Unique & Unusual Residential Accesses: Built On Slopes

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I'm sure all of us have some unique and unusual residential common entrances in our jurisdictions, with equally unique layouts that are built on slopes.

Take, for example, this home. Let's say the fire is showing upon arrival, in the area inside the orange circle. You have reports of people trapped in a bedroom. What are your concerns with this structure, and what would you have to do differently here then a normal home?

If you need additional information, ask by replying to this thread, and I'll provide the requested info to the best of my knowledge.

[Guest partyrock]

Is the fire showing from the windows or the skylight? Where is smoke pushing from? Get the truck to work on the garage door and begin the search. Without seeing where the windows are on the other side I'm betting the bedrooms are on the ground floor. How bad is access from the #3 exposure? If the bedrooms are on the ground floor get the first line in through the garage unless there is a better ground floor access I can't see. Probably take the second line in through the front door. Since fire is all ready self vented get ladders up around the structure and see if there is access to the windows from the #3 side.

[Remember585 815]

I know people are going to think I am crazy here.....

I would go with Partyrock on entering the garage - but I would be a little cautious. We have a garage in our area that looks like this one - and it has a lift where cars are stored "above" the garage door, allowing other cars to park "below."

Strange house / layout, definitely gets the mind working.

Not that it's important, but rumor has it that the car stored "above" in the house I am referring to is a Delorian like the one in the Back to the Future films. I'll see about getting photos of it.

[Monty 35]

I know people are going to think I am crazy here.....

I would go with Partyrock on entering the garage - but I would be a little cautious. We have a garage in our area that looks like this one - and it has a lift where cars are stored "above" the garage door, allowing other cars to park "below."

Strange house / layout, definitely gets the mind working.

Not that it's important, but rumor has it that the car stored "above" in the house I am referring to is a Delorian like the one in the Back to the Future films. I'll see about getting photos of it.

It's interesting looking at it from this side, that there are no windows above the garage door, nor are there any windows to the left of the garage door .....

Definitely need to get a 360 done and advise everyone. I must admit though my first thought is in through the front door. I would also want to get a ground ladder placed near the front door in case the walkway loses it integral stability.

[IzzyEng4 427]

Remember your building construction!

I agree with Remember and access should be made by the front door and also through the garage door (if there is access to the rest of the house but using caution what Remember said about the Delorian up stairs) and of course do a 360 of the house. 9 times out of 10 when you have what is in the orange circle it is usually a vaulted ceiling or even some sort of staircase BUT never assume. It could be a bedroom or even a loft overlooking the first floor.

If fire was showing from where the organ circle is, first thing I would door is get two large caliber hand lines (2 inch or 2 1/2) for fear of a heavy fire condition in this area of the house, thinking worst case scenario that this is all open. Defiantly an aerial device to the roof and sounding it before getting on it. Two sets of ground ladders for each side of the house do its size.

This is so much to try and figure out on this one and I know there is about a million different ways here.

[Guest]

Interesting house which poses a number of challenges, especially since we can't do a 360 in the picture. Some problems that I would consider are:

1. Lack of windows to perform horizontal ventilation. Good roof angle to vertically ventilate which may be the best option in this case.

2. Geography of the house may prevent doing a 360 or laddering certain sides of the building or even getting any nearby access.

3. Aerial ladder placement seems to be from the A side only, limited scrub angle or the ability to support operations on other sides of the building.

I would force the front door and begin a primary search through that entrance. The front door is probably the best way to the living areas, especially the bedroom. In addition to taking the most direct route, we may come upon people trying to self evacuate. I doubt that they would evacuate to the lower garage level. I would also put the first line into operation in the front door simply to protect the means of egress for occupants and firefighters.

I would also try to throw up ground ladders around the house. The most likely place seems to be the C side if geography makes it possible.