Make The Call #13

[3105]

This one looks particularly evil.....and should be a challenge for everyone (at least it is for me).

O, T, or D and why?

[havingfun]

well its looks like they already have three lines in service, i would definitely go transition, don't know how long they been inside the smoke is dark and pushing out of the middle of the house, make sure your rit is good, and get some ventilation going.

[JDub]

Well the guy on the left with the line needs a pak. I would go transitional. I am not the best smoke reader however that darker smoke doesn't make me want to send a crew in. On the other hand I don't see any fire. I would really want the benefit of a 360 to try and locate the fire. If you find it and can hit it from the exterior to darken it down and then send a crew in, I think that would be the best bet. I don't know if I would want to commit an interior crew to a building where I don't know where the fire is.

[WebBoss]

Rick, Looks alot like your "Acquired Structure."

Transitional is my call

The interior crews would probably be able to get this one, but they have to get that roof opened up to get some of the smoke up and out so the inside crews will have a little bit of a chance to find the seat of the fire.

This is probably a room and contents (or two) fire, just with a lot of finished wood and over-stuffed furnishings... if I had to guess.

[FirstDue312]

Im gunna say transitional leaning heavily toward defensive here...

With three lines inside already and smoke rolling out eaves on the AD corner DIV 1 and the Roof AC side DIV 2 this seems to me as more than a room and contents job.

This looks to me as a commercial structure judging by the light fixtures and the overall layout along with the proximity to what appears to be a road or a parking lot. Judging by the time of day, hopefully everyones out, and if they're accounted for just set up and surround and drown.

But then again being a rookie, any reason from the older guys why you would go in and get it, so I know for future reference?

[3105]

This is a classic "tweener" in my book....it could quite literally go either way depending on many factors.

To begin with, my "read" is that the bulk of the fire is on the right..where the thick, ugly black stuff is pouring out. After that, the "read" becomes a bit less clear because of weather conditions...obviously cold and maybe damp, which in turn affects the smoke by cooling it quicker and making it appear lighter. Structurally, it's a Type V wood frame which to my eye has not been compromised yet.

Left unchecked, the fire's advancement will be right to left. The smoke in the A/B corner of the structure appears to be in an early phase of heat build up.

I'd call Transitional and my tactics would be to rapidly cool and ventilate the room with the ugly black stuff with a 2 1/2 (why diddle around with anything else?) while ordering a crew to prepare to enter via the Division A door in hopes of cutting off the right to left movement. A lot depends also on the location of the interior stairway...if it's right next to the fire room, chances are better than average it's already extended to Division 2...we need to control the stairway as soon as possible. The attack crew would enter cautiously and ascertain whether the fire has already extended past them towards the B side....a nice little squirt upwards at the ceiling would answer this question depending on whether water comes back down or them or not. If they get nothing back (indicating it turned to steam and the ceiling is extremely hot), carefully withdraw them, then attempt to enter from another point further down towards Division B (the unburnt side).

In my scenario, a lot depends on the Ops officer as well as the officer and crew of the interior line...if they know the strategic mode is "Transitional", then their training tells them to move cautiously and constantly assess...that the issue still remains in doubt depending on what they see/experience. If they immediately encounter the interior stairs and determine that it is tenable, then they can recommend a change to Offensive.

Another factor that can't be discounted and needs to be determined by the interior crew is if we're dealing with a basement fire run amok...all this could have started underneath them and they should be checking that floor constantly.

In the "Definitions" thread, kramer411 asked if everything should just be Transitional....which is a really good point. There are plenty of real-worls situations where it is very obvious you have a room and contents with little to no extension or structural compromise...a classic "Offensive" mode....get in there and knock the dog snot out of it! I submit though, that the risks presented in pictures such as this one far outweigh any supposed benefits (assuming there's no life threat). That doesn't mean we throw up our hands, declare "Defensive" and call the canteen, but instead take a more careful and measured approach to MAYBE affecting a positive outcome.

In other words, would you send someone into this building because "it's cool" or because it will be effective?