Sometimes you are first to arrive at a structure fire. What you do in the first few minutes can dramatically affect the incident. Depending on what you do, you might make a bad situation much worse.
Don’t park in front of a fire hydrant. And don’t block the road or driveway. Don’t go inside. You don’t have the proper equipment. You don’t have training on fire behavior. You do not know enough about this dangerous enemy. The simple act of opening the door could have disastrous effects for anyone inside.
Try to determine if anyone is inside. Ask bystanders. Yell into the building. Listen for a response.
If it can be done safely, try to limit airflow. Close doors. Don’t break windows. The less air that the fire has, the slower it grows. And the greater chances of survival for anyone inside.
I know. Some of you might go in anyway. Even though you shouldn’t. If you do, when you enter a room, close the doors that are between you and the fire. This can help slow the fire down while you are in the room. Make sure that someone knows where you are. Let dispatch know what you are doing. Remember your entry point. And get out as soon as you can.
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