title: size-up: review and unique residential structure ... · 3) establishment of command presence...

Title: Size-Up: Review and Unique Residential Structure Considerations

Instructor: Danny Braitsch

Time: 1.5 hours

Equipment:

PowerPoint Presentation: Size-Up: Review and Unique Residential Structure Considerations

Size-Up Practice Scenario Attachments (See pages 6-16 of this document)

Radios, paper, pens, and other materials to complete practice scenarios as a shift

Enabling Objectives:

At the conclusion of instruction, the student should be able to review the concept of size-up of an

incident scene.

At the conclusion of instruction, the student should be able to discuss the importance of

conducting a complete and comprehensive size up on an incident scene.

At the conclusion of instruction, the student should be able to discuss commonly used methods

and acronyms/mnemonics that assist in sizing up an incident in a concise but thorough manner.

At the conclusion of instruction, the student should be able examine unique and atypical

residential structure conditions and considerations.

At the conclusion of instruction, the student should be able to complete scene size-up scenario

drills with crews and coworkers to facilitate conversation about more complex residential

structure findings and possibilities.

Overview:

I. Size-Up Review

II. Brief Initial Report (B.I.R.)

III. C.A.N. Report

IV. Basic Size-Up Considerations (Other Helpful Size-Up-Related Mnemonics)

V. Unique Residential Structure Considerations

VI. Size-Up Practice Scenarios

VII. Conclusion

Lesson Plan:

I) Size-Up Review

A) The process of gathering and relaying information to assist officers and firefighters in making

safe, efficient, and effective decisions on an incident.

1) Prepares arriving units for what to expect and how to proceed

2) Answers the following questions:

a) What do I have?

b) What am I doing?

c) What do I need?

B) Initial size up

1) Brief Initial Report (B.I.R.)

2) Conduct a thorough 360º size up

C) Size-up is ongoing

1) Prepare for conditions to change at any time

2) C.A.N. status report: Conditions, Actions, Needs

II) Brief Initial Report (B.I.R.)

A) Verbal report completed by the first arriving unit

B) Provides insight into the details of the incident for other arriving units

C) Typically follows a format

1) Includes only pertinent information

2) Directs incoming units

3) Establishment of command presence

D) Format Suggestion:

Structure Fire

Confirm incident address.

Describe the structure:

Number of floors

Type of occupancy (Single-/Multi-family, TH, Commercial, etc)

Describe the conditions/pertinent information

Fire/Smoke

Rescue/Life hazard

Advise on water supply/lay out

Advise on exposures (if relevant)

Announce mode of attack

Establish (Road/Business Name) command

III) C.A.N. Report

A) C.A.N. Report is a verbalized report made by officers/firefighters on scene to advise on what

is happening, what crews are doing, and what else is needed to mitigate the incident

1) Conditions

a) Changes in fire progression, findings of fire in other areas, verbalizing fire out

b) Changing smoke conditions inside/outside of the structure

c) Additional hazards: holes in floors, high heat conditions, etc.

2) Actions

a) Water on fire

b) Check for extension

c) Needs -- May include equipment, manpower, ventilation, medical, etc.

IV) Basic Size-Up Considerations (Other Helpful Size-Up-Related Mnemonics)

A) Arriving on an incident can be overwhelming, particularly for new officers or for uniquely

complicated scenes/structures or events

B) Use of mnemonics may prove helpful in remembering what to consider and address while

sizing up the structure and making ongoing observations

1) “B E L O W”

Building -- Construction, dimensions, area, age, stories

Extent -- Fire/smoke conditions/spread

Life Hazards -- Time of day, cars in driveway, evacuated

Occupancy -- Residential, commercial, church, mall, etc.

Water supply -- Hydrant, drafting, need for tankers, etc.

