Tactical Problem - House Fire with a victim

We are looking at a rather small house fire and while we are making the size up, things change rapidly.


1.) What impact does the live, and critically burned female have on your first due crews capabilities? How many personnel to treat her and be removed from firefighting duty?

2.) What would cause a young woman to stay inside the structure so long as to endanger her own life?

3.) Based upon your first due resources is a greater alarm warranted ?

4.) Based upon the size of the structure and information from this victim, how long do you think it will take to do the search? (in minutes)
Consider fire conditions.

5.) Based on the facts of a known burn victim, and probable other victims, do you think there has been a delay in alarm? What does a delayed alarm mean to the first due crew?

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Firefighter Down Floor 2

This week we have a firefighter down on floor 2 of a wood frame apartment building.


1.) At your next training, activate a PASS device on floor 2 of a building and determine how difficult it might be to hear from the outside. Inside crews will hear it easily. How do you normally respond on your Fireground when a device operates?

2.) How will you make this rescue?

3.) What is a valid plan B or your second means of rescue?

4.) When was your last training drill using your RIT pack?

5.) Has your RIT training involved the rescue of a 3 person crew?

We all like to do complicated RIT training, but does our training match what is likely to happen in the field?

Think about it!


Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Large industrial Building

This week we are looking at a large industrial building. If you do not have an industrial or manufacturing building, think about the largest building in your response district.


1.) As you look at this building with the volume of smoke, ask yourself how much space (or area) of the building is full of smoke? The building is the container.

2.) What does the fact that the smoke is hanging, and appears to be low indicate?

3.) What is your standard attack line plan? How do you create a long stretch with an adequate rate of flow?

4.) How does this fire and building size affect your firefighters air supply capability?

5.) What is your first initial C A N (conditions, actions, needs) report?

Send your responses via email if you would like feedback on your responses. Pete@petelamb.com

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Occupied apartment building

This week you arrive at a 3 story occupied apartment building and this is the ALPHA side entrance view.


1.) What is your immediate first action after victim removal and care?

2.) What do you interpret from fire showing in the upper part of the window on the right?

3.) What does that smoke hanging high in the entry way indicate?

4.) This is a daytime scenario, how would this situation be different for you if you had the same thing showing at night?

5.) What is your specific attack plan? Where do lines go and how will ventilation be implemented?

If you ant feedback on your answers send an email to pete@petelamb.com


Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Restaurant - Searching a place of assembly

This week the tactical problem puts a couple of members in a hazardous environment inside a place of assembly.

1.) How much time have you trained searching a complex environment with tables, chairs, tablecloths and other non symmetrical layouts?

2.) What is the likely square footage of this area? How long does it take two members to search an area like this on a standard air supply?

3.) What impact does the fuel and decorative materials have on expected operating time before a hostile fire event?

4.) Have you practiced stretching hose lines in this potentially entangling situation?

5.) Have you preplanned (tactically) these restaurants, barrooms, and banquet halls? (Use a rope to simulate hose line if you need to)


Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Trailer Fire with someone trapped......or not

This week we are once again making you think and use your experience to help make decisions.

1.) Trailer fires burn quick. Based upon what you are seeing here, what stage is this fire? Is it survivable for victims and can you make a grab in time?

2.) Is this an occupant or a neighbor? Why did you come to that conclusion and what difference does it make to you and your information gathering?

3.) How do you divide your initial first 4 personnel on scene? Who does what?

4.) After life safety has been taken care of what other issues should you be considering?

5.) What impact does the construction of a trailer have on your "window of opportunity" for action?

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - House fire with children trapped

This week we. Look at a very significant incident which could challenge a small department or a new incident commander.


1.) Give a sample CAN arrival report for this incident.

2.) How will you deploy the resources of the first due apparatus regardless if it is an engine or ladder?

3.) How long will it take you to reach either of the upstairs rooms? How much hose will you need?

4.) in your opinion how advanced is this fire?

5.) Which victim should be rescued first and why? Is it likely these are the only two victims?

