Tactical Scene Scenarios

The tacticalscene scenario can be one major event, a series of smaller events, or acombination of all of the above. It can be interactive or non-interactive. Inan interactive scenario a candidate is given a radio and is expected to give onscene report (size up), assume command, name the location of the command post,request resources, and make assignments as he or she would on the fire ground.The candidate is expected to react to information that is provided during theexam. It is common to have “developments” that occur during the course of theincident. The candidate is expected to take appropriate actions when adevelopment occurs. An example of his would be:

Development – “IC from Interior Division, we have located a victim”

Expected action – IC,I understand that you have located a victim. Bring him out the front door and Iwill have a medical group standing by.

Engine 1, IC, You are Medical Group supervisor. Interior isbringing a victim to the front door. Your objective is to receive and treat thevictim. I am assigning you squad 3.

Squad 3, IC, I am assigning youto Medical Group. Set up in front of the building. You have a victim comingyour way.

Interactivetacticals are becoming less common because of the potential for a lack ofconsistency. The person on the other end of the radio has a script he or she isexpected to follow. Since you cannot possibly predict everything that thecandidate will say, it is impossible to maintain consistency.

Non-interactivetactical scenarios are much more common. These enable the raters theopportunity to see the candidate in greater detail. I believe non-interactivetactical favors the prepared candidate since there is so much more down time.The prepared candidate takes this opportunity to showcase his or her knowledge.Here is an example:

Candidate– I would assign engine 1 as division two and give him benchmarks of what Iwanted accomplished. It would sound like this:

Engine 1, IC, lay a supplyline. I am assigning you to Division 2. Give me an All Clear on Primary Searchand knock down the fire on the second floor. My expectations are that theofficer on Engine 1 would lay in from a hydrant, stretch a line to the 2ndfloor and begin a primary search. He would extinguish any fire, but again heknows his number one objective is to give me an “All Clear” on the primarysearch.

As youcan see the non-interactive tactical gives the prepared candidate anopportunity to express his or her thoughts.