GET THE REAR!
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Last month I introduced the concept of the rear position during fire operations in occupied structures. I outlined general guidelines depending on type of building, height, and occupancy. Next let’s discuss various types of multiple dwellings (as opposed to high-rise residence and commercial structures).
Remember, the rear of the fire is the outside opening, usually a window, and the area of the apartment or dwelling that it serves. It is that area to which the nozzle is going, that portion of the occupancy that is behind the fire—the area to which the nozzle stream will push the fire, and the area that we first would look to ventilate horizontally once water has started. That terminology—“once water has started’’—is a textbook ventilation answer to the technical question of how to vent for fire extinguishment. However, 1 tend to stray from textbook definitions when there is a reason.
Here is where 1 separate horizontal ventilation into two types, depending on what you want to accomplish. The first, venting for fire and its extinguishment, makes the methodical opening of a building a textbook-style operation. The second, venting for life, is another matter. It is the opening up of a structure from inside or outside to access or protect lifeirrespective of the stage of extinguishment. A typical question concerning venting for life is: “You’re performing primary search. It’s hot! You’re above the fire. You come to a window. Do you break it or not?”
It’s a tough question, and one that provokes thought and certainly some dialogue and heated exchanges. From my perspective, if you want to break it (if breaking it will make you continue searching), break it! We’ll talk about it later. If you are searching above the fire, breaking it will inform outside teams of your exact position. Only firefighters break glass from inside. It is a concept that you have to believe in.
If you don’t get into the structure from the “rear” and search and get out —before water (or any other positive pressure) is started —people (firefighters and civilians alike) will be in terrible shape. The position and the life hazard w ill become untenable.
Where is this rear position in multiple dw ellings? It depends on how the building is divided for its occupants. First, and simplest to discuss, are smaller dwellings—no fire escape at the front. This makes your decision easy: Get to the back of the building. If the structure is truly a multiple dwelling (three or more family units), there must be a second means of egress. If it is not on the front of the structure, it usually means that each dwelling unit runs from front to back of the building. Fire in one of these apartments will have two “rears” for our purposes. But you, assigned to this rear position, will search out the only possible fire escape—at the back of the building. Leave the front entry in this case to the outside team with aerial or portable ladders.
Get to the back; you’ll need at least a hook (pike pole) and a halligan-type prying tool. The hook is needed to drop the fire escape ladder or to pull down the counterbalanced stainvay. The halligan is needed for many things: to break the storm window assembly, to pry open the window (or break it), and in some areas to pry away window gates that may be in place for security.
Make your way to the balcony that serv es the fire apartment. You first are responsible to assure that anyone on that fire escape is at least to the floor below the fire before beginning operations. Don’t get involved with getting them to the front of the building (to get your picture taken); you have a lot to do. Inform command that there are people here and they are relatively safe.
Ascertain conditions at the balcony of the fire apartment. If you are able to adequately open the window, break the storm window and try to pry the double-hung windows if possible. As you complete your search or are driven out by extending fire, close the fire barrier (the window) and go on with other objectives (the floor above, for example).
Continued on page 160.
Continued from page 164-
If conditions at this position are “iffy,” break the window immediately adjacent to the fire escape balcony with the pike pole. Making this “doorway” will accomplish a lot. First, it will give you a better indication of conditions inside and tell you about how much time you have. It also will create a “rear” draft and direct extending fire toward an area remote from your entry position.
Try and open the fire escape window you want to use to enter the fire apartment. If it is impossible to enter because of fire conditions, close it and try to check the apartment directly above the fire —depending on fire spread size-up, of course.
If opening the window’ will not give you a large enough opening for you to enter and exit from (stuck doublehung or 14-inch casement windows), check once more above, and if there is no apparent life hazard, break the window out totally —make a door out of it!
Now you arc almost in! Notify the front people of your actions—and hope the engine team realizes where you are. Probe the floor immediately below the window and enter. Begin search immediately. Finding a door to the public hall will give you more time and a great amount of safety if you close it, at least momentarily.
Remember, the people trapped here —and you —are in extreme danger. Listen to fire conditions, isolate the fire w hen possible, listen for handi line operations. Time your entry and, i more important, time your exit. As time goes on (through experience I and critique), you’ll get better and better.
