The majority of fire departments in the United States and Canada have found themselves plunged into an arctic blast that is setting record low temperatures all the way to the Florida Keys. This deep freeze reminds us that no matter where we deliver fire and emergency service, we can face situations that challenge our sense of norms.
While operating at a structure fire within a hotel laundry room, I was assigned on the attack team on the nozzle. The weather was 6 degrees Fahrenheit and the sprinkler heads in an adjoining room had fused from fire spread. We first entered the room and became very wet from the sprinkler heads. We then moved to the room of origin and while operating in zero visibility and having to climb over and through piles of laundry carts, the low pressure alarm did not function due to being frozen. All SCBA connections were frozen and the mask was frozen to my face. I was to the point of nearly reaching unconsciousness as I made it out the door when my partner broke my mask free from my face.
Performing any action under extreme cold weather is an arduous undertaking. Everything is stiff, hard to move, or becomes stuck to something. Additionally, your body is less agile due to the bulk of your clothing and the stiffness that results when the water freezes onto the fibers of your PPE and other components, which includes our SCBA. Moisture and water, especially when frozen, wreak havoc on the functionality of this vital piece of equipment. Once you have reviewed the full account of this week’s near-miss report, consider the following:
1. Have you experienced any unusual equipment incidents that are related to this week’s extreme cold snap?
2. Did your training prepare you for the possibility of this occurrence, or is this weather outside what you normally experience?
3. What steps do you take to monitor your air consumption while wearing and using SCBA?
4. List other equipment that may be susceptible to malfunction in weather extremes.
5. If this incident had occurred in your fire department what steps, procedures, or practices would be taken to address the event and get word out to the rest of the department?
Have you experienced a near miss due to weather extremes? Increase the knowledge base of the fire and emergency service by submitting your report to www.firefighternearmiss.com today.
Note: The questions posed by the reviewers are designed to generate discussion and thought in the name of promoting firefighter safety. They are not intended to pass judgment on the actions and performance of individuals in the reports.
