1. Procedures, Pre-Incident Planning, and Size-Up2
Procedures, Pre-Incident Planning, and Size-Up

2. Learning Objectives (1 of 10)
List the kinds of operations that should be covered by standard operating procedures.
Explain the importance of standard operating procedures.

3. Learning Objectives (2 of 10)
Discuss the relationship between standard operating procedures, pre-incident plans, and size-up.
Examine the relationship between standard operating procedures, equipment, and training.

4. Learning Objectives (3 of 10)
Compare standard operating procedures to standard operating guidelines, explaining the role of a “reasonable person” clause.
Articulate the main components of pre-fire planning and identify steps during a pre-fire plan review.

5. Learning Objectives (4 of 10)
Recall major steps taken during size-up and identify the order in which they will take place at an incident.
Recognize the relationship between pre-incident planning and construction characteristics common to a community.

6. Learning Objectives (5 of 10)
Analyze construction methods during everyday responses and while surveying buildings under construction and demolition.
Explain how pre-incident plan information is gathered using pre-formatted forms, as well as methods for storing and retrieving pre-plan information.

7. Learning Objectives (6 of 10)
Examine compatibility issues and usefulness of computer programs in pre-incident planning.
Construct a priority chart of buildings to be preplanned by occupancy type.

8. Learning Objectives (7 of 10)
List factors to be considered during size-up and briefly define and explain the significance of each factor.
Demonstrate (verbally and in writing) knowledge of fire behavior and the chemistry of fire.

9. Learning Objectives (8 of 10)
Recall the basics of building construction and how they interrelate to pre-fire planning and size-up.
Define and explain the difference between occupancy, occupant, and occupied.

10. Learning Objectives (9 of 10)
Explain the size-up process in the chronological order in which information is received.
Evaluate a specific fire department’s standard operating procedures.
Prioritize occupancies to be pre-incident planned in a specific jurisdiction.

11. Learning Objectives (10 of 10)
Create a pre-incident plan drawing and narrative.
Perform an initial size-up based on limited information.
Apply size-up factors to a fire situation and categorize factors as primary or secondary.

12. Overview (1 of 3) Fire-ground operations should be outlined in SOPs.
The better the SOPs, the fewer decisions that will need to be made.
SOPs, pre-plans, and incident-specific information are important size-up components.

13. Overview (2 of 3)
Incident Action Plans (IAPs) require SOPs and a good size-up.
Specific building information can be obtained through pre-planning.
Evaluating an incident and developing an IAP must take place rapidly.

14. Overview (3 of 3)
The IC has time to reevaluate as more information becomes available.
Size-up information and the IAP should improve.

15. Developing Standard Operating Procedures (1 of 4)
General guidelines used at structure fires or fires in similar occupancies
Address any operation using a standard approach
Written specifically for an individual department

16. Developing Standard Operating Procedures (2 of 4)
There is a need for regional planning.
Take the guesswork out of the fire-ground
Are necessary for the first-arriving engine company

17. Developing Standard Operating Procedures (3 of 4)
Influenced by:
Types of property to be protected
Resources available
Equipment
Training
Other factors

18. Developing Standard Operating Procedures (4 of 4)
Provide a structure for the decision-making process
Answers questions of:
Who makes what decisions?
At what level of command?
From where?

19. National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Establishes a command structure
Describes the roles at incident scene
Training must be commensurate with SOPs.
NFPA 1500

20. SOPs, Equipment, and Training Are Interrelated

21. SOPs: Naming Controversy (1 of 2)
Standard operating procedures, standard operating guidelines, general operating guidelines.
More important to have written procedures or guidelines than naming.
Procedures are guidelines.
Guidelines become procedures through practice.

22. SOPs: Naming Controversy (2 of 2)
Solution
“Reasonable person” clause in the procedures manual
Personnel should act reasonably if modification of the procedure is appropriate.

