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More Building Construction for Size Up

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Here is a quick look at a building that offers more than one considering in regards to construction characteristics. The building in the photos is currently a resale shop. This building has been a tack shop, lawn equipment, sold boats and trailers. If you look hard at the front, it has been added onto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The right side of the building was the original and the left was an addition. The front and side walls are wood frame with a brick veneer. As you can see, there is a parapet wall on three sides of the building. Both sides have been rearranged multiple times on the interior to accommodate the occupant of the moment. The original roof was flat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This side view shows some exterior doors and the brick veneer. We can also see the electric service and a boarded up window. This two doors lead to different areas of the building and are not adjoining. You can also see that the parapet wall appears to be very tall and of combustible material.

 

This is the rear view and the most telling about this building. We can see that the back wall is different from the other three walls. The back wall is of block. We can also see that the roof is a lean to type of construction and knowing the history of this building, it is a “rain roof” or “roof over” that covered an old flat roof.

We can also see the parapet wall is brick on the two side walls with support ties. We know that those connections are very likely going to fail during a fire. There is a lot of void space that could be difficult to get to due to the “rain roof” and early collapse of the parapet wall should be expected.

In addition, the importance of the block wall in the back is important for orientation as well. If we get inside and get to a wall that is block, we have a pretty good idea of where we are. We only would know this by pre-planning and/or doing our 360.

These are just a few of the considerations you must think of when presented with this building or one like it. Discuss this with your crews and identify buildings that are similar in your response areas.

Train hard, stay safe, and remember those who have fallen for the lives of others. Please especially remember the families of Chief Kyle Ienn, Firefighter Doug Haase, Chief David Flint, Fire Lt. Kevin West who all left us this week.

Posted by on February 3, 2012 • Filed under: administration-leadership, buildling construction, command-leadership, fire codes, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, in-the-line-of-duty • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Many Uses Can You Come Up With?

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It's Sunday and I was just sitting at work and I started thinking about an anchor point that I was taught with webbing. Not having tied it in a while I went out and made sure I remembered how to get it done. Lucky for me my memory is still intact.

The other guys came over and we had a short lesson for it's uses and showed them how to tie it too.  This led into a morning of going over some very simple, but effective, ways to use the webbing that we carry.

Everyone has their own ideas about why they carry a certain length of webbing or rope. But, don't limit yourself to the harnesses and escape systems that utilize webbing. The pieces I keep are for a multitude of "basic" practices that assist me, when needed, in actual firefighting.

We can use them for controlling doors, advancing a large line, searching off of a line and more.  I would like you to all share your webbing stories.  What lengths do you carry? Why? And are there any special tricks you have picked up from some experienced guy in the house?

Take care and remember our troops and their families this Memorial Day.

Posted by on May 29, 2011 • Filed under: command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, forcible entry, mayday, rescues, RIT, search, self rescue, situational awareness, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

The Reason for the Denver Drill

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I recently had the pleasure to spend some time with Chief Dave McGrail from the Denver Fire Department. Besides discussing high rise and stand pipe operations, we talked about the Denver Drill and the circumstances from which it was derived.

Most have heard the story of Mark Langvardt and the fire that took his life. The following videos show just how difficult it was for Denver firefighters to rescue firefighter Langvardt. You can see the desperation and helplessness on their faces as they work to exhaustion to save their downed Brother. They were doing everything that they could to rescue him and were met with almost impossible conditions and a situation that they were not familiar with.

This is why we need to learn the lessons that our Brothers and Sisters all over the country can teach us about training for situations like this. We must train for and be prepared for bad things to happen. We cannot take a day off from training and we have to take RIT seriously, no matter how “routine” the fire seems to be.

Please remember Mark Langvardt and the Denver Fire Department while watching these videos and all the others who have sacrificed. We owe it to them to train hard and often and to learn from those experiences.

Stay safe and be a Bulldog about training. It makes all the difference in the world.

Posted by on October 20, 2010 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, in-the-line-of-duty, line-of-duty, mayday, rescues, RIT, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Changes in Building Features

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Changes in building features.

These pictures show how buildings are altered over the years and with change of ownership and/or occupancy type.

You can see that what used to be windows are now bricked in.

This is very common on older buildings that had numerous windows and in some cases they are not very efficient.  Owners will frame or brick them in just to eliminate the problem all together.

The problem is we don’t know what the inside sill and frame-out of the inside of the window is like.

This is important to note when your doing your 360 or pre-planning.

When firefighters become lost or disoriented we are taught to find a window or door on an outside wall.  The inside of this building may feel like windows to the gloved hand, but in reality it has been blocked up.

A firefighter may spend a great deal of time and energy trying to get out the “window” and not move on to an actual egress point.

Keep these things in mind and get to know your area. We probably all have these buildings with these feature changes in our area and we have an obligation to point these out to our newer firefighters.  Stay prudent and be involved in your jurisdiction’s building construction and occupancy types.

