Structure Fire Size upStructure Fire Scene Size Up
Rohnert Park Department of Public
Safety
C.Quinn #475
Why Scene Size up is so Critical
Every firefighter should understand the value of this
process and how the process can minimize property
damage and personnel injuries. One huge tactical
mistake that happens all to often is the failure to render a
360 degree size up. Rushing the scene without key
information regarding the hazards could endanger
yourself and your crew.
Objectives
Correct Address(If Different)
Size of building, construction type, fire load
Fire conditions and location
Potential Victims
Special Hazards
Additional Resources needed
Type of attack (Off vs Def vs IC)
Working Fire Upgrade
Inside the Command Post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmuwwTnaVIc&spfrel
oad=5
Coming on Scene
-Adrenaline
-Remain calm, take a breath and set the tone
-Think before you speak, take a second to gather your thoughts
-Be precise and don’t drag on your size up.
-Spit it out and get to work!
Size Up
YOUR PAINTING THE PICTURE!
An evaluation of the incident conditions which forms the
basis for the incident action plan
Size up should tell the IC:
What has happened
What is happening
What will happen
Structure Type
-Single story or multiple story?
-Residential or commercial?
-Single family or multi family?
-Garden style apartment or strip mall?
Construction Type
-Wood framed or masonry etc.
Fire Conditions
Heavy smoke?
Black pressurized smoke? or wispy
smoke?
Heavy flames?
Color?
Location of Fire
Key Points to identify as you arrive on
Scene
Percent of Structure involved
In the attic? In the basement?
What side of structure
A/B/C/D
Exposures?
Arrangement of exposures
Anything Threatened?
Multiple apartments
Common Attics
Common Basements
Wildland
Vehicles
Modes
Fire Attack (Offensive)
Defensive
Assume Command
Department Policy will dictate
Assuming Command
Example “assuming Rancho IC”
Usually based off a name of a road or business exc.
Department SOP/SOG if this is automatic on first arriving
engine
Utility Hazards
Electricity: Power lines involved
-Assume all power lines are active
-Shut main off not individual breakers
-Do not turn back on power
Natural gas
-Shut off gas on walk-around
-May have multiple gas mains to building (apartments or strip mall)
Safety Precautions
Three stripes your out, Post a look out
Grow houses/ labs
Do not turn gas or power back on once secured
Water Supply
Know your hydrant systems (dead end, loop system exc.)
Water Tenders if in rural area
Department SOP/SOG if you state you’ve secured your
own water supply by laying in.
Additional Resources
Heavy Rescue
Water Tender
Additional engines/trucks
Additional Command Staff
Other Considerations
Upgrade to a working structure fire (departmental)
What resources does that get you?
360
Company Officer must get a 360 in if possible
Could help discover potentially trapped victims
If anything is discovered during 360 then adapt and overcome.
Attempt to secure utilities if possible
Exercise #1
Give a size up of what you see
Exercise #2
Exercise #3
Summary
Size up is a skill which improves with practice. For it to be
effective, the initial attack Incident Commander must use a
logical system for analyzing information retaining that
which is essential and passing by the remainder.
The critical factors then become part of the Incident Action
Plan.