These words from the dispatcher change it all. The actions of first due companies at a structural fire can make or break an incident. Life safety concerns should always be our priority when first due fire ground tactics are being initiated. Until the structure is searched, there is no certainty that civilians aren’t present. Making split second decisions and performing critical tasks with low staffing could make the difference between life or death. This requires quick actions upon arrival to locate and eventually remove civilians from the structure. When push comes to shove, all the citizen really wants us to do is to save them and their loved ones. There is no room for error; there is only a short window of opportunity to save a life.

The point of this course is to have firefighters occupying interior spaces where the highest percentages of victims are found within the first 5 minutes of arrival. This is often done when fire conditions are NOT favorable. Our jobs are dangerous, but that’s what we signed up for. You swore to put your life on the line for someone else, even people you’ve never met. This responsibility belongs to all of us, SO DON’T SCREW IT UP!