SCENARIOS BASED ON NIOSH REPORTS

PREPARATION

1. PREPARE PICTURES OF SCENE BY:

REBUILDING ORIGINAL SCENE
FINDING STRUCTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY THAT CAN BE
COMPUTER ENHANCED TO BE SIMILAR TO ORGINAL
FIND BUILDING THAT IS CLOSE IN APPEARANCE

2. PREPARE FIRE PICTURES

RUNNING A NIOSH SCENARIO

1. PROVIDE PAARTICIPANTS WITH ANY MATERIALS

(MAPS/CLIPBOARDS/COMPUTERS) THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE
RESPONSE ENGINE AND COMMAND VEHICLE.

2. EACH PARTICIPANT RECEIVES A LOW FREQ. PORTABLE RADIO. IF

FIREFIGHTER COMPANIES BECOME DEVIDED DURING ASSIGNED
TASKS, THEY MUST HAVE ACCESS TO A PORTABLE TO ANSWER REDIO
REQUESTS

3. INCIDENT COMMANDER IS PLACED AT FRONT OF ROOM WITH VIEW

OF FIRE OR INCIDENT PICTURES.

4. ENGINE/TRUCK/MEDIC OFFICERS AND PERSONNEL ARE LOCATED AT

REAR OF CLASSROOM WITH VIEW OF FRONT SCREEN AND ACCESS TO
DRY ERASE BOARD TO MARK LOCATIONS FOLLOWED AND
ASSIGNMENTS.

5. ALL COMMUNICATION IS DONE VIA PORTABLE RADIOS UNLESS

COMMAND ASKSFOR A FACE TO FACE AT HIS LOCATION. AT THAT TIME
PERSONNEL CAN GO TO FRONT OF CLASSROOM BYT WILL RETURN TO
REAR FOLLOWING FACE TO FACE COMMUNICATION.

6. THE INDIVIDUAL RUNNING THE SCENARIO WILL PERFORM THE

DUTIES OF DISPATCH. THIS PERSON STATIONS HIMSELF BETWEEN
FRONT AND REAR OF CLASSROOM SO THAT INFORMATION CAN BE
RELAYED BETWEEN THE GROUPS.
EXAMPLE: IF COLLAPSE OCCURS, ENTIRE CREW WOULD BE
ADVISED NOT TO ANSWER ANY FURTHER RADIO COMMUNICATIONS.
7. THE GOAL IS TO KEEP TIME FRAMES/RESPONSE APPARATUS/SOP’s AS
REALISTIC AND ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE.

8. APPARATUS OR DISPATCH MAY NOT ANSWER IC ON FIRST OR SECOND

CALL TO SIMULATE COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN ON THE
FIREGROUND.

9. SCENARIO PROCEEDS AS LONG AS DESIRED. TIMES ARE RECORDED

ON PAPER BY DISPATCH TO ASSIST IN CRITIQUE.

10. CRITIQUE ON POSITIVE ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE AND AREAS

THAT CAN BE IMPROVED UPON. ALLOW. ALLOW THE IC TO GO TO THE
REAR OF CLASSROOM TO SEE POSITION OF APPARATUS AND
ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL TO SEE IF WHAT IC SAID WAS WHAT WAS
HEARD AND DONE.

** OFTEN WE FOUND OUT THAT COMMUNICATION WAS THE KEY TO

ANY BREAKDOWN ON THE SCENARIO
** FOLLOWING CRITIQUE, SHOW PHOTOS OF ACTUAL NIOSH INCIDENT
AS WELL AS READ THE INVIESTIGATION REPORT.
**FIND ANDY SIMULARITIES BETWEEN SIMULATION AND ACTUAL
INCIDENT.
** AT FUTURE TRAINING SESSIONS, PERFORM HANDS ON TRAINING ON
INCIDENTS METIONED ON NIOSH REPORT IE. FLOOR COLLAPSE, HOLE
IN FLOOR, LOST CREW MEMBER

BUILD HANDS ON TRAINING AROUND DEPARTMENT SOP’s AND

CAPABILITIES.
RUNNING A TACTICAL OPERATIONS SCENARIO
 Command has everything at the table that would be present at an actual
scene such as prefire plans, command board, etc. and a portable radio
The computer is hooked to a projector or a tv set in front of the command
table
The overhead projector displays a plot plan or area plan on the magnetic dry
erase board.
Officer of each apparatus have a magnetic engine cut-out, portable radio and
dry erase marker (different color for each apparatus).
Dispatch has at table a portable radio and something to use to keep track of
all transmissions ( note pad, pen/pencil, and possibly a tape recorder)
For distractions, you might have a radio/tape deck in the center of the room
playing fire scene sounds.
The computer operator has a powerpoint presentation of the fire scenes and
printed pictures of the fire scenes.

Play:
The person assigned command is brought in and seated. A dispatch is given.
We then play a video we produced of looking from the driver’s seat that would be
seen while responding to the scene. At certain points in the video we show a still
picture of what he would see toward the fire scene at that point. The video ends
with command in the command post position and a scene of the fire that would be
seen at that time.
Apparatus arrive in a logical time sequence. The officer for the apparatus
places the magnetic cut-out on the board where command has directed. The officer
will trace the crew’s actions and hose laying with the dry erase chalk for that
apparatus.
All contact is with radio unless a face to face is requested. At that time the
officer can go to the command table to confer.
 Command must have a person at the other side of the building for a report to
be made from that area. When a report is requested, a photo of that side which
corresponds to the view of the side command is observing, is given to the officer so a
report can be given.
Dispatch handles all traffic and records what is going on and all radio traffic.
The computer operator runs the fire scenes and changes them as the situation
unfolds.
Afterwards a critique is held.
It is not unusual for the officers to be going through the buildings that were
used in the scenarios and discussing how to fight various fires in them.