Attic fires

Attic fires, a location which causes some unique challenges when operating at them. I've responded to numerous attic fires over the years and have found all of them to be difficult to extinguish. They have some unique operational considerations which add to the difficulty for members operating on the scene.

Access

Gaining access to attic fires is usually difficult with probably only basement fires being harder. Let's take a look as some of the entry points:

• Regular stairs- by far the easiest and preferred method. Stretching a line this way will always be "standard".
• Drop Down Stairs- usually found when the attic is used for storage purposes. I would question using these stairs for stretching lines as most will not support the weight of Firefighters and their equipment. One idea is to break the supporting hinges and take down these steps and use a ladder (Pencil or short roof one).
• Access panel- use a ladder as mentioned above.
• Outside windows- When gaining access proves to be too difficult from the inside, consider using ground ladders to an outside window. Running a line over a ladder is a great idea.

Ventilation

Vertical ventilation is crucial and can determine whether or not an interior attack will be successful. Roof members must open the roof, as close to over the fire as safely possible. Open up as many bays as you can. One long horizontal cut will do more than one that is vertically long, but doesn't vent as many bays. Make sure the cut is close to the ridge pole and not too low. Recently I responded to an attic fire that wasn't vented properly and as an effect the Engine Companies were forced to evacuate the attic when the fire wouldn't vent. More on this later.

Horizontal venting will help and sometimes will be the only option. Factors such as, wires, tree branches, house on a steep hill or the like might preclude using an Aerial Ladder to gain access. Take out any and all windows that service the attic.

Water

In the KISS style I'll repeat, Big Fire Big Line, Little Fire Little Line. Far too many times I see Engines stretching little lines with heavy smoke or fire showing. Now is not the time to want to get into a long bout with fuego. I say let's be like a young Mike Tyson and knocked the fire out fast. First round K.O. Another thing, DO NOT PLAY LINES UPON EACH OTHER. In other words, if there are companies inside the attic don't play the moth to the flame routine and play a line from the outside in on the interior companies. Recently an Engine in the rear of a building played their line into the attic window, pushing fire down on the companies attempting to gain access from an interior stairway. As one of the members who was forced to bail down the stairs, let's say we were not too happy about it.

Other interior companies

Have other Engines stretch and charge lines on the floor below the fire. Be prepared for fire to drop down. Here's where a little line can come in handy. Being able to move it around to hot spots, without fighting with a big line, is an option. Ladder Company members can use a Thermal Imaging Camera and rakes to open up where these hot spots will be found.

Keeping the access points clear is paramount to companies who are operating in the attic. Keep the way in Clear. Crowding the stairs, or bottom of a ladder is doing nothing but making a possible escape route cluttered. If companies have to bail, you want them to have a clear way out. If you have nothing to do go back outside and report to the IC.

These are just some basic considerations and there are probably several more out there. One is an "attic pipe". Sort of like an old Navy pipe which you can connect to a line and stick up into an attic. I have never seen one in operation but have read that other deparments use them. I certainly would like to see one operating. Another is using a cellar pipe, in the same way.

Anything that works is a good idea. Don't get caught up in trying to be a hero and getting your helmet salty.

SCBA

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus IMO, the best invention created for firefighting operations. While there are other great tools that have come down the pike, Thermal Imaging cameras being one, is there any thing which ranks with the SCBA ? Local lingo has several names for it.

I can remember when I first came on and the mask seemed to be more of a decoration than an actual piece of equipment. You were "discouraged" from using it by senior members. Epic tales of fires, leather lung lore, or "war" stories abounded. Didn't a day go by without one. The stories almost always started off with the statement of how masks were not needed or only cowards wore them. I can remember the first fire I responded to where after the main body of fire was knocked down, I was "encouraged" to take it off to perform overhauling. My eyes immediately started burning and I could not stop coughing but I did it anyways. What was amazing was the number of guys smoking. It didn't seem to bother those guys and I swore these were the toughest guys I ever met.

Not using your mask has got to be the most idiotic thing which you can do on this job. Know your mask, keep it clean and well maintained. Never respond without knowing it is fully functioning.

When you report for duty and before any cup of coffee and/or the latest firehouse bs, make sure you check your personal equipment. With the mask being the first priority. Do not allow yourself or men to respond to any incident without knowing their equipment is in top order.

I once had a Captain who would stand right over me when I checked all my gear. It was like he knew when I would come in and he would appear at the truck as soon as I exited the locker room. These daily inspections would drive me crazy and had me feeling that he didn't like me. I thought the guy was a prick and didn't get laid enough.

Now it's a couple of decades later and I have to tell you that, every time I run into him I can not thank him enough. I never developed the habit of not using the mask and not experiencing unnecessary nights in the hospital coughing up black stuff is/was the outcome of those daily inspections.

I think about those leather lung guys from time to time. Fond memories always make me smile when I think about the good times we had. I also wonder what they would be doing if they were still alive. Far too many of them are dead and I always wonder if limiting their use of the mask contributed to their early demise.

