Manhole Fires

Winter is in full effect. With cold weather comes snow and ice. Winter in Boston means traffic will be worse than the days before the “BIG DIG”. Driving on slippery roadways necessitate the placement of ice-melting salt onto roadways to make them safe. When the salt is put on top of slick roads, the result is a melting of the ice and snow that coats them. As a result, the roadway becomes safely passable but at a price. The mixture of salt, melted snow, and ice filters into manholes, coating the underground electrical wiring and equipment. This salt-water mixture is very corrosive and causes the wiring, transformers, and other elements of the underground electrical delivery system to deteriorate. Often this results in arcing exposed wires. The arcing, burning wire generates various toxic and combustible gases including high concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) and neoprene gas. These gases are contained in the black noxious smoke billowing out of the manhole at a manhole fire.

Firefighters responding to these incidents should be aware of the many hazards that may accompany this phenomenon.

1. The black smoke can at any moment suddenly ignite, exposing people and vehicles nearby. A person inside a car parked over such a manhole would be severely injured or killed should the smoke ignite as he tried to move the parked car away from the manhole.
2. The ignition can be explosive, sending the 300-pound manhole cover flying upwards of 30 feet into the air.
3. Manholes are connected underground to other manholes by electrical conduit through which wires pass. Fire in one manhole can spread to other nearby seemingly uninvolved manholes, which can suddenly start to smoke, erupt into flames, or blow their covers into the air.
4. The explosive and toxic gases created at these incidents can pass through underground conduit into surrounding structures served by the underground electrical delivery system. The result can be overcome occupants and an explosive atmosphere in the electrical service box or the entire building. These explosive gases can also travel along underground conduit and enter and fill up hollow street light poles. A spark from a traffic light control box can ignite these gases, causing the lights' access panels to blow off the poles.
5. Salt water is a good conductor of electricity and, as a result, manholes and grates covering underground electric equipment have become energized, resulting in the injuries and deaths of pedestrians, pets, and other firefighters. Anything metal such as a bus stop shelter, curb drains, or even a nearby hydrant may become charged. ALL MEMBERS MUST ALWAYS USE CAUTION! (Fire Engineering, 2004)

When responding to these incidents take the following actions and precautions:

1. Stay clear of the trouble manhole and any other nearby covers.
2. Attempt to determine who owns the manhole (NSTAR, MBTA, Telephone, etc…)
3. Find and stay clear of the next manhole on either side of the trouble manhole.
4. Stop any traffic that might be endangered by a flying manhole covers.
5. If first arriving companies observe smoke or flames emitting from the manhole, notify Fire Alarm of a “confirmed manhole fire” and establish a “Hot Zone”. (Fire Alarm shall notify appropriate agency to respond.)
6. Company Commanders shall assume the manhole contains transformers and switchgears cooled with mineral oil containing PCB’s and position the apparatus and members to avoid any contact with smoke or fumes.
7. Attempts should be made to remove the manhole cover and extinguish the fire by filling the manhole from a safe distance. NOTE: Do not flow it directly into the manhole from a hose line. Bounce it off of the street and let it flow along the ground into the manhole or consider flowing water from an unmanned open coupling into the manhole. WATER SHALL NEVER BE PLAYED INTO MBTA MANHOLES!
8. Consider removing covers of other manhole inline with the one involved to relieve pressure buildup.
9. Check nearby structures for carbon monoxide and shorted power lines and evacuate them, if necessary.
10. Do not attempt to kill the power to a building, even if its lights are blinking; there could be an explosive atmosphere in the electric panel box. A spark created by opening the main cut-off could result in an explosion.
11. Be aware that the danger area around a burning manhole may extend to other manholes, nearby street light poles, and traffic control boxes as well as the surrounding structures. If electric service is delivered by a combination of overhead and underground wiring, be aware that a manhole fire can extend up to the overhead wires via a connecting conduit. This would put the run of overhead wiring in the danger area.

