Mapping Critical Decisions and Cues in Firefighting: A Structured Analysis Using the Critical Decision Method

Abstract

Decision-making during fire incidents is inherently complex, time-sensitive, and directly impacts firefighter safety. This study applies the Critical Decision Method (CDM) to examine how firefighters navigate decisions in high-risk scenarios. Nineteen firefighters (with an average experience of 23 years) were interviewed to elicit information on challenging fire incidents. Through a structured analysis, critical cues and challenges involved in firefighting were identified. These cues were organized into a cue inventory comprising five categories: visual, structural, operational, resource management, and environmental cues. The cues and challenges informed the emergence of 24 critical decision points, which were further consolidated into 10 broader categories. A criticality-based decision map was developed to visualize the temporal flow and interconnectivity of clustered decision points, emphasizing the interplay between cues and challenges and the increasing complexity of decisions over time. The resulting cue inventory and decision map offer practical implications for improving firefighter decision-making, supporting safety protocols, and guiding the design of simulation-based training environments.