In this series, we will review some of the lessons that can be drawn from fireground video found on the Internet. The above video from Skyler Fire shows Fire Department of New York (FDNY) firefighters operating at a fire in Brooklyn, New York.
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This fire incident occurred on March 22, 2022, at 1044 E 58th St, Brooklyn, New York. The structure is a two-story, wood-frame dwelling with brick veneer. This residence is one of two attached single-family dwellings (duplex style). The fire unit occupies the left half of the structure, while the exposure unit occupies the right half of the structure. There appears to be a masonry fire wall separation between the two occupancies, which should help to prevent spread to the Delta exposure.
The operation is already in progress where the video begins. Crews are advancing hoselines to the interior, and Vent, Enter, Isolate, Search (VEIS) tactics are in progress.
Analysis
Fire is showing from the second-floor window on the Bravo side, center of the building, and autoexposing to the soffit/cockloft area. This fire is indicating unidirectional flow from the window (exhaust). The second-floor window on Bravo side, Alpha quadrant has been vented for VEIS and is showing black, moderately dense smoke under pressure, and indicating a bidirectional flow; air coming in at the bottom half of the window and smoke exhausting via the upper half of the window. The second-floor window on the Bravo side, Bravo quadrant shows black smoke under pressure and bidirectional flow, after it is ventilated for VEIS. On Side Alpha, Alpha quadrant, moderate, dense, black smoke is showing from the second-floor balcony door, which is open. Light smoke appears at the top of the open front door. The first floor appears relatively clear of smoke/fire, and there is an influencing wind blowing that needs to be considered.
The bedroom doors on the second floor appear to be open, given the smoke characteristics and spread. If they were isolated with a closed door during VEIS, there is still significant smoke migrating into these rooms. Flow paths to the fire room exist from the front door, balcony, and the second-floor windows on the Bravo side, Alpha and Bravo quadrants.
Strategic/Tactical Considerations
The initial strategy of firefighters is most often an offensive attack mode consisting of getting the first line to the interior for an aggressive attack and to protect paths of egress and the search. As can be heard in the video, it appears firefighters are having a challenging time identifying and getting to the location of fire due to smoke and clutter. Its unknown if hoarding conditions exist, but for whatever the reasons, there is a delay in getting water on the fire.
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On approach we can see visible, reachable fire showing from the second-floor window on the the Bravo side, so there is a good indication as to where the fire is. A 360 size-up with thermal imaging camera (TIC) will help to determine fire location and extent. Use of the TIC on the interior also aids in identifying the location of fire, locating victims, and understanding the floor plan layout and obstacles.
Venting fire is a good thing and allows the attack crew to move directly to the interior to make the push out of the fire room. However, if the advance is stalled and there is an option to immediately get water into the fire compartment, whether from the interior or exterior, we need to get the water into the compartment to surface cool. Doing so drops interior temperatures by hundreds of degrees in seconds, contracts gases, helps gain control of fire to stop its forward progress, and improves interior conditions for advancing firefighters and savable trapped occupants. By gaining fire control, we limit fire’s ability to intensify, to spread to other areas, or to create trigger events like flashover, backdraft, and smoke explosions that work against firefighters.
At one point, the incident commander orders an outside attack crew to apply a quick hit of water to the window showing fire. This action quickly gains control of fire in the fire room, cools, and buys back time needed to get the interior crew into position to complete extinguishment. Often a simple action with an available outside line can make all the difference and rapidly speeds the process to gain fire control.
As fire vents from windows, it creates opportunities to autoexpose to upper levels when they exist. In this case, there is direct flame impingement on the soffit area. Fire is laterally spreading across the soffit and is likely spreading into the cockloft. When this occurs, a secondary fire is being created, which now needs to be addressed. The longer fire is allowed to intensify and spread, the more opportunity it has to remain in control and to work against firefighters. If we control the fire, we control the fire ground.
There are multiple tactics available to address a similar circumstance, including the tactic used at this fire. A straight advance to the fire room, without the clutter obstacles, would have gotten water on the fire much faster. However, when hoarding conditions or other circumstances present obstacles that delay water application, the alternative methods to deliver water to the fire room must be considered.
If visible, reachable fire is observed from the exterior, upon arrival, a hose stream can be immediately put into operation to introduce water via a transitional attack. This offers multiple benefits, as stated previously, with a single line and 1-2 firefighters. In fact, the first line being advanced can apply water on fire from the exterior, and then relocate to the interior. Some will say it is too difficult to advance the charged line to the interior. This may be true, but its our job. An alternative is to pull a second line or have the next in company pull a second line to the interior, while the first holds the fire on the exterior.
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Get adequate water flowing on fire as quickly as possible, regardless of whether it comes from inside or outside. Firefighters often do not know what lies in store within a given structure. When clutter, hoarding, or hazardous conditions exist that will delay water, consider the transitional attack early. Even when ordered during this incident, it made a significant difference in gaining fire control and stopping forward progress of fire’s advance. Remember, the transitional attack is part of the offensive attack mode that supports the aggressive interior attack. It is best used at the onset of the incident, when visible, reachable fire is showing and can be easily attacked to immediately gain fire control. As observed in this video, transitional attack can also be highly effective later into the incident and can be used when preflashover conditions exist. The surface cooling can actually prevent the flashover from occurring.
NICK J. SALAMEH is a 36 year veteran of the fire service. He was a Fire/Emergency Medical Services Captain II and previous Training Program Manager for the Arlington County (VA) Fire Department, where he served 31 years. He is a former Chair of the Northern Virginia Fire Departments Training Committee. Nick is also a contributor to Fire Engineering and Stop Believing Start Knowing (SBSK).