So, I don't know about you but I plan on getting back way more money from the pension than I contributed. Old age and more years retired than I worked is my goal. I'm known to be ambivalent about a lot of things but the mask is not one of them.

Tonka Truck

Brand-new Truck on the tow truck......Again. Might as well get all the kinks out before the warranty is over. This particular apparatus and the "sister" trucks it came with are having numerous electrical problems.

Milwaukee

Incredible video. Tragic story.

Best of luck to the family and Kudos to the people for stepping up for a fellow human being.

FHWA rule 634

Today I was surfing the web when I came across something that I found interesting. I'll call it the "B" side. Always good to see both sides.

As we all know the Federal Highway Administration passed a regulation last year in which all emergency responders who operate on highways are required to wear high visibility vests. This is in addition to the reflective striping that is on our Bunker Gear, all the striping on the apparatus as well as the flashing lights.

Well, they have now exempted firefighters from wearing them (my words, as I know most firefighters will now deposit the vests in the "file"). Whether that's good or bad remains to be seen. I was never a fan of the regulation, but I did not lose any sleep over it either.

On our job, we have been ordered to wear the vests on any street. Now I'm all for operating as safe as we can, but where do you draw the line ? Wouldn't better and proper training on apparatus positioning be a better call ? I will always put a big fire truck between me, my men and oncoming vehicles. This is no guarantee of safety but I would rather they hit the rig than me.

I was present once, years ago, when a member was struck by a car. The driver was in a rush and attempted to drive around both the Engine and the Ladder. Just as she swerved around the Engine, one of the members stepped off the side board. Luckily he was only out for a couple of months. I also know a guy permanently disabled from a similar situation. No vest in the world could of prevented these accidents.

IMO, positioning the apparatus properly- with PPE on , will have a greater effect on the outcome of scene safety, than a vest. Can a vest add to safety ? Sure, but lets stop trying to regulate stupidity. Drive a motorcycle/bicycle around town or just sit and observe the average driver on the road. You'll realize, if you have not already, that the vast majority of vehicle operators are idiots.

If it's dark outside or you're operating in any kind of low-light situation, then why not wear one ? Middle of the day on a small side street ?

Remember, safety is important and should never be ignored. Just be realistic about it. More regulations/rules etc.. do not always equate to safer firefighters. If it needs fixing, fix it- if it works, leave it alone.

I could go into my opinion on most of those organizations and all the self-important white hats, but not today.

Do we expect too much ?

Just finished reading an article in a trade magazine (I would link it but they seem to be defensive of articles they did not write) and it made me wonder what's next ? The article is about firefighters being administered a lie detector test.

I will not go into that particular issue. It brought some things to my mind though, that I would like to discuss.

More and more we, as firefighters, are expected to be some kind of warrior monk. Protecting the people while we walk paths of virtue. No flaws or hidden skeletons, just "saintly" people. Where and when did we cross over from just people helping people- to this new definition of public service ?

Is it right ? and if so, what is the standards to which we are held ? Am I expected to walk a righteous path ? or strive to do my best ? I do not know about you, but I have many flaws, some worse than others.

When I am "on the clock", I will do my best in doing the job. No frills, smoke and mirrors, or parlor room tricks. The lights come on and I will react. I will take it to a level to mitigate the emergency and nothing more. I do not look for praise or a wall of fame. A simple, "good job" from my peers, is the ultimate form of being honored.

I wonder if Americas obsession with Schadenfreude is driving us to expect that everybody is to be squeaky clean. In the checkout line, when we scan the tabloids ( you know you do it) do we read how so and so achieved something good ? or do we want to know whose sleeping with who or hooked on drugs ?

I know and agree that some things are unacceptable and should remain a part of firefighting lore, but being infallible is neither realistic or attainable. Mother Teresa was pure. I'm just a Jake trying to leave the job better than it was when I came on.

Lie detector tests, integrity tests, or whatever it's called- Do we really need them ? and are we expecting too much from people ?

Let me know what you think.

Pull Boxes

Pull boxes, needed or archaic in this day and age ?

I, myself, have only used a pull box twice in my life. Once for an outside fire extending to a building and the other was a large brawl where some kid got stabbed. I did not have a cell phone at the time and it was the only reliable way to notify the fire department to respond. I felt the need to do so because you can not depend on others to do it. Far too many times when something happens people will yell and shout to call 911 but never actually call themselves. Or, they think the other person called, so why should I. A human phenomena that I will call the " not me" syndrome. I think most people want to help, but have been programmed to not get involved. Scared of repercussions, lawyers or even the police, many people choose to ignore what is going on for the sake of anonymity. Do we not say " these kids and the stop snitching culture" they should speak up and help society. And yet, we are the first person to call someone a rat ? (sorry ,back to the point)

As a firefighter I have responded to numerous calls received by the pull box, some for incidents and some determined to be false alarms. Whenever I responded to one I thought in my mind " This could be the big one" or maybe some poor unfortunate soul was lying on the ground expiring, but no matter, I took the call serious until proven otherwise. Many times after responding and finding nothing I would think about what idiot would pull the box for nothing ? Did people get their jollies from seeing fire trucks respond with lights and siren ? Did mommy not hug them enough ? But plenty of times the box was pulled for legitimate reasons. Fires, both outside and building, car accidents, with injuries, gas leaks, water leaks, electrical hazards, medical emergencies, etc.

