Response would be Command 1, 2 engines 1 ladder and 2 rescues. I am the Captain that is being order to stretch a line to the second floor I would take a 1 3/4 preconnect into side A of the building. Second engine picks up the closest hydrant and supplies first engine company. Have second engine company perform a search on the floor below the fire, Ladder needs to position themselves so they can access two sides of the building, get to the roof and prepare for trench cut vent side B and C area. First arriving rescue pulls a 1 3/4 hose and enters to back up attack crew, Second rescue can pull 2 1/2 and monitor D side exposure. All resources are working Command needs to evaluate and consider an all hands providing the scene with a 3rd engine and rescue, moves mutual aid companies into the City to cover addition call. As far as the h*** I found by the stairs I would advise command to issue warning to all companies entering and maybe have a member of the 3rd rescue stand-by and control foot traffic in the area. Fire attack crew of second floor will perform a primary search of the second floor there is higher probability of fire victims due to the time of day. Once the fire has been brought under control I would request PPV from the A side front door. Then over haul.

god stuff, but i would get a line to the top floor of the attached exposure asap

Scott S Bolduc said:

Response would be Command 1, 2 engines 1 ladder and 2 rescues. I am the Captain that is being order to stretch a line to the second floor I would take a 1 3/4 preconnect into side A of the building. Second engine picks up the closest hydrant and supplies first engine company. Have second engine company perform a search on the floor below the fire, Ladder needs to position themselves so they can access two sides of the building, get to the roof and prepare for trench cut vent side B and C area. First arriving rescue pulls a 1 3/4 hose and enters to back up attack crew, Second rescue can pull 2 1/2 and monitor D side exposure. All resources are working Command needs to evaluate and consider an all hands providing the scene with a 3rd engine and rescue, moves mutual aid companies into the City to cover addition call. As far as the h*** I found by the stairs I would advise command to issue warning to all companies entering and maybe have a member of the 3rd rescue stand-by and control foot traffic in the area. Fire attack crew of second floor will perform a primary search of the second floor there is higher probability of fire victims due to the time of day. Once the fire has been brought under control I would request PPV from the A side front door. Then over haul.

not a big fan of PPV on initial ops -- have seen too many wierd thinsg -- nothing that good timely venting opposite the attack and at the roof can't do

Anthony Avillo said:

search and evac are a primary concern and tactic. I didn't put a question for it. Still must be conducted. As far as the PPV, not a big fan (no pun intended). We in the northeast have tyoo many buildings with too many voids and unseen compromise. The last thing we want to do is push fire around. That could involve exposures. Always try to keep it to 1 building. Burning up your exposures , as Chief Byrunacini says, is tacky

Noel Marti said:

Couldn't help reading the thread before answering but I think all of the responses were in line with what I was thinking. Good idea with the lighting...we have a squad that is used primarily for support that is an excellent resource to be used at a fire like this. Wouldn't have thought of that on the fire!

Chief, I am assuming by your response that PPV would be wrong? Because I was thinking the same thing only because I think that I would increase visibility tremendously especially for the initial attack. In the SFH that we have responded to where we perform PPV initially as opposed to the ones that we delay due to fear of spreading the fire we have noticed that it runs a lot smoother and faster due to increased visibility. What are your thoughts?

One of the things that I did not see that would be of primary concern would be rescue operations due to the time of day. I would try to make certain that everyone was evacuated from the structure and if not, I would immediately begin rescue operations and set up my RIT team and have them check for secondary means of egress. Also, I would consider protecting that shed in the back since the fire is coming from the back of the structure and shed's normally have a lot of combustible materials in them.