Who conducts the size up?

Who conducts the size up?

• A. The first arriving unit
• B. The incident commander
• C. Every company officer
• D. The nearest safety officer

Answer: (A)

The first arriving unit conducts the initial on-scene assessment to quickly understand what you’re facing. This size-up looks at life hazards, fire location and spread, building type and condition, entry and egress routes, potential exposures, and any immediate safety risks like collapse or toxic environments. That rapid evaluation is turned into a concise report that guides the immediate actions of who goes in, who stays out, and what resources are needed next. It essentially sets the tactical priorities and helps everyone else know how to respond.

The incident commander will use that initial information to establish overall command and develop the larger strategy, but the on-the-ground, first-due officer is responsible for the initial size-up. The safety officer and other roles contribute to ongoing risk assessment, but the first arriving unit is the one charged with the first, quick assessment that shapes the opening actions.