2) “C O A L W A S W E A L T H”

Construction

Occupancy

Area

Life Hazards

Water supply

Auxiliary systems

Street conditions

Weather

Exposures

Apparatus/Personnel

Location/extent of fire

Time of day

Hazardous conditions

V) Unique Residential Structure Considerations

A) While utilizing acronyms and mnemonics may be helpful in aiding a concise size-up for more

structurally routine and basic residential structures, some homes present unique and atypical

conditions.

B) While it is important to be well-versed and practiced on the basics, it is imperative to

maintain an open-mind and train to be prepared for any situation or emergency.

C) The following slides will briefly discuss some unique and atypical presentations of single-

family residential structures for discussion and review.

1) Unique Considerations

a) Residential Structure Area (Sq. Ft.)

(i) Large homes (with square footage in excess of several thousand sq.ft.) pose

unique concerns for firefighters

(ii) Must consider length of handlines used

(iii) Firefighters working inside may become lost, confused, or disoriented more

easily

(iv) Extent of fire may be significant inside without any obvious outward signs

from the initial size-up and 360º

b) Residential Structure Layout/Floor Plan

c) Uniquely-shaped homes

(i) Homes shaped in anything other than a typical four-sided A-B-C-D box

configuration create issues in clearly explaining location of conditions

(ii) Create unique and unexpected floor plans

(iii) May disorient firefighters working inside, making it difficult in an

emergency situation to explain where in the building the firefighter is

d) Older homes

(i) Unexpected/atypical floor plans

(ii) May have additions/attached structures

e) Open floor plans

(i) Allow for ease of fire spread

f) Unexpected grade changes

(i) Some homes may have access to two or more levels one just one “side” of

the structure (e.g. Size-up Practice Scenario 1)

g) Residential Structure Content

(i) Additions

Owner-built attached rooms/additions and partition walls added to

separate rooms may make navigating the home disorienting

(ii) Conditions of the home

(iii) Apparently vacant homes

Structural integrity concerns (e.g. holes in floors/walls, compromised

structural components)

b) Hoarding conditions

(i) Heavy fire load

(ii) Increased possibility of collapse, entanglement, becoming

confused/disoriented

h) Residential Structure Construction

a) Older homes

(i) Balloon-frame construction makes an impact on fire spread

(ii) Masonry exterior may present collapse concerns

b) Attachments/additions to home

(i) Additions or attachments to the home made by the owner may not follow fire

code and may limit or alter points of egress from the structure (e.g. hiding

windows with walls, etc.)

i) Other types of residential structural features unique to your jurisdiction.

VI) Size-Up Practice Scenarios

A) Attachments:

1) Appendix 1 (1 page)

2) Appendix 2 (3 pages)



VII) Conclusion

A) Reviewed the concept of size-up of an incident scene.

B) Discussed the importance of conducting a complete and comprehensive size up on an incident

scene.

C) Discussed commonly used methods and acronyms/mnemonics that assist in sizing up an

incident in a concise but thorough manner.

D) Examined unique and atypical residential structure conditions and considerations.

E) Provided scene size-up scenario drills to complete with crews and coworkers to facilitate

conversation about more complex residential structure findings and possibilities.

References

Peterson, F. W. (1993) Tradition and change in the nineteenth-century iowa farmhouses. State Historical

Society of Iowa, Vol. 52, Num. 3, pg. 251-281. Retrieved

from:https://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9743&context=annals-of-iowa.

Robertson, H. (2010). Drills for practicing how to describe fireground conditions. Fire Rescue Magazine,

Vol. 5, Iss. 10. Retrieved from: https://www.firerescuemagazine.com/articles/print/volume-

5/issue-10/training-0/drills-for- practicing-how-to-describe-fireground-conditions.html

Rubin, D. L. (1996). Initial operations. Firehouse.com. Retrieved

from:https://www.firehouse.com/home/article/10545545/initial-operations

Pictures/floor plans credited to and obtained from the following websites:

