Watch Out Behind You!

By Michael N. Ciampo

Responding mid-day to a report of an odor of smoke in the attic of a two-story private dwelling, we arrived on scene to a burning odor and no smoke showing. The resident was outside and said everyone was out and that the dwelling was clear of smoke except for a lingering odor on the second floor. We asked her if she had any electrical or unusual problems in the home, and she said, “No.”

Although it wasn’t an older home or a Victorian (both could have balloon-frame construction), we still sent one member to check the basement. Many times, fires can start in the basement and go unnoticed and travel upward in the walls to the attic space. In some residential fires, some departments will instruct a member to remove a basement window on each side of the building to see if the fire above originated from below.

As we got to the second floor, we recognized the distinct smell of wood mixed in with the smell of paper or a mattress. We scanned the hallway ceiling for an attic access point through a pull-down attic stairway or a scuttle lid but did not find one. We then looked in the bedrooms for a separate door leading to a narrow stairway to the attic or in the closets for the scuttle access lid into the attic. As we searched for these items, we also called for the folding ladder (closet, suitcase, or scissor ladder) in case we needed to make our own opening into the attic.

We located the scuttle in the last bedroom we searched. As we threw clothes out of the closet and onto the bed, we noticed short wooden 2 × 4s nailed onto the side wall as the homemade ladder up into the space. We opened the scuttle lid, and the haze instantly began to swirl and become heavier with the introduction of fresh air. With no reports of any fire in the basement or on the first or second floor, we directed the hoseline up to the second floor for the situation in the attic.

Unfortunately, firefighters wearing self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) may not be able to fit through these small scuttle openings, especially once the folding ladder is in place. They may have to release one side of their SCBA to fit through, operate with only their upper portion through the hole, or create a larger opening. Sometimes these openings are framed and you can’t extend them; making a larger hole outside the closet near a wall allows the ladder to rest on it for support and creates an easier access point.

Meanwhile, an exterior size-up revealed windows at each end of the attic. Once we had the line charged and in place on the second floor, we vented the windows, and the fire began to reveal itself in the attic space. Members quickly operated the hoseline off the ladder into the attic to knock the fire down. We then had to make our way into the space to overhaul the area and make sure the fire wasn’t smoldering or extending.

To facilitate two firefighters entering the attic, we had to pull more of the ceiling in the closet, in between and inline with the joist. We placed the ladder’s rails inline with the joist so that a firefighter wearing SCBA could negotiate better. (Placing a second ladder into large attic spaces ensures another egress point for firefighters.) Luckily, some of the attic was floored for a walkway for access to the windows and storage; this flooring provided a work platform for overhauling operations.

As we operated in the attic space, the smoke didn’t seem to be lifting; something still had to be smoldering. Prior to getting an exhaust fan in place, we decided to fog vent (hydraulic ventilation) out the end of the attic. Because of the lower-than-normal ceiling height and the firefighters operating in the attic space, we put on hold for safety reasons cutting the roof with a power saw.

With one firefighter humping the line over the scuttle’s lip, the nozzle firefighter proceeded down the narrow passageway and stopped a few feet back from the ventilated window. He opened the nozzle and placed it in a narrow fog pattern to fit inside the window frame, discharging its stream out the window while venting the smoke, heat, and gases out of the attic. (When using a smooth bore nozzle, crack it open slightly with the tip on, or remove the tip. Rotate the stream and fit the pattern inside the window. Although it may not move the same amount of smoke as a fog nozzle, it can still ventilate the structure.)

Since the nozzle firefighter was concentrating on maintaining the nozzle’s position in the window, he didn’t notice the fire lighting up behind him. The blown-in insulation and storage items quickly began to reignite, and the flames rolled up the rafters and underside of the roof sheathing. A quick yell of “Watch out behind you!” was all that was needed; he spun the nozzle around and extinguished the fire.

Whenever performing hydraulic ventilation tactics, firefighters should always be checking behind them for any fire that was not completely extinguished or that is still smoldering and lights up. During these tactics, fresh air and a draft are pulled through the area, and a small smoldering fire can quickly escalate into a larger fire. These tactics also pull the escaping heat and gases toward the nozzle firefighter, who should be wearing full protective equipment.

Whenever you operate past your means of egress, also remember to keep an eye on what’s happening around you, including behind you.

MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 25-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC “Truck Company: Essentials” H.O.T. program. He wrote the Ladder chapter and co-authored the Ventilation chapter for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II (Fire Engineering, 2009) and is featured in “Training Minutes” truck company videos on www.FireEngineering.com.