LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
More to venting
I have been reading your magazine since I entered the fire service three years ago. I find your publication very informative.
In the article “Venting Single-Family Dwellings” (July 1990) Sal Marchese spoke of using the tip of a portable ladder to strike and break the upper panes of glass as another shortcut for venting the floor above from the outside. Although he did state that this isn’t the most efficient method, he failed to mention that it is also very unsafe.
I was taught that even though this method works, we must use it cautiously. We have had a member of our department forced into early retirement as a result of using this venting method at a structure fire. A shard of glass slid down the ladder and struck the firefighter’s gloved hand, cutting through the glove and severing the tendons and nerves.
The point that 1 am trying to make is one of safety. I hope that firefighters who use this method wall consider all safety precautions. This may save another brother firefighter from the same type of needless injury. Keep up the good work.
Marcel J. Cormier Leominster (MA) Fire Department
I read with interest Sal Marchese’s article “Venting Single-Family Dwellings.” He did an excellent job discussing the reasons we vent and gave practical advice on different venting techniques for various types of structures. He did not, however, discuss positive-pressure ventilation. Although PPV is still a controversial method of venting a structure, it should be mentioned when discussing venting procedures.
PPV is a tool and like any other tool should be used at the appropriate time by people trained in its use. When used correctly it allows quicker access to the interior of a building over conventional venting techniques. It also provides a safer environment for interior crews by reducing the threat of flashover. As with any new tool, training should be conducted so that ladder, engine, and rescue companies have a thorough understanding of how PPV works prior to implementation.
Christopher T. Howes Captain Palm Beach County (FL) Fire-Rescue
Safety is an attitude
In a recent editorial Tom Brennan did an excellent job of describing the controversy surrounding NFPA 1500, stating that it is mainly due to a misunderstanding of parts of the standard or to the fact that many of those complaining had not even read the standard. 1 agree with your conclusions; however, I feel that there is an apathy toward safety in general that goes well beyond NFPA 1500. I witnessed two contrasting events recently that showed me that it is attitude, not money or standards or even the threat of liability, that prevents fire departments from operating safely.
I travel to different parts of the country in my job in the Office of Firefighter Health and Safety of the U.S. Fire Administration. Being a former volunteer and career fire officer and safety officer of a large metropolitan fire department, I tend to look at fire department operations from a safety standpoint.
Recently in a small town 1 heard the siren go off at the local fire station. As 1 pulled into a parking lot, I watched some firefighters race down the wrong side of the street, while others ran across the street, almost struck by surprised motorists. The first piece of apparatus to leave the station was a fully enclosed new pumper -yet two firefighters rode on the back step. The firefighters were wearing hip boots, not bunker pants, despite the fact that several pairs of bunker pants were hanging on gear racks inside the station. This pumper, as well as the heavy rescue squad and second pumper (again with firefighters on the back step) traveled at high speed despite wet road conditions. All three vehicles sped through one stop sign without even slowing down. I drove away, wondering if the members of that department had ever considered adding the word “safety” to their vocabulary.
About 10 minutes later I was going through the next town, which was more rural. Again the house siren went off, so I pulled in a parking lot across from the fire station to watch. Ilie station was on a side street, so there was much less traffic compared with the previous station’s location. Two firefighters emerged from the station in full gear (including bunker pants) to ensure that there was no traffic coming when their pumper pulled out. When the firefighters got in the jumpseats of the pumper, they fastened their seat belts. No one rode on the back. The second piece, a lightduty rescue squad, left the station in a similar manner. Both vehicles stopped at a nearby stop sign before proceeding. Intrigued, I followed the firefighters to observe their operations at the scene.
When I arrived, there was no evidence of fire. Personnel had layed a line from one of the few hydrants in the town, and everyone except the driver of the pumper wore SCBA. When the second pumper arrived it was positioned at the hydrant and three firefighters emerged with full gear, SCBA, and tools. The group reported to the incident commander in front of the building. When they returned to service, two firefighters served as spotters as the apparatus backed up.
