Firefighting Strategy

Size-up

Strategic Objectives

Chapter 2

What is Size-up?

• Rapid mental evaluation

• Evaluation of problems and conditions that affect the outcome of the incident. (Norman)

• Three Phases:

– Pre-incident preplans, area surveys, QAPs

– On-scene Specific time and place info

– On-going changes due to activity or lack of

Phases of Size-up

1. Pre-incident Information

• QAPs, Pre-plans, Area Familiarization

2. Initial Size-up

• On scene observations

3. On-going Size-up

• Changing conditions, additional information

13 Points of Size-up

• COAL WAS WEALTH

• WALLACE WAS HOT

13 points of Size-up

• C

• O

• A

• L

• W

• A

• S

• W

• E

• A

• L

• T

• H

•W

•A

•L

•L

•A

•C

•E

•W

•A

•S

•H

•O

•T

COAL WAS WEALTH

• Construction

• Occupancy

• Apparatus

• Life Hazard

• Water Supply

• Aux Appliances

• Street Conditions

•Weather

•Exposures

•Area (Sq Ft)

•Location / Extent

of fire

•Time

•Height / HazMat

WALLACE WAS HOT

• Weather

• Apparatus

• Life

• Location

• Area

• Construction

• Exposure

• Water

• Appliances

• Streets

• HazMat / Height

• Occupancy

• Time

Construction

• Class 1 Fire Resistive

• Class 2 Noncombustible

• Class 3 Heavy Timber

• Class 4 Ordinary

• Class 5 Wood Frame

• Class 6 Light Weight Wood Frame

COAL WAS WEALTH

Occupancy

• What goes on inside?

• Who / How many occupants?

• What is stored inside?

COAL WAS WEALTH

Apparatus and Manpower

• What resources do I have?

• What resources will I need?

• What will the effect be on the

Firefighters?

COAL WAS WEALTH

Life Hazard

1st Priority

• What are the threats to occupants

and firefighters?

• How do I reduce life threats?

– Heat / Smoke / Fire

COAL WAS WEALTH

Water Supply

• Fire Flow Requirements

– Gross fire flow = (L x W) / 3

– Required fire flow

• Water sources

• Supply and Attack line selection

COAL WAS WEALTH

Auxiliary Appliances

• Sprinkler systems

• Standpipe systems

• Fire pumps

• Other extinguishing / venting systems

• HVAC

COAL WAS WEALTH

Street Conditions

• Traffic

• Construction

• Weight limitations

• Apparatus spotting / parking

COAL WAS WEALTH

Weather

• Heat

• Cold

• Wind

• Humidity

• Rain / snow

COAL WAS WEALTH

Exposures

• Unburned areas of occupancy

• Other structures

– Construction

– Occupancy

COAL WAS WEALTH

Area

• NFA Fire Flow Formula

– Gross Fire Flow = (L x W)/3

• One floor

• GFF x % involvement = required flow

• +25% for each additional floor up to 5

• +25% for each exposure

COAL WAS WEALTH

Area

• Line selection – (1) 1¾” @ 200 gpm = 600 sq ft (25’ x 25’)

– (1) 2½” @ 365 gpm = 1000 sq ft (30’ x 30’)

• Line length– Hose length = building L + W + one length for

each floor above the first.

– 1¾” @ 200 gpm has 40 lbs fl / 100’

– 2½” @ 350 gpm has 30 lbs fl / 100’

COAL WAS WEALTH

Location and Extent

of the Fire

• You’ve got to know:

–where it is

–how big it is

• Always over-estimate

COAL WAS WEALTH

Time

• Discovery time

• Notification time

• Processing & Dispatch time

• Turn-out & Response time

• Reflex time

COAL WAS WEALTH

Height

• Ladder selection

– 24’ extension = 2nd floor window / roof ?

– 35’ extension = 3rd floor window/ roof ?

• Aerial placement

• Line length

• Collapse zone

COAL WAS WEALTH

Haz Mat

• Hazardous Materials

• Hazardous processes

• Hazardous storage

• Hazardous conditions

COAL WAS WEALTH

Outcome of Size-up

• The outcome of an effective size-up is a

clear understanding of the challenges and

problems presented by the incident.

• The IC must prioritize these problems,

develop solutions, and assign tactical

resources.

