About This 1-Story Bungalow Fire Training Simulator
This wood frame residential simulator is built for company officer development, recruit training, and incident command drills. Drag and drop fire and smoke elements onto the photo to build a scenario, then talk through your size-up and first-arriving decisions with your crew. It is free, runs in the browser on desktop and mobile, and needs no software installation.
How to Use It
- Study the photo for a minute as if you were the first-arriving officer on scene.
- Drag fire, smoke, wind-driven smoke, and personnel onto the building to create a scenario.
- Give your size-up report and initial action plan, then change the scenario and repeat.
Size-Up Considerations for a 1-Story Wood Frame Bungalow
- Construction: Wood frame with wood siding and a low-pitched gable roof. Older bungalows may have concealed voids in the walls, attic, and under the floor that let fire extend out of sight.
- Occupancy: A single-family dwelling. Think about the time of day and the likelihood of occupants, especially sleeping rooms.
- Exposures: In the photo, neighboring houses sit close on both sides and a large tree overhangs the roof line. Overhead power lines are visible in the street view. Decide which exposure to protect first.
- Vehicles and access: A vehicle is parked in the driveway and cars line the street, which can limit apparatus placement and hose lays.
- Ventilation: The front porch, windows, and roof offer different options. How would smoke color, volume, and movement change your choice?
- Wind and weather: Use the wind-driven smoke and fire pieces to practice how a change in wind direction affects exposures and the attack.
Practice Scenarios
- Heavy smoke from the eaves with no visible fire. Where would you look next?
- Fire showing from a front window with smoke pushing out the top of the door.
- Fire in the attic and through the roof, with wind pushing it toward the neighboring house.
- Fire in the detached garage extending to the house and the adjacent building.
Discussion Questions
- What are your first three observations on arrival, and what do they tell you?
- What is the greatest life hazard, and what is your first priority?
- Which hoseline goes where, and what resources would you request?
- What would make you change from an offensive to a defensive strategy?
This tool is for training discussion only. Always follow your own department's standard operating procedures and local protocols.
