MORE HIGH-RISE TACIICS
RANDOM THOUGHTS ON…
This month I’d like to share some more quick tips on high-rise firefighting tactics that cost so much to learn and are so easy to use.
Control the air. Air handling systems can be as simple as individual occupancy units or as complicated as hell when engineered to control many floors and even the whole structure. Preplanning is the key. If the alarm system controls positive and negative ventilation functions of the fire floor and surrounding floors, you’ll have to know that before the fire. If you do not, shut the system down. Play the air control game manually later—after you have real data on fire location, size, and extension possibilities.
Water supply. You will be using the standpipe system. The first supply line should go to the proper fire department connection. There are other fittings located on high-rise facades in the United States such as static water supply (sump fills) and wall hydrants (capped outlets) that may confuse the operation. Preplan hookup sites and pressure gauge settings.
Account for all elevators. All should return to the base of the shaft, the elevator lobby (or sky lobby). Some remain open and lighted for Phase Two,
Firefighter Operation, and shut their lighting down after a short time.
Get keys—master keys for the offices, stair doors (they are locked from the stair side on many floors), elevator hoistway doors, and occupancy spaces. There are also window installations that may be opened manually, but almost all require the use of a special key. Again, preplan.
Prepare for unique forcible entry problems. Elevator lobby doors may be padlocked on the car side of the floor onto which you may want to exit. If you can’t solve the problem, deprogram the elevator and go down to the next floor. Never go up one more floor. Elevator floor lobbies may have heavy security devices installed at each end. These may take the form of scissor gates or even roll-down metal doors. The sad thing about this installation is that it prevents you from getting to the stairshafts in most cases.
Don’t leave the lobby vacant. Plan to leave at least one member with operational information to relay to other arriving units and incoming ICs.
Trucks and engines. Usually it’s good policy for firefighters performing truck functions to find the fire and communicate its location and conditions to the engine companies momentarily staged in the lobby.
Work in groups. Whether or not you work in groups at most structure fires, this firefight demands that two or more firefighters be assigned to each and every tactic.
Start a list. Begin to use a check-in sheet in the lobby. You’ll want to record who went where by what means (how) to do what first, and at what time.
Maintain communication. Communication is the key to the firefight, especially with the floors above the fire. Use it for your systematic and orderly evacuation plan.
Forget helicopter evacuation. Helicopters have a great use at high-rise fires, but evacuation isn’t one of them— at least not until the last resort. Use them to deliver operational personnel at the roof level and for reconnaissance.
Residence buildings. Get to the floor above the fire apartment as soon as possible. Horizontal, not vertical, ventilation is essential at these fires. Do it from the apartment directly above.
Flooded elevators. Be ready to dam and dike the elevator shafts at the fire floor(s). Water runoff causes havoc with the elevator early in the fire operation. Keep it out of the shaft for as long as possible.
Plan for falling glass. Protect your water supply. Stage outside controls and logistic centers away from the “fall line.” Account for large shards falling “like autumn leaves” some distance from the building perimeter.