23. Procedures or Guidelines
Write them down.
Train to them.
Use them consistently.

24. Evaluating a Specific Property
There should be a procedure describing the pre-planning system.
Makes sense to gather information about a facility while visiting
Title III: Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) requirement

25. Pre-Plans Second step of the size-up process Can take several forms
Formal: include narrative and drawings
Simple: notations of particular problem
NFPA 1620: Recommended Practice for Pre-Incident Planning
Outlines development, maintenance and use

26. Recommended Occupancies (1 of 2)
Assembly
Educational
Health care
Detention and correctional
Residential
Residential board and care

27. Recommended Occupancies (2 of 2)
Mercantile
Business
Industrial
Warehouse and storage
Special outdoor locations, such as transformer sub-stations

28. Types of Pre-Plans (1 of 4)
Complex
Three or more buildings
Shows overview of complex
Used to identify:
Building and fire protection features
Hazards
Building numbering

29. Types of Pre-Plans (2 of 4)
Formal
Property with substantial risk
Includes:
Drawing of property
Specific floor layouts
Narrative
Could include several plans

30. Types of Pre-Plans (3 of 4)
Notation
Simple notation about a building
Previous fire damage
Notations in CAD systems
Exterior marking systems
State of New Jersey Truss Marking System

31. Types of Pre-Plans (4 of 4)
Training Issue
Could include buildings under construction or demolition
Interior framework (skeleton) exposed
Could reveal construction methods/materials

32. Pre-Plan Incident Checklist and Drawings (1 of 4)
Includes planning for special occupancies or type of buildings
Standard pre-incident plan form
Advantage: Predictable location of specific information
Disadvantage: Large amounts of “not applicable” space

33. Pre-Plan Incident Checklist and Drawings (2 of 4)
Detailed format and intuitive drawing symbols are recommended.
Symbols should not require legend.
Drawings are extremely useful.

34. Pre-Plan Incident Checklist and Drawings (3 of 4)
Include:
Building name
Owner/manager/agent name
Telephone numbers
Emergency contact information

35. Pre-Plan Incident Checklist and Drawings (4 of 4)
Include a tactical consideration.
Provides reminder
Do not pre-assign companies.

36. Pre-Planning Preparation and Time
Keeping current is as important as creating.
Revision process is also time-intensive.
Computers help save time.
Bad information can be worse than no information.

37. What Structures Are Pre-Planned
Decision depends on jurisdiction.
Operational priority list provides direction.
Life safety
Extinguishment
Property conservation
Challenging buildings should be pre-planned.

38. Modifying SOPs
Standard method for addressing predictable operational circumstances
Pre-plans address what is different or unusual.
Pre-plans are specific, SOPs general.
SOPs are not always the most effective way.

39. Estimating Life Safety Needs
Buildings with unusual high risk to fire fighters or occupants should be pre-planned.
Nursing homes
Hospitals
Places of assembly
Schools

40. Estimating Extinguishment Needs
Buildings with high fuel load should be pre-planned.
More than two standard pre-connects necessary
Volume of fire compartment divided by 100
Buildings with special or hazardous materials present in quantity should be pre-planned.

41. Estimating Property Conservation Needs
High value contents could justify pre-planning effort.
Furs, jewelry, electronic equipment

42. Relationship of Pre-Planning to Size-up
Size-up is a continuous process.
Natural extension of SOP/pre-planning process

43. Analyzing the Situation Through Size-Up (1 of 2)
Size-up factors are difficult to categorize.
Incident conditions dictate
Life safety most critical
Begins before incident: SOP development and pre-planning
IC considers what is already known at time of alarm
Dispatcher relays other information.

44. Analyzing the Situation Through Size-Up (2 of 2)
Upon arrival, IC adds what is known.
Personal observation
Communications with companies/building personnel
Reconnaissance
Size-up continues throughout the incident into overhaul.

45. Life Safety/Fire Fighter Safety (1 of 2)
Smoke and fire conditions
Directly related to occupant survival and fire fighter safety
Primary factors at a structure fire

46. Life Safety/Fire Fighter Safety (2 of 2)
Experienced ICs learn to evaluate pressure, smoke characteristics, and other factors.
Interior reconnaissance best way to determine fire intensity

47. Fire Location Necessary to successfully combat the fire
Usually determined on arrival
Information from Dispatch
Alarm systems
Information from occupants
Visual clues
Smoke flowing rapidly from an opening may indicate fire is nearby.

