You and your engine company are on the scene
Alright, ladies and gentlemen, this is a good one. There is a lot to discuss this morning so without further ado, you are the first-arriving engine officer with a crew of four. Let’s here your size up and initial actions as well as directions for incoming units, especially the first couple of lines off the rig.
Keep it professional please and remember that just because you’re right, it doesn’t necessarily mean everyone else is wrong. – The Truck
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2 Comments
I’d give a second alarm on arrival since we have two buildings going. Where I work we don’t have crosslays and almost always reverse lay so I’d stop just past and we’d drop 2 handlines in the street and even consider dropping the 3 1/2″ for the tower ladder. I’d have a 1 3/4″ and we’d charge it on the sidewalk ASAP and flow some water down the driveway alternating between the burning exposure and the original fire building for probably less than a minute with the goal of slowing the extension to the exposure. I would then take the line into the original fire building and make our way to the back and put out the fire. I would be nice if I could rule the basement out while we were giving the exposure a quick hit.
Erik, first off, I apologize for the delayed response. I’ll keep this short and simple. I think I would have done the same thing as you. I’m not much for what some would consider calling a transitional attack, but in this case, certainly it seems to apply.
Call it what you will, if the first line goes through the front door on this one, they might not have a job to do unless they open up the walls from the inside. This has the potential to cause unnecessary damage to the living space without knocking down the fire.
A quick assessment of home will determine further action.