NIST – Report on High Rise Fireground Field Experiments

How many of you have thought, “If I just had one more firefighter on this job it would be much easier on my crew physically and we could actually work more effectively.”

I am sure it has crossed your mind. It has crossed mine many times.

Photo Credit: IAFF/NIST

Well the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) has heard us. With the cooperation of 13 Washington D.C. area fire departments, they recently completed a major study entitled “Report on High Rise Fireground Field Experiments”. This study reviewed crew size deployments (a 3 person crew, a 4 person crew, a 5 person crew, and a 6 person crew), varied alarm assignments (varied number of engines, trucks, and EMS units), and different access modes (stairs versus elevators) through 16 possible response scenarios. Within these scenarios occupant survivability, firefighter safety, and property protection were evaluated.

Click here to read the study: High Rise Fireground Field Experiments

Photo Courtesy: IAFF/NIST