Here is a good video from our buddy Dale Pekel. Dale has a series of great training videos. In this video, he shows some basics about size up and reading smoke.
We have to do more of this, and like Dale says, be proactive. Train hard and we’ll see you on the “big one.”
Three days of ball busting training evolutions on acquired structures!
If you missed FDIC, you have to make this training event.
I have had the opportunity to spend some time with Nate and Kevin and they are the real deal.
The training is real and practical. It is stuff you will use in real life, on real calls.
You just can’t afford to miss this. The price is right and the location is in the middle of the country. I just can’t say enough about the classes and teaching style of the Brotherhood Instructors.
Even if you can only make one day, it is worth the travel. But, beware, you will be whooped by the end of the weekend.
Get to the Brotherhood Instructors Facebook page and look at their videos, blogging and pictures for an idea of what they do.
See you soon and train hard with The Brotherhood!
Since posting the video on PPV, I have been sent links to many other videos on PPV, ventilation and flashover. Some were good and some not so good. This one I thought was a good video to sit down and take a look at with your crew.
There are some things that can be learned from this video. We weren’t there from the onset, but valuable information can be taken away from this video.
If you have links for videos or your own that you think would be beneficial, pass them on to us and we will take a look and post them if appropriate.
Take care, stay safe and stay low.
This is a video I found on The Bravest Online. This website has some great content and very current fire related videos that can be used for information and training ideas.
This video is from the Salt Lake City area and shows what can happen when you have hidden fire and use a positive pressure fan with crews inside the building.
Find more videos like this on firevideo.net
There are many thoughts on this tactic and you should follow your local SOP or guideline.
Here is a short but good video from our friends at Brotherhood Instructors and Urban Firefighter Magazine on taking the window.
Do yourself and those inside a favor, take the entire window.
Train and stay safe.
How many of you do VES?
How many of you and your organizations routinely perform Vent, Enter and Search Operations?
When discussing this tactic in some circles there is great debate. In fact, I have heard outright intolerance for VES.
It boils down to training and experience. Believe it or not, I have had firefighters actually have to ask what the acronym meant. Obviously, they don’t perform it.
It certainly has it’s place and is something that can be incorporated into the Outside Vent position. Especially in jurisdictions that don’t have dedicated Engines and Trucks, this position is even more critical. In these areas, one fire you may be performing engine company operations while the same day at a different fire you may be the truck company based on the order of your arrival.
I am curious what your policies are and what your training is for this position?
How does your department run in terms of companies and assignments?
Share what you do and how you operate so that we can all learn new ideas and methods to keep us safe.
Take care and train hard and smart.
What would you do at this point?
There is a lot already taking place here. A hose crew is at the door or inside. A guy is taking out a window or something to that effect on the D side. And someone is on a ladder.
There is some nasty smoke pushing out of this structure. It definitely is under pressure.
Time is running out for keeping this in check and an interior attack. We’ve all been here and we know how this can go.
At this point in the fire, what ventilation tactic would you use and why?
If you need to, redirect these crews and put them where you think they will make the most progress and explain your actions.
Share with your crew and post your discussion points. We always get great feedback and we know you have some goo ideas, so, let’s hear them.
Stay safe and be careful. Get yourself healthy and stay healthy.
Here is a cool way to get two tools to stay together. Firefighters can get real creative when they want to.
This is a good example of getting out of the chair and doing something to help the fire service.
Using multiple tools can make forcing entry much easier and more effective, so it is beneficial to have more than one tool.
The last post was about bringing tools, so I thought this was appropriate. To see some other tool drills and ideas, click the picture for Brotherhood Instructors site.
Have a second means of escape when operating on the roof.
When operating on the roof, make sure as the crew operating on it, and/or the officer on the ground, that there is a secondary means of escape.
As we can see in this picture, the primary means could get cut off by fire.
It is prudent and appropriate to put an additional ladder on the opposite side of this building for the crews to exit from.
When this crew made the roof that fire over the front stoop may not have been there nor suspected. While making the cut they could have lost their primary escape route.
Speak up if you see things like this, it could make all the difference in the world. This has to be done to keep everyone safe.
Is there anything else you see that might need to be addressed?
Most importantly, this is to illustrate the need for a secondary escape.
Take care, think, and stay safe.
I don’t normally post items right out of publications, but, this is just too important.
If you have already read this, bear with me.
I was finishing up my December issue of Fire Engineering and got to this article. It was something I had thought about before but it has been awhile.
The picture you see is where the chief fell from the roof to the floor below.
I am attaching a link to the article, please read it and remember it. If you have to make changes to the way you attack these buildings, do so. Change the codes if you have the ability and stay safe out there.
Photo by Frank Bellina
This building looks to be a very large residential home, or more likely a mutli-family dwelling.
It appears that the majority of fire is on the second floor.
It is night time and the chance that it is occupied is good.
This could be a good time to use interior crews to start an aggressive search with a hose line since we really can’t see any fire.
At the same time, we can have some outside vent guys laddering these windows and performing vent, enter, search tactics since the building appears to be large.
Now, this is somewhat controversial in some parts, like mine, but I think it is an effective tactic. The key here is to have adequately trained personnel who have experience and can make good decisions in the risk vs. benefit area.
Additionally, there needs to be coordination with the interior crew. And, hey, if you have enough on scene to send in an attack line and a search crew, good for you. That just isn’t always the case.
Just remember, if you are performing VES, know where you are, have a tool. You may only be able to sweep the room with a tool because of heat. If you do get in a room, your first bit of business is to shut the door to the adjoining spaces. Oh, make sure you have got a radio.
What do you think out there? Any other ideas? Let us know and share your knowledge.
As always, thanks for stopping by train everyday.
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