Stay safe and keep cool.

Posted by on July 24, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, command-leadership, exits, fire codes, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, mayday, RIT, search, situational awareness, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, vacant building fires • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Elevator Operations

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This is a good video on operating a typical elevator. I understand that there are many different types of elevators and different operating methods, but most are very similar to this. You can have different types of keys but the systems should be pretty standard.

Now some of the older elevators can have less options and safety features, so get familiar with the elevators in your jurisdiction. This is something I have seen firefighters struggle with, believe it or not, because they have never had any hands on experience with them.

Get out and use some of these and no how to use them before you have to.

When this pulls up on YouTube, you can subscribe to the creator, dieselducy, and he has additional videos of different elevators. Pretty interesting stuff.

Stay safe and be careful.

Posted by on July 9, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, elevators, fire codes, fire service recall, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Since We’re Talking Ventilation…..

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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.

Posted by on May 28, 2010 • Filed under: command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, RIT, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, vent, ventilation • Tagged: , , , , ,

The 360: Basement Bulk Heads

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Look for secondary means of egress for basements too.

Look for secondary means of egress for basements too.

We have all heard  and been taught to do a 360 of the structure during a working fire.

There is some debate, but this is becoming common practice and there are several things to look for.

The picture is a bulk head for a basement.  We have always been taught and trained to look for and create a secondary means of egress for upper floors.  Well, it’s no different for basements.

When you make entry, especially if the fire has not been isolated, make sure that either you open it during the 360 if it’s not locked or that the information is relayed to the next in crew to cut the lock.

Cut the locks to ensure crews can exit if needed.

Cut the locks to ensure crews can exit if needed.

It may be as simple as cutting a padlock or as difficult as forcing a door or security bars.

It is important to create this exit to safety for the crews operating inside.  It might just be what saves their lives.

Stay safe, be smart and train hard.

Posted by on May 4, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, exits, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, rescues, RIT, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , ,

Swiftwater Coming

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Are you ready for the Torrents of Spring?

Are you ready for the Torrents of Spring?

With the Winter coming to an end and Spring ushering itself in, we now have a new threat from weather: flooding and moving water.

The weather pros are calling for some pretty significant flooding this season from the melting snow falls.

Be prepared for these events and act safely and appropriately.  We all know of the tragedy from West Virginia and let’s do all we can to avoid that from happening again.

Make sure you wear personal floatation devices that are appropriate for emergency services.  Make sure those PFD’s are on all apparatus and ready for service.

If you aren’t trained to be in the water, don’t get in the water.  Moving water is a force that is easy to underestimate and deadly when miscalculated.

Remember, like ice rescue, throw, tow, row and go.  But, even then, if you are not qualified, adequately equipped and trained, let someone who is get in the water.

Stay safe and train in every aspect of our job.  Be careful and take care.

Posted by on March 23, 2010 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, rescues, special-operations, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , ,

More Company Discussions:You Are the Boss!

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Deploy your people. You are the big boss on this one, what next?

Deploy your people. You are the big boss on this one, what next?

You are the incident commander on this fire.  You can deploy who ever you want where ever you want.

I am allowing for your normal response of resources. No cheating!

Don’t worry about what is going on with the personnel in the picture; pretend they are not there.

Explain your size-up and the building characteristics.

Deploy your resources accordingly through what ever a first alarm will bring you. If you want to expand your alarms, hey, have at it.  Just let us know.

Sit down with your crews and work this out.

This fire came in as a house fire, unknown victims, called in by the neighbors.

Have fun with it, pass it on, and be safe.

Posted by on March 17, 2010 • Filed under: administration-leadership, buildling construction, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighting-operations, fires, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Light Weight Strip Malls

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Light weight construction is everywhere.

Light weight construction is everywhere.

This is a picture of some light weight trusses being set on a commercial building.

As you look at this building you can see that it seems to be a series of stores or spaces in a commercial building. Most likely a strip mall type building.

In the old days, these were block buildings with steel roof components, structurally speaking.  They were fairly sturdy buildings, still not great, but heavier construction.

Now, it is all light weight wood.  No doubt they will put a facade on this building that looks like rock or brick, but it is a house of commercial occupancies.  It is also easy to see how fast a fire in the concealed space will consume those truss members, causing very early failure.

In addition, remember what goes on top of these buildings; HVAC units.

Just be aware of what is in your area. Stop by and look at these buildings.  Make sure they are properly building fire barriers and walls with penetrations fire stopped.

Use your training and common sense when these buildings burn, they are dangerous in today’s fire service.

Take care and stay safe.

Posted by on March 12, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, fire codes, fire stopping, firefighter-safety-health, i joists, inspections, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Great RIT Pack Video

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I have seen this video several times and I like to watch it as a refresher.  The Captain is excellent at explaining this and making it easy to understand and follow. I know the video is a particular brand, which we use, so if you use a different brand, send me a link of a similar video and I will post it.

