"CAN" report

[adam41010]

I have recently heard talk of a "CAN" report in the fire service. I have no idea what it is used for. The person I was talking to said that it is used alot out west. Can anyone fill me in on what it is?

[CFD Hazards]

I believe it stands for Conditions, Actions, Needs.
The conditions you encountered on arrival, the actions you are taking and what other resources you are going to need to bring situation under control.

[fireman4949]

We use UCAN when calling a mayday situation...

Unit
Conditions
Actions (being taken)
Needs

[truckmonkey42]

A CAN report is pretty much a situation report and can be used on arrival as well as all subsequent transmissions. If used on initial radio report you may throw in operations radio channel and name the incident. After the initial report it's a quick way to describe current conditions and operations that your company is taking part in.

C - Conditions. What you are seeing. Is it smoky, hot, etc.
A- Actions. What exactly your company is doing. Fire attack, search, etc.
N - Needs. Anything you might need to help your situation. Another line, TIC, etc.

This acronym is great for all types of incidents and not just fire.

[BKDRAFT]

We use ILCAN. Identifier, Location (address of incident), conditions, actions, needs for our initial size up.

[nmfire]

When used in a sentence, "Where is the can? I forgot to take a leak before we left."

[nyckftbl]

When used in a sentence, "Where is the can? I forgot to take a leak before we left."

Or it could be a stupid truck guy "hey we got it with the can".

6 alarms and no cockloft later...

[hwoods]

Well.........

We use Cans, but they don't rate a report being written about it.......... On a Mayday, it's LUNAR - Location, Unit, Name, Assignment, and Resources.

[BLSboy]

Or it could be a stupid truck guy "hey we got it with the can".

6 alarms and no cockloft later...

That sounds like one helluva story.....

[jl]

I had never heard of a CAN report until I started working here in the east (or southeast, if you prefer), Florida. Worked out west (NV) previously and we didn't use any acronyms for size-ups.

[fyrmnk]

We use them. Usually when on a fire, the IC will ask the interior crews for a CAN report when he wants an update on our progress, such as fire attack.

[nyckftbl]

That sounds like one helluva story.....

Oh it was. But a member of that company reads this site (doesnt post though, atleast I dont think so)...so it shall remain a mystery.

Needless to say, the can wasnt enough.

[adam41010]

Thank you all. All of that was a big help!

[LeatherHed4Life]

C A N is great for any radio message that provides information, and contrary to other mnemonics in the Fire Service, that one is easy to remember. If you practice it, evetually it just flows out.

Ladder one to command, medium smoke condition on the first floor with no heat, we are in a right hand search, we could use some ventilation on the D side.


you get the idea I'm sure

[Dickey]

Isn't that a name for when the guy in the can needs more toilet paper??