Communication at Basement Fires

1. – 4. Photos 1-4 by Ron Jeffers.

Size-Up

We must deal with certain issues at every fire operation. The construction type, for example, plays a huge part in our decision making. We should know our fire district’s buildings so that we have a general idea of the construction types in all areas. As an officer, once we enter the immediately dangerous to life or health environment, the incident commander (IC) is blind without us. The inside crew officer must transmit interior conditions as he moves into the structure. Moving into a strange home, turning left and then right and so on, will test our practiced skills.

At basement fires, it is imperative that a 3600 size-up is performed. Doing so will let us know if there is another entrance into the basement such as a basement hatchway or “clam shell” door, a full walk-out basement that will allow us to enter on the same level of the fire, and windows that will enable us to apply water or use for VES operations. Recent studies by the UL Fire Safety Research Institute have shown that applying water to the basement from the outside windows or an interior entrance to the basement or using a piercing nozzle through the floor will lower temperatures significantly. Doing so may then allow the companies an easier approach as they enter via the interior basement stairs.

The IC, outside at the command post, transmits questions and commands to the officer inside. When the officer responds, the IC is relying on that officer’s situational awareness in the basement. Once we go below grade, there are usually a limited number of windows or, in some cases, none. This deficiency and the smoke and heat in tight quarters potentially make communication transmissions unclear. We can’t start arbitrarily venting windows, if there are any, especially if no charged handline is in position.

Wind and Weather

Our initial size-up must also consider any serious weather conditions and the effect they might have on operations. Consider the wind if the structure stands alone in an open area or is near a large body of water where wind may be unimpeded by trees or other structures. A wind-driven fire event could occur and cause blowtorch fire conditions that will adversely affect firefighting operations. Weather is part of our 13-point size-up COAL WAS WEALTH, which we must consider at all operations.

Entry is another important part of the size-up. It should include opening any additional egress points, which can provide the members inside with a secondary means of egress. If forcing a rear or side door, exterior members should notify interior units of the locations of the exits. When the doors are forced, inside members will hear the noises and determine where the doors are in the basement, especially below grade in tight quarters.

During our initial size-up, the location of side or rear doors should be communicated to the inside team. If the locations of the doors were not seen on arrival, ongoing size-up will clarify the egress points. Inside team members cannot see, but they can hear and should be monitoring the radio for pertinent information and what’s going on around them, much like listening for the crackling of flames. To assist with listening, we can hold our breath for a few seconds so the sound of our self-contained breathing apparatus will not interfere with our hearing.

Construction

Communicate to the members in the basement the location of any interior stairs that lead to the upper floors. A size-up of the type of stair—open web, enclosed, or narrow stairs with platforms—can also be transmitted to operating units. Think about the construction here. If it’s a two-family house, the front door tells us which exposure has the stairs. A single-family house may have an interior stairway on the side or in the rear; the exterior size-up will indicate this.

Most houses built in a general area are similar in basic design. Homes built in groups are usually built within a few years of each other, often by the same builder. Therefore, we know the construction type used, which helps us with strategy and tactics.

With newer construction, always be aware of lightweight laminated beams or trusses. Often, they are unprotected and are not covered with drywall. Applying water as quickly as possible to the ceiling and materials will reduce fire spread and decrease temperatures and the chance of these materials failing and collapsing. In older balloon-frame homes, it’s imperative to always check the attic for fire if there is a fire in the basement. Unprotected voids running up the exterior walls will allow rapid fire spread in these older homes.

Understanding building construction types tells us how and where fire will likely spread. Once interior teams locate the fire, they should communicate that to the IC. An IC’s knowledge of construction types will indicate the fire will spread. Balloon-frame designs with no firestopping on the exterior wall allow fire to spread unimpeded from the basement to the attic or cockloft.

Communicating the location and extent of the fire from the inside to the outside assists with the ongoing size-up. If your area has private homes of varying designs, prepare an incident action plan (IAP) for them. An IAP will allow for more precise inside and outside communication since you know the general building design. Going to the local building department is one way to build up knowledge of building design. This research benefits everyone and can provide pertinent information regarding floor plans, alterations, additions, special permits for solar energy, battery storage, and more. This general knowledge will help guide the inside forces to a successful outcome under “normal” fire conditions.

If a victim or a down member is also involved, we undoubtedly realize its value. The first step is for the inspecting unit to communicate this information to other companies and chiefs. At this point, the officers should meet to go over a basic plan. Sharing our knowledge regarding operations is required for the coordinated strategies and tactics needed for positive and safer operations.