Architectural House Plans https://architecturalhouseplans.com/product-category/unusual-house-

plans/page/2/?posts_per_page=20

State Historical Society of Iowa: https://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9743&context=annals-

of-iowa

https://architecturalhouseplans.com/product-category/unusual-house-plans/page/2/?posts_per_page=20

https://architecturalhouseplans.com/product-category/unusual-house-plans/page/2/?posts_per_page=20

https://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9743&context=annals-of-iowa

https://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9743&context=annals-of-iowa

Appendix 1 Page 1

Size-Up Practice Scenarios

The following practice scenarios were created to challenge the way you think about sizing up residential

structures. Not all residences you encounter will be typical or standard.

Three scenarios follow, 3 pages each.

Page 1: Dispatch information, pictures of structure

Practice completing a B.I.R. and 360º size-up.

Page 2: Discussion questions

Page 3: Floor plan/pictures of structure for clarity (websites provided)

Appendix 2 Page 1

Size-Up Practice Scenario 1

Month: October

Time of Day: 12:35

Weather: Partly cloudy, 55º

Box Alarm: Report of smoke in the basement

Address: 4321 Mansion Ln

Caller is homeowner, states she is the only one home, husband at work and kids are at school, she is

vacating the residence

CAD notes:

Hydrant approx. 400ft away at cross street Mansion Ln/Harbor Rd

Mansion Lane is a no-outlet residential street

Front View

Rear View:

Appendix 2 Page 2


Discussion Points

Before viewing floor plans, where you consider making access to investigate a report of smoke in the

basement?

Which side of the building is Alpha side? Bravo? Charlie? Delta?

Would you express this any differently on a fireground to ensure clarity?

Consider grade changes to the rear of the building.

The backside of this building has entry points at both ground and basement level.

Consider size of building (over 4,000 sq. ft.) and its unique floor plan

How would this impact choice of handline?

How would this impact search operations?

What are your search/rescue considerations?

What other considerations might you make with regard to Time of day? Weather conditions? Water

supply?

Think: C.O.A.L. W.A.S. W.E.A.L.T.H. and B.E.L.O.W.

Appendix 2 Page 3


Floor Plans

Main Floor

Basement Level

Appendix3 Page 1


Month: January

Time of Day: 17:35

Weather: Cold 41º, Windy 13mph

Box Alarm: Report of fire in the home

Address: 1234 Crystal View Dr

Caller is homeowner, noticed smoke and fire coming from second floor storage room

CAD notes:

Not a hydranted area, nearest cistern approx. 2.5 miles away

Crystal View is a no-outlet residential street

Front View

Rear View

Appendix3 Page 2


Discussion Points

Before viewing floor plans, where would you expect to find the storage room of this structure, assuming

you see no fire upon arrival. Where would you believe the stairs to be?


Would you express this any differently on a fireground to ensure clarity?

Consider size of building (approx. 1,600 sq. ft.) and its unique floor plan.

How would this impact choice of handline?

How would this impact search operations?



supply?


Appendix3 Page 3


Floor Plans

Main Floor Interior Glimpse

Second Floor

Appendix4 Page 1


Month: July

Time of Day: 20:45

Weather: Warm, 41º, Nighttime and cloudless

Box Alarm: Structure fire

Address: 7890 Farmhouse St

Caller is a passerby, stated he saw flames inside a window in the structure, had his window down and

smelled smoke, caller could not stop

CAD notes:

Building is believed to be vacant

Nearest hydrant approx. 100ft. from driveway, driveway approx. 800ft. back and gravel.

Front View

Appendix4 Page 2


Discussion Points

Before viewing floor plans, how would you believe this building to be laid out? Where would the stairs

be? Is there a basement?


Consider the size and age (built in 1860) of this building and its distance from the road.

How would this impact water supply decisions? Handline choice?

How would the construction/age of this structure (balloon frame) impact fire spread?


Do you believe this building is unoccupied?


supply?


Appendix 4 Page 3


Floor Plans

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