OG 4047 Critical Fire Ground Factors Size Up

Issued By: OPERATIONS (S. Thurber)
Approved By: Fire Chief William H. Mosher
Date of Issue: 2011/01/05

PURPOSE:

Incident Commanders (ICs) must assess critical fire-ground factors to develop an Incident Action Plan (IAP). This Guideline provides Incident Commanders (ICs) with a ‘Checklist’ of the basic items that are involved in size-up, decision-making, initial action, review and revision on the fire-ground.

OBJECTIVE:

Incident Commanders will have a complete understanding of the basic items that are involved in the size-up, decision-making, initial action, review and revision on the fire ground. 

SCOPE:

This operating guideline applies specifically to the Incident Commander at emergency scenes but as this position may change between members it is recommended that all career and members review and understand the procedure to be followed

PROCEDURE: 

Initial Incident Commanders (ICs) and subsequent Incident Commanders (ICs) shall identify the Critical Fire Ground Factors in the following ways:

1.    Visually- Looking at the structure, conducting a 360.
2.    By Reconnaissance- Sending someone to check out, go see, look up, research, advise, call, go find etc.
3.    Preplanning and Familiarity Factors- Reviewing formal preplans, M.D.T.

The effective Command Officer can only deal with a limited number of factors of any kind on the fire-ground.

Within the framework of that limitation, the identification of critical factors is extremely important. All the factors are not critical in any one tactical situation. Command must identify the critical fire-ground factors that are significant in each tactical situation the list of factors offers a framework for that process.

Many times we begin operations before adequately considering the critical fire-ground factors. Size-up is a conscious process involving the very rapid but deliberate consideration
of the critical factors and the development of a strategy and rational plan of attack based on those conditions. 

In critical fire situations, Command may develop an initial plan and initiate an attack based on an incomplete evaluation of fire-ground factors. In such cases, efforts must continue throughout the operation to improve the information on which those decisions are based. Command will seldom operate with complete information during initial operations. The following are fire-ground factors which should be evaluated by Command as they pertain to each tactical situation.

1.    BUILDING

•    Size
•    Roof type (Bow string, lightweight etc.), and condition
•    Roof covering (concrete, metal, shingle)
•    Interior arrangement/access (stairs, halls, elevators)
•    Construction type
•    Age
•    Condition faults/ weaknesses
•    Compartmentation/ separation
•    Vertical-horizontal openings, shafts, channels
•    Outside openings-doors and windows/degree of security
•    Utility characteristics (hazards/controls)
•    Concealed spaces/attic characteristics
•    Exterior access
•    Effect the fire has had on the structure (at this point)
•    Time projection on continuing fire effect on building

2.    FIRE

•    Size
•    Extent (% of structure involved)
•    Location
•    Stage (inception-flashover)
•    Direction of travel (most dangerous)
•    Time of involvement
•    Type and amount of material involved structure/ interior finish/contents/everything
•    Type and amount of material left to burn
•    Product of combustion liberation

3.    OCCUPANCY

•    Specific occupancy
•    Type-group (business, mercantile, public assembly, institutional, residential, hazardous, industrial, storage, school)
•    Fire load (size, nature)
•    Status (open, closed, occupied, vacant, abandoned, under construction)
•    Occupancy associated characteristics/hazards
•    Type of contents (based on occupancy)
•    Time-as it affects occupancy use
•    Loss
•    Control profile/susceptibility of contents to damage/specific loss control needs (computers, business records)

4.    LIFE HAZARD

•    Number of occupants
•    Location of occupants (in relation to the fire)
•    Condition of occupants (by virtue of fire exposure)
•    Incapacities of occupants
•    Commitment required for search and rescue (personnel, equipment, and Command)
•    Fire control required for search and rescue
•    Needs for EMS
•    Time estimate of fire effect on victims
•    Exposure of spectators/control of spectators 
•    Hazards to fire personnel
•    Access rescue forces have to victims
•    Characteristics of escape routes/avenues of escape (type, safety, fire conditions, etc.)

5.    ARRANGEMENT

•    Access, arrangement, and distance of external exposure
•    Combustibility of exposures
•    Access, arrangement, and nature of internal exposures
•    Severity and urgency of exposures (fire effect)
•    Prioritize exposures
•    Most dangerous direction- avenue of spread
•    Time estimate of fire effect on exposures (internal and external) 
•    Obstructions to operations
•    Capability/ limitations on apparatus movement and use

6.    RESOURCES

•    Personnel and equipment on scene
•    Personnel and equipment responding
•    Personnel and equipment available in reserve or in Staging
•    Estimate of response time additional resources
•    Condition of personnel
•    Capability and willingness of personnel
•    Capability of Command personnel
•    Availability of hydrants
•    Supplemental water sources
•    Adequacy of water supply
•    Built-in private fire protection (sprinkler, standpipe, alarms)
•    Outside agency resource and response time

7.    OTHER FACTORS/CONDITIONS

•    Time of day/night
•    Day of week
•    Season
•    Special hazards by virtue of holidays and special events
•    Weather (wind, rain, heat, cold, humid, visibility)
•    Traffic Conditions
•    Social conditions (strike, riot, mob, rock festival) 

8.    ACTION

•    Effect Current action is having
•    Areas not yet covered
•    Stage of operation (Tactical Priorities)
•    Remote IC set up
•    Is an effective IAP in place
•    Is an effective organization in place
•    What is the worst thing that can happen
•    Are operating positions effective
•    Are there enough resources
•    Are we operating safely
•    Is layering in place

OPERATING GUIDELINE REVIEW:

This operating guideline shall be reviewed when/if there are changes/amendments to procedure utilized for critical fire ground factors size up.