size up

[rfc962006]

Hi, my department is really getting involved in accountability and scene size up. Myself and a few other members were thinking of making a so called cheat sheet to assist us with scene size up. We have a lot of ideas of things we can put on there, but I was wondering if anyone out there has a few ideas of things we can put on there. If anyone has any ideas please email me at [email protected]. Thanks for your help

[Tiller98250]

Also post them to this thread I am sure others would find the information useful as well..........

[fireslayer1237]

we are moving into a new command style called ITAC (Incident Managment, Tactical objectives, Accountability, and Communications). it seems to be pretty neat. It really shortened are size ups.

We have 6 tactical positions to choose from. TRIPOD
T- transitional, 2 or more personnel and fire can be hit from a defensive position until more show up to make 2 in 2 out.
R- Rescue, 3 or more known victim gives you the exemption for 2 in 2 out
I- investigating
P- preparing, used when getting ready for interior attack and do not have 2 in 2 out
O- Offensive, 4 on the scene
D- Defensive, self explanitory

We also don't don the whole construction type it's assumed you know what kind of building your going to on dispatch. so it's usually said stories and size small medium or large. what the officer see's (fire, smoke, nothing showing) where it's coming from floor 1 alpha side. then what type of command. which we use I EAT. Initiate (combative commander), Establish (which you must then name and place the command post), Assume, Terminate.

A size up might sound like this for a residential fire.

E10 arriving medium 2 story flame showing floor 2 alpha side we will be transitional and initiating.

Long story short our cheat sheets show TRIPOD and a short definition on it and IEAT with a short definition.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Down and dirty size up.. in more ways than one!

Building Construction
Location of the fire
Occupancy
Water supply
Manpower
Exposures

[Geinandputitout]

Unit Idenftifier
Building Size (Large, Medium, Small)
construction description (wood-frame, ordinary const., etc)
occupancy description (residential, commercial, etc
Conditions (Nothing Showing, Smoke Showing, or Fire Showing)
Mode (Investigating, Fast Attack, Defensive)
Establishment of Command.

E1 is on scene of a large, wood-frame, residential structure. Smoke showing from the "A" Side we'll be making a fast attack. This is 3rd Street Command

[JohnVBFD]

Construction
Occupancy
Apparatus + manpower
Life hazards

Water supply
Auxillary appliances
Street conditions

Weather
Exposures
Area
Location and extent of fire
Time of day
Height

[the1141man]

We have 6 tactical positions to choose from. TRIPOD
T- transitional, 2 or more personnel and fire can be hit from a defensive position until more show up to make 2 in 2 out.
R- Rescue, 3 or more known victim gives you the exemption for 2 in 2 out
I- investigating
P- preparing, used when getting ready for interior attack and do not have 2 in 2 out
O- Offensive, 4 on the scene
D- Defensive, self explanitory

....

we use I EAT. Initiate (combative commander), Establish (which you must then name and place the command post), Assume, Terminate.

A size up might sound like this for a residential fire.

E10 arriving medium 2 story flame showing floor 2 alpha side we will be transitional and initiating.

Long story short our cheat sheets show TRIPOD and a short definition on it and IEAT with a short definition.

Wow, that is slick...your TRIPOD acronym pretty much encapsulates every basic mode of operation you'd want (I was taught 4: interior offense, defense, blitz -> offense, or blitz -> defense). The TRIPOD/I EAT thing is a little more specific, and makes for a lot less radio clutter...assuming of course that everyone knows what "transitional" is (I think the rest are pretty self-explanatory).

[MemphisE34a]

R- Rescue, 3 or more known victim gives you the exemption for 2 in 2 out.

What??

3 or more known victims? Maybe thats your departments view on things, but even by the two in/two out policy, you do not have to have any KNOWN victims.

[FyredUp]

Down and dirty size up.. in more ways than one!

Building Construction
Location of the fire
Occupancy
Water supply
Manpower
Exposures

Personally, I like Gonzo's method and will institute it immediately.

Easy to remember and that is everything with this type of system.

FyredUp

[FyredUp]

What??

3 or more known victims? Maybe thats your departments view on things, but even by the two in/two out policy, you do not have to have any KNOWN victims.

I caught this one too. So if there is only one victim they don't go? Or even 2? They wait until they can muster 2 in 2 out? WOW!!

FyredUp

[Dalmatian190]

Fyred/Memphis -- I had to read it three times.

Read the line above it, he left out two words on the one you guys are questioning.

I'm pretty darn certain he meant to type:

R- Rescue, 3 or more personnel and known victim

[MemphisE34a]

Fyred/Memphis -- I had to read it three times.

Read the line above it, he left out two words on the one you guys are questioning.

I'm pretty darn certain he meant to type:

R- Rescue, 3 or more personnel and known victim

Hopefully you are correct Dal.

I still say you don't have to have known victims. You can just highly suspect and still be in compliance with the policy.

Three am, 2 cars in the driveway, kids toys out front, no one there to greet you. That would justify not waiting for 2 in/2 out and initiating a rapid search.

[Nozzleman25]

My size up is

Engine __ arrived,
Size of building (1 story, 1 1/2, 2 etc)
Type of Construction (wood Frame, ordinary, Fire Resistive, Non-combustible, Heavy timber)
Fire Conditions (Nothing Showing, Fire showing, etc)
Fire location
Engine __is in command and is 2x2 (we run 4 man crews and the officer and driver qualify as 2x2 till RIT is established)
"A" side of the building is ______ Street side
If I have my own water supply I will verbalize that also

We keep our initial size up short because dispatch repeats the entire size up. After that we will start making assignments. I.E. Water supply, Back up line, RIT, Ventilation, Primary and Secondary search etc.

That is a pretty standard format for us. Some guys get pretty long winded but most try and keep it short with the pertinent info.

[fireslayer1237]

I'm sorry I think I wrote that poorly. What I mean is that for a company to go into rescue mode you must have a minimum of 3 on your crew. with a high likely hood of a victim. we run 2 man engines here and if I know I have a victim I am not waiting for my third person to make a search. That will definatly get me written up in my dept but I wont wait 4 or so minutes when i know someone is in there. I hope this clears up what i was trying to say.

[chuckbrooks]

R- Rescue, 3 or more known victim gives you the exemption for 2 in 2 out

Actually, I would bet he meant something more like this:

R - Rescue, (requires) 3 or more (unless there is a) known victim (which) gives you the exemption for 2 in 2 out.

Just a guess.

Edit: (just saw the above post. guess I was a little late.)