Interior Operations

We are now ready to operate within the structure, ideally armed with the aforementioned information. As the interior team moves about in search mode, the information flows in earnest. What are they encountering? Are they discovering hoarder conditions? Is there an illegal occupancy in the basement? Is there high heat with no visible fire? Does the basement floor feel spongy because a cellar is below it? Although this is rare, it is a consideration. How much lower than normal is the ceiling? This situation creates a higher-than-normal heat condition. The IC must evaluate this communication, determine what he sees on the exterior, and relay this back to the inside team. Our situational awareness is now adding data for our decision making.

As the officer inside, what do I hear from the outside that confirms or contradicts the conditions my company and I have encountered? To ensure clarity, I repeat what I have heard back to the IC to eliminate any misunderstanding. It’s simple, takes a couple of seconds, and gives me clarity.

As my team and I advance, we are giving out only relevant information—not just anything. By keeping communications limited to necessary updates, the airwaves are kept open for urgent communication; this skill comes with training and experience.

Training is the best first step to proper communication. Without it, we are limiting ourselves to only experience for building proficiency, but gaining experience takes time. To enhance our abilities, training is the starting point. Running basement fire training scenarios takes away some of the confusion and inefficiency. A professional shortstop still fields ground balls in practice. We know the shortstop can catch a ground ball; he is a professional! But the shortstop still practices. Whether paid or volunteer, we are professionals. Practicing works!

Hoarding and Clutter

We’ve seen an increase in hoarding in recent years. If we enter a basement fire in a private dwelling and encounter clutter, that should be our first communication to the IC, and it is valuable (photo 5). If the basement is cluttered, how cluttered is the rest of the house? Can we even make entry at all? A fire in the basement of a cluttered home comes with certain hazards, such as collapse of the first floor. This possibility might be heightened because necessary repairs may not have been done for years.

5. Photo by author.

Extension can also be exacerbated because it is possible that the ceiling may have numerous openings or be uncovered, allowing for a more rapid fire extension. A thermal imaging camera will aid us. Common sense combined with clear communication from the inside team will help the outside units update their size-up. This communication will change strategy and our tactics.

Members’ safety becomes a more predominant concern at vacant structures. In many cluttered conditions, consider using a bucket brigade system as you advance. Remove the objects in front and pass them back toward the entrance. Members should remain about an arm’s distance apart to allow for easier debris removal. Place the debris where it will not hinder egress. Communication from inside the basement to the engine officer in the hallway or outside in the rear yard must be concise.

As you move into a confined-space hallway or room, the fire may become too intense. At this point, you will need a hoseline to enter to push back the fire. After you move out and the line moves in to extinguish whatever fire it can, the process is reversed: Clear communication from the inside to the outside is required. Here again, training will aid operations.

Air Check

Monitoring air consumption is important in all operations, and air check transmission is another communication from the outside. Here, we are doing more physical work regarding debris removal. Keeping tabs on our members’ air is necessary. The officer inside may be overwhelmed with the amount of work expected. It’s always good to have safety checks from the IC or the outside safety officer.

Commercial Structures

If the fire building is a commercial structure with basement clutter, the problem is similar but larger. It doesn’t necessarily mean garbage, old displays, boxes, light fixtures, or other junk. It may be the volume of stock that is the issue, especially during a holiday season when store owners make most of their annual income. We may have sprinklers, but the stock may be right under the heads, limiting their effectiveness. The aisles may not be 36 inches wide. The ceiling might be only open wood beams with no fire protection.

What do we need to communicate from the inside to the outside? One message may be that we must shut off the sprinklers because the water is hindering search. Clearly, if only one or two heads are going off, the sound will guide us to the fire area. Where is the sprinkler shutoff? A preplan will give us this vital intel.

If the IC or other members outside see a sign indicating the shutoff’s location and if we can’t find it inside, they can guide other members to reach it. This might be through an exterior door or in another adjoining basement. This is how clear, concise communication from the outside, gained through training, will assist inside members. Experience has taught us it isn’t always easy. One huge advantage of commercial occupancies is that we can inspect them! It is imperative that fire departments visually check out these occupancies and communicate the information gathered with neighboring companies for everyone’s benefit.

Commercial occupancies may also have access stairs that lead to a basement sales area from the first-floor sales area; there may be no other way up or down. It’s another valid reason for a preincident survey. These stairs are usually wide and may be carpeted. High heat and heavy smoke coming from the first-floor openings may initially lead us to believe that this is a first-floor fire. On entry and initiating search, we may discover it is actually a basement fire. We must clearly communicate this to the IC outside.

Another possibility is that the building basements are interconnected and that the fire may be extending from next door. This emphasizes the importance of communication from the inside to the outside. It may now involve using a large-area search evolution, a rarely drilled-on topic. This evolution necessitates practice to properly fine-tune radio communication between inside and outside units.