It is important to be familiar with your respective RIT bag and equipment.  Be able to use this in the dark and with gloves on.  Be prepared if you are RIT and don’t take that assignment lightly.

Train hard and be prepared.

Posted by on February 27, 2010 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, RIT • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Fire Officer Basics: Part 1

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The officer must be the one that watches for conditions.

The officer must be the one that watches for conditions.

When a  crew is making an interior attack, or any task, on the fire ground, the officer must be the eyes and ears of his crew.

Although everyone is responsible for safety and identifying unsafe conditions, the officer must continually keep a watchful eye on conditions.

Too often I have witnessed the officer take the nozzle, dragging the firefighter along into a burning structure.  The officer should be the more experienced person on the line; there is a reason he is the officer. ( I know that is not always the case, but, you get the point.)

I can remember being in a 3-story house with fire blowing out the rear on the first floor and making an aggressive interior attack as the nozzle man.  About 5 minutes or so pass and I am right up on this thing not making much progress.  The acting officer tapped me on the shoulder and said we needed to back out.

I of course did not want to, but what I didn’t see, because I was focused on the fire fight, was that we were pushing fire around the stairwell back to the front door, where we entered.  Mostly because we had the wrong sized line for the amount of fire we had.

But, the point is, he was doing his job. Not just helping me with the hose line, but seeing the “big” picture.  He was paying attention to more than just what was in front of him.

As officers on the hose line we are expected to be aware and to get the job done.  On that fire it meant pulling out and going back with a larger line, which was effective.

Watch for changing smoke conditions. Look for fire behavior that may be odd.  Just look at everything and stay aware.  Get the job done and get back safe.

Posted by on February 20, 2010 • Filed under: command-leadership, enter, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, situational awareness • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Ladder Bail Out Plus…..

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Ladder Bailout from Vent, Enter Search.

 Take a look at this video and watch and listen to the communications.  There is a lot to learn here and these guys were under a lot of pressure. You can just feel it how they are talking and acting on the fire ground.

Use this as a training tool and learn from the experiences of others.  If you have already seen this, well, then watch it again.

Stay safe and be good to each other.  : )

Posted by on February 18, 2010 • Filed under: command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, ladders, mayday, situational awareness • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

More on Light Weight Construction

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Know the dangers of light weight construction!

Know the dangers of light weight construction!

Check out this article for some great information and links in regards to light weight construction and the hazards that are associated with it.  All firefighters and officers need to read this.

Battling the Hidden Danger

Posted by on February 9, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, firefighter-safety-health, i joists, situational awareness, trusses • Tagged: , , , , ,

Company Discussion: Vacant Buildings Cont.

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I am back and will continue the discussion on vacant buildings.

First, I appoligize for not posting all weekend, I was at Missouri Winter Fire School teaching.  It was a great weekend and everyone was pleasant and eager to learn.

When I left, I had posted a picture and gave a scenario of a vacant building. Vacant buildings and how we approach them is a hot topic right now. We have some chiefs and firefighters arguing that we need to write-off all vacant buildings.

On the otherhand, we have firefighters and some officers that argue that we should search all buildings that are on fire because that was what we were sworn to do.  I understand both points.

While teaching this weekend this topic was brought up and the very vocal crowd, and the majority immediately said, “Let ‘em burn.”  Their setement was that we should not be entering these buildings because they are “vacant.”

I then asked the question, “Are all vacant buildings decrepit and delapidated?”  The answer is absolutely not.  Many vacant buildings are just that; not occupied.  It doesn’t mean that they are falling down and structurally unsound.

I pose this scenario.  If  a couple leaves their winter home for five months out of the year for warmer weather, is that building abandoned?  Most said , “no.”  Would the “let it burn” montra apply in that situation and why or why not?  Well, most said no it would not apply.

Listen, I am not sure why this is so difficult.  In a way I do because I understand the history of some very famous LODD that have happen in abandoned buildings.  But, at the same time, we are seeing and hearing reports of homeless and vagrants being rescued and found in these vacant buildings.

So, what do we do?  Here is what I am suggesting and you are free to disagree.  If we use the same risk management system and the risk vs. benefit anaylysis, this becomes less of an issue.  If your first arriving units are adequately trained, confident in their decision making abilities and familiar with their area, they perform like they would at any other building.

Just because a building is occupied does not make it inherently safe if it is on fire. The same is true for vacant buildings; just because it is vacant does not make inherently dangerous just because it is vacant.  It also doesn’t mean it isn’t occupied.

Do your size up, get three sides when you pull up.  Get your 360 and make an evaluation of conditions inside and those of the building.  If conditions are poor and survivability is not possible, don’t put your people at risk.

