BY John J. Lewis AND ROBERT MORAN
Scenario: You are dispatched to a reported structure fire at 12 Bella Court; early radio reports indicate a definite fire with smoke showing on arrival of the deputy chief. You are the officer on the first-due engine company. As you approach the scene, you attempt a three-sided view of the 2½-story wood-frame structure. Thick black smoke is showing from the first and second floors and the open front door. No fire is visible as you move past the structure. Your crew stretches the initial attack line to the front entrance and prepares to enter the dwelling. As you and your crew move into the structure, your instincts and accumulated cue-based experience urge you to rethink your actions. You feel something is not right. At this point, the nozzleman turns to you and states, "Hey, I think it's in the basement!"
Properly identifying common basement fire indicators such as obvious smoke conditions with high heat levels and no visible fire is a critical factor for first-arriving companies. It is well understood that these types of incidents will challenge even the most experienced and well-trained departments. Fire suppression operations at fires of this nature call for the first-due engine company to initiate immediate offensive fire suppression operations while the first-arriving truck company performs rapid, efficient primary search and ventilation. By following this type of model action plan on arrival, first-due companies will set a solid foundation for all subsequent fireground operations.
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