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Moving and Flood Water–Be Careful and Prepared

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With the recent storms that are hitting the majority of the country, I wanted to take a minute to ask everyone to take a little extra caution when confronting moving and flood water.

It is important to remember that just because it doesn't look fast doesn't mean it isn't dangerous. Any moving water, no matter how slow it looks is dangerous and should be treated as such.

Some fundamental reminders; Don't drive into flood or moving water.  You have no idea what the conditions of the driving surface are underneath the water. It may be shallow but the power of water can  alter and significantly damage the road surface below the water line.  In some instances that portion of the road could be washed away completely.

Just like a firefighter or responder would not enter the HOT zone in a hazmat and perform technician level tasks, the same should be true with moving water.  There are skills associated with tech level training that others don't have.  The last thing we need is a responder not reading water conditions correctly and getting caught up in a strainer situation or worse.

Wear your appropriate PPE. If anyone is within 10-15 feet of the water, personal floatation devices should be worn.  And they should be worn without bunker gear. This all comes back to training and skills.  Be diligent and take the appropriate precautions.

If you are operating in moving water and units are in boats and in the water, have a back up plan.  In the pictures you will see that we were operating in flood water that is moving with the river.  We sent crews up stream in boats to retrieve a strander boater.  Although we had to wait on the bank, we didn't just sit around.

Put out some throw bags at interval spacing with a few personnel to deploy them.  If a boat capsizes or a person falls into the water we will be prepared to deploy the throw bags.  Make sure your people on the bank and in the boats are wearing floatation devices.

Think ahead of time and have a back up plan.  Use safety equipment and don't operate outside the scope of your training.

Stay safe and like REO says, "Keep riding the storm out!"

 

Jason

Posted by on April 28, 2011 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, rescues, self rescue, situational awareness, special-operations, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , ,

Where Goes the Second Line?

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We all know that it is easy to fall into a rut when it comes to training and even operating at what is labeled the "routine" call. Especially for those that are in suburban, mostly bedroom communities.  

If your like most of the country, you pull past the house to get three sides, stretch a pre-connected hand line and make entry into the front door.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?  And, more times than not, this works just fine.

However, sometimes the bigger issue becomes where to take the second line? What apparatus does it come from and what size should it be?  What about the length?

For most single-family, single story homes, line placement becomes mundane and we get a bit complacent.  The second line many times gets pulled from the same rig as the attack line and goes in the same door as the attack line.

Again, I prefer a seconday apparatus for the back up line, but in most house fires the front door is appropriate for the back up line too.  Of course, it all depends on what is taking place and many other variables as well.

One of the biggest problems I see quite often is on two story house fires.  The first line goes to the fire up stairs and the back up line is at the door.  One of the primary concerns is the integrity of those stairs.  That second line needs to go to the stairs to protect the egress for the crew operating on the second floor.

The same has to be done if you have an attack team on the first floor and a search team on the second; a line needs to be deployed to the stairs.  We must protect that  egress point.  In addition, note changing conditions to the search team and the attack team.  Maybe the fire has spread or can't be found by the attack team and your observations are important.

What are your operational guidelines for the back up line?  Share you experiences and thoughts.

As always, stay safe and train hard.

Jason

Posted by on April 23, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, rescues, RIT, search, situational awareness, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Basement Rescue Video

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Here is a great video of some basement removal techniques.   This is another video from Dale Pekel, who looks like he may have gotten a promotion? Dale?  Anyway, these props are able to be used for multiple drills and Dale is very generous with how to build them.

These two techniques are great and you can see that one must be comfortable and well trained in the use of the SCBA. Confidence comes from continued use and training.  You must master the basics and know your tools like the back of your hand.  This allows you to perform the more advanced tasks without worrying about the simple things because they become second nature.

Train hard and stay safe. Thanks Dale for another great video.

 

Jason

Posted by on April 14, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, rescues, RIT, scba, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Basement Considerations

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With the recent posts about the anniversary of the Colerain-Township LODD from 2008, I thought I would provide some thoughts about basements and some of the things we can do to better prepare.

It recent years it seems we hear a lot about firefighters being killed and injured in residential fires where the basement was involved.  There are a few reasons for this including changing building construction as in the use of engineered i-joists and the heavy fire loads that we have in basements.  In addition, most houses with basements don't just use them for storage anymore. Basements are used as active living spaces increasing activity, heating and electrical demands that were not always present in the past.

One thing that we can do to help prevent some of these issues is to know what we are dealing with.  Probably one of the most important tasks a fire officer can do when arriving on the scene of a residential fire is to complete a 360 walk around of that building.  This gives us information we cannot obtain by darting for the front door.

By seeing all four sides of the fire building we can see if the seat of the fire is in the basement and may allow us a more direct attack from the same level as the fire reducing the chances of floor failure.  We are also able to see hazards that impede our egress if a quick escape is necessary.  It gives us an idea of our options for ventilation and fire control.

