By Michael N. Ciampo
We’ve all read articles on “what to carry in your bunker gear pockets”; many of these present terrific information on carrying the “essential” items (knife, pliers, cutting pliers, 5-in-1 screwdriver, shove knife, sprinkler chock, and so on) for those moments when the bigger hand tools can’t perform the functions needed and it’s time to revert to smaller tools. However, are many of us forgetting to carry another essential item? Firefighters should carry some type of utility rope in their gear. There are many types, sizes, and lengths (depending on the height of the typical occupancies that you operate in) that some carry with carabiners or clips preattached to the ends of the rope. Let’s take a look at some of the situations for its use, how quickly things can happen or escalate on the fireground, and why it makes sense to carry a rope.
THE MATTRESS FIRE
As members proceeded into the building as the first-due truck at a three-story dwelling, the radio blurted out that they only had a smoldering mattress on the second floor. They stretched a line up the stairs but did not charge it yet, and the scuttle cover was already opened to vent the light smoke condition in the stairwell. As we began to climb the stairs, we heard a quick shout of “look out below,” and the mattress was already airborne and coming in our direction. As it came over the railing, the natural draft from the front door and open scuttle cover fed air to the smoldering mattress, and it fiercely ignited. This sent the members scattering below, and a simple smoldering mattress began burning like an inferno with members in the stairwell above. Sure, they could have sought refuge in the apartment above, but the hoseline was with them.
Simply put, when you encounter a smoldering mattress, do all you can to first soak the area with water, then cut the area open (with your knife) to expose more of the deep-seated fire or melting foam and fabric, and wet that also. You can put pieces of it in a sink or tub to drench it. When it is time to remove the mattress, either roll it or fold it in half and take your utility rope and tie it closed tightly, from top to bottom, so you can prevent fresh air or a draft from reigniting it. Plus, if it’s a king size, you may have to call for a bolt cutter and cut the wire frame to reduce its size for removal. Then remember to remove it down the stairs; don’t use an elevator. When going down the stairs, maintain your position below the mattress, which is tied at both ends, and the rope becomes a handle to assist in the removal. When you perform this evolution, NO firefighter should be on the stairs above the mattress in case it reignites, and keep a pressurized water can nearby just in case.
Sure, you can toss the mattress out the window if you’re not operating in a high-rise and hope it doesn’t get hung up on something like a fire escape or crash into an awning or a satellite dish on the floors below and tear them off the side of the building with its weight from being saturated with water. Securing another utility rope to the mattress and having two members lower it down the side of the building makes us look like trained professionals.
VENTILATION
In many instances while operating on the floor above or on the roof, you may find it difficult to ventilate the windows below if (1) the building has a high parapet, (2) the windows are recessed from architectural design, or (3) your hook’s length is too short to reach them. When this is the case, it may be necessary to tie the utility rope to a hand tool and use this as your means to “take the windows.” To do this, simply attach the rope to the hand tool (some departments have a welded loop on the halligan to allow a clip/carabiner or knot to be quickly attached), then lower the rope over the edge of the building to the top section of the window. Next, step down onto the rope, pinning it to the floor/roof; you can also secure it up against the wall with pressure from your lower leg. Now that the rope is secured, pull it up and then throw it outward and away from the building. The rope will now swing back into the building and vent the window. Be prepared for pressure on your leg and foot if the tool becomes wrapped around the window sash or the rope is cut by the glass and the tool becomes separated. Remember, prior to performing ventilation, communicate with the operating forces on the inside. Do not use a life-saving rope to perform this tactic; if you do and damage the rope during the evolution and you need it later, you’re putting numerous lives in jeopardy.
GETTING A HOSELINE IN PLACE
As crews operated in a top-floor apartment at a three-story peak-roof building a few units down from a fast-moving cockloft fire, conditions were changing rapidly. An engine was stretching a hoseline to the location but, because of the distance to the building’s entrance, it would take additional time to get the line into position and operating. A utility rope was quickly dropped out the window, and the hoseline was secured and hauled up the outside of the building. Water was called for, and the fire in the cockloft was rapidly suppressed using this method of stretching.
Of course, there are many other applications in which to use the utility rope, such as hoisting tools, lashing ladders, and using the rope as an improvised search rope, but how can we use one if we’re not carrying one?
MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 27-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.
