Transcript SIZE-UP
SIZE-UP
OBJECTIVE
Describe the three phases
of size-up and their
relationship to problem
identification.
Module 2
Overview
Three Phases of Size-up
Phase one:
Preincident information
Phase Two:
Initial Size-up
OBJECTIVE
Describe the factors that
affect size-up.
Module 2
Overview
Risk/Benefit Evaluation
Command Decisions
Brief Initial Report
OBJECTIVE
Given a simulated
structural fire incident,
demonstrate the ability
to conduct an effective
size-up, identify the
problems presented,
and communicate
critical information as
part of a concise sizeup report
Module 2
Overview
Phase Three:
Ongoing Size-Up
WHAT IS SIZE-UP?
THREE PHASES OF
SIZE-UP
Three Phases of Size-up
• Phase One:
Preincident information
• Phase Two:
Initial Size-up
• Phase Three: Ongoing size-up
PHASE ONE:
PREINCIDENT INFORMATION
Phase One: Preincident Information
• Size-up is more than what you see through
the window when you arrive at the scene.
• A wealth of information available prior to
alarm.
Size-Up Definition
Preincident information includes factors
known before the incident that may affect
decisions or actions.
WHAT TYPES OF
INFORMATION ARE
AVAILABLE AND USEFUL
BEFORE THE INCIDENT
Value of Preincident Information
to the Incident Commander (IC)
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Understand what has happened.
Identify problems.
Predict what is going to happen.
Understand resource needs.
Value of Preincident Information
to the Incident Commander (IC)
• Development of strategy and tactics.
• Identify safety considerations.
IT’S HARD TO OBTAIN
PREINCIDENT INFORMATION
WHEN THE FLAMES ARE
LICKING AT THE BOXES OF
DYNAMITE.
Preplans
• Give the IC a jump start on understanding
the situation and developing an action plan.
• Can help IC consider all the important
factors when used at the scene.
Occupancy Information
• Occupancy type
– Different problems
– Impact on strategy and tactics
Occupancy Information
• Building Construction
– Construction type
– Impacts on fire behavior
– Vertical openings versus compartmentalization
Occupancy Information
• Built-in protection
– Sprinklers, standpipes, alarm systems, fire
doors, etc.
– Assist in controlling situation
Occupancy Information
• Building contents
– Impacts on action plan
Occupancy Information
• Utility control
– What utilities are present?
– Where are controls located?
– Positive effect on safety and incident control
Water Supply
• Most commonly use
extinguishing agent.
• Availability
• Reliability
• Location
• Delivery system
Environmental Conditions
• Can lengthen response times.
• Can affect fire behavior.
• Can affect how long and how fast
firefighters can work.
• Apparatus may freeze up or overheat.
Time of Day
• Traffic at peak times can delay response.
• Occupancy of buildings varies.
• Volunteer and combination departments
may respond with fewer firefighters during
business hours.
Departmental Resources
• Apparatus and equipment
• Personnel
Interagency/Private Sector
Assistance
• Already there at many incidents.
• IC must know what resources are available
prior to the incident.
• Many sources of assistance.
• Maximizes use of fire department resources.
PHASE TWO:
INITIAL SIZE-UP
A rapid mental evaluation of
various factors related to an
emergency incident.
First Objective is to Identify
Problem(s)
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Calmly assess conditions.
First chance to get into proactive mode.
Done prior to defining solutions.
Potential hazards to firefighters
Use Preincident Information to
Help With Initial Size-up
• Preplans
• Typical occupancy
• Other resources responding
Use Preincident Information to
Help With Initial Size-up
• Water supply in area
• Special hazards or problems
• Environmental conditions
• Time of day
Dispatch information can give an
indication of the extent of problems
• “Structure fire, 14 Railroad Street, Engines
1, 2, and 3, Truck 1 Respond”
• “Receiving multiple calls, reported persons
trapped, etc….”
What should initial size-up
include?
What do I Have
What should initial size-up
include?
What do I Have
Where is it going?
Be Pessimistic
Murphy’s Law is always on the incident.
What should initial size-up
include?
What do I Have
Where is it going?
How do I control it?
WALLACE WAS HOT can be
used for training on the factors
that impact size-up.
Size-up Factors
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Water
Apparatus/personnel
Life
Location/Extent
Area
Construction
Exposures
• Weather
• Auxiliary appliances
• Special hazards
• Height
• Occupancy
• Time
Trying to remember all 13 factors at
the incident can make your head hurt
• Not all factors are critical at every incident.
• Key-in on those factors that apply.
Large Group Activity 2.1
Initial Size-up information
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RISK/BENEFIT
EVALUATION
Risk/Benefit Evaluation
The IC needs to determine if risks taken are
worth benefits gained.
– Firefighting is not without risk.
– Don’t risk firefighters’ lives to do body
recovery.
– Condition of building.
If IC judges it is worth risk,
for how long?
