First 2,000 Rescues: Arrival Conditions

Data from the first 2,000 recorded rescues (you read that right) has been collected, calculated, and collated for all you nerds.

Data Drop .....Exterior Conditions Upon Arrival v Survival Rate

Below is data showing the rescue survival rate relative to the exterior conditions upon arrival of the first due. Exterior conditions were defined on a spectrum ranging from nothing showing, to smoke only showing, all the way to >75% fire involvement. Not surprisingly, there seems to be an inverse relationship between the amount of fire involvement and the survival rate, meaning that as the percent of fire involvement increases, the survival rate decreases. Even when the building was >75% involved (aka “fully involved” to many firefighters), there has been a 33% survival rate. While an exterior size up is essential for effective and efficient operations, the view from the outside is only part of the picture and should be combined with the imperative, and for some reason much less championed, interior size up.

There’s absolutely a lot of important information to glean from outside the building (building construction and condition, vent profile, fire conditions, etc.), although there’s a lot we could be missing too (closed doors, burning regime, location of possible victims, etc.). Thus, we must marry our exterior size up with our interior size up (as conditions allow) to improve our decision-making ability. Like in all things, the more we learn about something, the more questions arise.

• How much emphasis do you place on getting a rapid interior size up?
• How does the phrase "Fully involved" effect your fireground tempo?
• Are there rooms or areas of your house/apartment/etc. that don't have a window?
• Do you close doors as you search?

Search Culture“Nothing showing”, means we must further investigate, make the interior and get a more educated size-up.
Nothing showing had a 22% fatality rate, how would you feel or a family member react after you slowed a box to code 1 or didn’t assign a search early or at all and then a civilian came up injured or dead?
33% survival rate when a building is involved greater than 75% .

We are always looking for searchable spaces and if they aren’t, then make them searchable, occupy it and complete the primary.