This discussion recently occured at the firehouse, and I want to see what everyone thought. If during an initial on-scene report the term residential is used what does that mean to you? Below are some questions to provoke your thoughts…
Is it used to suggest that the building is potentially occupied?
Is it used to suggest a type of constriction?
Is it used to suggest the potential of a light weight timber truss roof assembly?Â
Would you use the term for a single family dwelling? What about a garden apartment?
Does it suggest the size of the structure? What about a large residential?
Let us know what you think.
With Lake County Fire Rescue Division, for the most part the term “residential†is taken to be a single family dwelling of some sort. The second to the last question above made me realize that we have even used this term for 8,000 sq ft single family dwellings! This is one thing we need to change NOW.
As far as garden apartments go we usually refer to them as muti-family dwellings with the amount of floors in the initial size-up. All these questions are good firehouse table topics!
Does anyone give approximate square footage of the structure during size-up? -Jimm-
Good question, in my department, the term means numerous things. When I have the opportunity to be first on, my size up consists of “E47 is on scene of a single story ordinary residential structure with turbulent black smoke from the garage on side Alpha & Bravo, and on from the eaves on side Charlie, E47 will be command and fast attack.”
By saying residential, I am expressing that it is a single residential occupancy….if it were a dublex or an apartment, it becomes a multi family.
As far as the construction type, I prefer to use the five classes of building construction. By using the term Ordinary, the exterior walls are non-combustible and the interior are combustible. By using those 5 terms, you not only know how the building is built, you know how the fire will spread, likely tactics involved, and more important how the building may collapse. Now everyone coming to the scene knows all this by one term.
Lightweight construction, I prefer to “assume” that it is lightweight constrcution until determined otherwise. Too many FF’s have died to this construction, and I like to plan for the worst case scenario’s.
The size of the structure….this is one area I need to improve on due to this fact. What is large to you? To you and I may mean two different things. I need to get in the habit of say “50′ x 100′” and so on. This way other engines and trucks can get a better mental picture and formalize a better game plan for hose stretches and weither or not to split the truck crews.
Too bad more departments don’t have a specific SOP so everyone is on the same page!
Residential should suggest an occupancy, not building construction, size, et cetera. Remeber what is inside the box is more important (mostly) than the box itself.
All of these postings are very informative and well stated. I think that it is critical that we lay the groundwork from the onset to allow for the appropriate tactics to be implemented. We also need to be very precise, but also brief and to the point, in the manner for which we deliver the information. With every agency we have those that love to hear themselves talk. This not only can cause anxiety, confusion as well as very dangerous situations in which critical information is not being relayed. When sizing up I would state as engine 2 scene 1 story single family frame 20 X 30 heavy smoke showing. Laying the pipe side 1. This to me is a very brief but hits the major points needed VS. that of we are on the scene have a once story single family dwelling approximately 20 X 30 wood frame with heavy smoke showing. We also follow up with the tactic of choice such as laying in on side 1 this way incoming units can adjust appropriately as well as accountability for units and command to have an approximate location in-case an issue arises. Remember long drawn or repeating communications ties up essential radio opportunities in event of emergencies. How many have heard the initial unit size-up then the first truck size-up only to be followed up by the commander and then repeated by the alarm control office all the while units arriving are trying to notify of their operations. It is essential that sound Sop’s are established this way we do not need to use valuable radio space to tell each unit exactly step by step what their responsibility is. With sound Sop’s it is a given what’s needed and required by who, only deviations or other pertinent information from this need to be noted on the radio. Me stated it well residential is specifically the occupancy type which will call for different and unique operations on its own. During size-ups this should be noted. At 3:.00 AM as truckmen our search tactics would differ on a residential vs. that of 1:00 in the afternoon. As firemen it is my belief that we are also responsible for the box albeit not at the same risk levels as what is inside the box. It is also our responsibility and oath to do what we can to protect and save the box but not at expense of ourselves. I like Todd’s concept we should always assume the worst. Remember assume makes an ass out of you and me if we assume wrong. We should always perform fast and efficient based on worst case. If we perform in this manner we stabilize the incident rapidly limiting the potential issues that can occur. The longer we take to implement sound tactics means the fire progresses that much more, the victims lose that much more time, and the more dangerous it becomes for us due to fire and building conditions. Just some thoughts Jeff Ponds
Something that we use in our area for giving a Size up of a residential fire is simple descriptions of size. Small residence is about 1200 sq ft and below, Mid Size is 1300 sq ft to about 3000 sq ft and large residence is above 3000 sq ft and Up! This works since most of our area is a Bedroom community to Seattle, and most of the Houses we go to fires in Range in these sizes. We also try to give the type of residence, like E66 at the scene of a small ranch type structure fire. Mostly it comes down to knowing your response area’s and what types of occupancies you will encounter
Being a residential home builder I think i can answer this question. “Residence” is a term applied to a building that is deemed to be a place of dwelling. ALL types of residences, single family and multi-family housing falls under this category. It in no way alludes to the size or construction manner of the house. One of the reasons for this designation is that “Residences” fall under different tax codes than a place designated “Commercial”. In regards to trying to determine construction materials used in residential buildings ALWAYS assume that low quality materials were used and the dwelling is not built to code. Sometimes even “small” houses can have structural steel present and larger homes do not.
Most of the time in my area when refer to a structure as “residential” Its refering to a single family dwelling example. “Truck 16 on scene of a 2 story Residential structure. flames showning on division 2. T-16 crew is comiting Search on Divsion 2.
When I here “residential” during the first in unit’s initial report, I just think the occupancy that we have is residential, and nothing more. It is up to that officer to paint a better picture for those of us who are not yet on scene. At times that has been all we got and I completed my own size up upon arrival before my crew was sent in.