This residential fire tactical decision game is based on a real incident at 412 South 25th Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. The fire occurred on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 07:07. You assume the role of the first-arriving engine company officer in a dense residential neighborhood of early-1900s wood-frame homes. Fire involves the main occupancy and threatens multiple exposures. Cold temperatures and wind complicate early operations and water supply decisions. The scenario places immediate emphasis on size-up, strategy selection, and disciplined radio communication during initial incident operations.
The exercise requires participants to evaluate conditions and act on critical command priorities, including:
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Establishing an accurate initial radio report
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Selecting a defensive strategy in the main fire occupancy and offensive strategy in the exposures
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Prioritizing exposure protection
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Coordinating water supply under cold-weather constraints
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Assigning incoming companies
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Preparing for command transfer
- Assessing strategy on an ongoing basis and strategic shift if necessary
Each decision must balance fire control needs with crew safety and exposure risk.
The residential fire TDG includes access to the incident video recorded from a battalion chief’s dash camera and selected incident audio recordings. These external media sources allow assessment of actual fireground conditions and the opportunity to learn from the experience of the IC and companies involved in this incident. They also reinforce pattern recognition under time pressure. As a result, company officers can test how early cues influence strategy selection, task assignments, and incident organization.
This residential fire tactical decision game is designed for company officers who manage complex incidents during the first operational period. The scenario emphasizes recognition-primed decision making rather than checklist procedures. Participants must interpret incomplete information, anticipate resource delays, and adapt when exposure conditions change. The PDF also includes an additional learning section that extends discussion into radio discipline, exposure management, water supply coordination, and defensive fire control options.
Learn more about how to use 10-Minute Training and find additional tactical decision games in the 10-Minute Training Library.