Extensive testing and research has found that applying water to manhole fires is both a safe and effective method of extinguishment. The water actually controls the fault by cooling the equipment to the point of controlled burning. Water can be used because of extensive grounding of cables and equipment throughout these manholes, however, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL ENTER A MANHOLE, with the only exception being a confined space rescue.

For more information regarding manhole fires, refer to the video on manhole fires located at each District Chief’s Office.

Boston Fire Department SOP #49B Special procedures and precautions for incidents involving manholes.

Fire Engineering, 2004

Special Thanks to F.L. (BFD E-22)

Test post

Great repair job. Although I would think duct tape would be stronger.

Propaganda disguised as news

[A fire alarm sounded this afternoon at 2 Center Plaza, forcing Mayor Thomas M. Menino's campaign headquarters to evacuate, right as staffers were working the phones to get out the vote. Perhaps inevitably, the alarm raised eyebrows on the campaign because Boston Firefighters Local 718 has been at loggerheads with Menino for months and has endorsed Councilor Michael F. Flaherty in the mayor's race.

Nick Martin, a Menino spokesman, said about 50 people in the office were forced to leave the building for about 30 minutes.

“It was supposedly just a routine drill, but it’s a little bit of coincidental timing,” Martin said. “There were people trying to make phone calls at the time and they had to leave for half an hour, so that was definitely a disruption.”

Steve MacDonald, a Fire Department spokesman, said the fire drill was scheduled by the building management.

“We had absolutely nothing to do with it,” he said. “It was strictly building management.”

Equity Office Properties, which owns 2 Center Plaza, described the drill as a routine safety precaution.

“Like many building owners and operators, Equity Office Properties holds fire drills at all of its buildings in the event of an actual emergency," Karen Baker, a senior vice president at the company, said in a statement e-mailed to the Globe. "This was a routine drill. As always the safety of our tenants and employees is our first priority.”] (BG 9/22/09)

I re-printed this article only to show you what exactly it was I read. Maybe you saw it also, I don't know. When I first read it I laughed, not a funny ha-ha, more of a snicker, and I couldn't help but respond. It's another example of how one particular "News Source" printed an article to try to smear not only a candidate, but an entire public safety department as well as its union.

I commented on the lack of facts and questioned the "reporters" intent. Of course my comments were deleted almost as fast as I put them up. Deemed objectionable.So much for free expression.

The Fire Department DOES NOT CONDUCT fire exit drills. At most, when asked we will WITNESS the drill and add any suggestions on how to improve them. That is all.

While I have come to expect this from the incumbents machine, how is it fair when the "news" spreads such propaganda? Opinions are for blogs (such as this one) but when the "news" insinuates and tries to stear people to the conclusion that the union would use such tactics, well I ask, where is their integrity?

Random Thoughts

Another week in the world of first-responders and here are some of the things that caught my attention.

• A Chicago Battalion Chief was suspended for missing a fire. Companies were dispatched to an alarm of fire and it seems he slept right through the alert tone. He was suspended for 15 days. Now I realize that Chicago Battalion chiefs do not have aides but I couldn't help think that this guy must of been an arsehole or this is another example of the erosion of the Brotherhood. The days of taking care of our own are rapidly diminishing. To be honest here, I have often wondered what Brotherhood meant and will soon post something on the subject.
• The L.A. Station fire is contained to about 60% ( yes it's still burning) and has been determined to be caused by Arson. Just following it through the media, I couldn't help but think how hard it must be physically and mentally to operate at these types of fires. I have much respect to the men and women who fight wildfires.
• FDNY firefighters were upset that they were taken OOS for a P.R. event, which entailed washing off an elephant from the circus. I can certainly understand the angst that occurs if something came in while doing a dog & pony show but anytime you can make yourself look good to the public you should take advantage of. The days of hiding behind the doors and working at a "Fort in Injun Country" are long gone. We all took an oath to serve the public. Remember we are here for them, not the other way around.
• Due to budget cuts and layoffs the Lawrence Ma. Fire Department has decided that they will no longer respond to medical calls. Two firehouses have been closed and ten members layed-off causing the Fire Chief to determine that medical calls will no longer generate a firefighter response. Talk about slitting your own throat.

