Fireground Support Operations (1st Edition)
Chapter 1 - Size-up
"By The Numbers"
NOTES BELOW ALSO INCLUDE THE INTRODUCTION PORTION
NOTICE:  STORY-BASED ENTRIES/DISCUSSIONS IN THIS CHAPTER ARE NOT INCLUDED IN NOTES

• Residential/commercial buildings constructed before the middle of the 20th century commonly had high ceilings, some 10 feet or more, with many having "dropped" false ceilings installed.
• If a firefighter crawling on the floor of a smoke-filled Victorian-style residence can touch the ceiling with a 6 foot pike pole, there is probably a false ceiling in that room.
• With basement fires, smoke on the 1st floor may be relatively cool with no obvious layering.
• Townhouses are mostly 2-story, wood-frame, multiple-residence buildings that may or may not have fire walls separating the units.
• The kitchen and living room of townhouses are typically on the ground floor, while bedrooms are typically on the 2nd floor.
• Fires that develop on ground floor of townhouses during sleeping hours are likely to trap occupants on the 2nd floor.
• Horizontal ventilation of most often used with townhouses due to sleeping area being on 2nd floor.
• Laddering 2nd floor windows, both front and rear, of townhouses is usually a high priority.