48. Direction of Travel Life safety/fire fighter safety
Knowing where fire may spread is important.
Fire, heat, smoke travel upward via path of least resistance
Important to know the probability of fire travel (construction methods, alterations)

49. Ventilation Status Key factor in all phases of operation
Venting for life
Vent should pull fire away from occupants and fire fighters.
Possibilities can be known through pre-planning.

50. Occupancy Type Major occupancies should be pre-planned.
Building use will determine:
Likelihood of occupancy
Number of occupants
Fuel load and type
Value of contents
Other essential facts

51. Estimated Number of Occupants
Difficult at best
NFPA 101: Life Safety Code
Establishes maximum occupant load per square foot
Places of public assembly may have maximum number of occupants posted.

52. Evacuation Status
Estimating number of people still in building is next logical step
Most buildings do not have occupant accountability system.
Primary search: only way to assure building has been evacuated
Should be verified with secondary search

53. Occupant Concerns (1 of 2)
Proximity to fire
Pre-plans should show locations of occupied areas.
Awareness level
Awake and alert are more likely to hear alarm
Awareness is directly related to type of occupancy.

54. Occupant Concerns (2 of 2)
Mobility
Occupancy of building can help determine whether occupants can escape fire.
Familiarity with building
People inside a public building are not always familiar with building layout or alternate exits.

55. Primary and Alternative Egress Routes (1 of 2)
Most will escape unassisted if there is sufficient egress.
Codes specify egress facilities.
Pre-plan drawings should show location of all exits.

56. Primary and Alternative Egress Routes (2 of 2)
Many public buildings have areas of safe refuge.
Should be addressed in pre-plans
Must be checked by fire department in an emergency

57. Medical Status of Occupants
EMS should be requested whenever occupants are still in building.
Medical Branch should be considered.

58. Operational Status (1 of 2)
SOPs provide a standard way of going to work.
IC must continually evaluate safety and effectiveness of operation.
Determines whether a nonstandard attack would be more effective
Safety is the most important consideration.
IC must continually reevaluate for risk management.

59. Operational Status (2 of 2)
IC must ask:
Is the search being conducted in a systematic manner?
Are the occupants who are in the most danger being rescued?
Has the fire been properly vented to control the fire spread?
Is progress being made in controlling the fire?
Are rate-of-flow requirements being met?
Has salvage been considered?

60. Fire Zones/Perimeters
Area where a specific level of protective clothing is required
Possibly a safe area where no protective clothing is needed
Keeps non-response people out of the area
Should be part of SOPs

61. Accountability Only accounts for fire fighters, not occupants
Primary accountability system is NIMS.
Freelancing must be avoided.
Required by NFPA 1500: Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Programs.

62. Rapid Intervention RIC (Rapid Intervention Crew)
Team of fire fighters immediately available to rescue fire fighters who need assistance
Required by NFPA 1500: Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Programs

63. Organization and Control
NIMS is the acceptable method of organizing an incident.
All units must be included.
Must work towards common tactical objectives within strategy

64. Rescue Options
IC first evaluates ways occupants can be removed from the building.
Safest and most efficient option

65. Staffing Concerns (1 of 3)
Primary search
Determined by the following factors:
Size of the area to be searched
Smoke conditions
Rescue methods available
Condition of the occupants
Secondary search
Will not involve increased staffing

66. Staffing Concerns (2 of 3)
Interior rescue/evacuation
Could be the same required for primary search
Additional teams may be assigned to remove victims.

67. Staffing Concerns (3 of 3)
Exterior rescue/evacuation
Additional staffing will be needed if ladders are used.
Most exterior rescues require more staffing.

