Study of Fire Service Residential Home Size-up and Search & Rescue Operations

Conducted By: UL Fire Service Research Institute (FSRI) with Research Partner: Illinois Fire Service Institute – Research Engineer: Craig Weinschenk supported by a 21 member Technical Panel.

Description:

The Study of Fire Service Residential Home Size-up and Search & Rescue Operations was funded through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program under the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants. This Research and Development grant focused on the objective of examining size-up and search & rescue tactics on the residential fireground. Twenty-one experiments were conducted in two identical, purpose-built, single-story, single-family residential structures. Eleven (11) experiments examined bedroom fires, eight experiments examined kitchen fires, and two experiments examined living room fires. Across this series of experiments, the impact of isolation of fire and non-fire compartments, the timing of search actions relative to suppression actions, and the influence of isolation, elevation, and path of travel during rescue were examined with respect to firefighter safety and occupant tenability. The primary purpose of the study is to improve firefighter safety and victim survivability by examining the impact of: different search tactics, such as search initiated through the front door or search initiated through a window – different rescue tactics such as path of occupant removal or elevation of occupant removal – isolation (front door, fire room, or remote bedroom) and ventilation – and search and rescue operations that occur prior to, during, or post suppression. These experiments resulted in a three-part fire service technical report series released in May 2022.

Access the Study Introduction, Video Overview, and the Three Reports at the links below: 

• Study Introduction and Video Overview
  • https://fsri.org/research-update/report-series-and-tactical-considerations-released-analysis-search-and-rescue
  • https://www.firerescue1.com/research/articles/fsri-releases-report-series-on-search-and-rescue-tactics-szpUkLX4hkaVgfKg/
• UL Fire Service Search and Rescue Report Part One (PDF) - Bedroom Fires
• UL Fire Service Search and Rescue Report Part Two (PDF) - Kitchen and Livingroom Fires
• UL Fire Service Search and Rescue Report Part Three (PDF) - Tactical Considerations