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## Firefighting and Vacant Buildings A building with severe hazards requires firefighting to be done from the exterior. A crew requires permission from the incident commander to enter a building. A careful examination should be conducted before entering, minimizing exposure time to dangers. - Use...

## Firefighting and Vacant Buildings A building with severe hazards requires firefighting to be done from the exterior. A crew requires permission from the incident commander to enter a building. A careful examination should be conducted before entering, minimizing exposure time to dangers. - Use of exterior streams is preferred - **Do not** enter occupied buildings - Remember that you are the only life hazard at a vacant building. ### Marking Vacant Buildings The City of Alexandria, VA marks their vacant buildings with paper signs featuring numbers. This system reflects the increased property value in their community and does not require spray painting the building. Signs with numbers marked on them are taped to the entrances. Similar systems are used elsewhere, like Nassau County, New York, where a cardboard sign system is used. This system is more readily visible and marginally more durable than paper. However, both paper and cardboard signs are vulnerable to destruction: - Weather - Vandalism - Arson - Fire ## The Importance of Caution Firefighters must be aware of the limitations of any system used in their community. No system is perfect. Do not place total reliance on any type of marking to save your life. Deterioration may have occurred since the building was last examined. **The thing that will save your life is caution while operating in, on, or around these firefighter deathtraps.**