BY JEFF S. CASE
Why Discuss Attic Fires?
Sitting around the firehouse dinner table recently, the discussion turned to attic fire horror stories. What was truly scary was that virtually everyone had a story to share. I reflected back to when, as a fairly new firefighter, I arrived on the scene of a medium-sized home with a working attic fire. I recalled that interior conditions presented very light smoke hovering at the ceiling level. Within minutes, we pulled huge amounts of ceiling and operated nozzles as we worked to put out the fire. Well, the fire went out, but it was discouraging to see the amount of damage that we had done to the home’s interior and its contents. I struggled with determining which caused more damage—the fire or the firefighters. Fortunately, I would learn from other company officers and experienced firefighters that we can do it differently and that we can have a positive impact on an already tragic situation.
That same discussion produced pretty strong opinions regarding the best way to fight an attic fire. So, who’s right and what’s the best approach? The simple answer is probably all of them. The better question is, based on an accurate size-up and considering the critical fireground factors, which tactical approach is best suited for this fire? The keys to a successful outcome of a structure fire are effective communications and service excellence. They will play a particularly important role when you’re attacking an attic fire.
This article has four consistent themes: have a plan; communicate that plan; think; and be professional and customer focused. In this article, the term “professional firefighter” refers to firefighters who act professionally regardless of whether they are paid or volunteer. I fully recognize the value and contribution of our volunteer firefighters across the world.
Tactical Priorities
The first priority when attacking a structure fire must always be the safety of our firefighters and the rescue of savable lives. Once we have obtained an “All Clear”–a confirmation that all occupants have been evacuated) and the fire is confirmed to be an isolated attic fire, we should then focus on minimizing the damage to the structure and to the customer’s contents. As professional firefighters, we should work to minimize the primary damage caused by the fire and the products of combustion and the secondary damage resulting from our extinguishment efforts. Attic fires typically provide a unique opportunity to address salvage operations early. A successful and professional attic fire attack requires thinking, communication, and a lot of hard, smart work.
The incident commander (IC) must initiate and maintain control of communications, and the company officers and firefighters must be focused and professional in responding to orders and assignments. The IC should not give assignments such as, “Come in and assist,” which creates the risk that crews will come in and not be on the same page as the IC. Assignments should be specific and part of an incident action plan. Crews should approach attic fires with the understanding that the IC has several tactical options available. Carefully considering the critical fireground factors should lead to developing an appropriate plan. The first-in company officer’s actions and the information he relays will dramatically impact the residential attic fire’s outcome.
Critical Fireground Factors
The IC must consider several factors in determining the appropriate incident action plan. The most obvious and critical factors include life hazards (rescue profile); the extent and location of fire; the structure (size, construction type, arrangement, and so forth); and resources. The tactical and task options will vary significantly based on these critical fireground factors. The key to a positive outcome is to quickly obtain an All-Clear and then, depending on factors, either attack the fire; conserve property; or, when possible, do both simultaneously. The fire is the most obvious and significant threat to our customer’s property; however, our extinguishment approach can significantly impact the success of our salvage operations.
As professional firefighters, we must remember that the resident’s property priorities are most likely the things in the structure rather than the structure itself. Oftentimes, we think we are saving the structure at the expense of the occupant’s valuables, only to see the house rebuilt while the property and valuables are forever lost. Our ability to extinguish the fire while limiting secondary damage is part of being a professional firefighter. The method of attack and extinguishment should be a conscious decision, not just an automatic reaction.
Communications. Regardless of the tactical option implemented, the quality and strength of communications is the key to the operation’s effectiveness. The initial IC must establish and maintain control of communications and clearly communicate the attack plan to arriving crews. Once he has confirmed the attack plan, the IC should announce over the radio that this is an isolated attic fire and that the plan is to attempt conversion from underneath, attack from underneath with vertical ventilation, or use any of a number of options discussed below.
Pulling ceiling. Regardless of the tactical approach used, a few general attack considerations should apply to all residential attic fires. Pulling the ceiling is a component of all attic fire operations. The key is to consider where, when, and how much ceiling to pull. Attic fires in an intact attic space can often be successfully converted if the crews open small holes and operate nozzles on a semifog pattern throughout the attic. Firefighters should move furniture and valuables away prior to pulling ceiling when possible. Simply stated, think, plan, and act professionally. You should have a purpose for whatever tasks you are doing, including destructive ones such as pulling a ceiling
As a battalion chief, I once entered a medium-size home where our crews had quickly extinguished a contents fire. The fire had long been declared under control, and the home was free of smoke. The crews were outside rehabbing and filling their self-contained breathing apparatus bottles when I went in just to take a look. About 25 feet away from the room of origin in a hallway with no sign of even smoke damage, a lone, young firefighter was taking an ax to the wall and ceiling. Careful not to get bludgeoned by the swinging ax, I got the firefighter’s attention and asked, “What are you doing?” The young firefighter, bent over and out of breath, said, “I don’t know” and just stared at me blankly. So what happened here? A young, aggressive, but inexperienced, firefighter with a tool in his hands wanted to work. This emphasizes how important it is that someone is running the show and making sure there is a plan and that everyone works according to that plan.
