[Commander]

Situation- It's a rainy and dreary saturday evening and theres nothing to do. So you and a bunch of your fellow firefighters decide to go down to the firehouse to watch tv and to standby. There is a severe thunderstorm expected to past through the area and you want to be proactive by already having a full crew in the house if theres a call.

As everyone is watching the movie you hear the alarm phone ring. The dispatcher gets on the loudspeaker and says "automatic alarm". You're probably thinking to yourself that its a bs alarm from the thunderstorm. You all run downstairs to the truck floor and get dressed and enter the rig. Being theres about dozen guys you decide to roll two engines. As you're about halfway there your dispatcher notifies you that this possibly could be a house struck by lightening . As you pull up in front of the house you see this:




Given- It's a rainy Saturday evening with severe thunderstorms. Time of alarm is at 6:32pm. House is a one story p/d with wood frame construction. Unknown if occupants are inside however you see 2 cars parked in front of the house.

What would YOU do?

[whatsyourrush]

umm, use the manpower on first due engine to get first line started. Use the manpower on second due engine for primary search.

[former truckie]

operate like you would normally. every alarm you respond to you should be expecting there to be a fire and not be suprised when you arrive to see a fire. You didnt state wether or not the dept has a truck company so i assume they have 1, 2nd due eng helps the 1st due engine stretch the first line and if they can the second line, if there are extra bodies you need someone to run the command until a chief shows up and if still have xtra bodies seach and locatre the fire and or and people.

[Hasbeen]

First of all I don't know that I would have rolled 2 engines but if that is all there was than so be it.

Here is what I see: 1 story ranch, garage fire heavily involved, probable extension into attic, structural damage at 1/2 corner. Looks like there could be a powerline down ( left side of picture ). 2 engines ifo fire building, doesn't look like either one has a water supply. ????? ( although they may not have hydrants ).Hail on street ( must be some storm).

What I would do : A) keep everyone safe from that wire until we know it will not interfere with op's then, B)establish water supply ( at least drop booster)and start line to front door to protect means of egress, and prevent spread of fire. C) spilt 2nd engine;Team 1 primary search and opening up,Team 2 stretch a 2nd line to back up first ( I would probably have them give the fire a dash and then send them in ). If not needed inside then put the fire out.

Additional manpower: if truck arrives, A) VES, open roof, utilities, overhaul, salvage. If 2 trucks, 2nd truck augments 1st.C) Set up medical command just in case.D) Mutual aide for operations, RIT if necessary ( not enough of your own guys ), and cover district, ( call someone not affected by the storm if possibe). E) set up rehab area.

The aftermath :A) Pack up and go back to firehouse. B) Get rigs back in shape. C) critique operations. D) eat pizza and talk about the fire for a month, ( or at least until the next one!!!!!!!!!!! )

[LADDER 3]

In our Station we have Truck and Engine. If we beat the Chiefs in, then we will transmit the 10, stretch some lines, start the searches, and bring in Lynbrook's truck to the scene.

[BoxE11]

First due engine, get a hydrant. If you leave a man at the plug, that leaves 3 guys on the backstep. Get a 1.75 inch line to the front door. Move the line in the front door, to the left and push the fire out of the garage. 2nd due engine split crew, 2 men to stretch a backup line. 2 guys to make a search.

[Commander]

Execellent strategies and tactics being thrown around here guys good job.

Just to clarify some things up its normal dept precedure to roll 2 engines for every automatic alarm. They had 2 crews in quarters already so thats why 2 engines rolled. In addition to the 2 engines they also have 2 engines, 1 heavy rescue and 1 tower ladder all back at their headquarters. Also another point to keep in mind is command structure being the oic.

Rant on ...

[BoxE11]

Doesn't look like to big of a fire. Let the 1st or 2nd due ECC hold command. Start out 1&1 to your quarters and a FAST. Odds are they will come in 1st due or 2nd due truck on your job.

[Haligan]

In a situation like this you gotta work with the resources and the manpower that you are dealt with. So you have 2 engines with 2 crews and 12 guys altogether. Transmit the working fire upon arrival which will bring you a full dept response (engine,ladder,rescue) and have a FAST team called to the scene. I would have one engine handle fire supression and one engine handle truck operations (VES,Ladder,etc) for now until additional trucks and engines arrive. Defiantly pick up a hydrant. Im not sure if they didn't hook up to a hydrant initially was due to thinking it was a bs AFA from the storm or there weren't hydrants in the area.

Have 2 guys on the 1st line (1 3/4) and 2 guys on the back up line (1 3/4). 2 guys conducting a primary search, 2 guys venting and one guy doing a walk around. I would be very carefull about that wire hanging by the 1/2 corner of the house. Notify the electric company. Thats 9 ff's so far. The rest of the 12 are you being the OIC and the 2 engine chauffers. With 12 firefighters you could really make a nice quick knockdown. However I wouldn't try to be too agressive b/c you dont know how long any additional engines/ladders and mutual aid will take to get there especially in a storm like that.

[Bruce]

not to get off topic but the lay out of this situation makes me wanna answer like the comedian that talked about the fire suv.... see that window? i want you to put water on the fire until the fire is out. and that other window i want you to put water on it until that fire is out... sorry

Split your crews and get'er done

[signal21code1]

Transmit signal 10

[sjrtn666]

Call Hempstead

[greggreg259]

Not that I would ever not lead off. But if you do decide to not lead off 'casue its an automatic alarm. At least make sure that your second engine covers a plug so they can lay in. Kinda common sense but still.....

[kosmo27]

Originally Posted by sjrtn666

Call Hempstead

[LADDER 3]

Originally Posted by sjrtn666

Call Hempstead

Maybe that was Hempstead

[nyfire2]

when they were rolling down the street I find it hard to believe they couldn't see from atleast the corner that they had a job!! 1st line to interior through front door-2 guys. Officer a quick look around. 2nd Engine second line to garage- figure 2 more guys. Officer 2nd due to vent as nec. via exterior. Officer of 1st interior quick search, vent as need and open up for extension. Could also utilize 1st line b/u man for opening up if nec.. I would have 2nd Due flying backstretch if possible (if this is in our backyard we shouldn't have a problem finding hydrant). Just need to be concious of limited water until supply complete! This is based on 2 Engines - 4 man crews.. Hopefully workin fire transmitted ASAP and the need for additional resources communicated. I have no problem with the Officer breaking free from line when nec. (experience factored) but need to communicate intentions. If we do have extension it would be safe to predict it to be along that wall butting up to garage and the cockloft area. We already know were the fire is (makes for easier work when it is venting) finding the path its extending and cutting it off can be tedious.

[BigSmoke]

simple get the first line in place....and go from there...... the officer should advise there going to work, then you take on other jobs like starting a search......but the mst important thing is get the first line in place...

[nyfire2]

Absolutely BigSmoke. The whole idea here, I think, is to talk out the scenario like where the first line goes and so on and so fourth!! Being vage doesn't provide ideas or suggestions to the thread.