The pictures show some of the hazards that we can find and keep mind of during our 360.  Exterior stair wells are altered and secured causing us difficulty making an egress.  This is a perfect time for the first due officer to relay these findings to the next due or the RIT crew.  These other units should cut locks, open bulk heads and make sure the egress points of the basement are accessible.

Additionally, we need to know the characteristics of the buildings in our still area.  This is a picture of a house that is approximately 50 years old and the stairs to the basement are in the garage.  Not knowing this could put our initial attack team at risk by searching the main level while fire is burning under them increasing the chances of a failure.  Some of these homes have no outside exit and we must protect the stairs for the basement crew just like we would for a crew that ascend to a floor above us.

Take some time to look around your area and discuss these issues with your crew.  Prepare your newer members for that thermal layer as you descend the stairs into a basement.  We all know what that first experience is like.  Train hard and don't forget to do that 360, it may just save your life.

Train hard and stay safe,

Jason

Posted by on April 8, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, i joists, line-of-duty, rescues, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Release the Ladder Rack!

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As with most departments, and mine is no different,  trying to get guys in the habit of throwing ground ladders takes a lot of work.  We know the benefits of doing this and there is a great article in the most current issue of Urban Firefighter Magazine that gives some great direction on how and when to use these valuable tools.

Typically, those throwing the ladders are the firefighters and officers  riding on the trucks and not those that are driving them. There are some exceptions to this rule depending on how your department operates.  In the area that I work, the apparatus driver is tasked with water supply and support.

Any time we have multiple stories we want ladders thrown. Any time we have people on the roof, we want ladders thrown.  It is an important task and one that must be trained on and made a permanent part of your operations.  However, this post is not about the actual act of throwing the ladder, but how we can make this job easier for those that do.

As apparatus drivers when we pull up to the scene of a working fire we are thinking about charging the appropriate line, getting the right gallons per minute to your interior crews and finding a water supply source before the tank water is exhausted.  That is a lot to do and you normally do it all on your own.  Well, there is one more thing I would like you to add to your list.

Depending on what type of configuration you have on your apparatus, the ladders on today’s engines and trucks are not convenient to get to.  We have them on the top of the truck so that they have to be lowered to get to them. They are placed “through the tank” with an access panel on the rear of the apparatus which if you lay line can make them impossible to remove because they are blocked by charged lines coming off of the truck from a rear discharge.  There aren’t many traditional stowed ladder configurations on apparatus anymore.

As operators we have to keep this mind. The photo I have posted shows the lowering arm that the ladders are stowed on.  This arm is lowered for firefighters to gain access. One of the downfalls to this is that the access to compartment space is limited, but not entirely blocked.

Once we get water to our crew and have established a water supply, take a second to check overhead and on the side for obstructions and lower the ladder arm.  If ladders are needed they are ready for deployment and easy to get to.  The RIT crew can use them for preventative measures by throwing ladders to create an egress point for firefighters and rescue teams can use them to make quick access to upper floors for search and rescue.

What about the compartments?  Before you lower the rack, take out the equipment that is most commonly used that must be deployed fast and have it ready to go.  On this particular truck, the PPV fan, the RIT bag and some spare SCBA bottles would be removed prior to lowering the rack.

Get familiar with your ladders and how they are removed. Know what obstacles you might face in placing the ladders in operation based on your apparatus configuration.  Be prepared and train on these facts.

As always, follow your local guidelines for operating on the fireground.  We must continue to train and do the simple things perfect. Master the basics and don’t forget to use your ground ladders.

Posted by on March 6, 2011 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, ladder truck/aerial devices, ladders, rescues, RIT, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized, vent, ventilation, VES • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Who Takes the TIC?

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In this age of the fire service, most jurisdictions have at least one thermal imaging camera, if not several. Ideally, we would like to have one on every apparatus.  But, of course, budgets and priorities will dictate how many each department feels they can afford and need.

What was once a tool advertised mainly to find victims in building fires, we have found many more uses for this piece of equipment.  It can be used for hazardous materials responses to identify product that may be producing heat.  It can be used to help find a lost person in open space outdoors.  We can use it to check for extension after a small stove fire or for chasing down fire in concealed spaces.

For as many uses as we can name, and I by no means named them all, there are multiple ways that they are deployed.  My preference is for the officer to come off of the truck or engine with the TIC.  Everyone has their own method of operation, but to me the officer makes the most sense.

The officer should be behind the nozzleman and should watching changing conditions at all times.  While doing this, it is easy for him to scan the room or area with the TIC to watch for heat currents, changes in temperatures or victims unseen because of smoke.  These again are not the only things that the officer needs to be doing.

So, the question that I am posing is “Who takes the TIC and how do you deploy it?”  What are your guidelines and how do you operate with it?

