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Assessment Center
Strategy and Tactics: In our first nugget on this subject (Assessment Center Strategy and Tactics: Engine Company Operations), we listed and identified the task-based responsibilities for an engine company assessment. In each of those listed areas, we provided the reader with a number of measurable steps that may need to be addressed and discussed in a promotional exercise. From the simple tasks that we normally take for granted in our day-to-day operations to the more the complex, test candidates need to be prepared to address any and all areas. In our attempt to assist you further with your promotional preparation, we have enclosed a new list for you to study and prepare for. Task-based responsibilities within an assessment center for the ladder company officer will focus around ten primary responsibilities. (Acronym: AL-VES-SCOUP)
Apparatus placement: Apparatus placement responsibilities for the ladder company will focus around a number of size-up factors that will be present in either the exercise text, the diagrams/simulations, or both. The most notably factors will include such things as the building type, height, and square footage, the accessibility to the front and possibly sides of the building, the occupant life hazard, as well as the location of the fire. Seem like a lot? It isn’t! To give you a brief example of what we mean by this: if you have a fire on a lower floor in an occupied multiple dwelling, the first arriving ladder must attempt a position in front of the fire building to provide immediate access to the roof for ventilation of the building’s interior stair. This is a critical requirement in a building of this type. In another example, consider a similar type structure where an occupant is trapped in a window on an upper floor that is in need of immediate rescue. In yet another, depending upon the size of the building and accessibility to the front and surrounding sides, the first-arriving and even possibly the second-arriving ladder company may have the opportunity to place their apparatuses' turn tables on the building’s corners (AB corner, AD corner) so that they can reach multiple sides for either a rescue attempt(s), roof access, exposure protection or master stream operations. The point that needs to be made here is that ladder company placement is critical. For an assessment exercise, ladder companies must be placed to max out their scrub area (reach potential) for any potential objective. Performance dimensions that measure your technical knowledge, adaptability, and initiative will be enhanced with this approach.
Ventilation: Measuring ventilation knowledge within a ladder company’s officer responsibilities will often focus around the type, the vent’s location, the how to, and the timing of the vent with the engine companies movement and direction. A commonly used exercise to measure a candidate’s ability in this area is to assign the candidate as a vent group or roof division supervisor, and require him/her to explain the steps necessary for an effective and safe ventilation operation for a structure fire. Taking the requirements further, the assessment board may also require the candidate to diagram the intended “cuts” on a blackboard as they explain each step. The “how to” in this potential exercise will obviously be based on the building type and design, as well as the fire’s location within the building. To give you an example of how that may be presented, review the sample question: Sample exercise: “You respond to a report of a fire on the top floor of a three story residential wood frame. The building, which was built in 1930, measures approximately 20’x30’ and is at the end of a row of six similar attached structures. As the Ladder Company Officer assigned to oversee roof operations; diagram, as well as explain for the assessment board how you would proceed with vertical ventilation operations”.
Before you view the following answer key and diagram, do it on you own. Attempt this on a blackboard or piece of drawing paper and give a narrative describing your actions and objectives. The only way to become comfortable with an oral assessment exercise is to practice it/ Many times! What follows is a suggested guide to the answer and diagram. We have put the answer key in an outline form to show needed content. It is critical to remember when answering an oral assessment question that you use proper grammar, organization, clarity, and confidence with your response. It is difficult in the written word here to give you a detailed narrative response, but the following will at the very least organize your thoughts and emphasize what you will need to concentrate on regarding oral communications. I always advise our students to start with an introductory statement/heading that introduces organization and clarity into their response. Sample answer key: “Regarding question #1 and my responsibilities as the officer assigned to oversee roof operations, I would begin by…
Does the above answer and diagram seem a little lengthy? It isn’t! Remember this is an oral assessment exercise. The time used to present your response will seem like it is flying by. When presenting your response, you must be aware of your time. Time management is important, especially when presenting with a drawing/diagram. Your oral presentation must be coordinated and timed with your drawing as you illustrate the necessary steps. This is the type of assessment exercise where practice really pays off. Forcible entry, search, salvage and overhaul: Forcible entry, search, salvage, and overhaul responsibilities for the ladder company officer in an assessment center will focus around the candidate’s ability to recognize the need, and describe how to carry out the task. Within the forcible entry responsibilities, a fireground scenario can involve a commercial building that has a late night, early morning incident. A potential assessment question could require the candidate to address the tools needed to gain entry, identify how the tools would be used, and describe how this task would be coordinated with other operations. Search responsibilities within an assessment exercise will most notably focus around the technique required for an efficient and safe operation. As an example, fire officers must direct their firefighters to search differently in a warehouse and factory type occupancy, as compared to assigning firefighters to search a private or multiple dwelling. The building’s size, square footage, and layout are some of the factors that will influence the candidate’s responses. Assessment questions that focus on salvage and overhaul will test the candidates ability to plan early, identify their knowledge with procedures, equipment and use, as well as to show how the tasks would be coordinated with other fireground operations. Coordinate: Just as we have stated with the engine companies list of responsibilities, the ladder company must also coordinate their efforts with the advancing engine company. This is a crucial consideration for any company officer. We can further emphasis its importance in an assessment center scenario when a fire involves a lower floor of a building. Committing firefighters to search the floors above the fire is a calculated risk that must be coordinated with the stretch of the initially placed hoseline(s). Committing your firefighters above the fire to conduct a search, and not eluding to any type of coordination with a nearby hoseline will bring about a poor score by assessors. Utility Control: Utility Control is a task that we often associate as one of the responsibilities of the ladder company. To eliminate confusion and a missed opportunity, we always advise our students to state that they would “control all utilities within the building, specifically the gas, electric, and the water”. Now, it is without doubt, that if specific information within a scenario identifies the need to prioritize one utility over another, you should. However, to begin thinking like a test taker and eliminate a possibly missed answer/opportunity, you should address all utilities. Progress reports: Finally, just as we did with the engine company, we need to stress the importance of providing Command with progress reports. It has often been said in the fire service, that the eyes and ears of the Chief officers belong to the ladder company. From their assignments, tasks, and overall operations, they are often in the best position to relay specific information about the incident. As with any emergency incident, the information that is relayed from the companies to the Incident Commander helps in the decision-making process. Oral assessment exercises that are designed to measure the knowledge, skills and abilities of fire officer in a company officer position will require a comprehensive response. Having an organized approach is the first step in scoring well on your promotional exam. We hope the enclosed helps! Good luck! Chief Terpak is the author of the new book Assessment Center Strategy and Tactics and also of Fireground Size-Up. To purchase, return to the Fire Nuggets Bookstore on the Main Page and click on the icons. © Copyright Firenuggets.com 2009 • Click here for Terms and Conditions of Use
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