Fighting fires in high-rise buildings is one of the most dangerous and labor-intensive operations we conduct in the fire service. These are typically massive buildings with millions of square feet and multiple floors. They have huge basements containing maintenance shops, laundry facilities, hazardous materials storage, and utilities. They hold thousands of employees, clients, and guests who access the building through multiple entrances and exits and dozens of elevators. Inside, communication is limited because of the concrete and steel construction. High-rise firefighting has specific challenges that require knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct successfully. It involves multiple alarms with hundreds of firefighters operating in several different areas of the building on multiple floors. Personnel accountability, clear communication, and a strong command presence are crucial for a successful firefight. In addition, incident commanders must have a well-established plan that has been proven and trained on. This class will explore considerations for developing a high-rise operations plan, taking into account the size and capabilities of attendees’ departments.     

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