 6 attached stores ranging from a Deli, Shoe store, Monaghan’s restaurant, Art store, a Dry Cleaner to a Antique shop. Each store has an HVAC unit on the roof with a 2 foot high cockloft extending over the entire row of stores. Each store measures approximately 30 x 60.

Upon your arrival, you observe fire showing through the front display windows of the restaurant, with heavy smoke showing from the Shoe store. You respond with 2 Engine Co.s, 1 Ladder Co. and a BC. You are the first arriving FD Unit.

 

QUESTIONS:

  1. As the Incident Commander, how will you direct your engine and ladder companies to safely extinguish the fire?

  

  1. The fire is gaining headway at this fast spreading fire. What actions would you take ?

 

NOTE: Take 10 minutes to prepare your notes. Ten minutes to give your answers. Good luck!

 

Answer Key:

  1. As the Incident Commander, how will you direct your engine and ladder companies to safely extinguish the fire?

ENGINE COMPANIES:

  • Establish primary and secondary water supplies.
  • Stretch 2.5 inch hose lines to the Restaurant and Shoe store.
  • Use the reach of the hose streams to darken down all visible fire.
  • Assess the Canopy and parapet wall before committing members to the front sidewalk.
  • Force entry where needed.
  • Pull ceilings at entrance-way to determine if fire is overhead before advancing in.
  • Utilize TIC to determine fire location and extent.
  • Have rear doors opened/vented opposite the movement of the initial attack lines.
  • Have the roof opened over/close to the main fire area.
  • Coordinate vent with the engine companies movement.
  • Stretch back-up hose lines to protect initial attack crews.
  • Stretch hose lines in exposure stores to check and halt fire extension.
  • Seek/request progress reports.

 

LADDER COMPANIES:

  • Upon arrival, direct/place apparatus to access the roof.
  • Have members utilize ground/aerial ladder(s) to access the roof.
  • Ground ladders op.s may be challenged by front canopy. Aerial and tower ladder better.
  • Have ladder(s) raised 3-5 rungs above parapet wall for entry/exit.
  • Check/sound roof for stability before exiting ladder and parapet wall.
  • Raise additional ladders sides and rear for secondary means of egress off the roof.
  • Have members be mindful of HVAC location above/near the fire.
  • ROOF TEAM:
  • Open up any natural ventilation openings.
  • Utilize TIC to determine fire location and extent.
  • Assess roof integrity.
  • Cut roof over main fire.
  • Cut inspections to determine horizontal spread.
  • Prepare for trench cutting operations.
  • SEARCH and OV TEAM:
  • Pull all ceilings at entrance-ways to determine if fire is overhead before advancing in.
  • Utilize TICs to determine fire location and extent.
  • Vent rear doors in coordination with the engine companies movement.
  • Force – Vent exposure stores in coordination with engine company assignments.
  • Control all openings. Limit air movement.
  • Search for workers/security who may still be inside.
  • Consider/utilize Search Rope(s).
  • Monitor SCBA – air consumption.
  • Pull ceilings in fire stores and adjoining exposure stores.
  • Utility Control.
  • Seek/request progress reports.

OVER-ALL OPERATIONS:

  • Request 2nd and 3rd alarms to handle all assigned tasks.
  • Assign Division and Group Supervisors to Fire Store(s), Exposures B and D, Roof and Rear.
  • Conduct periodic PAR’s.
  • Have members continually monitor SCBA air consumption.
  • Rotate crews.
  • Provide Relief and rehab.
  1. The fire is gaining headway at this fast spreading fire. What actions would you take ?
  • Increase the size and number of hose lines.
  • Increase the size and number of ventilation openings to control/limit the fire spread.
  • Assess fire travel – Consider Roof Trenching operation. (More savable real-estate toward the D side.)
  • IF the above fails:
  • Transmit an URGENT message.
  • Withdraw all members from the fire stores and roof area directly over the fire.
  • Sound air horns.
  • Sound evacuation tones.
  • Conduct a PAR and account for all members.
  • Announce Defensive Operations.
  • Transmit an additional alarm to Staging.
  • Re-adjust IMS to reflect new assignments.
  • Utilize Master and Tower Ladder streams.
  • Establish Collapse zones – Be mindful of the parapet wall and Roof – HVAC areas.
  • Determine/Assess what Store (if any) you can stop the horizontal fire spread.

Student Note: For more information on Taxpayer and Strip Mall fires, review the following:

TEXT BOOKS:

* Fire Officer Oral Assessment Study Guides: Promotional Prep

* Assessment Center Strategy and Tactics: DC M. Terpak – Jersey City

* Fire Ground Size – Up: DC M. Terpak – Jersey City

* Fire Ground Operational Guides – DC F. Viscuso – Kearny NJ, DC M. Terpak – Jersey  City

WEB-SITES:

* promotionalprep.com

* firegroundsizeup.com

* fireopsonline.com

FACE BOOK:

* facebook.com / Promotional Prep

* facebook.com/ Mike Terpak Fire Train