BY TOM BRENNAN
Here are more things you should never, never do—at least if you (a) want things to go right—mostly, (b) care about the job and your company, and (c) want to work for me. Lots of books tell you about treadle equipment at tollbooths, parking apparatus on public streets, and how many chocks to carry in your coat. But then, there is stuff that, if not taken care of, will get you in personal trouble all by yourself. Here are some more.
Leaving tools uncared for. A sure sign that a firefighting unit is in “trouble.” If it is not a poorly operating piece of equipment now, it is sure on its way to becoming one. There are a few “nevers” here. First, never leave hand tool maintenance for the next crew—unless they are relieving you at the scene. I have seen hooks, halligans, axes, and their handles still “suffering” from firefighting operations that no one on the unit remembers. To instructors, that should be a sure sign that lots more doesn’t work in this unit or department in general. Dirty handles slip! Filthy ax blades don’t cut! Struck burrs cause eye injuries!
Second, never put any power equipment back (considering yourself ready for the next operation) without checking/changing/sharpening the blades; cleaning thoroughly; replacing parts that are meant to be replaced; wiping all hoselines; and, of course, fueling—both the tool’s gas tank and the gas tank you are using to refill the tool. Never give yourself the chance to respond with an uncharged extinguisher (if your policy is to use one, why not?) Pressurized water extinguishers are so valuable for primary search efforts at structure fires that they should be charged on the fireground right before or after the “critique” (the what?).
Cleaning hand tools not only makes the apparatus look good; it improves spirit; encourages conversation and critique; and also gets you to closely notice the burrs, splits, dullness, and more.
Making ropes “snagproof.” Never think that you do not have to totally repack the entire length of lifeline, team search line, and personal ropes after use. All ropes, packing, and other storage should be on the weekly maintenance chart all the time. Dropping a lifeline from a roof or the playing out of line from the search bag the officer is carrying, as well as your own 25-foot-or-so line, depends on its being snagproof. Snags come from the rope’s bouncing in the bag either from “too long” storage on the responding (bouncing) apparatus or from the jar the unused rope, still in the bag, takes during the evolution on the scene. Always repack the entire length of the rope.
Gunning by finger throttle any power equipment you are carrying or using. It is not good for the equipment, the communication factor, or safety, and it makes you look inexperienced. Take the equipment to (or close to) the operation point and then start it. You know, of course, that it will start because you started all the stuff at roll call. Right?
Speaking of saws, never use the techniques you use for cutting wood for cutting other materials, especially with rotary blades. Circular saws are brought to max rotation before “lying” on the woodwork, and the trigger is basically fully “home.” For metal, concrete, or glass, it is another story. Cut into the work at slow speed; increase it as your tools become stable.
“Hey, Jake, shove that hoseline into the gas fill pipe, and fill the tank before we leave the scene!” Now, here is an order from some fire scene guy with too many pins on his uniform. I never fill a vehicular or machine fuel tank—or remove the cap, for that matter! I don’t know where the logic of this comes from, but I know firefighters who were brought to hospitals for treatment for performing this “feat.”
Extending sufficient ladder to the roof. The ladder to the roof (any roof) should be ___ feet above the highest roofline. Fill in that blank for the promotional test. No operating procedure has the number large enough to be effective on the fireground. Forget the “How many rungs, kid?” or the “feet of ladder.” Never leave a ladder raised to the roof without sufficient ladder above the roofline for the users to see when the routine becomes the obscene.
Never vertically ventilate a structure when there is a report of a released vapor and there is no fire condition—whether the vapor’s identity is known or unknown. There are only nine lighter-than-air gases on the planet, and they must be taken out at the densest point—the base of the enclosure. Any immediate vertical ventilation will entrain air currents and “lean out” the vapor and most likely ensure that it is in its explosive range as it “hunts around” for ignition sources. Vertical ventilation must be controlled here, and with great care.
Starting any shift without topping off ALL fuel tanks. All fuel tanks! It sure is embarrassing to have any mechanic at the scene of a “broken-down apparatus” report “Out of fuel, chief!” And then there’s the embarrassment you suffer when the power tool stops before you finish your tactical task. What a shame!
Even with all the no-nos, is this still a great job, or what?
TOM BRENNAN has more than 35 years of fire service experience. His career spans more than 20 years with the Fire Department of New York as well as four years as chief of the Waterbury (CT) Fire Department. He was the editor of Fire Engineering for eight years and currently is a technical editor. He is co-editor of The Fire Chief’s Handbook, Fifth Edition (Fire Engineering Books, 1995). He was the recipient of the 1998 Fire Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award. Brennan is featured in the video Brennan and Bruno Unplugged (Fire Engineering/FDIC, 1999).
