Commercial Fire Tactical Decision Game
This commercial fire tactical decision game (TDG) places the first arriving company officer at a commercial structure fire involving exterior burning foam pallets next to a warehouse building. Dispatch reports a fire in pallets of foam material outside a flooring business in Regina, Saskatchewan. The fire is adjacent to the structure, creating immediate potential for extension to the interior. You respond with two additional engines, a ladder company, medic unit, and a command officer. Wind conditions and closely spaced commercial buildings increase the potential for rapid fire spread.
Critical factors confronting the first arriving officer include:
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Exterior palletized foam products burning against the building
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High heat release and rapid fire growth potential
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High wind
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Possibility of extension into the warehouse interior
- Coordination of exterior attack and checking for extension
Incident Video
This commercial fire TDG includes incident video showing conditions on arrival and early operations. Participants review the video segments showing heavy fire along the exterior wall and later views from Side Bravo. These visual cues help officers identify patterns that influence size-up and tactical decisions. The video highlights how fire involvement of palletized foam materials can produce intense flame spread and challenge hose stream effectiveness
Important Lessons
Exterior fires involving palletized plastics or foam materials present unique operational challenges. These fuels melt, flow, and burn intensely once ignited. Fire control requires rapid water application and careful evaluation of extension potential. Officers must balance exterior fire attack with interior assessment of the structure. Strategic decision making relies on recognizing cues such as fire location, wind direction, and building construction. The PDF for this commercial fire TDG includes an additional learning section explaining the flammability characteristics of foam underlayment and how storage configuration can influence fire behavior.
Recognition-primed decision making plays an important role during the early stages of incidents like the one presented in this commercial fire TDG. Officers must rapidly interpret cues and match them with prior experience. In this scenario, firefighters must decide how to control the exterior fire while preventing extension into the commercial occupancy. Command decisions must address crew safety, water supply, exposure protection, and coordination with arriving companies.
Learn more about how to use 10-Minute Training and find additional tactical decision games in the 10-Minute Training Library.
