Fire Ground Communication

[frankie811]

As far as fire ground communication is concerned when at the scene of an incident, reference is made as to what side of a building is being investigated. For instance, side 1, side 2..............etc. On a typical four-sided building, which side of a building is side 1? Side 2? ..............etc.

 

[doctordialtone]

On a typical four-sided building, which side of a building is side 1? Side 2? .

https://forums.firehouse.com/forum/...-side-corner-quadrant-designation-a-b-c-d-etc

Sides A, B, C, and D - FirefighterMedic

Terms used by firefighters labeling the multiple sides of a building starting with side A or Alpha being the front of the structure and working its way around the outside of the structure in a clockwise direction. This labels the front side A or Alpha, the left side B or Bravo, the rear side C...

www.firefightermedic.com

 

[frankie811]

https://forums.firehouse.com/forum/...-side-corner-quadrant-designation-a-b-c-d-etc

Sides A, B, C, and D - FirefighterMedic

Terms used by firefighters labeling the multiple sides of a building starting with side A or Alpha being the front of the structure and working its way around the outside of the structure in a clockwise direction. This labels the front side A or Alpha, the left side B or Bravo, the rear side C...

www.firefightermedic.com

Thanks.

 

[W1KNE]

Side A or 1 faces you, B or 2 to the left, C or 3 to the rear, and 4 or D to the right.

 

[BabaDude77]

Also might hear floors referred to as divisions (fire is located alpha-delta corner on division 3) as per NIMS protocol

 

[sefrischling]

The sides of a building are typically identified as in the attached graphic. Generally, but not always, Incident Command will make it clear what side the Alpha side is, if it is unclear. There may be any number of reasons why the IC adjusts what side is referred to as Alpha. The sides move up the alphabet in a clockwise manner.

As for a division, a division is an individual area of a fire scene. A floor may be a division, a side of a building may be a division. Divisions are often numbered by many fire departments and that is a pre-determined identifier. Division 1 may be the Charlie Side exterior and Division 2 might be the second floor.

This is how I explain it when speaking to the media, or the public, as a fire service public information officer.