Peaked Roof Ventilation Operations with a Saw
By Danny Troxell
Captain, Washington, D.C. Fire Department
Instructor, Traditions Training LLC.
Ventilation operations on peaked roofs are usually only necessary when fire is in (or thought to be in) the attic. They are also sometimes necessary if fire is located in the basement and/or walls of a balloon-frame structure. In this case, venting the roof will relieve the pressure from the heat and smoke that is building up in the stud bays and slow the spread of the fire. In either case, operations on peaked roofs that have a pitch of 5-12 or over are often very difficult and dangerous to conduct. The utilization of a roof ladder is a must, and it is extremely important that the member making the cuts stays on the roof ladder as much as possible. This can be quite tricky when trying to make the standard 4 ft. x 4 ft. or 4 ft. x 8 ft. opening. In light of these facts, the “Triangle Cut” is a faster and safer method that can be utilized to make a substantial opening on a peaked roof.
The step-by-step procedures for this method are outlined in this drill. Hopefully it will provide your members with yet another tool in the toolbox that can be used when this operation is required on the fireground.
Download this firefighter training drill as a PDF HERE.
MORE DANNY TROXELL
- Primary Roof Ventilation Operations for Flat-Roof Structures
- FORCIBLE ENTRY TECHNIQUES FOR PRIVATE DWELLING SECURITY BARS
- TRICKS OF THE TRADE: REMOVING HUD WINDOW COVERs
MORE TRADITIONS TRAINING
- Traditions Training Drill: Forcing Double Doors with Cross Bar Panic Hardware
- Traditions Training Drill: Opening Up on Cape-Cod Style Homes
- Traditions Training Drill: Outside-the-Box Apparatus Positioning
- Traditions Training Drill: Portable Ladder Tips
- Traditions Training Drill: Out of Sight, Out of Mind
- Traditions Training Drill: Forcing Round Padlocks Encased in Steel Guards on Roll-Down Gates
Traditions Training: http://traditionstraining.com/
