By Joseph E. McCormick Jr.
It is no secret that firefighting is a dangerous occupation. Year after year, firefighters across North America are killed or injured while on duty, and statistics show that the majority of these deaths and injuries occur during common structure fires. Today, there is an innovative new firefighting tool specifically designed for first responders to use in structure fires that can greatly decrease the danger to them.
ARA Safety believes that many of these injuries and deaths could be prevented, simply by “throwing a FIT.” The FIT (an acronym for Fire Interruption Technology) is a handheld device weighing approximately nine pounds that can knock down fire within seconds, allowing the fire crew to make a safer entry and extinguish what remains of the fire.
The FIT-5 is designed for first responders. The device is manually activated by pulling a ripcord near the top of the unit and throwing it into a burning structure. A thermal charge inside the FIT-5 is activated within 10 seconds, rapidly releasing a dense cloud of fire extinguishing aerosol powder in all directions, rapidly knocking down flames almost instantaneously. Thermal imaging during live burn tests shows that temperatures in a room will drop from 1,000°F to less than 300°F within seconds of deployment, creating a far safer environment for firefighters to enter a building to search for and rescue victims and to overhaul the fire.
 A recent deployment of a FIT-5 during a fire test. (Photo courtesy of author.) |
In British Columbia, Canada, and Port Jervis, New York, initial responding fire officials from various fire departments have successfully used the FIT-5 in the line of duty. After one fire, Dave Matteucci, chief for Merritt Fire-Rescue, said that “the FIT saved the crew from having to enter an extremely dangerous fire. It put it out and lowered the heat. This fire might have resulted in a complete loss … if we didn’t have the FIT.” In another instance, Matteucci used the FIT-5 as a first response tool at a structural home fire, the roof of which was already engulfed in flames when Matteucci arrived on-scene. Matteucci credited the FIT for saving not only the burning home but also the house next door.
In Port Jervis, Chief Joseph Kowal Sr. deployed the FIT-5 against a third-floor fire in a multiunit dwelling. The aerosol immediately knocked the fire down, allowing fire crews to overhaul the fire with very little water. Fire investigators discovered a burned off 20-pound propane canister in the bedroom closet. “It is possible the FIT-5 saved the lives of firefighters inside the building and those outside,” said Kowal in a letter to ARA Safety. “A propane cylinder of this size would have caused a loss to the entire building; the adjacent buildings; fire apparatus; and, most importantly, human lives.”
APPLICATIONS
ARA Safety believes that a number of common fire situations could benefit from the use of FIT-5.
Structure fires. Aerosols work best in contained spaces. Just like Halon or other gaseous fire suppressants, if there isn’t a sufficient volume of aerosol near and around the fire, effectiveness is reduced. The FIT-5 is designed to protect a space up to 1,700 cubic feet (60m3). In a larger or highly ventilated space, more than one device may be needed.
First response. The FIT-5 has applications for all responders who can deploy the device to reduce risks associated with fighting the fire while limiting the loss of human life and property. FIT-5 deployments can be extremely useful for smaller volunteer departments, where the chief or deputy chief often arrives first on the scene only to have to wait several minutes for members to get outfitted and arrive. The FIT-5 serves as an early deployment device that will knock down the fire and buy time for volunteers to arrive.
Basement fires. Fires in confined spaces below ground are some of the most challenging to attack and present significant risks to firefighters. Deploying a FIT-5 in a basement fire situation will make that space much safer for firefighter entry and overhaul.
Vehicle fires. If a burning vehicle contains trapped victims or if the vehicle fire threatens adjacent structures, FIT-5 can be used to knock down flames within the vehicle, providing valuable time for people to be rescued and for firefighters to reduce fire spread and extended damage of property.
RIT rescues. The FIT-5 could serve as a valuable tool to the rapid intervention team (RIT). If a firefighter has succumbed to heat or smoke or is threatened by flashover, the ability to knock down flames and reduce the temperature by up to 800°F in 15 seconds allows the team to perform safe entry and rescue.
STANDARDS AND TESTING
The FIT-5 is one device in a unique line of aerosol generators, all of which have undergone significant testing with leading laboratories and testing organizations including Hughes & Associates (a UL-certified lab), the U.S. Coast Guard, the Canadian Department of National Defense, and Intertek Testing Services.
Joseph E. McCormick Jr., a retired firefighter from the Fire Department of New York, is the director of fire and life safety for Columbia University as well as an advisor to ARA Safety regarding life safety technology.