In addition, how does it get carried? Do you prefer a strap? Do you carry it in your hand?  Give everyone some input and ideas about what does and has worked for you.

What are some other uses not mentioned and offer some training ideas for the folks here?  Just remember, this is a tool and should  not take the place of masterful search techniques and hard work.

Stay safe and train like you work, hard.

Posted by on February 28, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, rescues, RIT, search, situational awareness, size up, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , ,

Legacy Pump Operator Training

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I came across these videos and found them to be very interesting. In some cases, not much has changed for us today.  Of course, in other aspects things have changed. I love the old trucks and the narration. Oh, also watch how they deal with the car in front of the hydrant.

There are three videos and I have posted all three. Enjoy and stay safe.

Posted by on February 23, 2011 • Filed under: fun stuff, hydrants, inspections, situational awareness, size up, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , ,

Type V Construction-Wood Frame

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The next type of construction that we are going to talk about is Type V, or wood frame construction.  This is the most commonly used type of construction in most jurisdictions.  This type of construction is typically associated with residential occupancies, namely single-family dwellings, but many commercial buildings are now built using wood frame construction.

Years ago, wood frame meant real dimensional lumber. A 2×4 was really a two inch by four inch piece of wood.  Roof systems were stick built with rafters of dimensional lumber that were connected with a ridge beam.  We forget that this traditional type of construction is wood frame.  Balloon frame is also a type of wood frame.

We have just gotten so ingrained that wood frame mean light weight, or now commonly known as “low mass” construction.  This “low mass” construction uses engineered products that makes construction faster and cheaper to build. Although these components like engineered I-joists and roof truss systems are very strong for the engineered loads, they fail miserable during fire conditions.

We just need to remember the hazards and myths of this type of construction. One is that if one truss fails they all fail.  I like to ask the classes that I teach if any of them has seen a house constructed with wood truss systems with a part of the roof burnt off and the rest of it still intact?  The answer is always yes.

I am not saying that these truss systems are safe, quite the contrary. All I am saying is that we need to keep our firefighters educated about these systems. I know there are some chiefs and instructors upset with some of this, but we can operate on and under these roofs with some careful size-up and thoughtful tactics. One thing I have learned in the fire service; never use the words never or always.  There is always a circumstance or situation that will challenge both.

Now, characteristics about this type of construction.  There are void spaces everywhere and these components use a lot of glue to help keep them together.  These buildings are getting bigger on the residential side and this construction type is very popular for many commercial buildings like fast food joints, restaurants and strip malls.

Something we need to keep in mind also is that some of these wood frame buildings look like masonry or brick, or type 3 buildings.  These are just veneers and we need to understand the challenges dangers associated with that.  Masonry and brick veneers can easily collapse of the foundation and still kill or seriously injure firefighters.

Pay attention to your area and be familiar with the buildings you may have to operate in. Know the different characteristics of the construction types and the challenges each one poses for us operationally.

Train hard and stay safe.

Posted by on February 17, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, forcible entry, i joists, mayday, RIT, search, situational awareness, size up, trusses, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Type IV Construction

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We are continuing to look at the different types of construction and the characteristics of each.  This post will outline considerations of Type IV or Heavy Timber construction.

Heavy timber construction is a type of construction we don’t see popping up in new buildings very often. However, there are still a great many buildings that are or were Type IV construction in our jurisdictions.  We need to identify these buildings in both circumstances.

True heavy timber construction does not have void spaces. It is built with masonry or brick exterior walls with large diameter, six inches and more, interior structural components.  There have been debates about how these large beams and structural elements hold up to fire and some have found the large diameter wood components to hold up longer than steel.  The reason for this is that the steel will elongate and deform at around 1000 degrees and is prone to failure at that point. The large diameter components may burn, but they hold their integrity longer than the time it takes for steel to deform.  Obviously, there are variables, but an interesting bit of information.

These fires burn hot and for a long time. These are typically large buildings and have an additionally large fire load, making extinguishment difficult.  Many times we find these buildings in more urban areas and in highly dense locals. However, churches and resort lodges are common places for this type of construction.  Exposure protection is of the utmost importance and establishing an effective collapse zone is important.

When these building get remodeled and are altered, they can then be considered Type III construction.  The reason for the Heavy Timber classification is the benefit of the extended time of burning and the lack of void spaces. We lose some of that as false ceilings and new framed walls and floors are added to create lofts or office space.  Just something to consider because you will need to plan accordingly for the interior changes that are being made to these types of buildings.

Train hard, master the basics and have plan before you go to battle. Stay safe.

Lodge picture from Vermont Timber Works, visit them at vermonttimberworks.com

Posted by on February 10, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire codes, fire-rescue-topics, firefighting-operations, fires, heavy timber, situational awareness, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Fire Service Books

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This is a little off the beaten path for me and my blogs, but it is something that I have been paying more attention to lately.  I have been laid up from a hernia repair and have been reading and doing a little research for other projects and it occurred to me that I utilize the same three books on a regular basis.

