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Unit 4
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Unit 4 Objectives

• 1. List the three structure triage categories.
• 2. List five factors upon which to base structure
  triage decisions and give three examples of each.
• 3. List four conditions that may indicate a
  structure cannot be saved.

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Definition Structure Triage

• Structure triage is the sorting and
  prioritizing of structures requiring protection
  from wildland fire.

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Structure Triage Categories

• Needs little or no attention for now
• Needs protection, but saveable
• Cannot be saved

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The Decision Process

• Look at the greatest potential threat.
• Look at the probable threat.
• How much time do I have?
• What can be done with available resources?
• Which plan will save the most structures?

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The Decision Process

• Five factors that affect your triage decision
  are
• Structure itself
• Surrounding fuels
• Fire behavior
• Available resources
• Firefighter safety

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Structure

• Roof
• Combustible
• Non-combustible
• Angle or pitch
• Debris on roof or gutter
• Siding
• Combustible
• Non-combustible

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Combustible roof with leaf accumulation
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Structure

• Heat traps
• Open gable
• Vents without fire resistant screening
• Overhanging decks
• Unenclosed eaves

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Structure

• Windows
• Size and shape of building
• Position on slope

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Fuels

• Surrounding fuels
• Size and arrangement
• Age
• Proximity to structure
• Loading

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Fuels

• Types of fuel
• Resistant or flammable
• Landscape/ ornamental
• Grass, brush, timber
• Wood piles
• Exotics (eucalyptus, juniper, others)

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• Wood piles

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Fuels

• Landscaping
• Defensible space, access
• Yard accumulation
• Flame or heat duration
• Explosives or hazardous materials

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• Landscaping

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Defensible Space
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• Yard Accumulation

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• Flame or heat duration

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• Explosives or hazardous materials

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Fire Behavior

• ROS intensity
• Topography
• Weather
• Flame length
• Spotting
• Timing
• Natural or other
  barriers

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Resources

• Resources on-site (pumps, ladders, water, tools)
• Kind and type of equipment available
• Number
• Location
• Response time
• Capabilities and limitations

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Firefighter Safety

• Ingress/ Egress Routes
• Power lines
• Smoke/ visibility
• Hazardous materials
• Propane tanks and fuel storage
• Others

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• Is the line still hot?
• Ask the power company for assistance.
• Approach only when safe.

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• Watch for decreased visibility due to heavy
  smoke!

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• Slow down and drive attentively!

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• Is this bridge safe to cross? Check it out
  first!

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• Is it safe to cross through?
• What is your escape route now?

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Group Exercise Scenario
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House 2
House 1
Two houses are adjacent, 50 feet apart. House 1
has wooden walls, a wood-shake roof, and is
surrounded on three sides by brush. House 2
has better clearance, grass around the house, and
a composition shingle roof.
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House 2
House 1
500 gal.
Case 1 The fire is burning only the leaf
litter, moving progres-sively past the two
houses. You have a full 500 gallon tank of water
and are the only engine available. What would
you do?
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Group Exercise Scenario
Case 1 Solution Control the fire at the first
house it reaches and lead it past the second.
Save both houses.
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House 2
House 1
250 gal.
Case 2 The fire is burning the
brush, hitting broad-side and threatening
both houses at the same time. You have 250
gallons of water left and are the only engine
available. House 1 will receive direct flame
impingement house 2 will receive only
firebrands. What would you do?
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Group Exercise Scenario
Case 2 Solution Forget house 1, it cannot be
saved. Use your limited water to defend house
2. At least you will save one house. With only
50 feet between you must consider the exposure
problems created by a fully burning structure
(house 1). Now you are not only defending house
2 from a wildfire, but from a fully involved
structure next door.
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House 2
House 1
500 gal.
5 min. away
Case 3 As in Case 2, the fire
is burning the brush and threatening both
houses at the same time. This time you have a
full tank of water, 500 gallons. You can protect
house 1 as the fire hits it and in the process
will significantly diminish the intensity at the
head of the fire. A second engine will be there
in 5 minutes. What would you do?
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Group Exercise Scenario
Case 3 Solution Take house 1 and do
everything you can to save it. You might be able
to simultaneously deploy a hose line to the
second house and to have a firefighter spend at
least some time on spot fires. House 2 will
last until the other engine arrives. The second
engine can handle house 2 and perhaps even give
you a little help too. Save both houses.
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Decision-making Exercise
You are sent into an area with four houses.
Burning conditions are so severe that you can
expect the standing live fuels to burn readily.
You have a full tank of water, but no other
resources will be available until well after the
fire is past.
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The most threatened house (1) is in heavy fuels.
It would require all your water to save, and the
other houses would be involved by the time you
could be free again.
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3
4
1
500 gal.
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The second-worst house (2) is located in
moderately heavy fuels it would require half
your water and 10 to 20 minutes to save it.
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3
4
1
500 gal.
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Houses 3 and 4 are threatened only by firebrands
on the roof. What would you do?
2
1
500 gal.
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Decision Making Exercise
Solution First, consider taking on the most
threatened house. You will save it, but with no
time or water left you will lose the other
three. Next, consider taking on the second house.
You will save it, and there is a good chance you
will have time and water to deal with spot fires
on the last two houses. You could save
three. Finally, consider taking on the easiest
two houses. You can save them easily, but you
will lose the other two. The second alternative
will buy you the most three houses saved.
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When Structures Cannot Be Saved

• The fire is making significant runs.
• Spot fires are out of control.
• Your water supply will not allow you to continue.
• You cannot safely remain at the structure.

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When Structures Cannot Be Saved

• The roof is more than ¼ involved.
• Interior rooms are involved and windows are
  broken.

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• Is this house Saveable?

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Is this house Saveable?
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Summary

• Continually re-evaluate the plan.
• Dont regret your decisions.
• Use your time wisely.
• Use your best judgment and make a decision.
• Put forth your best effort, but do
  it safely.

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Unit 4 Objectives

• 1. List the three structure triage categories.
• 2. List five factors upon which to base structure
  triage decisions and give three examples of each.
• 3. List four conditions that may indicate a
  structure cannot be saved.