By Michael N. Ciampo
Pulling up with “nothing showing” often misinforms us of what really is going on inside the structure. We can’t let our guard down and think nothing is happening on the inside just because no signs are showing on the outside. One wise columnist once said, “Pulling up to nothing showing is like getting a present; you don’t know what you’ll get until you open it and get inside it.” To better assist size-up, many departments have adopted a tactic that the first-due officer perform a 360-degree size-up or “walk-around” of the structure to find out exactly what’s going on and where. In other departments or when a structure or scene is too large to initially encompass, a member is assigned to perform this tactic and provide a report. Either works; just make sure that the pertinent information gets back to the incident commander.
As we entered the building with no signs or indications of anything going on, we chocked open the lobby door just in case things weren’t what they appeared. Doing this would provide easy access for the engine company if members had to stretch a hoseline. We climbed the stairs to the reported apartment, and our noses suddenly picked up the smell of “we’re going to work.” When we got to the reported apartment, the door frame was soot-stained around the edges. One member inserted the halligan tool’s adz end into the top of the door frame and pried down; smoke started to push from the gap, indicating we were in the right place. We tried the door handle first (try before your pry); the door was locked. After forcing entry and controlling the door, we immediately lay on the floor, shining our flashlights under the layer of smoke and gases (thermal balance), attempting to get a read on the layout of the apartment. We could see about six inches off the floor that there were three door frames on the right side of the hallway; after that, we lost visibility. Often, we’re so quick to control the door after we’ve forced it, mask up, and charge in that we forget to get a read of the apartment or structure before entering it. Use the flashlight (YOU ARE CARRYING) to perform this beneficial tactic!
As the members entered the apartment, they immediately checked behind the door for victims or to see if the door blocked off access to another area of the apartment or even a set of stairs. The member with the thermal imaging camera immediately used it to scan the area into the apartment looking for victims, fire, and heat conditions. Doing this from the onset could cut down on the time it takes to locate the seat of the fire or trapped victims. Luckily for us the camera quickly picked up the fire down the hallway deeper into the apartment. As the team proceeded forward, members used the camera to scan the rooms as they reached each doorway. They also scanned walls and ceilings to pick up any fire extension before they pushed deeper into the apartment.
As the can man (the firefighter assigned to the 21⁄2-gallon water extinguisher) began to proceed down the hallway, the officer reached over and showed him the screen on the camera. He held it close to his face piece so the smoke wouldn’t obscure the view of the images, enabling him to see the fire area deeper into the apartment and the flames coming toward them. Using the can with short bursts and a back-and-forth motion across the ceiling, they attempted to keep the fire from spreading down the hallway into the other rooms. Unfortunately at this fire, they couldn’t advance to the fire room and close the door to confine the fire because of the heat and fire conditions rolling down the hallway.
While the can man used the pressurized extinguisher to control the fire, the other two firefighters quickly searched the adjoining rooms of the apartment. Again, they used the camera to quickly scan each room from the doorway, looking for victims or fire or extension. It’s very important to remember, just because you don’t see any victims during your scan with the camera, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t any in the room. A victim could be on the opposite side of the bed or blocked by a piece of furniture, or a child hiding in a closet or under a bed. A quick primary search of the room is always better than just relying on the information the camera provides. Also, don’t use the camera as your only source of direction; maintain contact with a wall, and know your surroundings. It’s very easy to get tunnel vision just looking at the camera’s screen; even the most seasoned firefighter can become disoriented in an unfamiliar smoky structure.
Luckily, as the pressurized water extinguisher was almost expelled, the engine company was entering the apartment with the charged hoseline. The truck relayed to the engine that the fire was “straight down the hallway, last room on the left.” Relaying short directions to the seat of the fire either face-to-face or over the radio will help the engine advance the hoseline to the seat of the fire. When the engine officer and nozzle team reached the member with the camera, they also saw where the fire was on the screen. This simple tactic enabled them to better pinpoint the fire’s location and where to direct their hoseline’s stream. As the engine knocked down the fire room, members again used the camera to pick up that one corner was still burning. They operated their line in that direction to complete extinguishment.
Tactics and operational procedures are still evolving when using the thermal imaging camera, because not everyone has had the opportunity or the experience to use it at every incident. Working with your flashlight and camera from the beginning to the end of the incident will make you ready for firefighting ACTION!
MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 26-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 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.
