What is the first step in strategizing to fight fires in high-rise buildings?

Determining the fire location is indeed the first step in strategizing to fight fires in high-rise buildings. This step is crucial because identifying where the fire is located allows firefighters to assess the situation effectively and plan an appropriate response. In high-rise situations, the complexity of the building’s layout and the potential for smoke and heat to travel rapidly upward make this information essential for prioritizing actions and allocating resources.

Once the fire's location is known, the incident command can make informed decisions regarding evacuation, resource deployment, and tactics for suppression. This step sets the foundation for further actions, such as notifying the command center or establishing an evacuation route, which are vital but come after understanding where the fire is situated.