Operational Mode

• Offensive

– Aggressive Interior Attack

– Benefits are greater than Risks

• Defensive

– Exterior Operations

– Risks outweigh Benefits

• Transitional

– Changing conditions

IC’s Role / Mode

• Investigation Mode

• Command Mode

– Fixed Exterior position

– Management and Coordination of resources

• Combat Mode

– Interior Position

– Aggressive attack required

– Transfer of Command as soon as possible

Strategy

Incident Priorities

Strategic Goals

Tactical Objectives

Tasks

Incident Priorities

1. Life Safety

2. Incident Stabilization

3. Property and Environmental Conservation

• ALWAYS considered in this order

• Incident size-up factors will dictate the

order they are accomplished

Strategic Goals

• R

• E

• C

• E

• O

• V

• S

• Firefighter Safety

• Rescue / Evacuation

• Exposures

• Confinement

• Extinguishment

• Overhaul

• Ventilation

• Salvage

Firefighter Safety

• Risk / Benefit Assessment

– Any Benefit Gained must be worth

the Risk Taken.

– Tactical Operations selected must

minimize risk.

Rescue / Evacuation

• Evacuation

• Primary and Secondary searches

• Extrication

• Protection

• Extinguishment

RECEOVS

Exposures

• Internal exposures

– Unburned areas of fire building

• External exposures

– 0-30’ definitely

– 30 – 100’ maybe

– 100’+ probably not

RECEOVS

Confinement &

Extinguishment

• Application of water via hose lines

• Confinement may be only option if

overpowered or understaffed

– (1) 3-4 man company can ‘attack’ with

approx 200 gpm flow.

– They can ‘defend’ with approx 365 gpm.

RECEOVS

Confinement &

Extinguishment

• Confinement

– Accomplished by placing lines in strategic

positions to halt the advancement of the fire.

• Extinguishment

– Accomplished when the BTU absorption rate of

the total quantity of water being applied to the

fire exceeds the BTUs being generated by the

fire.

RECEOVS

Overhaul

• Search for hidden fires

• ‘Hydraulic’ overhaul is NOT the answer

• Aggressive / systematic approach

• Objective is to lessen damage

– Fire Damage vs. Firefighter damage

RECEOVS

Ventilation

• “Vent for Firefighting” or “Vent for Life”

• Take advantage of natural movement

• Timing is essential

• Positive Pressure Ventilation

• Read the signals

RECEOVS

Salvage

• Removal of valuables and contents

• Not always the last priority

• “The thing Mrs. Smith will remember longest will be the compassion with which you treated her and her belongings, not your skill as firefighters.”

RECEOVS

Initial Tactical Expectations

1. Establish a water supply

2. Get an attack line in-place to confine and

hopefully extinguish the fire

3. Conduct a ‘Primary Search’ of areas with

high occupant probability

4. Ventilate to improve tenablility

Initial Tactical Expectations

1. Establish a water supply

• Sufficient to support initial suppression

activities for a minimum of 5 minutes.

• Booster tanks – 500 – 1000 gallons

• Supports 100 – 200 gpm fire flows for 5 minutes

• Additional or Back-up lines cut into booster tank

capability rapidly.

• Supply line provides insurance

Initial Tactical Expectations

2. Get an attack line in-place to confine and

hopefully extinguish the fire

• Fire flow calculations, Manpower, Time,

Maneuverability, Water supply, SOPs

• 1½” hose > 95 – 125 gpm, with 2 ff’s

• 1¾” hose > 125 – 200 gpm, with 2 –3 ff’s

• 2½” hose > 200 – 300 gpm, with 3 – 4 ff’s

Initial Tactical Expectations

3. Conduct a ‘Primary Search’ of areas with high occupant probability

– Paths of egress

– Sleeping areas

– Bathrooms

– Other areas inside structure

– Outside the structure

– Account for all occupants

Initial Tactical Expectations

4. Ventilate to improve tentability

• Horizontally ‘Near’ fire area

• Vertically above the fire area

• PPV

Command Modes

• Investigation Mode

– IC determines nature of incident, supervises crew, directs other resources, operates inside structure

• Fast Attack Mode

– IC issues initial assignments, then leads crew in suppression activities, operates inside structure, passes Command

• Command Mode

– Directs & requests additional incident resources, assigns crew members to another officer for supervision, operates outside the structure