Older home construction. Many older homes have conventional roofs built with larger dimension lumber (2 ´ 6) and a common continuous attic space. In addition, older homes have standard eight-foot ceilings with accessible scuttle holes. Many of the challenges associated with gaining access to the attic space and compartmentalized fire spread seen in newer homes are not issues with older homes. The key to successful attack of these fires depends heavily on the initial IC forming a good plan, communicating it, and controlling the interior and the roof activities to ensure the plan is carried out. Once the initial IC determines that the fire is an isolated attic fire, he should communicate this over the radio to arriving crews, along with the attack plan.
Tactical options for older or more conventionally constructed homes include the following:
- attack from underneath without vertical ventilation;
- attack from underneath with vertical ventilation;
- use a penetrating nozzle;
- attack from the gable end;
- Coordinated roof attack; and
- Carport or garage attack.
A few critical points are important for each option. Forgoing vertical ventilation is a tough decision; when needed, vertical ventilation is critical and remains a high priority. But remember why we vertically ventilate: to improve tenability for victims and firefighters; to prevent mushrooming or rapid fire spread; and to remove smoke and heat from the victims, firefighters, and contents. However, if none of these situations apply, then don’t vertically ventilate. Keeping the lid intact improves your ability to convert an attic fire, which is the quickest and most effective way to extinguish such a fire if it is not at an advanced stage.
Another important consideration for attempting to convert an attic fire is minimizing (controlling) the amount and location of ceiling that is pulled. Remember that our ladder crews are used to going to the roof and ventilating. So if choosing this option, have an assignment for the ladder crew. The most likely support work assignment is securing utilities and assisting with interior salvage efforts.
Vertical ventilation is critical when the fire is more advanced and no longer confined to the attic space and the smoke is intense, dark colored, and under pressure. It allows crews to work on the interior and helps channel the heat and smoke away from other crews and house contents. Remember, our goal is to safely save people and their belongings. The initial IC must determine whether vertical ventilation will help accomplish this goal. Interior crews must continue to focus on simultaneous fire control and salvage efforts.
Once the initial interior crew has extended a handline to the interior and confirmed an isolated attic fire, command should consider having the next-in crew deploy a penetrating nozzle. Under the right conditions and circumstances, a penetrating nozzle can quickly and effectively convert an attic fire. Of course, it would not make sense to take a spear into a crowded, limited-visibility environment, so interior smoke conditions should be light and hovering on the roof line. Most penetrating nozzles deliver approximately 95 gallons per minute, and the tip must extend between six and 12 inches into the attic space to effectively disperse the water pattern. You can place, operate, and reposition the penetrating nozzle anywhere throughout the house, causing little, if any, damage to the interior contents, which is what we are really trying to save. The penetrating nozzle is particularly effective in homes with lathe-and-plaster ceilings. Operations to access these ceilings are labor-intensive and tend to wear out firefighters. Successfully deploying a penetrating nozzle attack necessitates that second-engine companies wait for this assignment from the interior crew or a later-arriving IC.
Gable-end attack or attack from above. As mentioned earlier, a gable-end attack can provide quick access to a significant portion of the attic space. This is especially true in a more conventionally framed home with a continuous, end-to-end attic space. If practiced and performed safely, this tactic is a great option. Safety considerations include ensuring an appropriate climbing angle and decreasing the water pressure at the pump panel. The advantage here is less interior secondary damage, which means improved salvage efforts. Remember we are trying to save occupants’ belongings, not their roof trusses. Using a penetrating nozzle from above, you can effectively cover the roof square footage quickly to convert the fire. However, members must ensure that the roof is safe and tenable as the crew works its way from end to end. A lead probing person must sound the roof to confirm its structural integrity before allowing members to set foot on it.
Garage or carport access in older homes may provide access to the home’s entire attic space. Newer homes are constructed with fire stops (two-hour, fire-rated walls from floor to ceiling). In these older homes, the scuttle hole can allow you access without increasing the interior secondary damage. Take extra caution when attempting to work in a garage, especially one under an attic space. This area is commonly used to store large and potentially heavy items.
