Structural Firefighting: Strip Mall & Store Fires (Defensive/ Offensive)

Toms River Firefighters and Officers rarely get the opportunity to fight a well involved strip mall or store fire. This SOG should be used as a template for Incident Commanders to develop strategy and tactics at these types of fires.
Scope: Initial deployment model for incident commanders and engine and truck company officers or acting officers at strip mall and store fires. Strategy for fire store should be defensive using the reach of hose streams to reach fire.
Guideline:
I. 1st Arriving Engine Company
a. A working fire at a strip mall is going to be a long operation. First due engine company should be positioned to perform one or more of the following functions:
1. Attack fire from front of building using pre-piped deck gun.
2. Attack fire using ground mounted deck gun.
3. Attack fire using 2 ½” hand lines with 1 ¼” tips.
4. Position apparatus to supply Tower Ladder.
5. Supply sprinkler system.
b. Force doors to adjacent stores using “K”- Tool to keep control of doors. Do not break glass.
c. Stretch hand lines to exposures if manpower is available.
II. 2nd Arriving Engine Company
a. Provide water supply to first due engine. (800 GPM Minimum)
b. Stretch hand lines into exposures.
III. 3rd Arriving Engine Company
a. Provide second water supply from large main.
b. Stretch hand lines into exposures. Assist with truck company functions.
IV. 1st Arriving Tower Ladder
a. Position Tower Ladder in front of fire building to use master stream device from bucket to reach the interior of the store.
1. Tower ladder should be positioned to access the cock loft of the building for anticipated fire travel. Use a smaller tip at higher nozzle pressure to get penetration.
2. Tower Ladder should be able to flow 1000 + GPM.
3. Tower Ladder should be positioned to operate into exposures.
4. Tower Ladder should be positioned to operate above fire if roof collapses.
Tactical Objectives and Specific Tactics:
1. IC shall have an F.A.S.T. team in place prior to conducting interior firefighting in exposures and in fire store.
2. Safety Officer should establish a collapse zone in front of fire building.
3. Companies operating in exposures shall pull ceiling tiles starting at front door to determine if there is a fire condition in the plenum space prior to venturing too far into exposure building. Firefighters should pull ceilings to check the integrity of the tenant separation wall. Wall should be checked right up to the roof deck.
4. Roof should not be ventilated if roof deck in a metal roof until fire is under control.
5. Rear doors to stores are usually difficult to force and provide little tactical advantage in working fires.
6. IC should consider additional alarms to cover flying brands.
7. IC and Safety Officer should consider collapse of heavy mechanical equipment on roof of fire building.
8. Life safety of Firefighters at these fires is the key factor.
9. Additional Tower Ladders may need to be positioned around building. These Ladders will need to be supplied.
Required Divisions:
a. Operations,
b. Division Alpha (Main Fire Building) Supervise operations in fire building.
c. Division Bravo (Exposure) Supervise operations in exposure
d. Division Delta (Exposure) Supervise operations in exposure
e. Water supply. Plan for additional sources of water supply for additional ladder companies
f. Staging. May need more than one. May need level 2 staging area and also a manpower staging area.
g. Rehab
h. Accountability. Used for any interior operations.
i. Safety. May need more than one due to size of operation.