What is the main purpose of pre-incident size-up?

• A. To determine the building's color scheme
• B. To identify hazards, construction type, and plan safe operations
• C. To estimate property value
• D. To schedule maintenance after incident

Answer: (B)

The main purpose of pre-incident size-up is to identify hazards, understand the construction type, and plan for safe operations. By assessing what you may face before or at the start of an incident, you can anticipate how the building might behave, recognize potential collapse risks, and determine the best tactics, entry points, ventilation, water needs, and safety zones to protect occupants and firefighters.

This focus isn’t about appearance like color schemes, nor about financial aspects such as property value, and it isn’t a post-incident maintenance task. It’s about proactive assessment to inform a safe and effective response.