This fire occurred on July 5, 2018, on Odell St. in Brownsburg, Indiana. The structure was a two-story, lightweight wood frame, single-family dwelling. The weather appears cloudy and wet following rain or possible thunderstorms.
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Analysis
On arrival, we noticed a volume of fire showing from the attic at the A-frame on the Delta side. Light volume, laminar, thin smoke can be seen along the ridge vent. It appears the fire is contained to the attic, as the remaining sides of the structure look clear, from what we can see. As the fire has burned through the vinyl siding, a bidirectional flow path has been created, allowing air to enter at the bottom of the opening and fire to vent from the top of the opening. The fire appears to be burning fairly clean (efficiently) with little smoke. There is a relatively even mix of incoming air and ventilation.
Strategic/Tactical Considerations
The officer and crew properly initiated an offensive attack mode. It’s important to mention that despite making an initial exterior attack, the attack mode is still offensive. The officer was wise to instruct the crew to initiate an immediate attack on visible, reachable fire with tank water. This puts the fastest available water directly on fire to slow its progress, to gain control, and to provide multiple benefits on the interior. This action also reduced the vulnerability to the Delta 1 exposure.
If the officer decided to allow the showing fire on the Delta side to go unchecked, it would continue to rapidly intensify and deteriorate the roof and structural members holding up the roof. Drop down fire would likely cause the vinyl siding to burn from the ground up. This would spread fire along the exterior Delta wall and would create an intense radiant heat, which would jeopardize the Delta exposure, further complicating matters.
The attack crew’s proactive action softens or weakens the fire, which helps to quickly gain control of fire, as opposed to reacting to or chasing fire. Proactive actions occur as we approach the structure and take advantage of weakening fire’s hold with each action. Immediately addressing visible, reachable fire provides additional time for the 360 size-up to be completed, while effective water begins to control fire.
In the video, the outside attack line is advanced to the interior through the open garage door and adjoining fire door, which usually separates the garage and kitchen area. Although we don’t know exactly why this path was chosen, other than the door was open, consideration could be given to advancing the initial line to the front entrance door, as this area is likely closer to the interior stairs leading to the upper levels and attic access. Alternatively, a second attack line could be stretched to the front entrance, while leaving the initial line on the exterior to maintain control of any fire regrowth on the Delta side. One may also consider closing the garage and fire door to limit air intake and to keep this area isolated from the origin of fire.
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While not an issue at this fire, we frequently see video examples of visible, reachable fire free burning and allowed to go unchecked during and after the 360 size up. Unchecked fire is sometimes not immediately addressed until crews are on the interior, seconds or minutes later. Most often, autoexposing fire is not controlled by the interior line. It usually requires an outside line to address, or the initial attack line to control it before going interior. As the seconds of lost opportunities tick away, the fire does not wait. Instead, it continues to intensify and advance, producing more heat and smoke (unburned fuel), weakening structural stability, and possibly burning through hoselines. This is how inherent dangers (red flag moments) increase and work against firefighters. Operations become reactive firefighting, which limits firefighter control of the fireground—not an efficient or effective use of available time. When the red flag moments approach five or more, opportunities for a catastrophic event increase. Proactive actions help to address what we see on approach to the structure, before committing to the interior, and help us lesson threats that can work against firefighters once they are on the interior.
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Fire provides little discretionary time to gain control of the fireground and to accomplish our immediate goals of search/rescue and fire extinguishment. Some may agree that proactive actions can buy back seconds vs. the time spent on reactive firefighting efforts. When we make or break the fireground in the first five minutes, every second counts, and so should each action. This crew did a great job employing a proactive measure that addressed visible, reachable fire on approach, which ultimately created improved conditions on the interior to quickly complete search and extinguishment. It was a good use of available time and water.
Use of initial tank water to get fast, sufficient water on visible, reachable fire, when possible, will not only save time, but will weaken fire and help crews gain control of the fireground faster. On approach, firefighters have a broad view of the fireground and a better opportunity to notice potential threats (situational awareness). Taking proactive measures to address these threats before committing to the interior will reduce inherent dangers and will limit their opportunities to work against fire operations.
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).
