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Claymont Fire Company video: Claymont Fire Company crews responded to a residential fire on Quincy Drive on Aug. 23 to assist the Brandywine Hundred Fire Company.
Engine 13-5 responded with four firefighters and Tower 13 with three. Before Claymont crews arrived, a Talleyville Fire Company captain reported fire showing from the home’s Alpha/Delta corner.
Seven cameras captured the incident, providing footage the department can use for training and recruitment.
“We’re getting multiple reports of a house on fire, also a premise history of hoarding conditions, bed bugs and other hazards inside the residence.”
Let’s watch crews in action: Engine 13-5 arrived as the first-due engine, established a water supply and stretched a 300-foot handline to the front door. Tower 13 arrived shortly afterward, and crews entered the home and found fire in a bedroom at the Alpha/Delta corner.
Firefighters also received reports that people might be trapped inside.
The Tower 13 operator conducted VES from the Charlie side after receiving reports that people might still be inside. During the search, the firefighter asked the incident commander for the victims’ last known location.
Incident Command initially misunderstood the transmission and believed the Tower 13 operator had found a victim. The Tower 13 officer later clarified that no victim had been located and the operator was seeking a possible last known location. Exterior crews then confirmed all occupants were out of the home.
3 highlights for firefighter training:
- Build the size-up as conditions develop: Crews incorporated new information as they arrived, spotted and secured the hydrant, anticipated the 300-foot hoseline stretch and coordinated fire attack while the Tower 13 officer and barman searched ahead of the hoseline.
- Victim reports require verification and coordination: A bystander report prompted VES, but crews continued gathering information until all occupants were confirmed out. The radio exchange highlights the need to coordinate search and confirm whether a victim has been located, is being removed or is already out of the structure.
- Interior operations depend on team coordination and situational awareness: Members communicated with each other as they located the fire room, followed the hoseline and moved through the hallway and fire room, highlighting the importance of clear, closed-loop communications.
Crew questions
- How would your crews - considering your staffing - balance fire attack, VES and primary search when arriving with visible fire and reports of occupants trapped?
- What radio terminology does your department use to clearly distinguish a reported victim, a suspected victim and a confirmed victim? Does it matter?
- With a 300-foot stretch and taking your own hydrant, what staffing challenges would your first-due engine need to anticipate?