If the structure appears to be sound, the fire conditions are condusive for an aggressive search and attack, then it should be done.  The same rules apply for occupied structures.  You may take more risk for an occupied structure if you don’t konw that all occupants are out.  But, you still will measure conditions and survivability, especially if you have confirmation everyone is out.  Use the same judgment and experience with vacant buildings.

The bottom line is that properly trained firefighters and company officers will make the right decision.  IF they don’t, adequately trained and experienced chief officers need to make sure the correct decision is made and the proper battle plan is followed.

Use your head and don’t let your ego and emotions rule your actions. It could get you and your crew killed.  Take your time to call on good practices and experience to see the overall picture.

Until next time, stay safe and be careful.

Posted by on February 7, 2010 • Filed under: administration-leadership, buildling construction, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Company Discussion: Vacant Building

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Vacant or not vacant: To go or not to go?

Vacant or not vacant: To go or not to go?

Recent discussions about vacant buildings and how we should handle them led me to post this scenario.

I have my own opinion on vacant buildings which I will post later.  But, the discussion can get heated, depending on who you are talking with.

It seems most chiefs are of the opinion that vacant buildings are write-offs and company officers and firefighters want to aggressively attack these buildings and perform search and rescue if conditions permit.

Without further delay, let’s move on to the scenario.

You have arrived on the scene of this fire and it has been reported vacant.  It is winter and cold outside.  It is just outside of town, about 2 minutes from the city limits.

There are no hydrants but you have adequate personnel and apparatus to begin operations with approximately 4000 gallons on the initial response.

What are your initial actions and how do you approach a vacant house?  Why do you what you choose and what conditions were considered?

Remember, everyone has an opinion and we can all learn valuable lessons from everyone.  Also, this was an actual fire I was on.  So, I can fill you in on how we did in a few days.

Let’s hear it all and stay safe.

Posted by on February 5, 2010 • Filed under: command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, search, situational awareness, vacant building fires • Tagged: , , , , , ,

More Than Just an Electrical Problem

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There are two issues with this picture that we need to address.

There are two issues with this picture that we need to address.

In this picture you can see the electrical service and that it is not appropriate.  In the dark or in heavy smoke, this could cause a real bad situation.  Not to mention it could have started the fire.

But, as I looked at this picture, I noticed something else that we need to think about.  Can you see it?  I have no doubt you have noticed it.

The basement doors are boarded up.  We mentioned this in an earlier post about boarded up windows.  This is no different.  Trapped or lost firefighters trying to find a way out may miss this door because it is boarded up.

There isn’t a whole lot we can do about it except to do our 360 and use good situational awareness.  Doing that 360 will tell us a great deal and could save our lives.

Just stay aware and alert.  Take the extra time to do your 360, it makes a difference and as an officer it is a must to keep your people safe.

Posted by on January 28, 2010 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Who Should be at the Tip?

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I think these two firefighters have their roles reversed.
I think these two firefighters have their roles reversed.

 

These two firefighters need to switch their roles.  The one on the bottom of the ladder appears ready to go.

The one at the top in the window with fire above his head does not appear to have an SCBA on.  At least I don’t see it on his back.

Wearing yous PPE completely and correctly is and should be mandatory.

There is fire above this firefighter and they are taking part in suppression efforts.  He is at risk RIGHT NOW!

The firefighter should and probably does know better. But, that is why we need competent fire officers, to tell firefighters that get in too big of a hurry or forget, to put on their PPE.

Safety on the fire ground is everyone’s responsibility.  It starts with us personally and then on to the officers.

Stand up and make safety a priority all the time.  Stay safe and remember, EGH!

Posted by on January 25, 2010 • Filed under: administration-leadership, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Fiberglass Panels

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Photo from FireEngineering.com. This is the hole that a New Jersey Battalion Chief fell through.
Photo from FireEngineering.com. This is the hole that a New Jersey Battalion Chief fell through.

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.

http://www.fireengineering.com/index/articles/display/8028781264/articles/fire-engineering/volume-162/issue-12/departments/what-we_learned/dangers-of_fiberglass.html

Photo by Frank Bellina

Posted by on January 21, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, vent • Tagged: , , , ,

Working Off Ladders

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Lock in when working off a ladder.
Lock in when working off a ladder.

 

I know this is really basic stuff, but we forget very quickly about these basics.

When working off of a ladder use leg locks or a ladder belt.  Don’t forget that ladder belts are not just for aerial trucks.  They are very effective on any ladder.  Well, maybe not an attic ladder.

With some of the new harnesses being integrated into gear, some have ladder belts built into them, so use them.

Bottom line; stay safe and operate safely.  Sometimes it is easy to forget these basic skills.  We teach them in the academies and rookie schools, and we need to refresh every once in a while.

Posted by on January 20, 2010 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations • Tagged: , , , , ,