Play ‘What If?’
Have you ever played “What If?” as a fire officer? It’s not hard to do. You come across an unusual building or construction site or a difficult intersection and you say: “What if I had a fire (or trench rescue or extrication) here? What would I need and how would I use it?”
This game has driven my wife crazy. A few years ago, she and I went shopping at a department store under renovation. As I came off the escalator, I scanned the congested construction area separated by a temporary wall from the sales floor. Although the building was sprinklered, I asked myself how would I advance a line from the outside (as the high-rise connection was behind the construction area), vent the smoke and remove the water in the event of a fire.
Less than a week later, my department fought the fire I had envisioned. A worked started the fire after store hours by using a torch next to an open can of flammable adhesive. We laid a standard fire line up the escalator, wyed it off so we had two hand lines, then vented the smoke through a skylight and removed water through the restroom. We scored points with both the mall and store management for containing the damage, which allowed them to open the next morning.
I recently saw the “What If?” game pay dividends at a fire in a nearby community. The department’s new chief came to my office to discuss his concerns about the water supply in his historic business district. He asked if he could special call two of our engines to help lay out 4,000 feet of supply line from a 12-inch water main should he have a major fire in that district. Such a fire occurred 10 days later when a candle in a window display fell over and ignited holiday decorations that spanned the length of the store. While that building was severely damaged, the fire did not spread to an adjacent store which was less than three feet from the involved structure nor to any of the other shops in that historic block. The reason in large part was due to the chief’s preplan for an adequate water supply.
Sometimes what separates a good officer from an exceptional officer is just playing “What If?” I say that knowing that it has been a while since I played it myself, but having the concerns of my fellow chief come true in such a short period of time reminded me that I had to do it more often in my community. Have you played the “What If” Game recently? If not, expand your mind and sharpen your strategy by taking the time to play it. It may pay dividends for you and your department in a very short time.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I just want to say what an awesome article. As officers we can especially find out alot of things about a “What if ” situation before it happens. I use to ask my engine crew what we would do in certain situations: And amazing enough I always got feed back usually positive yea there were always a couple things we would change but the bottom line was that we needed to pre-plan just alittle bit better. Shortly after doing this we knew so much more about the structures either being renovated or newly constructed. You have made an awesome point it helps us to plan ahead in the event of what if.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I agree! This is a great article and is the start for a Dept’s role in functional preplanning. The “what if” scenario develops and enhances instinctive behaviors. Ideally, fire service leaders need to turn these into instinct into action. Put the “what if’s” together with building and response variables and document it, either electronically or on paper. Review and share these preplans with your firefighters, mutual aid departments, etc. And when ever possible get out there and practice. . lay lines, pump water. . prove your instincts are correct and you have the trucks, equipment and manpower to implement them. A town near us recently lost a major structure due to the lack of 50′ of supply line. The driveway was just long enough and the first due engines lines just short enough to delay FF and lines reaching the seat of the fire. All the instinct in the world couldn’t help those FF’s. . but that instinct layered on a preplan that noted the length of the driveway would have shown their first due engine lacked enough supply line for ideal initial attack. Hard lesson learned. .
January 13th, 2009 at 7:59 am
I also agree. I think that it’s pretty much required to play “what if”. As an officer and it does not matter if it’s your first shift or you’ve been an officer for years, you need to constantly say “what if”. In our profession things go from fine to far from fine in the blink off an eye and you as a officer have to be at least one if not two steps ahead. By doing the “what if” game you can.
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