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Procedures, Pre-Incident Planning, and Size-Up
Procedures, Pre-Incident Planning, and Size-Up
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
Overview (3 of 3)
• The IC has time to reevaluate as more
information becomes available.
– Size-up information and the IAP should
improve.
2
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
2
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
2
Developing Standard
Operating Procedures (3 of 4)
• Influenced by:
– Types of property to be protected
– Resources available
– Equipment
– Training
– Other factors
2
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?
2
Estimating Property
Conservation Needs
• High value contents could justify
pre-planning effort.
– Furs, jewelry, electronic equipment
2
Relationship of Pre-Planning
to Size-up
• Size-up is a continuous process.
– Natural extension of SOP/pre-planning
process
2
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
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
2
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.
2
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.
2
Location of Salvageable
Property
• Residential settings: throughout the
building.
• Other settings: may be concentrations.
– Computer rooms
• Pre-plans should identify these
locations.
2
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.
2
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.
2
Smoke Damage
• Can infiltrate entire building
• Common pathway is upward
• Most damage occurs on upper floors.
2
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.
2