New Construction Challenges
The type of residence (old construction, new construction, one- or two-story, vaulted ceiling, tile roof) has a huge impact on selecting an appropriate attack plan. Across this country, new home construction often means vaulted ceilings reaching 20 to 30 feet at their peak, compartmentalized attics that can conceal fires and make extinguishment extremely challenging, and heavy clay or masonry tiles that limit ladder crews’ ability to work safely on the roof
The standard interior firefighting tactics and tasks are often extremely ineffective in this style of home construction. Ask any firefighter who has tried to use a long pike pole to pull a vaulted ceiling how effective it was. It is usually described as trying to poke a hole with a water wiggle. How about using ladders inside the home with vaulted ceilings? Again, once you’ve worked through the challenges of placing and securing the ladder (often on tile floor) and work to gain access to the attic, you’ve really gained access to only a small portion of a compartmentalized attic. So logically, smart firefighting would lead us to a different approach.
Considering different and more creative tactical options should not alter first-arriving engine company actions. It is critical that the first-arriving crew make a fast aggressive interior attack to ensure an All-Clear and to confirm that the attic fire is not the result of a contents fire that has extended to the attic.
Gable-end attack. A gable-end attack coordinated with effective salvage efforts on the interior will minimize interior secondary damage and give you access to a significant portion of the attic space. An attack from both gable ends may be necessary to reach the entire attic, and crews must ensure that they use an appropriate climbing angle for the ladders or this operation can be extremely dangerous
An additional safety concern with gable end attacks is the nozzle back pressure, which can and has launched a firefighter off the ladder. Anchoring the nozzle pistol on a ladder rung and decreasing the psi at the pump panel can minimize this risk.
Attack from above with a penetrating nozzle. Attacking the fire from above with a penetrating nozzle is an effective way to move quickly across the roof while interior crews address life safety and salvage-control efforts. Crews must be cautious and ensure roof tenability by sounding the roof with a pike pole as the crew works their way across the house. The extent of attic involvement and the intensity of the fire may make this operation unsafe. Effective size-up and communication are critical to a safe operation.
Another option for effectively and safely using a penetrating nozzle from above is to work off an aerial ladder platform. This approach needs smart apparatus placement to ensure a critical spot for the ladder and practice by the ladder crew to make sure the evolution can be done quickly and safely. The most effective and timely way to deploy this attack is for the ladder crew to obtain a hoseline from an engine pumper. This is not a common attack, but with practice, smart apparatus placement, and effective communication, it can be an effective approach.
Overhaul
The two primary goals of overhaul operations are to seek out and extinguish all remaining fire (hot spots or hidden fire) and to control loss. Loss-stop is the final tactical objective on the fireground. Attic fires present unique challenges for crews when working to complete this benchmark. The confined nature of attic fires and the presence of insulation necessitate extensive overhaul efforts to ensure members have not missed any hotspots, embers, smoldering debris, and so forth that could result in a rekindle.
On confirmation of All-Clear and Fire Control commands must control loss-stop tasks to ensure that these efforts do not create any unnecessary secondary damage. Command controls these activities by slowing things down and communicating the loss control plan. Crews must be professional and remember the priority is to save the occupants’ belongings. At some point, a firefighter should enter the attic and physically confirm there are no hot spots. The IC should arrange to have a crew return to the fire scene within a few hours of the end of the incident to check again for any signs of smoldering insulation. The last company officer to leave the scene is responsible for ensuring total fire extinguishment.
Customer Service
As with all structure fires, our most important customer service goals center first on saving lives and then extinguishing the fire. As professional firefighters, we must be willing to risk our lives in a calculated manner to save lives and property. Fast, aggressive interior operations provide the greatest opportunity to meet these goals. As discussed, the nature of attic fires (fire above us with clear interior conditions) provides firefighters with a unique opportunity to address property conservation (salvage efforts). Our customers will remember that we got there fast and that we were nice; we saved people’s valuables and helped them return to some state of normal. Once, a customer could barely express her appreciation. She was crying and could not believe the care and attention we took to box up her personal items and cover her furniture. Her items were simple things such as clothes, shoes, paperwork, photos, and so forth, but they were valuable to her.
Added-value customer service efforts start with initial arriving companies and continue throughout the operation as crews communicate with each other and the IC and fireground tasks are carried out in a calculated, thinking, and professional manner. Key points to remember include the following:
- Coordinate simultaneous fire control and salvage efforts.
- Minimize secondary damage when possible.
- Communicate with the customer to identify salvage priorities.
- Assign an Occupant Services sector.
- Look for “added value” opportunities.
Customers will not remember that you saved their trusses or their beautiful attic and roof, but they will remember that you got there fast, you were nice, and you saved their belongings.
BIO
JEFF S. CASE is a deputy chief with the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department. A 29-year veteran of the fire service, he holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service management and Master’s Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University. He is an adjunct instructor with the Emergency Services Training Institute at the Texas Engineering Extension Service, teaching the Weapons of Mass Destruction Response and Preparedness course. Case holds a Leadership Instructor Development certificate from the National Fire Academy. He is a faculty member of Mesa Community College Fire Science Department and instructs in the Fire Officer Leadership program and the Virtual Incident Command Center (VICC). Chief Case is married and has 4 children.