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Rescue on spiral staircase

This week the tactical problem is a rescue from a lower floor or basement area. This is a child and an extremely narrow spiral staircase.


There are no specific questions this week, I am just planting the thought in your head. If you think because it is a child this will be an easy rescue, I think you might be fooling yourself. Some of these ornamental special stairways can be as small as 22 inches and every piece of gear you have, and your tools will get snagged. Think about how you will handle rescues in a variety of architectural features.

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - MAYDAY a firefighter down in a commercial building

This week we have a firefighter down in a large commercial building.

1.) This is not only about a RIT simulation, but it is also about air management for members and the RIT themselves. If you are 150 feet deep into this structure, how much air have you used to get to this point?

2.) This is a large structure with 20 foot ceilings. How fast is the fire growing and how big is the fire to generate smoke this low?

3.) What are the advantages of a concrete floor in this scenario?

4.) How many personnel would this take in your department to move this firefighter 150 feet to the exit, and 50 feet beyond to safety?

5.) Have you trained on using pulley systems to assist with dragging downed firefighters? Even using large carabiners to gain mechanical advantage from an anchor point. Have you trained in large area search techniques?

You can email you answers to the questions and I will discuss them with you if you like. Pete@petelamb.com

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - House Fire

This week a "bread and butter" fire that can be, and should be expected in your first due area.

1.) What is the quickest way to assist this self evacuated conscious and alert victim?

2.) Based upon this house, size, neighborhood do you expect this male occupant lives here alone? Can he tell you where other occupants "MIGHT" be found?

3.) Based upon the conditions shown, where do you believe the fire could be?

4.) What is the best tactic you could take with a small initial crew to improve this situation?

5.) How long will your department be on scene at this emergency?


Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Colonial with victims

This week the tactical fire problem is a residential with possible victims.


1.) Using your own first due engine or first alarm assignment, explain how you deploy resources and personnel based on this scenario.

2.) What is the most likely room that the fire is showing in?

3.) What do the victims exterior tell us? What caused the father to be overcome? Is there anyone from the family missing?

4.) Are these victims....do they require immediate treatment by 2 medics (EMTS) or do you assign 1 for the two and commence primary search and fire attack?

5.) What size lines and where? What is your plan? Where is this fire going to go next?

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Fast food restaurants

This week we look at a well advanced fire in a fast food restaurant. In addition to our normal questions we ask you need to so some "homework" or "research" on previous fires in these type of facilities and the fact that we have had LODDs in these establishments.


1.) Are the conditions different from the first floor and the roof? What should an IC do when evaluating conflicting information?

2.) What do you know about the roof construction in these type of structures? What is the roof load and how is it distributed?

3.) What are your first actions and what will you be investigating when entering or initially responding?

4.) Why is what you have showing different from a fire in the ductwork system? Or is it?

5.) Using your department's first alarm resources, develop your plan. Where are you deploying apparatus, personnel and lines? What size lines and where?

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Fire in an Auto Salvage Scrapyard

Take a look and think about the challenges you might face in handling this problem. These can be small remote sites in small towns, or they can be sophisticated automated facilities.

As we discuss each week, get out and take a look at your facilities in your response area?


1.) How large in area is the facility? How long is the hose stretch and where is the water supply?

2.) Think about what material is burning here? Tires, seats, oils, ???

3.) How often do you train with using heavy equipment and loaders in conjunction with suppression operations? How do you protect the civilian operator if you use them?

4.) What impact will heavy streams be on the stability of stacked autos? Will the runoff have to be collected as in a hazmat situation?

5.) What are the additional personnel hazards that might be present in this scenario? List a bunch for yourself and describe how you would mitigate them.

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Enclosed Shopping Mall

This week we take a look at the challenges of an enclosed shopping mall.


1.) Conflicting information immediately comes to mind. This should be a fully sprinklered building, how did I get this much smoke showing?

2.) Is your highrise or extended lay hose pack equipped with 2 1/2 inch line? Less friction loss for long lays, hooks directly to standpipe, plenty of firepower if you need it.

