In our previous article, “Acquiring Structures for Training” (Fire Engineering, April 2006), we discussed some ways to acquire or gain access to structures for training. In determining the type of structure needed for training, we first considered the level of damage our training will cause in that structure and rate it accordingly: nondestructive, destructive, or live fire. The drill involving fast-food restaurants below is nondestructive and will do no damage to the structure.
This is a great drill for bad-weather days and for new members who don’t have construction background. The drill requires access to a fast-food restaurant, a laptop computer, and a free CD from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that includes a copy of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) report F2000-13.
This drill provides lessons concerning fast-food restaurant construction-how the structure is built, the materials and interior finishes used, how these components will respond to fire, and their effect on fire operations. Additionally, it provides lessons learned in two line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) that occurred at an incident involving this type of restaurant. Using the NIST’s Fire Dynamics Simulator provides some insight on the thermal conditions that may be present in such a restaurant.
Throughout the training session, instructors should reiterate the importance of an ongoing size-up that continually evaluates the risk vs. reward, the use of standard operating guidelines (SOGs), the need for individual crew and overall scene accountability, the importance of building construction knowledge, and a review of the lessons learned from a LODD fire.
For this drill, you will need to get a copy of the CD-ROM, Simulation of the Dynamics of a Fire in a One-Story Restaurant – Texas, February 14, 2000. It is available free from the United States Fire Administration Web site www.usfa.dhs.gov/. Click “Order Publications,” next to the “Search” tab, select “Media Type,” then “CD-ROMS,” then “Firefighter Fatalities”; finally, select the title. The other titles available are also outstanding and represent additional training opportunities. A copy of NIOSH report F2000-13 is included on the CD. You can also go to the NIOSH Web site and download or print a copy of the report.
TRAINING SETUP
Once you have your training materials, contact the owner/manager of a local fast-food restaurant that includes a dining room. Explain to the manager that you would like to use the facility for some fire department training. Get permission ahead of time; don’t just show up. This will keep the employees calm and show the owner/manager that you do not want to disrupt business. Taking these steps establishes goodwill and may allow you to do this type of training again.
You will need only enough area in the dining room to accommodate the number of personnel you intend to train during the session. Allow the students to buy a soda or something from the establishment during this event. It’s a good way to develop a good relationship with the manager. Find out from the manager what the slowest time of the day is for the restaurant, to reduce interference with its operation. Generally, we have found that weekdays from 0930 to 1100 hours and 1430 to 1630 hours are good times.
Find a location in the restaurant near an electric outlet. Using a pair of externally powered speakers to plug into the laptop allows everyone to hear the NIST CD better than just using the built-in speakers on the laptop.
OBJECTIVES
With these items in hand, you’re ready to do some training. Explain the training objectives, which are to
- 1. Familiarize personnel with the different construction methods and materials used in fast-food restaurants,
- 2. Examine roof construction and the loads found on them,
- 3. Review the hazards of drop ceilings and all associated components;
- 4. Review firefighter safety,
- 5. Emphasize the importance of selecting the proper size hoseline for fire attack, and
- 6. View the NIST CD-ROM and discuss the findings.
Building construction
Look at and discuss the different ways roofs are built in your area and what components and types of materials you would typically expect to find. In examining the roof construction, move a ceiling tile to the side and look at the material from which the roof members are made. Discuss the hazards presented by lightweight bar joists and wood trusses. After this, ask where on the roof you would expect to find the heavy loads and how they might behave under fire conditions.
Next, look at the drop ceiling. With a tile displaced, you can see how the ceiling is attached to the roof. Discuss what effect fire would have on these lightweight connectors as well as the ceiling grid. Look at all the items that could affect firefighters located above this ceiling or attached to it: HVAC, speakers, light fixtures, emergency lights, neon signs, and advertising signs can all be found as part of the ceiling structure (photos 1, 2).
 1 Photos by Curtis Rice. |
 2 |
For firefighter safety, review some of the areas covered above. For construction, discuss collapse zones, the effect of dead loads, and the best placement for attack lines, especially for a defensive attack. Discuss forcible entry options and the need to open all the doors (photo 3). Look at ventilation options. Stress removing a ceiling tile at the entry point anytime you have smoke visible to see what’s occurring above your head prior to entry. What personal safety tools should you carry with you, and where should you keep them if you or your crew is caught in a ceiling collapse? If possible, have a thermal imaging camera so you can look at the building under normal conditions; then discuss what you would expect to see under low-heat and high-heat conditions. Practicing in normal surroundings makes it much easier to identify unusual characteristics.
 3 |
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FIRE FLOW NEEDED
Review the National Fire Academy (NFA) fire flow formula (length × width/3), and do some calculations based on different sizes of fires in this structure. The NFA formula is a good indicator of how many gpms you need to successfully extinguish the fire. Based on these calculations, discuss what size hoselines you should pull to meet the estimated flow. Reviewing the dimensions of the building, the required gpms, the reach of each hose stream, and the possible collapse zones helps show some benefits of considering a big line on a working fire in one of these structures.
View the NIST CD. This disk shows the thermal progression, temperature range, and oxygen concentrations of the fatal fire and also contains a discussion of the events at this fire based on the NIOSH report. Review the report’s recommendations to see how your SOGs address these issues.
Finally, finish up with a walk-through of the establishment. This is a good time to look for the dead loads, examine the extinguishment systems, and locate gas shutoffs and the electric service. Examine the exterior doors to see how they are locked after hours, and discuss options on how to force them if necessary. A quick look at the dead load on the roof helps everyone understand the importance of this type of training.
This exercise serves as a good review and reminder for your experienced members and as a great learning experience for your new members, especially if they have no background in building construction.
CURTIS RICE is a district chief with Palm Beach County (FL) Fire Rescue. He is a fire inspector, fire instructor, and paramedic. He has an associate’s degree in fire science and is a lead instructor for department-wide training.
BRUCE CLARK has 20 years of service with Palm Beach County (FL) Fire Rescue and is a station officer assigned to Engine 33. He is a recruit academy instructor and an advanced firefighting instructor. He has developed firefighter survival programs and trained firefighters from many area departments.