68. Access to Building Exterior
Pre-plans should note:
Access points
Street or road access around structure
Aerial access points
Unsafe/inaccessible roadways

69. Access to Building Interior
Forcible entry
Can significantly delay search and rescue and initial attack
Needs should be noted on pre-plans.
Structure
Conditions always should be considered in size-up.
Risk-versus-benefit analysis

70. Signs of Collapse Failure of a supporting structure
May occur without warning

71. Construction Type
All members should be familiar with building types and problems.
Buildings should be classified.
NFPA 220: Standard on Types of Building Construction
Type I construction: Fire-resistive
Type II construction: Non-combustible
Type III construction: Ordinary
Type IV construction: Heavy timber
Type V construction: Frame

72. Roof Construction Killing mechanism Precursor to catastrophic collapse
Roof is tied to the walls.
Walls damaged by fire fail.
Roof collapses.
Truss roofs should be pre-planned.

73. Condition Previously damaged Abandoned
Pre-fire damage should be considered when determining attack mode.

74. Live and Dead Loads Dead load Live load
Building and permanent attachments
Heavy roof loads should be noted on pre-plans.
Live load
Building contents
Important when determining incident-specific tactics
Should be noted on pre-plans

75. Fire Suppression Water Load
Weight of the water discharged into the bldg. during suppression operations
One gallon of water = 8.33 pounds
1,000 GPM = 8,330 pounds/minute

76. Enclosures and Fire Separations
Type of construction and occupancy
Major clues in determining extension probability

77. Extension Probability
Directly related to presence of enclosures/fire separations

78. Concealed Spaces Most buildings Suspended ceilings
Common attics
Separations often damaged or removed
Suspended ceilings
Fire can travel through false space.
If space involved in fire, expect rapid collapse of truss roofs
Should be part of pre-plan

79. Age of Building Positive effects Negative Effects
Older buildings have heavier, more fire-resistive construction.
Renovated buildings may have lightweight construction added.
Negative Effects
May weaken with age
Depends on construction materials and maintenance

80. Height and Area (1 of 2)
Size can partially dictate total volume of fire.
Rate of flow formulas are based on size of the fire compartment.

81. Height and Area (2 of 2) Height of the building affects:
Effectiveness of aerial apparatus
Number of possible occupants
Type of construction
Fuel load
Other factors

82. Complexity and Layout Pre-plan should include a general floor layout.
Personnel should orient themselves in large, complex buildings.
Relationship to the stairway, street, standpipe, and other critical landmarks

83. Probability of Extinguishment
Important to life safety
Death and injury are greatly diminished when fire is extinguished.
Key factors in determining fire attack method:
Flow requirements
Extent of fire

84. Offensive/Defensive/ Non-Attack
Deciding an attack strategy is critically important.
Critical factors change as tactical objectives are achieved.
The most important objectives are related to life safety.

85. Ventilation Status
Finding/extinguishing the fire is easier when fire has self-vented.
Should be vented as soon as possible
Venting for extinguishment is done to move smoke/heat away from crews.

86. External Exposures Should be shown on pre-plans
Narrative should show nearby structures (not connected), vehicles, and other property threatened by the fire.

87. Internal Exposures Parts of the building
Fire pathways should be identified in pre-plans.

88. Extinguishment Factors (1 of 2)
Fuel load
Varies as to quantity, type, geometric orientation, other factors
Calculated rate of flow
Can the lines extinguish the fire?
Should be pre-calculated
Number of hoselines
Can be determined once rate of flow is known

89. Extinguishment Factors (2 of 2)
Water supply
Some systems have limited supply.
Larger systems have multiple supplies.
Apparatus pump capacity
Specifications should consider available water supply.
In many cases, pump capacity exceeds water supply.

90. Manual Fire Suppression Systems (1 of 2)
Standpipe systems
Best to use on upper floors
Reduces work to advance hoselines
Control valves, pumps, fire department connections and hose outlets should be shown on pre-plans.

91. Manual Fire Suppression Systems (2 of 2)
Standpipe systems, continued:
Use of this equipment also should be explained.
SOPs also should specify hose, nozzles, and necessary equipment.