No matter what level you are at in the fire service, you should be building a decent sized library of fire/emergency related books.  This is one more method to staying sharp and on top of your game.  Having quality information to turn to for those forgotten tricks of the trade or to remember a characteristic of a certain type of construction is paramount and makes you a better firefighter.

Here are the three books that I use on a regular basis and why.

1. “Building Construction for the Fire Service,” 3rd Edition, by Francis L. Brannigan.

This book was one I got during the mid 90′s for a college course and I have it highlighted, marked and it is never too far from my grasp. The great thing about this book is that it has never gotten outdated.  The information is still relevant and insightful.  This is definitely one book that should be on your shelf.

Make sure you look at the “Tactical Considerations” in the chapters that give some ideas on how to apply the lessons to firefighting tactics.

2.  ”Collapse of Burning Buildings: A Guide to Fireground Safety,”  by Vincent Dunn

This book has a great deal of content that is covered in Brannigan’s book but more directly applied to the collapse of these buildings.  Chief Dunn goes into great detail how these buildings collapse and the problems that different types of collapses cause.

The illustrations are great examples for those that need some visual help and you can apply this information immediately as a firefighter and fire officer.  This book is a great tool to have company discussions with. Sit down with your crew and pick a chapter or topic and start playing out scenarios in your jurisdiction where these dangers exist.

3. “Safety and Survival on the Fireground,” by Vincent Dunn.

This book is everything firefighting.  Just about anything that you want to know about firefighting is in here. The great thing is that the information is short, to the point and easy to apply to situations.

Keeping these books and others within reach is a good way to stay engaged. These resources gives you valuable information at your fingertips when you need it. It is also a good way to pass on information to others and to have meaningful conversation about “fire stuff.”

Stay safe and keep your mind on the task at hand, becoming a better firefighter.

Other places to get books for the fire service:

Fire Engineering

Fire Service Books

FireBooks.com

FireRescue1

IFSTA

The Fire Barn

These are just a few, if you know of others, please let us know.

Posted by on February 4, 2011 • Filed under: backdraft, buildling construction, command-leadership, fire stopping, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, forcible entry, heavy timber, high rise, i joists, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses, vacant building fires, vent, ventilation, VES • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Type III Construction

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Lately we have been discussing different types of construction. So far we have covered the characterisitics of Type I and Type II construction.  This is some really basic rookie school stuff, but it is so important to be able to identify these different building charaecteristics. We know that fire behavior is directly linked to the type of construction and the fuels invovled.  It also plays a major role in determining our tactics as company officers and firefighters on the fireground.

So, a quick review of what we have covered so far:

Type I or Fire Resistive is protected, non-combustible construction. Typcially steel and concrete with it’s structural components protected with fire resistant materials to meet or exceed two hour fire ratings.

Type II or Non Combustible is just that, non combustible construction. It’s structural components are not protected by fire resistive materials, but can be sprinklered.  These too are usually built with steel and concrete, similar to Type I construction but without the fire resistant protection.

On to Type III construction.  Type III construction is also referred to as Ordinary construction and is very common in a great deal of our older downtown areas.  It is not limited to those areas but this was the primary method of building during the early and middle part of the 20th century.

This type of construction is identified by masonry or brick exterior walls with wood joists and interior structural components.  Type III construction is very rarely protected with sprinklers and they have concealed spaces.  These buildings in many communities have been remodeled and altered due to the age and use of the building, so concealed spaces are a real concern.

During a fire the interior structural components are attacked and failure of these components can cause an exterior wall to fail at the same time.  The joists, for example, will rest in the masonry or brick wall and may be used to support the exterior walls. When these joists fail or burn out, they can compromise the support of the exterior wall it is connected to.

Here are some pictures that show some Type III construction.

Take a look at your area and determine where your different types of construction are. Discuss and plan for fires at those buldings and how you would operate at each one.  What are some different challenges each pose for you as a firefighter or company officer operationally?

Train hard and remember, master the basics.

Posted by on January 27, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, command-leadership, fire sprinklers, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, inspections, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Never Forget, Honor and Learn

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This marks the 6th anniversary of the Black Sunday fire in New York City. Two brothers, Lt. Curtis Meyran and Lt. John Bellew. Four other firefighters were severely injured after jumping out of the fourth floor of an apartment building, Firefighters Jeff Cool, Lt. Joe DiBernardo, Firefighter Eugene Stolowski and Firefighter Brendan Cawley to escape severe fire conditions.

The Story.

These men’s families and own lives have been forever changed and we need to honor their sacrifices and learn from the events that happen at that fire. This fire could happen to any of us. Train hard, honor the fallen and remember the lives and families left behind.

Stay safe and train hard.

