Title: Identify indications of potential building collapse and collapse zone evacuation procedures.
Course: Public Safety II (15101-II) > Section: FIREFIGHTING: Understanding Building Construction

Identification should include

- overall age and condition of the building
- deterioration of mortar joints and masonry
- cracks
- signs of building repair
- large open spans
- bulging and bowing walls
- sagging floors
- abandoned buildings
- large volume of fire
- long-duration firefighting operations
- smoke coming from cracks in walls
- dark smoke coming from truss roof or floor spaces
- multiple fires in the same building or damage from previous fires.

Evacuation procedures should include

- identifying collapse zone, based on 1 1/2 times the area of the building height
- searching the building for personnel
- completing evacuation, according to departmental/company SOPs and SOGs.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What is a collapse zone?
- What are the indications of a possible building collapse?
- What are emergency evacuation procedures? When are they necessary?