A major inside team consideration is to ensure the vector of the search rope doesn’t change if a victim or the fire is located. We must guarantee the engine or rapid intervention team (RIT) that the direction of the rope that leads directly to the victim or the fire isn’t moved. If the search rope is moved improperly over an area not yet searched, it could be over an unknown opening in the floor.

Also, inside communication to the outside should include (if not trained on) which hand members must use on the rope as they enter. Members leaving must use the same hand. This will prevent members from running into each other in zero visibility, which will create confusion and is especially important if exiting members are low on air.

Sprinklers

This updated size-up will clearly impact strategy and tactics. Although the building may be sprinklered, we must ask whether the sprinklers can suppress the amount of stock burning within. Was the occupancy originally designed for this type of business? If not, a new business may have a higher volume of a more hazardous stock and the sprinklers may be rarely, if ever, upgraded. Therefore, the sprinklers may be unsuitable for the current business.

Keep in mind that commercial businesses may have created openings that are not legal for this structure. Sometimes the building’s structural members can hamper radio communication. Steel or concrete can block transmissions, especially below grade. Through on-site training, we would know this and would have worked out a solution. One solution to get around this would be a radio relay that would enhance inside-to-outside communication.

Of course, we must consider the age of structural members and their natural deterioration. Communicating this information to mutual-aid companies will assist everyone with operations at those structures, especially in the case of radio communication. A preincident size-up will make all members aware of these and other contributing factors.

Illegal Occupancies

Illegal occupancies are among the unknowns we face all the time. In private dwellings, basements generally are smaller and have lower ceilings, making communication from inside more difficult. Subdivided basements further limit the space. Hot plates, microwaves, and electric heaters may be present in some or all occupancies (if there is more than one), and some residents may smoke. It’s worth noting that in New York City, it is illegal to subdivide basements in a private dwelling. One way around that law is for the owner and occupants to claim they are relatives.

As we move down into the basement, we discover several doors with locks or padlocks on them. We inform the IC outside, who may have to call for additional units because numerous victims might be in these tight quarters. Searches will take longer, and relief will be even more important. Now, let’s add some clutter. The inside team will try to determine the number of rooms as they search so that the IC will have some idea of the interior setup.

Many basements have two entrances. The inside team must inform outside units of their interior location and which entrance they used. If they don’t, they may be faced with opposing lines, creating air movement, and possibly pushing fire toward other members operating in the basement. If the IC is informed, he will be able to control this potential problem, as will other officers who will have their ears on.

This situation demonstrates the value of cross training with mutual-aid departments. Such training enables members on scene to be aware of each other’s capabilities. We all know it’s a more comfortable feeling working with people we know instead of strangers.

Let’s add another aspect into commercial basement fire issues—an illegal club or bar. We are now dealing with numerous people below grade, and they’re drinking. If there’s live music, reality takes a while to kick in. In those instances, inside communication will be especially critical. The IC’s strategy will be guided, as in all operations, by what he is told.

Stress

With this unexpected scenario unfolding, communication will be more stressful. Stress must be handled. During training, we have all seen how some members raise their voices when the situation intensifies. Training on your mental performance will reduce this inevitable problem. If we yell into our face pieces as we try to communicate, our voice will echo, and outside members will not be able to understand us. This breakdown of basic communication will lead to more problems.

The outside units will become more stressed if they cannot understand what is being transmitted from inside. A good method for reducing stress or controlling yourself is to stop, take a breath, gather your thoughts, then speak slowly. This is easier said than done, sometimes. Only through training will we master this technique. Our heart rate increases with stress. I am not speaking about physical actions; I am speaking about emotional stress. As this occurs, the blood flow through our ears increases, preventing us from hearing clearly. Just think about the last good job you had. Perhaps you just didn’t quite hear the communication.

Your first thought was, “Are they calling me?”

Or perhaps one of your members said, “Hey, did you hear that?”

You respond, “No.”

It was probably auditory exclusion. Training to control our emotions and breathing can help prevent this. Such training is available.

The Importance of Training

Training makes a difference. We know that experience makes a difference. By creating and performing meaningful training scenarios that are as realistic as possible, we will get real results. When unusual situations that we haven’t dealt with or ever trained on occur, our communication could be confusing, stressful, or unintelligible. Clarity leads to control. Communication from the inside to the outside—especially below grade—may be more important at basement fires than it is at most other fires.

MIKE SCOTTO retired as lieutenant of Tower Ladder 58 in the Bronx after serving 43 years with the Fire Department of New York. He is a national fire instructor 1 and 2 and a New York State and Orange County fire instructor. He is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security master exercise practitioner.