Posted by on January 23, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire codes, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, in-the-line-of-duty, line-of-duty, mayday, rescues, RIT, situational awareness, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

More Forcible Entry

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This video is from Mike Perrone from FDNY Ladder 175. Mike has developed a forcible entry door prop for firefighters and he has a long list of departments and training companies who are using the door.

He has several videos on the Multi-Force door and forcible entry techniques. There is some really great stuff on here that you should share with your crews and department.

Check out the videos and then go see Mike on his site at Firehouse Innovations.

Posted by on January 20, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, firefighting-operations, forcible entry, situational awareness, size up • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Basement Self Rescue

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The importance of having a tool with you can’t be stressed enough.  Besides using it for forcible entry and venting windows or other operational functions, it can save your life.

It should be a habit that every time you come off of the truck for an alarm there should be a tool in your hand.  And take a tool that you can do something with.  Some of the most common tools are the Halligan and a flat head ax. You can take a pick headed ax and/or a sledge hammer, depending on what your function or task is.

One thing that you might want to consider is what are going to do with that tool?  Everyone has their favorite, but can you use each tool on your truck efficiently and successfully if needed? You should.  One tool that I am not a big fan of is the closet hook or a short hook.  We have these on our trucks and they are about 2 1/2 to 3 feet long and have a fiberglass handle.

Your not going to be able to force much with that tool. In addition, if you need to start busting stuff up to save your a#$, it has limited potential.  Choose your tool wisely.

One instance that your tool may become very handy is in a situation that you might get jammed up in a basement.  Several scenarios could play out that finds you in a basement on your own and needing to get out.  For those of you that don’t have basements in your jurisdiction, you may need to get through a wall or debris.

Most of the basement windows in our area are above head level.  The exterior of the window is at ground level.  This creates a challenge for us trying to get out of these windows, which are narrow and rectangular in dimension, in full gear and SCBA.  You can use different techniques and you would want to call for help.  But, your tool selection may be very important during this crisis.

A few months back we held a bailout class that included ladder bailouts, window bailouts with personal harnesses and basement bailouts.  One of our deputy chiefs built a prop for the basement bailout that simulated the need to get yourself out of the basement quickly.  (Thanks to Dale Pekel for assistance with the plans for the prop.)

In this drill the firefighter, wearing full PPE, used a halligan to step on to get purchase to lift himself up to the window and pushing through.  It sounded a lot easier to the guys doing it than what it was.  It is not easy to squeeze that tank and self through the small opening.  We emphasized the use of the tool and having the appropriate one for the job.

Some thought that they would be able to pull themselves up like doing a pull up. Well, it became painfully obvious that even the most fit guy would be lucky to do that with full gear on. Even if he got up to the sill, it was impossible to get through the window without losing your grip.  The tool is crucial.

It was a great learning experience and hit home the point about taking a tool every time.  They understood the different roles and functions that one tool can provide, including saving themselves.

This all boils down to mastering the basics.  Take a tool, take a tool.  It is simple, basic firefighting.  When we master the basics it all becomes habit and we don’t have to think about the basic stuff when we need to use some advanced skills.  It just comes naturally.

Stay safe and train hard!

Posted by on January 17, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, forcible entry, mayday, rescues, RIT, scba, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Winter Consideration

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As we all have discovered during our careers, the winter can be a tough time to be a firefighter. Freezing conditions can and will make operations difficult by making lines ineffective, freezing up pumps, making walking surfaces impossible to navigate and turning us firefighters into popsicles.

In addition to all of this, the winter also brings about some considerations that we might not have thought about or that are not as obvious.  One of those is the pushing of snow.

In these wintery conditions the plows run up and down the streets and all over the parking lots clearing the snow from the roadways and parking areas. There is little thought about where they are piling the snow except to make sure it isn’t where vehicles are going to be.

Knowing where the fire department connections and hydrants are located prior to them getting covered or blocked by snow is helpful in locating them, but it still doesn’t help in gaining access if they are blocked by tons of snow.

A little pre-planning with the property owner can go a long way. Ask them to communicate with their snow removal company to establish a predetermined place to push the snow to without blocking the FDC or blocking fire lanes.

Photo from Perry Joint Fire District

Be careful and take precautions this winter season.  Stay warm and be prepared.

Posted by on January 12, 2011 • Filed under: fire-prevention-education, fire-rescue-topics, firefighting-operations, inspections, situational awareness, size up, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Missouri Winter Fire School

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Every winter for the last 29 years firefighters from all across the state of Missouri have gathered to attend classes by well know state instructors as well as highly regarded national figures in the fire service.  This year, the 30th year, is no different.

The annual Winter Fire School opens with a large exposition and registration on Friday afternoon that lasts into the evening. This is a great time to network, get a look at apparatus, tools and other fire service equipment.  This is usually one of the more popular parts of the weekend besides the drinks and story telling at the local establishments.  (Tiger, you need to get down here sometime and collect a lot of story telling stuff.)

