Mastering Incident Size-Up with the CAN Report: A Firefighter's Guide to Safety and Efficiency

1. STREET SMART SIZE-UP • The Down and Dirty to a Vital Task Mechanicville Fire Department - www.mechanicville.com

2. STREET SMART SIZE-UP • Stresses Safety of Responders • Easy to Remember • Flexible “CAN” Report 2

3. LEARNING OBJECTIVES • The firefighter shall correctly identify all parts of a “CAN” report. • Given a picture of an incident the firefighter shall perform an incident size-up using the “CAN” report method. 3

4. “CAN” REPORT • C • A • N onditions ctions eeds 4

5. “CAN” REPORT Used as a progress report during the incident 5

6. CONDITIONS • Where are you • Any obstacles you encounter • Smoke & heat conditions • Interior visibility • Interior layout • Fuel Loads • What’s Burning • What’s not burning 6

7. ACTIONS • Completing assigned objective • Knocking down fire • Completing primary or secondary search • Pulling ceiling • Opening up the roof • Performing salvage • Fire under control 7

8. NEEDS • Urgent help • Reinforcement • Relief • Support to current assignment • Tools or equipment • Cover other areas • More line, more water • More ventilation 8

9. “CAN” SIZE-UP CAN Report tailored to be used as an initial scene size-up method. 9

10. CONDITIONS • Location • Building Type • Building Occupancy • Smoke Conditions • Fire Conditions • Fuel Source • Hazards 10

11. ACTIONS • Performing Fire Attack • Initiating Search & Rescue • Assuming Command • Performing Ventilation • Having Difficulty Performing Assignment 11

12. NEEDS • Second Due Engine Lay a Line • Ladder Company to Vent the Roof • Request Additional Alarm • More Personnel to Location for Assistance. 12

13. TRADITIONAL SIZE-UP • COAL WAS WEALTH • WALLACE WAS HOT • IDEAL 13

14. COAL WAS WEALTH • Construction (C) • Occupancy (C) • Apparatus (N) • Life hazard (C) • Water supply (N) • Auxiliary appliances (C) • Street conditions (C) • Weather (C) • Exposures (C) • Area (C) • Location and extent of fire (C) • Time (C) • Height (C) 14

15. WALLACE WAS HOT • Water supply (N) • Area (C) • Life hazard (C) • Location and extent of fire (C) • Apparatus (N) • Construction (C) • Exposures (C) • Weather (C) • Auxiliary appliances (C) • Special matters (C/N) • Height (C) • Occupancy (C) • Time (C) 15

16. IDEAL • Identify arriving unit • Describe what you see (C) • Explain what you intend to do (A) • Assume command (A) • Let incoming units what you want them to do (N) 16

17. Initial Arriving Engine Company • Conditions: 2-story masonry apartment building; smoke showing from ridgeline; building has attached 3-story exposure • Actions: Assuming command; Engine company will be investigation/attack mode to Division 2 • Needs: First due ladder to the roof for ventilation; second due engine secure a water supply Shuykill Haven Fire Department - www.havenfire.org

18. Initial Arriving Engine Company • Conditions: Passenger vehicle heavy involvement to the passenger compartment • Actions: Assuming command; initiating fire attack • Needs: Have PD close the road Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department - www.wvfd.org

19. Divison 2 Attack Company • Conditions: Heavy smoke with poor visibility; High heat • Actions: Attempting to locate seat of fire • Needs: Ventilation of the roof; Second handline to the stairwell; Ladders to egress points Eureka Fire Rescue - www.eurekafirerescue.org

20. Initial Arriving Ambulance Crew • Conditions: 3-vehicle collision; Pickup truck resting on a sedan with entrapment. • Actions: Triaging & Performing patient assessments • Needs: Handline from Engine company; Stabilization and extrication from Heavy Rescue; Ambulance strike team. www.all-security-system.com

21. Search Crew on Division 2 • Conditions: Heavy smoke with poor visibility • Actions: Continuing primary search • Needs: Ventilation

22. LEARNING OBJECTIVES • The firefighter shall correctly identify all parts of a “CAN” report. • Given a picture of an incident the firefighter shall perform an incident size-up using the “CAN” report method. 22

23. “CAN” REPORT • C • A • N onditions ctions eeds 23

24. Attack Crew Officer • Conditions: Moderate flame spread through dry ground cover • Actions: Commencing fire attack and creating fire break • Needs: Additional personnel with hand tools and hose lines. news.tennesseeanytime.org

25. “CAN” REPORT • C • A • N onditions ctions eeds 25

26. First Arriving Engine Company • Conditions: 1-story masonry commercial structure; Heavy smoke and fire coming from the roof, Alpha-Delta corner. • Actions: Assuming command; Initiating defensive operations • Needs: Second due engine to secure water supply; Ladder company to set up for master stream operation; Requesting second alarm assignment www.calfiresandiego.blogspot.com

27. “CAN” REPORT • C • A • N onditions ctions eeds 27

28. Attack Company Officer • Conditions: Heavy fire with high heat • Actions: Commencing fire attack • Needs: Horizontal ventilation and a backup line

29. SUMMARY OF A “CAN” REPORT • Stresses Safety of Responders • Easy to Remember - “Conditions, Actions, Needs” • Flexible - Initial Sizeup to Progress Report 29

30. LESSONS LEARNED?? 30

31. CREDIT Ryan Dennett hooknhalligan.wordpress.com Twitter: @Firedawg_314 31

32. REFERENCES • Fire Engineering - Drill of the Week Oct 7, 2009 http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2009/10/drill-of-the-week-progress-reports.html • Hamilton County Fire Training Network - (link no longer valid) • South Milwaukee Fire Dept - http://www.southmilwaukeefd.org/The%20IDEAL%20Size-Up.pdf • Fire Ground Size Up - http://www.firegroundsizeup.com 32