92. Automatic Fire Suppression Systems
Sprinkler systems
Primary tactic involves letting the system do its job.
Control valves, pumps, fire department connections, and hose outlets should be shown on pre-plans.
Sprinkler system becomes the first line of defense.

93. Property Conservation
Third operational priority
Seldom takes on urgency of life safety and extinguishment
Information about property value and location should be pre-planned.

94. Salvageable Property
Nearly every property has some salvageable property.
Can be included in pre-plans
Property also may have non-monetary value.

95. Location of Salvageable Property
Residential settings: throughout the building.
Other settings: may be concentrations.
Computer rooms
Pre-plans should identify these locations.

96. Water Damage (1 of 2) Water used a primary extinguishing agent
Some quantity of water will be in a building.
Water will migrate through openings.

97. Water Damage (2 of 2)
Prefer to use built-in features to evacuate water
If property can not be moved, common practice is to cover it.

98. Smoke Damage Can infiltrate entire building Common pathway is upward
Most damage occurs on upper floors.

99. Ventilation Best way to reduce damage
Materials that absorb smoke more susceptible to damage
Can be overdone
Damage should be limited to what is needed to achieve tactical objectives.

100. Staffing: Total Versus Needed (1 of 6)
IAP will require resources.
Exact number may not be known.
Approximations need to be made.
Staffing is the most important and difficult resource to obtain.

101. Staffing: Total Versus Needed (2 of 6)
11 to 13 fire fighters for safe fire attack
Working fire
Multi-level, single family dwelling
One or two hoselines
Life hazard
Limited areas to search

102. Staffing: Total Versus Needed (3 of 6)
More staffing necessary if:
Size and complexity of property increases
Additional hoselines needed

103. Staffing: Total Versus Needed (4 of 6)
NFPA Fire Protection Handbook
Suggests guidelines for high, medium, and low-hazard occupancies and rural operations.
NFPA 1710: Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments (14–15 personnel)

104. Staffing: Total Versus Needed (5 of 6)
Additional staffing needed for:
Searching large areas
Physically removing victims
Larger rate of flow requirements
Areas beyond a fixed water supply

105. Staffing: Total Versus Needed (6 of 6)
IC must match incident requirements with available resources.
Offensive/defensive decision can be made.

106. Apparatus: Total Versus Needed
Total apparatus versus apparatus needed
Defensive operations = apparatus intensive

107. Staging/Tactical Reserve
SOPs should address staging.
Small incidents = one engine company/one truck company
Larger incidents = larger tactical reserve

108. Utilities Water, gas, electricity, other
Residential gas or fuel supplies can be shut down if necessary.
Utility company personnel are better equipped.
Pre-plans should show the location of shut-offs.

109. Time of Incident Time of day (likelihood of occupants being present)
Day of week (occupancy varies on different days)
Time of year (weather conditions)
Special times (holidays)

110. Weather IC should consider extremes. Extreme heat/cold
Could require additional REHAB stations.
Humidity is important during heat extremes.
Increases fatigue factor
Can affect smoke movement

111. Size-Up Chronology (1 of 5)
SOPs and pre-incident plan
Done well in advance
Play a significant role in the IAP
Give the IC a head start
Shift/day/time
IC should consider factors at time of duty

112. Size-Up Chronology (2 of 5)
Alarm Information
Time-of-day factor
Dispatch information
Building location/address
Fire location
Fire intensity
Occupant status

113. Size-Up Chronology (3 of 5)
En route
Dispatcher
Companies arriving on scene

114. Size-Up Chronology (4 of 5)
Visual observations at the scene
Initial IAP based on visual information and reconnaissance from companies
IC must determine if current IAP will accomplish desired objectives.
Quality and quantity of information will increase with time.

115. Size-Up Chronology (5 of 5)
Overhaul
Should be planned and deliberate
Caution should be taken to avoid injuries.

116. Summary (1 of 2) The IC’s job is simplified by:
Establishing procedures in advance of an incident
Identifying target hazards
Developing pre-incident plans

117. Summary (2 of 2) A safe and effective IAP can be developed by:
Having this information available
Completing a thorough size-up