Responding to a fire reported in the cellar of a one-story tailor shop

Read the scenario below. Using the information you have learned in this unit, answer the questions provided. Your response to each question should be at least 25 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your responses. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; Paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

Building From the Past

Alarm Information:
You, as the officer of Engine 76, are responding to a fire reported in the cellar of a one-story tailor shop.

Construction and Layout:
The construction of the building is ordinary, and it was built in 1928. The building has a flat roof. There is a set of stairs leading to the cellar at the rear of the store that can be accessed via a side door near the C/D corner. There are steel roll-down gates over the front windows and the door. The tailor shop has recently expanded to occupy the insurance agency. It was an offer they could not refuse. The cellar is common under both stores, and some renovation, including a wall breach between the two occupancies, has been underway.

Exposures:
There is an attached four-story, mixed, commercial-residential occupancy on the exposure B side. On the D side of the fire structure is a parking lot used for a bank, which is exposure D1. The rear exposure is unknown.

Time and Weather:
The time is 0430 hours. The tailor shop closed at 1800 hours, but the patrons have been known to conduct “business” well after midnight. There is a slight breeze toward the D exposure. The temperature is 69°F.

Water Supply:
Water supply has never been an issue in this area.

Arrival Conditions:
Upon arrival, you can see that there is evidence of a heavy smoke condition, with a distinct glow in the cellar. There is a heavy smoke condition on the first floor. As you are making the report of a working fire, a civilian informs you that some of the people who work in the tailor shop live illegally in the cellar.

Response:
Two engines and a ladder company are on the response, along with a chief officer. Three personnel staff the engine companies, an officer and two firefighters. The ladder is staffed by an officer and three firefighters. All additional alarms bring two engines, a ladder, and an additional battalion chief.

Question 1-As you are advancing the line with your crew, you come across a victim. What action do you take?

Your response to each question should be at least 25 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material for your responses. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; Paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations.

Question 2-Suppose you are about to stretch down to the cellar. The ladder company forces the door, and you are confronted with a severe smoke as well as a set of large, portable rollers over the stairs that move stock into the cellar. They cover about 2/3 of the narrow stairwell. What is your action?

Question 3-As the first-arriving engine officer, what is your primary responsibility?

Question 4-Suppose you were the incident commander. The ladder company has reported to you that there is a large air conditioning unit on the roof. What action do you take?

Question 5-You are made aware that there are unprotected structural steel supports in the cellar holding up the first floor. What is the best action to take in regard to this information?

Question 6-After the initial attack has knocked down the fire, you have a report that the gas meter is burning. Again, as incident commander, what is the best action to take?

Question 7-In regard to the location and extent of this fire, what is the best action regarding fire attack?

Question 8-What action would you take next?