The boarded up, vacant structure is a fixture in many communities. It represents an eyesore that some communities readily dispose of and others live with as a common site. Few, if any, fire departments are immune to the community blight. These structures are ripe for everything from shelter for the homeless, squatting, mischievous vandalism, and the arsonist’s torch. Much of the comings and goings in vacant structures are conducted by people with little thought or care for firefighters. This scenario sets firefighters up for exerting questionable risk. In this featured report, a department from the Midwest describes its experience at a vacant single-family dwelling for all of us to study.
“Units were dispatched to smoke coming from the window air conditioner unit on the second floor of a single family structure. Units arrived on scene and found an abandoned/vacant building that was boarded up (first floor only) with the exception of the side door (side B) that was open…and observed the front second floor bedroom on fire, with heavy smoke and fire coming from the front windows and the gutter line…The next vehicle on scene was shortly behind the first and was an engine co. from a neighboring city (a more aggressive, trained, and experienced department and crew). The second vehicle (engine co) entered the structure and advanced an inch and three quarter hand line through the open side door (side B) to the second floor…At that time, they reported to operations they were backing out and ‘this was a loser’…The crew made it out without incident and the other crews on scene went to defensive operations.
Approximately 8-10 minutes went by and crews were permitted to re-enter the structure and advance to the second floor to continue fire attack, pull ceilings and chase and extinguish the fire in the attic space. Crews were permitted in the front room on the second floor for fire attack and suppression. The front room on the second floor was the room with the main fire damage and the heaviest fire.
During fire attack in the front room on the second floor, one of the firefighters fell through the floor…”
Age, deterioration, and vandalism: these are three of the most notable conditions found at vacant structures. Once a structure is left vacant, there is no telling when the structure reaches its uninhabitable state. However, from the moment the last board is screwed in or nailed over the windows and doors, the risk to the firefighter entering the structure escalates at an exponential rate. Once you have read the entire account (CLICK HERE), consider the following:
1. Should vacant structures be entered if defensive operations are needed to control the fire? Explain your answer.
2. Does your department have a “rules of engagement*” policy?
3. How many vacant structures are in your first run district? Second run district?
4. Who in your local government is responsible for monitoring and demolishing vacant structures?
5. Does your department employ a marking system to identify vacant structures that are “no go” structures for interior firefighting?
Additional Resources
*The IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival Section is in the final stages of completing a rules of engagement project to improve firefighter survival. Click here to review the latest draft of the project.
Did you experience a near miss at your last vacant structure fire? Visit and report your near miss at www.firefighternearmiss.com today so everyone goes home tomorrow.
Note: The questions posed by the reviewers are designed to generate discussion and thought in the name of promoting firefighter safety. They are not intended to pass judgment on the actions and performance of individuals in the reports.