3.) What are the ventilation challenges, do you understand the systems used to handle smoke? Pay attention to members working in an area far beyond their air supply.

4.) How do you handle the people, how to you "search"?

5.) Fires in these structures are rare, but consider contents, large storage, vehicles and displays in main concourses, large open areas, and always remember the possibility of a fire in a void space. A small fire in a void space can generate a lot of smoke.


Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Fire at the flea market

This week we don't have specific questions, because this scenario requires you to use your minds eye, and to make you think and go out and preplan and "what if" in your own response district.

Fire at a flea market


What could this fire be? Is it a number of tables? Is it the parking area with multiple vehicles? Is it a group of lean to, canopy type structures? Is there an enclosed open auction type building?
What does it do to your apparatus placement and hose stretch for the first hoseline?

If you have one in your area, go while the venue is open and take a look.

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Supermarket Fire

This week we are looking at a significant roof fire in a supermarket.


1.) One of the first considerations at a structural fire (after life safety) is the size of the structure. What does the size of this structure indicate about, the volume of fire, length of hoseline needed, and air consumption of SCBA?

2.) What heat and smoke conditions might you encounter on the main floor?

3.) Does the supermarket in your area have a second floor area, or partial mezzanine for offices in front or for stock in the warehouse?

4.) What do you know about roof construction?

5.) Based upon what you see, what is the plan? Can you gain access from an inside ladder and scuttle? Should you? Can your thermal imager give you a good reading from 30 feet away? (Inside floor to roof)
What amount of work will be involved? How long has this been burning?

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Tactical Fire Problem - Fire behavior in a small bungalow

This week we ask some questions about fire behavior and fire attack in a small bungalow.


1.) What impact does the small size of this house have on fire growth and flashover potential?

2.) What is the difference in what you see in the two D side windows? One window has fire showing in the top half, clear in the bottom half. What does that indicate to you? The rear window has heavy black smoke pushing out the full height and width of the window. What's the difference, what can it tell you?

3.) Are the interior doors in these rooms open or closed ?

4.) What size lines and where? What is your plan of attack?

5.) Would any of your decisions change if this was a larger house? How is fire behavior affected by the size of the container? (Size of the structure)

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2014

Fire in the Library

This week a fire in a library of an older building.


1.) What factors such as age, construction type, and layout must be considered during attack?

2.) What would you estimate is the length of the stretch?

3.) Because of the size and area and the occupancy loading will you order additional alarms?

4.) Does salvage operation become any more important because of this occupancy? Often we do not have manpower for salvage, but is it more important here?

5.) What will be your consideration if the fire spreads rapidly into book stacks?



Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013

Tactical Fire Problem - Bed and Breakfast

This week a fire in a bed and breakfast. Is it "just a house fire" or something more?


1.) Do you even know where the bed and breakfast establishments are in your community? Are the licensed and/or inspected?

2.) When you fight a residential fire people are familiar with their residence. How might human behavior in this situation?

3.) In this scenario we have a 1 1/2 or two story with an attic space. What are your tactics for this daytime fire?

4.) Are there any exterior factors that will have an effect on operating around the exterior!

5.) What length attack line will you need to make that room?

Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013

Tactical Fire Problem - Fire in Commercial Stores

This week, fire in commercial occupancy.


1.) Does your department have an sop that indicates a larger attack line in commercial occupancies?

2.) Estimate the length of the hose stretch needed for this attack. What do you use as a rule of thumb for figuring that out?

3.) How much air does it take to advance an attack line up a flight of stairs and then extend at least one full length? Might be a good drill idea, eh?

4.) Depending upon the contents and storage methods of the occupancy, what are the weight loads, what are the weight loads after water absorption, what are our escape routes?

5.) What is the layout of apartments located above stores and is there a common interior stairway?

If you would like to see a building simulation from your area, just send pics of four sides of the building (or just one side if you want). I will post it (with or without your name or department, you decide) and you can just use the website for your drill. Send the pictures to pete@petelamb.com


Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013