[Catspaw]

What is required for firemen to take control of a scene? In the three scenarios I mentioned above, should firemen have taken over the scenes and evacuated the buildings?

It's up to the judgment of the firefighters. Are you saying that others besides firefighters should be the ones to determine what the firefighters should and can do?

[supercat]

It's up to the judgment of the firefighters. Are you saying that others besides firefighters should be the ones to determine what the firefighters should and can do?

Well, there must be some sort of standards. Even if the firefighter on scene has the authority to determine whether the standards are met, there must be some provision indicating when it's appropriate to take a scene (with provisions for punishing firefighters who take over scenes when it's grossly inappropriate to do so). If not, firefighters have just as much power as the KGB.

[wimpycat]

It's up to the judgment of the firefighters.

And if someone has a problem with the firefighters' judgement, they can take them to court...not assault them or threaten them with weapons.