This year’s events begin February 4th and wind down on the 6th.  They even allow me to instruct there, that’s how kind they are and their willingness to throw a guy a bone.

In the past Chief Billy Goldfeder, Chief Alan Brunacini and Dave Dodson have instructed at this conference.  This year’s line up is just as good including Chief I. David Daniels, Chief Smokey Dyer, Lt. Mike Wilbur, Chief Alan Brunacini,  Glenn Gaines, Tim Sendelbach, Chief Clyde Pfisterer and more.

There are webcasts available featuring instructors Chief Richard Gasaway, Chief Forest Reeder and Chief John Mittendorf.

With these lineups the Missouri University Fire Rescue Training Institute offers some of the best classes and instructors from all over the nation.  If your close or looking for something to do, you need to get here to experience the networking and Brotherhood that this conference has to offer.  Look me up, we can get a drink; or two.

Stay safe and we would love to see you in Missouri next month.

Posted by on January 11, 2011 • Filed under: administration-leadership, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, MUFRTI, rescues, RIT, situational awareness, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Type I Construction

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We hear it all of the time in the fire service and many of us agree; we don’t spend enough time training and learning building construction and fire behavior. So, in the spirit of practicing what I preach, here is a short lesson on Type I construction, or otherwise referred to Fire Resistive construction.

This first picture shows all non-combustible structural components of an addition to our local hospital. This is the basement, but the floor above is of similar design with interior wall studs of metal.

The floor above is concrete on metal decking, which you can see in this first picture.

You have a steel column, a steel beam with metal bar joists as the primary structural components with the exterior walls all of concrete.

As I mentioned before, the floor above is the same with the exception of the exterior walls being non-combustible metal stud walls.

Here is the same area from a different angle with a fire resistive coating sprayed on the structural members.

The data cable that you see is plenum rated and is for the computer and communications networking inside the facility.

In addition to the spray coating, the entire facility is fully sprinklered and has a monitored alarm.

The spray coating is designed to be applied to a specific thickness depending on the rating that is being achieved. Normally, and in this instance, a third party inspector is present to randomly inspect the thickness and provides a report to the building commissioner and the fire marshal.

What characteristics of this type of construction are important when sizing up a building like this?

What are some tactical importances in regards to operating at this building or one of Type I construction?

If you have any experiences or suggestions to add, please post them.

Stay safe and train hard,

Jason

Posted by on December 12, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire codes, fire sprinklers, fire stopping, fire-prevention-education, i joists, inspections, situational awareness, size up • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Size Up Drill

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There is a lot of talk about the different kinds of size up in regards to survivability profiling.  Although I respect those views, I just don’t think we are doing ourselves in the fire service justice by creating an additional “method” for performing your size up.

I still believe that a size up is a size up and the information you gather during it, along with experience, training and knowledge, will direct you into the right direction.  If the building is tenable or not; if it has burned before; if it is in poor condition; it doesn’t change how you size up. What changes is how you use the information.

That is if you have trained properly.  Let’s face it, not all company and chief officers are adequately trained in giving a thorough size up and applying that information into your strategy and tactics.

So, here is a little drill that is simple but yet effective.  I am going to give you four sides of a single-family dwelling and you need to size it up.

In addition, what can you tell about the layout of the house just by looking from the outside?  What are the indicators or clues that you are using to make these educated guesses?

Share your experience and techniques, new officers and firefighters need this  stuff, so be generous.

Train often and stay safe.

Posted by on November 28, 2010 • Filed under: administration-leadership, buildling construction, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, situational awareness, size up, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized, vacant building fires • Tagged: , , , ,

Get the Whole Picture

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This is just a reminder to get the whole picture when doing inspections and pre-plans.  Just don’t get lazy when doing these prevention functions.  Especially on larger buildings that require some effort to get around.

Recently I did an inspection at a local nursing home.  It had been awhile since I had been there because we have the crews do most of these inspections.  There were some things I had forgotten about and had I not taken some extra time, would have missed.

As I walked out the back of the building this is what I saw.  Unremarkable, really.  However, to the right is the drive that leads from the front of the building.

Apparatus coming to the rear would get a view similar to this if they were assigned to the rear.

This second picture is the view from the other corner.  What do you notice?  It is kind of tough to see and unless you are aware and really looking for it, you might miss it. Especially at night or in rain or snow and with smoke conditions.

If you look real hard you will see one end of an 1000 gallon LP tank jutting out from behind the shed.

If you were to walk over there and actually take a look, this is what you would see.

These are two 1ooo gallon LP tanks that are near the rear property lines.  These feed the appliances in the building with the exception of the generator, which has it’s own smaller tank.

But, there are separate shut offs for each line going into the building, but it is not typical.

