202.15 COMMAND

Study Notes

Brush fires can rapidly spread across large areas, making the selection of an attack point crucial.
Primary goal during uncontrolled fire is the protection of exposures, including structures and utilities.

Conducting a detailed size-up is essential for significant fire incidents to formulate an effective firefighting plan.
The incident commander should invest time in gathering vital data regarding:
- Fire Location: Identifying heads and spread patterns.
- Fire Size: Understanding its scale and speed of advancement.
- Flame Length: Observing the height of flames for tactics assessment.
- Spot Fires: Monitoring smaller ignitions that can complicate efforts.
- Accessibility: Evaluating routes into the fire area for units and resources.

Assess fuel continuity to determine how readily fire can spread.
Recognize the type of fuel present—grass, brush, or trees—and factor in its impact on fire behavior.
Evaluate fuel loading as light or heavy, influencing the fire's intensity and spread potential.

Monitor temperature, wind speed, and direction as they significantly affect the fire's behavior.
Consider relative humidity levels that can impact fuel dryness and combustion.

Determine the terrain: flat ground presents different challenges than hilly landscapes.
Identify fire position: assess if the fire is at the bottom, middle, or top of a hill to strategize attack angles.

Identify exposures such as buildings, crops, and other improvements that may be endangered.
Account for special hazards like hazardous materials or potential spot fires that may arise unexpectedly.

Assess manpower requirements necessary for effective control.
Identify available water resources, such as fire tenders and hydrants, which are crucial for suppression efforts.

Based on the size-up, command must quickly formulate an incident action plan to guide firefighting efforts effectively.

Brush fires can rapidly spread across large areas, making the selection of an attack point crucial.
Primary goal during uncontrolled fire is the protection of exposures, including structures and utilities.

Conducting a detailed size-up is essential for significant fire incidents to formulate an effective firefighting plan.
The incident commander should invest time in gathering vital data regarding:
- Fire Location: Identifying heads and spread patterns.
- Fire Size: Understanding its scale and speed of advancement.
- Flame Length: Observing the height of flames for tactics assessment.
- Spot Fires: Monitoring smaller ignitions that can complicate efforts.
- Accessibility: Evaluating routes into the fire area for units and resources.

Assess fuel continuity to determine how readily fire can spread.
Recognize the type of fuel present—grass, brush, or trees—and factor in its impact on fire behavior.
Evaluate fuel loading as light or heavy, influencing the fire's intensity and spread potential.

Monitor temperature, wind speed, and direction as they significantly affect the fire's behavior.
Consider relative humidity levels that can impact fuel dryness and combustion.

Determine the terrain: flat ground presents different challenges than hilly landscapes.
Identify fire position: assess if the fire is at the bottom, middle, or top of a hill to strategize attack angles.

Identify exposures such as buildings, crops, and other improvements that may be endangered.
Account for special hazards like hazardous materials or potential spot fires that may arise unexpectedly.

Assess manpower requirements necessary for effective control.
Identify available water resources, such as fire tenders and hydrants, which are crucial for suppression efforts.