How would you identify and treat a potential hidden fire in a wall or attic from the exterior?

• A. Look for heat or smoke emissions from cracks; apply cooling from outside, and request interior access if safe.
• B. Break through interior walls immediately.
• C. Wait for interior crew to identify hotspots.
• D. Ventilate the area to remove smoke and ignore hot spots.

Answer: (A)

From the exterior, the focus is on spotting hidden fire pockets and taking steps that control the fire without exposing yourself to danger. Look for heat or smoke escaping through cracks, gaps around siding, vents, or eaves—that’s a sign fire may be burning behind the wall or in the attic. If you detect those signs, apply cooling from outside to suppress heat buildup and slow the spread, protecting exposed areas and making the interior safer for crews. If it’s safe to coordinate, request interior access so firefighters can locate and extinguish the concealed fire, but avoid breaking through interior walls right away, as that can release flames or embers and escalate the situation. Ventilating the area to remove smoke while hotspots behind walls remain can feed the fire and miss concealed pockets, so it’s not the correct approach.