The lines and shut offs could easily be missed entirely if prior experience with this building is not known.

This is one of the numerous shut offs for the gas lines going into the building.  They are all up high on the building and some are actually on the roof.

It just points out the importance of knowing your buildings, in particular your high life hazard buildings.

Take some extra time to ask the maintenance person a lot of questions, they usually like to show all of the little intricacies of the building.

Be safe and be familiar with your response area.

Stay safe and be careful.

Posted by on November 23, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, command-leadership, fire codes, fire-prevention-education, firefighting-operations, inspections, situational awareness • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

What Hydrant?

4 comments

I enjoy looking for things like hydrant locations and building features whether I am on the job or just out and about. It really makes my wife nuts because I point out what exits we will be using if something happens and things like that.  She just doesn’t understand.

Hydrants are a real challenge sometimes.  People like to hide them like Easter eggs for the firefighters to find. But, instead of a bright, sunny morning to go hunting for these important pieces of our suppression puzzle, we get to hunt for them in dark, rain or snow driven nights being half awake.

These are just some examples of what property owners do with hydrants.  The one shown above is behind a large complex with an anchor store and many ancillary stores in a strip mall.  You cannot see this hydrant when you pull into the drive.  Notice the leaves are mostly gone and we still can’t see the plug.

This hydrant is the closest to a FDC on the same building.  I found this one while doing an inspection at the building next door.  I just happen to park where you see this vehicle and as I got out of the vehicle noticed the plug. You have to be looking just in the right place to find this one.

The really bad thing about this plug is that the most obvious hydrant is straight across a four lane road.  Odds are that is where the operator would take his line for his supply. In the middle of the night he is going to hit the closest, most visible hydrant.

We don’t only have hydrants that are hidden, but some get damaged and it is never reported or repaired.

It is fairly obvious that we would have a tough time turning this hydrant. We have to have the property owners make these repairs.

Accidents happen and hydrants are not typically an attractive addition to well manicured landscaping. However, we must be diligent to find and make sure corrections are made to keep these valuable resources accessible.

In my experiences, once explained to the property owner the importance of having the hydrant accessible, and the fact that it is a code violation, they are willing to fix the problem.  Some jurisdictions will trim brush and trees on their own; be careful doing that, unless there is a fire of course.

Do any of you have a policy on cleaning up around hidden hydrants?  Who paints them and what color scheme do you use?  Are they identified by size or gallons per minute?  Do you share that information with your mutual aid companies?

Take care and remember that we need to sweat some of this small stuff, it may be the difference between success and failure.

Train hard and stay safe.

Posted by on November 20, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire codes, fire sprinklers, fire-prevention-education, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, hydrants, inspections, situational awareness • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Attack this Door

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Not all doors are created equal.  Take a look at this door and decide how you would attack it’s integrity to force it open.  There is a lot that the characteristics of a door can tell you about how it is hung and secured.

Although this seems like a very simple skill and knowledge that everyone should know, I am continually surprised by how many don’t really understand how to use forcible entry tools.  I’m sure you have seen the guy just beating a door to death but not getting anywhere because he is attacking the door the wrong way.

Share your thoughts, experiences and techniques with all of us on how you would attack this door.  If you have photos, post them or send them and we will post them for you.

Stay safe and train hard.

Posted by on October 30, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire-rescue-topics, forcible entry, situational awareness, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , ,

VES Video

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Here is a pretty good, basic video on VES (vent, enter and search).  It has good demonstration points from the beginning of the operation to the complete search of one room.  The thing I like about this video is the use of two persons for the VES.

Although this can be done with one person, you must weigh the risk vs. benefit, it is ideal to do this with two people.  However your department chooses to perform this function, you must train regularly.

One thing that is not mentioned in the video is the fact that personnel performing VES must be highly trained and experienced. Knowing how to read changing conditions, fire behavior and building construction is a must.

Keep on training and stay safe out there.

Posted by on October 19, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, enter, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, forcible entry, rescues, search, situational awareness, training-fire-rescue-topics, vent, VES, videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Passing “It” On: Part 1

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I recently taught an Instructor 1 class and one of the things that I really like to make a point to emphasize is that we need to  pay attention to those firefighters and officer who are “salty” and who have been around a while.

We know that we have to attend classes and that we must get our noses in the trade journals and worth while web sites, but do we really listen when our more senior members are “telling stories?”  If not, we really need to start paying attention.

As a disclaimer, not all senior members will share or they just have never been engaged in the fire service. But, even some of those guys have something to offer even if they don’t realize it.  Each story has a lesson and we need to recognize this and absorb all we can while they are here.

Okay, so where I am going with this?  A few days after finishing this class, we were doing the dinner dishes and the discussion came up from a couple of the younger guys about fires and training.  Some how the conversation turned to commercial buildings, more specifically strip malls and fast food restaurants.

