The main reason for this is to see what people would do at a very large fire on arrival.
On arrival I would upgrade to a second alarm structure fire, responding the resources already determined on the response plan for that risk. (I am not familiar with the building or its exposures, but a third alarm may be in order due to water availability? exposures and asset protection).
I would not commit crews to interior attack, using the principles of fire attack (RECEO) we found out: -
All persons are out of the building, exposures are unknown to myself, but we will go with the basics, areas not involved in fire, LPG cylinders against the wall, cars in the car port, adjoining buildings etc, we will contain the fire either offensively, or defensively knowing that:
The emergency stairs door has failed and burning material has fallen down to the second floor. Buy the time any appliance gets there the roof is on fire. And most of the top floor is burning..
As an OIC I decide the risk of collapse is to great to send in crews, all persons are out of the building and the threat to life is nil. Our tactics will now be focused on defensive attack and asset/exposure protection. (It may not be as glorious as running in the front door with a hoseline, but one floor has already fallen through, I'm not letting the next take a crew member with it).
Once we have extinguished the fire to a degree which allows fire cause entry, we will work with them on overhaul/ salvage.
(Ventilation techniques would have been very difficult due to the roof being compromised) - but if they were possible at the time, im sure the experienced crew would have undertaken such techniques.