Tactical Impact: Basement Fires Uncovered Basement fires remain some of the most complex and dangerous incidents firefighters face. FDNY Lieutenant Dan Gordon shares frontline experience and expert analysis featured in Fire Engineering’s June 2025 issue. He breaks down the crucial challenges of identifying basement fires—emphasizing thorough size-up beyond the front door, including the “rule of thirds” for smoke behavior and the critical role of flow paths. Gordon describes how misleading indica