Photo courtesy the Indianapolis Fire Department
In this roundup of firefighter training drills by Forest Reeder, he takes a look at some aspects of building construction and their impacts on fire dynamics and firefighting tactics.
Download the individual drills below, or check out our comprehensive drill section.
Drill of the Week: Roof Styles and Shapes
Test your building construction knowledge by identifying basic roof styles and shapes. Discuss access, construction materials, and features of each style of roof when completing this drill. Can you identify areas in your still district that have these roof styles?
Flashcard Drills: Roof Types and Construction
A series of building photos representing typical roof construction types along with some key construction components will challenge your firefighters to name the type and to discuss the hazards associated with each type.
In this drill, you are the first-in officer at the specified building. Determine your size-up and initial incident plan functions based on your knowledge of building construction and fire behavior.
Building Construction and Fire Behavior, Scenario 1
Review this scenario using similar structures in your town and determine the impact of fire behavior on the building construction as you develop your incident action plan.
Building Construction and Fire Behavior, Scenario 2
This fire scenario when matched with the construction type offers a challenging set of questions for companies arriving on the scene
Building Construction and Fire Behavior, Scenario 3
This construction type is a challenge for firefighters as it hides many void spaces and areas where fire can travel through concealed spaces.
Building Construction and Fire Behavior, Scenario 4
This small occupancy presents itself as a bread-and-butter situation, but considering the building construction and avenues where fire may spread, you will quickly see that there is potential for a greater fire problem.
Building Construction and Fire Behavior, Scenario 5
When fire extends into structural elements of this type of construction, it adds many dimensions of fire extension and travel that may not occur in other construction types.
This quick quiz on building construction principles and terms will help you recall or learn information about building construction principles tied to other drills in this series.
MAD Training and Response Solutions
Forest Reeder began his fire service career in 1978 and retired as fire chief of the Tinley Park (IL) Fire Department in 2021. He has worked extensively in the areas of instruction, firefighter safety, and officer development and earned his Master of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration in 2004. He is the author of Fire Department Incident Safety Officer 4th edition (2025) and co-author of Fire Service Instructor Principles and Practices, now in its 3rd edition. Forest presents nationally on fire service leadership, safety, and instructor development. He was inducted into the Moraine Valley Community College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020 and awarded the Distinguished Alumnus award in 2021. In 2008, he received the ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year, considered to be the highest recognition for fire service instructors in the nation.