This small, rural department did its job as well and as safely as any career department I have seen, yet a larger, obviously richer department a few miles away broke many “common sense” safety rules. Safety is reflected in the attitude of the chief, the officers, and the firefighters. There should always be a conscious awareness that “It can happen to me.” The members of the first station must have known the proper safe operating procedures. They must have realized how many firefighters are killed each year responding to alarms and the value of proper protective clothing. But what prevented them from operating safety?
I decided to find out. Without identifying myself or my motive, I asked a firefighter at the second station why they didn’t ride on the back step. “It isn’t safe for us to do that,” he replied. I then returned to the first station and asked a firefighter about the fully enclosed cab on their new pumper. He replied, “It’s because the winters get pretty bad around here.”
Safety needs to be a priority in any fire department and it can be; it is all a matter of attitude. This is true no matter what the weather.
Gordon M. Sachs EMS Program ManagerOffice of Firefighter Health and Safety US. Fire Administration Emmitsburg, Maryland
Fire protection in the Capitol
In “Fire Loss Management” (July 1990) Francis L. Brannigan provided a photograph that he captions, “combustible structure…erected to protect the U.S. Capitol rotunda from a dusty operation.” He does not reference any specific areas of concern within the Capitol Complex.
The Capitol Building and other buildings under the jurisdiction of the architect of the Capitol are under constant surveillance. This includes video cameras, smoke detection, gas detection, and other types of monitoring designed to provide an early warning of any danger being introduced into the complex, w hether accidental or malicious. These detection systems are carefully concealed or camouflaged to reduce their impact on the historic fabric of the buildings.
The rotunda of the Capitol was already under surveillance at the time Mr. Brannigan took his photograph. All materials used in the construction or renovation of any buildings under the architect’s responsibility are either inherently noncombustible or treated with intumescent paints or solutions. Even outdoor structures, such as the stand for the inauguration of the President, are treated with intumescent paints when their loss may pose an inordinate risk to the people or operations of the Congress and the United States.
Additional retrofit work is currently underway to install voice capable fire alarm signaling systems, which will replace standard fire alarm bells and horns. These systems will be used to provide greater control of operations during fires and other emergencies. As usual, these systems are being designed and installed so as to minimize or eliminate their obtrusiveness without compromising reliability.
Kenneth E. Lauziere Head, Fire Protection Engineering Division The Architect of the Capitol Washington, D. C.
Francis L. Brannigan’s response: The picture, taken in 1978, was not in any way intended to reflect on the tremendous strides accomplished by Ken Lauziere and his staff in recent years. In 1978 the halls of the Capitol were loaded with excess documents, and combustibles were stored in vulnerable locations. They are clean now.
A chief accomplishment was the provision of sprinkler protection for the collections of the Library of Congress. Even sprinklered, the construction of the stacks would make any fire a tough fight. Convincing library managers to sprinkler books is a most difficult job. Even at this late date, for instance, the National Gallery of Art refuses to lend any works to sprinklered museums. Some day, unfortunately, a curator may be proven wrong, but the nation and the world will be the losers.
We should have a plaque honoring those who accomplish fire loss management objectives against intense opposition. Ken and his people are to be congratulated.
Helpful hints
I’d like to share my thoughts on some valuable experience I picked up from Tom Brennan’s talk at the last Firefighter Safety Program in Deerfield Beach, Florida. I’m a lieutenant who works in a department with more than 700 members. I’ve begun to implement some of the ideas 1 learned at the program with great success.
For example, in my monthly reports. I started listing property saved instead of property lost to fire. This received the attention of my battalion and deputy chief, who then made a proposal for this type of information to be listed in all officer monthly reports. To aid in firefighter accountability, I suggested instituting a riding list for the apparatus. This was immediately adopted departmentwide.
I also trained my crew on the “Through the Lock Method” of forcible entry. We made key tools for each firefighter and started carrying the “K” tools in our pockets. Then the moment came to use it in a fire. Everybody was watching; I was able to open the lock in less than 10 seconds. It is now’ another valuable tool at our disposal.
Gary L. Weiss West Palm Beach, Florida
