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Garage fires present special challenges to responding firefighters. Any number of different combustible liquids, propane tanks, blowtorch canisters, air compressors, etc. are in these places whether commercial or private. Special consideration should be given to these challenges. You never really know what you’re going to find as in many areas garages aren’t used to store cars to keep them out of the weather. More often than not they are storage for anything and everything. Not only do the contents of these structures pose problems for arriving firefighters, but their configuration does as well. Is the garage to which you’re responding attached to a dwelling or separate from the dwelling. If it’s attached, a whole new set of problems arises. This drill focuses on fires in attached garages.
Of the myriad factors to consider as you size-up a fire located in an attached garage, always consider the amount of fire, apparent fire spread, potential for fire spread, and the location of interior entrances to the garage. Also consider how you’re going to access the garage. Did the homeowner leave the door up or will you have to force entry? Will you take your attack line into the house and find the interior entrance to the garage so as to confine the fire to the garage area? Is the vehicle still in the garage? If the homeowner is available, ask what he stores in the garage.
Commence your attack once you’ve determined what hazards are involved and from which direction you want to fight the fire. No matter what method of attack you choose, always ensure that the garage is completely overhauled, the interior is evaluated for extension, and any remaining hazards are identified and mitigated.
For sample images of garage fires in attached garages and discussion questions for after you make your presentation to your members, visit FirefighterCloseCalls.com: Garage Fires.
