SIZE-UP

• The systematic process consisting of the rapid, yet deliberate, consideration of all critical fire ground factors that leads to the development of a rational attack plan

WHO DOES SIZE-UP?

• Incident Commander

•Company Officer

• Firefighter

WHEN DO WE SIZE-UP?

• Before the Incident

• When the alarm is recieved

• On arrival

• Throughout the incident

BEFORE THE FIRE

• Pre-Fire Planning

• Target Hazard Surveys

• Familirization with 1st Due Area– Building Types

– Roof Types

– Occupancy Types

WHEN THE ALARM IS RECIEVED

• Time & Date

• Weather

• Address

• Call Type

• What’s Available

• Other Information

WHILE RESPONDING

• Reports from Police on scene

• Call back reports - updates of conditions

• Any additional information from dispatch

• Visible Smoke or Fire

ON ARRIVAL

• Position of Apparatus– Three sided view

• Personal Position– 360 degree inspection

– Rear view

– Exposures

• Better overall picture

• Easier to match actions to conditions• Easier to match available resources

13 POINT SIZE UP

• Not done in order of importance

• Easy to remember

• Ripped off from FDNY

COAL WAS WEALTH

• C - Construction

• O - Occupancy

• A - Apparatus and Personnel

• L - Life Hazard

• W - Water Supply

• A - Auxiliary Appliances

• S - Street Conditions

• W - Weather

• E - Exposures

• A - Area

• L - Location & Extent of Fire

• T - Time

• H - Height

C - CONSTRUCTION

• NFPA Building Type–Helpful in forecasting fire spread

–Helps to determine how building will react to fire

–Helps determine attack plan

O - OCCUPANCY

• Potential Life Hazard

• Fire Loading

• Hazardous Materilas

• Help in determining tactics used

• Warehouse vs. Single Family Structure

A - APPARATUS & PERSONNEL

• Units Responding– Type

– Staffing

– Who is on them

• Resources vs. Conditions– Can we handle it with what we have?

L - LIFE HAZARD

• Life Hazard is the deciding factor in the attack plan !

• Is there a life hazard present?

• Where are they and are they saveable?– Nothing Showing thru Working Fire - Saveable

– Working Fire thru Parking Lot - Not Saveable

W - WATER SUPPLY

• What is available– Municipal System

– Tankers

– Alternate Source

• What is needed– Little Fire - Little Water

– Big Fire - Big Water

• Companies & Personnel Needed– Relay Pumping

– Drafting Operations

A - AUXILIARY APPLIANCES(Sprinklers & Standpipes)

• Are there any present

• Are they playing a roll in the fire – Positive or Negative

• Are they serviceable– Determine after initial size-up

S - STREET CONDITIONS

• Includes items in the dispatch size-up

• Narrow streets or double parked cars

• Can apparatus get in

• Will aerial apparatus reach the building

• How will it effect water supply

• Determines apparatus placement

W - WEATHER

• Effects on personnel

• Effects on apparatus & equipment– Freezing or overheating pumps

– Freezing hoselines

– Freezing waterways on aerial apparatus

• Ability to perform

E - EXPOSURES

• Most important factor after life safety!

• Identify and define exposures– Fire building has six sides 1-6

– Starts at front and works clockwise

• Protect Exposures– Put out the fire

– Stop the spread of fire

– Submerge

A - AREA

• Building Dimentions– Estimate

• Potential Fire Load

• Potential Fire Spread

L - LOCATION & EXTENT OF FIRE

• Where is the fire– Determines entry point

– Burned vs. Unburned

– Location of fire to victims determines entry point

• How big is the fire– Actions to Conditions

• Location can determine tactics– Cellar Fire

– Attic Fire

T - TIME

• Does the time of day change the potential life hazard

• Hotel

• School

H - HEIGHT

•Determines strategy

• Potential fire spread

• Indicates additional resources

SIMPLE SIZE UP

• Building

• Fire

• Occupancy

• Life Hazard

• Arrangement

• Resources

• Action

• Special

BUILDING

•NFPA Type

•How will fire spread

FIRE• Location

• Extent

•Actions to Conditions

OCCUPANCY

•Life Hazard

•Fire Load

LIFE HAZARD

• Is there one present

• What are their conditions

• How many are there

ARRANGEMENT

• Exposures

• Access

RESOURCES

• What is on the fire ground

• What is still responding

• What will be needed to win

• Water supply

ACTION

• What do we need to do

• How do we do it

• Is it working

SPECIAL

• Time & Date

• Season

• Weather

AFTER ARRIVAL & DURING OPERATIONS

• What is the occupancy

• Where is the fire

• Where are the occupants

• How do we get into the building

• How do we get out if things go south

• What is the fire doing to the building

WINDOWS WHAT THEY TELL US

• Curtains or Window Coverings– Potential victims

– Sleeping areas

• Size– Bigger windows may indicate living areas

– Smaller windows may indicate bathrooms

• Location– Offset windows usually indicate stairways

MORE WINDOWS

• Air Conditioners– May indicate sleeping quarters

• Open Windows– If all windows are closed except one, good place to look for

a victim

• Ranch Windows– High on wall

– Very narrow

– Good for ventilation

– Suck for escape

ARRIVAL REPORT

• A brief report of the conditions visible when the first unit arrives on the scene

• Directed at all companies arriving or responding as well as dispatch

• Lets everyone know what is going on

Elements of the Arrival Report

• Building Size - Small, Medium or Large

• Building Height

• Occupancy Type

• Fire/Smoke Conditions Visible

• Confirmation & Designation of Command

• Action Being Taken