L.A. Wildfire

Wow, this is a devastating fire. So far, the fire has burned nearly 219 square miles (140,150 acres), cost 21 million dollars to combat, destroyed 5-dozen homes (with another 10,000 being threatened) and caused the line-of-duty deaths of 2 L.A. County Firefighters. It’s being called the Station fire and the smoke from this particular fire is obscuring the mountain views all the way in Denver, Colorado. Amazing.

Wildfire season out West usually is during October due to the winds but this one is being driven by the dryness of the brush due to drought like conditions. {L.A. Times}

Deputy Incident Commander Carlton Joseph (Forestry Service) reported on Wednesday that they believe the fire was started by Human factors. No clarification of whether they think it was arson or accidental in origin. They also reported that 22% of the fire was contained. I guess that sounds hopeful and I’m not sure what that statement really means, but that’s what was reported. I’m sure to the men and women, who fight Wild fires on a regular basis, can understand that statement. It’s just that I have never heard fire containment used in those terms where I’m from.

Those wildfires out West are of a size and scope of which I am not familiar with. The Strategy and Tactics used are as foreign to me as another language. My experience with fires has been primarily buildings, autos, dumpsters, and small (compared to out West) outside fires. There is a huge difference between Structural firefighting and Wild Land firefighting. Both are dangerous to operate at and cause death and property destruction all the time. But controlling ans extinguishing them are different The thought of operating at a fire of this magnitude is unreal to me. I couldn’t even imagine being a Smoke Jumper. Jumping out of planes and landing in the middle of a fire with a tool and an aluminum blanket is not for me. I have so much respect for those men and women who perform these actions. Crazy arse MoFos as far as I’m concerned.

Fire Captain Ted Hall and Specialist Arnie Quinones died when the truck they were in crashed while trying to escape the flames. Rest in Peace men.

"Salty Jake Syndrome"

Today I want to talk about the disorder that I'll call the "Salty Jake Syndrome".

Signs and symptoms of SJS are the following :

• Crusty, dented, scorched helmet (suddenly appears after 1 year on the job)
• Dirty, stinking Bunker Gear with rips and tears all over
• Sudden appearance of station uniforms resembling a domicile challenged individual (being PC here)
• White officer devices that suddenly, over night, become charred and covered in soot
• Waxing poetically about rubber coats and hip boots, (In spite of the fact of not being on when they were worn)
• Entitlement attitude (this job owes me)
• All stories begin with; "We had a Job", "Remember how it used to be", "This is how we do it here", "That company sucks", etc......
• And the ultimate sign - a bushy mustache.

Here at the CBSC (Center for Bullshit Control) we are working on a vaccine designed to eradicate or at least isolate against the spread of SJS. Until we find a pill, we have come up with some easy actions to help protect you from the SJS virus.

Some ways to prevent infection and combat the spread are:

• If your gear is dirty- WASH IT !
• If it has rips in it- GET IT FIXED!
• Wear the uniform you were given- KEEP IT CLEAN AT ALL TIMES!
• Realize the rubber coats SUCKED!
• The hip-boots were even WORSE!
• The job owes you NOTHING! You took an OATH to do it
• DO NOT tell any fire stories to anyone with more time than you
• Realize there are good and bad firefighters all over, the number on your device MEANS NOTHING!
• Buy a razor and SHAVE!

Following these steps can help mitigate and stop the spread of SJS. All member are urged to avoid all contact with those exhibiting the signs and symptoms of the malady until further notice.

Buffalo Line of Duty

Two Buffalo Firemen died in the line of duty earlier today. Condolences to The BFD & the families of the men.

LT. Charles "Chip" McCarthy, 45 year old father of 3 and 22 year veteran (Rescue 1).

FF. Jonathan Croom, 35 year old father of 1 and 10 year veteran (Ladder 7)