Out of curiosity I asked one of them what the first thing they would do if they responded to one of these buildings with a slight haze, odor of smoke or even an alarm sounding?  His first response was to go to the electric panel.

Well, as most of you may know where I am going with this, we advised him that he was wrong.  He had never been taught to take a pike pole and lift a ceiling tile as soon as you walk in the door.  This is critical information and I was shocked that his captain had  not covered this at some point.  Granted, he spends a large majority of his time on an LSV, but this is something he should have known.

What we did was have a very informative training lesson while doing dishes. I am pretty sure this will stick with him for the rest of his career as we discussed some case studies on this type of fire.  It didn’t take a lot of class preparation or Powerpoint slides, just an eager firefighter and some older ones willing to share.

Talk fire and rescue.  This has to be a normal activity in the fire house.  If we can instill this in the newer generation they will pass it on also.  We owe it to them to give them every little nugget of information that we can, sometimes whether they want it or not.

What was passed on to you by someone that you worked or trained with? How did it change what you did in the fire service? Let us know your story and keep on fighting the good fight.

Stay safe and train hard.

Posted by on October 13, 2010 • Filed under: command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, forcible entry, line-of-duty, situational awareness, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Multi-Tasking Training

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So many times when I see and do training, we get stuck in a rut by doing one task. For instance, when we have a guy ready to take the operators seat, we go to a parking lot, pull a cross lay and pump.  Granted, he has to hook to the hydrant, but it is pretty much a bread and butter training evolution that is done over and over again.  Not that it’s not important, but rather, can we make it more interesting?

Here is an example of what I like to call “multi-tasking” training.  The person running the truck is going to be promoted to operator within the next week or so.  Instead of just putting the stick in the air and twirling it around and flowing water out the end of it, why not make it an evolution that everyone can be a part of.

What we did here was have the new operator actually practice placing the ladder on a building with an experienced operator at his side.  This was a good time for the new operator to get familiar with and comfortable placing the stick.

This was more than just putting it up there, he really had to get it right and take into account working firefighters and water flow since we were adding to the evolution.

Next, we had three guys go to the roof as a team.  One thing that two of them had never done was connect to and work off of the stand pipe connection from the tip.  This connection is next to the nozzle with a butterfly valve.  It gave the crew an opportunity to learn the workings of shutting off the nozzle valve and opening the butterfly valve before asking for water.

The crew made their way up the ladder, one with the hose and nozzle and the other was working on the valves. The third firefighter took the roof ladder to the first two for them to place it on the peak for operations.  The line we used was a 1 3/4 inch line, but you could make it what ever you wanted.

Once the roof ladder was placed the crew advanced the line to the peak and called for water. The firefighters locked in with their personal harnesses and flowed water.

In addition, we practiced working off the roof ladder to simulate ventilation operations.  The biggest benefit of this drill was the increased confidence in the harness and the ability to know and understand the steps to use the valve on the end of the stick for simulated stand pipe operations.

The advantage of this drill was the ability accomplish more than one task in a short time. This drill took about 45 minutes to perform with one company.

The new operator was required to set up the ladder, place it and flow water to a hand line from the tip.  In addition, he got used to some noise at the turntable during operations.

The firefighters on the roof were able to get familiar with the connection at the tip in a non-stress environment and have a better understanding of how many people are really needed in these situations.

They also got not only nozzle time, but roof time as well and being comfortable handling tools and hose on and off the ladder.

We were able to accomplish a great deal in a short amount of time.  This “multi-tasking” method has worked very well for us in the past.  Learn to use your time wisely and keep things fresh.

Train hard and stay safe.

Posted by on October 7, 2010 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, ladders, situational awareness, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, ventilation • Tagged: , , , , ,

What’s Behind the Rack?

3 comments

Can you identify the problem here?

During a recent visit to one of those large home improvement stores, I noticed this.

Although this is probably not that uncommon, it is something that could be very difficult to find out in a smokey envrionment.

This is another reason for getting familiar with your area and the buildings that you protect.

I was visiting as a patron, so I didn’t look around at the entire store, but I am sure there are other issues that I could have found.

Accessing this stand pipe is almost impossible and these systems aren’t always that reliable and shouldn’t be your sole suppression plan.  They don’t get maintained and are rarely, if ever flushed and tested.

A tight fit!

But, that doesn’t excuse the blocking of this protection system. One way to find these standpipes is to look for their risers. These stores will typically have two of these at each end of the store.

Notice the riser running behind the rack.?

Have a plan for these large area stores. Know the building and it’s systems so that you aren’t caught off guard.

Preplan these buildings. Know what line your going to pull before you arrive and know the different access points for entry. The front door may not be your best option.

Stay diligent and be safe.

Posted by on September 22, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire codes, fire sprinklers, fire-rescue-topics, firefighting-operations, situational awareness, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , ,