By: Jason Brezler and Jerry SmithPhotos By: Nick Eid, Charles Hudson, Jerry Smith and Jason Brezler
In recent years, a number of fire departments have adopted a standard operating procedure that requires a 360° perimeter survey prior to the commencement of an interior attack at a structural fire. Though the tactical directive mandating a ground level 360° survey is well intended, the practice is commonly rendered impractical in an urban environment.
The urban environment commonly includes large area multiple dwellings, adjoining exposures, and formidable security measures and obstacles which diminish the likelihood of a rapid ground level perimeter survey. For this reason, personnel operating on the urban fireground must employ more varied and flexible means in conducting a 360° survey. In many instances, time and spatial factors associated with the urban fireground dictate that a firefighter assigned to the roof position in a ladder company will be the best candidate to provide the incident commander (IC) with a 360° perspective of the fireground.
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