There are some, and one city councilor in particular, who say that in this day and age fire boxes are not needed. Everybody has a cell phone and no one uses the boxes anymore. At first look it would be to easy to agree but I want you realize that many people do not have cell phones and are not living life large. I'm certainly glad the number of false alarms have decreased over the years and it seems that most people who use them now truly need help.

Yes they cost money to maintain and plenty of cities have stopped using them but I also know that, to many people, just knowing they are there in case you need them makes them feel protected. Knowing that no matter what occurs help is just a pull away would make me feel at ease. Especially with our average response times, we can be there instantly and fully prepared to make things right.

I could go into all the incidents that I've responded to which originated from a straight pull but I won't. If for no other reason than yours and my attention span.

So I say to the naysayers, remember, plenty of people do not have phones or are living well. Lower socioeconomic areas are full of people who do not have access to life's luxuries or for that matter speak the language. But they know that if they pull the box, help will come.


Oh, the picture you ask ?

It's of the new Police call boxes being installed in various locations throughout the city in case someone needs to call for help.

Leaking Oil Tanks (Residential)

Heating oil, or oilheat, also known in the United States as No. 2 fuel oil and elsewhere as "red diesel", is a low viscosity, flammable liquid petroleum product used to fuel building furnaces or boilers. {S.Moayedi 2006}

Companies that are dispatched to a report of leaking oil tanks, or a fuel spill in the basement, are often times met with a strong "oily" smell. This smell can permeate the entire house or be contained only in the basement/cellar area. Company officers should immediately evacuate the residents and begin interviewing them. Asking the residents such questions as,

1) When did you first notice the smell or presence of oil ?

2) When was the last time you received a delivery ? How much ?

3) Is the owner present ? Can he/she be contacted ? request the presence of said owner.

4) Medical symptoms, is anyone complaining of SOB, headache, etc...

Upon finding spilled/leaking oil, guesstimate the amount ,and if 10 or more gallons is found, notify the FAO to upgrade to a Level 1 and dispatch the District Fire Chief, on-duty T car, Police 1, Health Department and the DEP. Answering question 4 will also determine the response of EMS. Also consider the need for W25 as the incident can take several hours to contain.

Have 2 members in full PPE with SCBA use the Speedi- Dry, carried on the apparatus, to dike & encapsulate the spilled product. If you are able to, plug the leak to contain the spill. Ventilate as needed. If H-3 is on scene, or another unit with meters, have them take meters from all floors and record your findings. This will allow you to determine if the incident is stabilizing or deteriorating and will also determine if lines need to be stretched.

District Chiefs will need to Abate the owner to repair &/or replace the tank. Only licensed Haz-Mat clean-up companies are authorized to clean-up the spill. DO NOT ALLOW the oil-burner tech to do the clean-up.

Follow all SOPs while operating at these incidents and slow down. Haz-Mat incidents can be labor intensive and of a long duration.

Brown-Outs

I apologize for the absence of any posts for the month of June. Busy month with a full schedule left me little time to write/whine about anything.

Brown-outs, they are here and occurring daily throughout the City. What are they and where is it leading to ?

In the official reasoning behind the need to close fire companies for the tour, we hear it is because of the economy and rampant sick leave use. We are told that it is the only way to save on overtime costs. Although the overtime budget decreased by 3 million dollars the previous fiscal year the commissioner claims that we have to be financially prudent. O.k. I could understand it, IF it was being applied equally across the board.

The first day was also the first day of the fiscal year so this is not a stop-gap method to make it to the end of June. This is a litmus test to see if the residents will accept company closings. Permanently ! Make no mistakes about it.

Two Districts were also closed on the 1st. Once again to save money. Increasing response times to double digit numbers is nothing more than gambling with lives. Playing the percentages in the name of saving taxpayer money is always a dangerous game that will bite you in the ass.

Meanwhile, another new state of the art police station is being built. This one to replace a 30 year old one. The site chosen was also where electroplating was performed. I wonder who paid for the site clean-up to get it ready for construction. All the while we can not get basic repairs to our houses. Raw sewage back-ups, rodent infestations, leaking roofs, crumbling main floors etc.. the list goes on and on.

Without going into other agencies and sticking to ours, this City and the present admin has one and only one goal my friends, downsize this job to what they consider is an acceptable level. Almost 200 positions alone add up to millions of dollars, whether you include benefits or not.

I'll get into the chiefs jobs later but consider this, when we first saw the Fincomms report on fire Districts, didn't we all say they can't do that ? It will increase response times too much ? Well we're down to 9, is 7 around the corner ?