The basic fire suppression mission of a firefighter is to enter a burning structure, rescue occupants and extinguish the fire. The firefighter enters an unknown environment. Effective and safe fire fighting in a structure requires the firefighter to understand building construction, building materials and the impact of fire on buildings.

The landscape of communities today include buildings made of modern, engineered materials as well as legacy buildings constructed in the early twentieth century or before, and everything in between. All members of the fire service regardless of their area of responsibility need an understanding of how structures are built, the nature of the construction materials, and how the buildings are likely to respond under fire conditions.

This NEW edition includes relevant information for:

• Fire prevention
• Inspecting buildings and enforcing fire codes
• Developing pre-incident plans
• Directing fire ground operations
• Performing the duties of the incident safety officer
• Investigating fires