This week we look at a very common occupancy that is found in many communities, a dry cleaning establishment.

1.) What do you know about the dry cleaning process in general? How is it done, what chemicals and products are used?

2.) Think about the fire load caused by clothes hanging on movable racks suspended off the floor, wrapped in flimsy lightweight plastic bags. What do you think that will do to flame spread and rapid fire growth?

3.) Think about smoke, mixed with steam, (maybe high pressure steam) and chemical vapor. A little more dangerous then our “normal” hostile environment.

4.) Based upon the conditions shown in the scenario, what are your actions? How many lines and where, how do you search this establishment, how do you vent, what do think your access is like from the rear of this building?

5.) When does a building fire transition into a Haz mat incident? Have you ever had this experience? Have you ever thought about it?

Stay safe, and stay thinking!

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013

This week we have a fire in a wood frame in an un-sprinklered motel.

1.) How does your first alarm assignment stack up against the potential life safety problem here? What will you do about this deficit?

2.) What is the potential path of spread? Explain how you would prioritize you search? Floor above first? Adjacent units? Unit of origin?

3.) Based on your response to question 2, where does your first line go?

4.) How do you verify that everyone is accounted for from a civilian occupancy point of view?

5.) Consider that the best tactical choice you have with limited personnel may be to put the fire out as quickly as you can! Your circumstances dictate your procedures.

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013

This week you have received a call of “the laundromat is on fire”, this building has immediate adjacent exposures. Base your decision on what you see and your experience.

1.) In your experience have you ever mistaken steam for smoke early in your career? If you have not had this experience learn how to recognize the difference.

2.) Indicate the mostly like cause of a fire scenario in these establishments? Two come immediately to mind.(yes there are many)

3.) What is the content fire load in this building?

4.) In addition to a hose line what equipment should be carried in for the initial investigation?

5.) What initial actions should be taken in relation to utilities, and what are you looking for as you examine the exposures?

Stay safe, and stay thinking!

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013

This week we have a roof fire or something more in a very specialized occupancy. I am not sure if fireworks are legal or not in your area but if they are or if they are in a mutual aid area you should be prepared.

Just one question this week instead of five:

What’s your plan?

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013

This week a fire at a car dealership service area.

1.) This is a relatively new building possibly, with a suppression system. Do you see any evidence the system is operating? How would this affect your decision making?

2.) What are the hazards that could be associated with this type of occupancy?

3.) What is your consideration for members operating under air? Do you train with SCBA in large open areas with random obstructions?

4.) What size attack line(s) and where?

5.) How would you tactically deal with roll up doors on both sides of the building? Attack lines from both sides? With openings that large you could maneuver without opposing lines. Is it one for attack, one for clearing smoke? How will opening an overhead roll-up door affect fire behavior?

Stay safe, and stay thinking!

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013

This week a residential fire. The house could be typical of a Southeastern US home.

1.) What size and where does the first line go?

2.) What is the ventilation status right now?

3.) What is the room in the large window on the left of the door?

4.) What is the most likely room in the window on the right side?

5.) Do you locate the pumper in the street or do you put the pumper in the driveway? What is your department’s SOP? Is there ever a time to use the driveway?

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013

This week some considerations about a downtown restaurant fire. Take a look.

1.) Daytime and the place is occupied. It suddenly filled with smoke. How will you conduct a primary search? How often do you train on commercial building search? How many people does it take?

2.) In this scenario with a storefront how does that impact your preconnect hose line stretch ? You pull 150′ or 200′ and you have the width of the sidewalk…..have you practiced? A normal stretch in suburbia might be across a long driveway and front yard.

3.) What size lines and how many and where?

4.) Because you know your district (I hope!) you know there are apartments above. With limited manpower which comes first fire attack or clearing floor 2?

5.) What are your tactical operations for a fire in grease ductwork extended to the roof?

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013

This week a vehicle fire that could be a big problem.

1.) When you get dispatched to a vehicle fire, always ask for more information if it is the least bit unclear. If someone says truck fire ask what kind of truck.

2.) How close would you have to be to recognize this? Lines might be stretched and crew dismounted. Now what?

3.) How far back do you evacuate? How do you measure that in the field?

4.) How long will you be on scene?

5.) Think this through; How will this incident ultimately be mitigated?

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013

Although the standard lumber yard might be less common, often being replaced by the large indoor box stores and home improvement stores, they still represent a significant problem.

For this scenario we will assume a wind condition of 10 MPH sustained with some higher gusts.

1.) What protection systems might be available for outdoor rack storage? Have you checked and preplanned the ones in your area?

2.) What will you do for initial fire attack? Large handlines? Ground monitors?

3.) Did the main building start first or is it now an exposure to the volume of radiant heat?

4.) Do you commit apparatus into the secured yard area, or just attack lines?

5.) How high and how stable are the piles? What other materials can be found here besides just lumber?

Stay Safe and stay thinking!

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013

This week we look at a residence that might be a typical southwestern style.

1.) What are some construction features that might affect fire attack and fire behavior?

2.) Based upon what you see, what size line and how long of a line will you need?

3.) what is the placement of the first line and how many other lines and where?

4.) What problems if any will the roof construction present?

5.) What would be the impact of block and stucco walls on an interior fire attack?

Stay safe and stay thinking!

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013