• Construction
• Resources
• Needed fire flow
Selecting Operational Mode
• Offensive
• Defensive
• Transitional
Offensive mode indicates IC chooses
to make an aggressive interior attack
• Resources available to meet incident
demands.
• Risk to firefighters worth the benefits
gained.
Defensive mode indicates IC
determines no entry will be made.
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Loss of building probable.
Risk/benefit evaluation indicates risks too great.
Not enough resources.
Usually a master stream operation.
Protect exposures.
Keep personnel out of collapse zone and out of
danger.
Selecting Operational Mode
Transitional mode is when forces at the scene
are switching from one operational mode to
another.
Examples
• No entry made (defensive) until additional
resources arrive, then attack fire (offensive).
• Confine fire (offensive) until rescue can be
accomplished, then protect exposures
(defensive) if resources not sufficient.
Resource Evaluation
• Do you have enough resources?
• Do you have the right resources?
Committing Resource
• Must have a chance for success.
• Assigned based on order of priorities.
• Must be coordinated.
Large Group Activity 2.2
Risk/Benefit Analysis
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COMMAND DECISIONS
The first -arriving officer must
determine their initial role:
• Command
• Combat
• Combative Commander
Command
• CO chooses to command the incident rather
than engage in the tactical activities.
• Incident needs immediate coordination
• Sufficient resources on-scene or responding
• Combat role will not have a significant
impact on the incident.
Combat
Exercised by the CO when:
– Their presence will have a positive impact on
the operation at hand.
– Command is passed
Responsibility cannot be delegated.
Combat Commander
Exercised by the CO when:
– Their presence will have an immediate impact
and transfer of command is not reasonable.
– Fast moving fire
– Additional resources may have long response
times.
Combat Commander
As soon as possible, command should be
transferred to an officer who is not involved
in the fire attack.
BRIEF INITIAL REPORT
Brief Initial Report
First-arriving officer should paint a vivid
word picture of conditions.
What do I have?
• Building description and occupancy type
• Description of conditions
Large Group Activity 2.32
Brief Initial Report -“What do I Have?”
Dividing the Incident
• Manageable geographic segments to
facilitate effective communication.
• Designate specific areas in and outside the
building.
An example …
ABCD Sectoring system
DIVISION
C
DIVISION
STRUCTURE
B
DIVISION
D
DIVISION
A
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Suggested Answers
2-story, 40’ x 80’, townhouse, Fire and smoke
showing from Side A, 1st floor
Smoke showing 2nd floor, Side A
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What am I doing?
Actions being taken
What do I need?
• Instructions to other responding resources.
• Request for additional resources.
Who is in Command?
• Designate who has command.
• Designate command by incident name.
• Eliminates confusion during simultaneous
alarms.
Good Size-up Report Alerts Others
• Responders adjust their thinking.
• Anticipate actions they need to take.
• Indication of scope of problem.
PHASE THREE:
ONGOING
SIZE-UP
Size-up Needs to be Ongoing
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Doesn’t stop with on-scene report.
Increase knowledge of current conditions.
Potential problems
Effectiveness of tactical operations.
Situation Status:
Ongoing Analysis of the Progress
of the Incident
• What has happened?
• What is happening?
• What is going to happen?
Situation Status:
Ongoing Analysis of the Progress
of the Incident
• Determine if current plan is working.
• Identify changes or modifications that may
need to be made to action plan.
Resource status: analysis of effectiveness
of current resources and identification of
needed or anticipated resources
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Assigned resources.
Uncommitted resources.
Responding resources.
Anticipated resource needs.
Knowledge of resource status
requires ongoing tracking of
tactical activity of all resources
operating at the incident.
Responsibility for Ongoing Flow
of Information
• The IC needs to have as much information
as possible.
• If IC is responsible for safety of personnel
and management of the action plan, then
information is critical.
Those responsible for carrying
out action plan need to keep IC
updated when:
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Assignment is completed.
Assignment cannot be completed.
Additional resources are needed.
Resources can be released.
Those responsible for carrying
out action plan need to keep IC
updated when:
• Conditions have changed.
• Problems identified.
• Emergency conditions.
If IC doesn’t get regular updates - demand them.
All personnel should understand
IC’s need to have the best
information possible.
Size-up and problem
identification is the THINKING
phase of the command sequence.
Summary
Three phases of size-up.
• Preincident information.
• Initial size-up.
• Ongoing size-up
Summary
Preincident information can help the IC.
• Identify what has happened.
• Understand what is happening.
• Anticipate what is going to happen.
Summary
Initial Size-up answers.
• What do I have?
• Where is it going?
• How do I control it?
Summary
Important considerations that are a part of an
initial size-up.
• Risk/Benefit analysis
• Resource evaluation
• Determination of operational mode.
Summary
Ongoing size-up is important to the IC.
• Protects safety of personnel.
• Ensures action plan addresses problem.
• Helps IC anticipate changes.
Everyone is responsible for the ongoing flow
of information.