At FDIC on Thursday, March 24, Fire Department of New York Firefighter Nate DeMarse offered students this indepth look at a systematic plan of attack that will automatically prioritize the important tasks that must be done when operating on a flat-roof building.
DeMarse stated, “We reviewed the skills needed to safely and efficiently perform primary duties on this type of roof. Firefighters were taken through flat-roof operations, from arriving on the fireground to cutting the ventilation hole and pushing the ceilings down, and everything in between.”
DeMarse presented the primary roof tasks firefighters should perform, which included assuring a second means of egress, how to recognize and open natural openings (bulkhead doors, skylights, scuttles), and surveying the perimeter. He also reviewed proper locations ocked up his roof and inspection cuts and how to properly and safely use a roof saw.
He also offered a slideshow of photos with each example, giving visual aid to each point, showing the types of roofs on which a responder may have to operate in such building fires.
“If you can’t see your feet, crawl,” he once pointed out.
According to DeMarse, after taking this class, “Members will be able to prioritize tasks, and understand techniques that will make them a more efficient firefighter.”
