ABSTRACT

In this chapter, the authors use a model of metacognition to show how the expert fireground commanders kept their thinking on track, and thus avoided errors associated with cognitive overload. It focuses specifically on cognitive responses. The chapter outlines the types of errors and decision tradeoffs that are described by experienced fireground commanders. The commanders also describe making the same types of cognitive errors that they observe with trained novices in the field: fixation errors and fibrillation errors. The chapter illustrates a small number of metacognitive skills and heuristics which they use to regulate their thinking when they are under pressure. It also shows how experienced and expert fireground commanders use metacognitive skills to build up a picture of the situation, make decisions and put those decisions into action. The chapter describes how think-aloud techniques provide insight to 'what the experts were thinking'.