MORE TWO-MINUTE DRILLS
BY BOB PRESSLER
As mentioned numerous times in Fire Engineering, proper size-up of a fire operation begins with the receipt of the alarm and continues until the operation is under control. It must be an ongoing process–with changes made as conditions change on the fireground. But even with an ongoing evaluation, sometimes the fire has a way of sneaking up on us.
Photo 1. From down the street, the first look at the fire building shows what appears to be a 212-story wood-frame building with smoke showing from the upper floors. The building is one of several on the block with the same general characteristics: at least a two-family house with two separate entrances accessible from the front porch. The fire building is 25 to 30 feet wide and approximately 50 feet deep. Aside from the above description, what building characteristics should the first-due company officer be looking for?
First, note the pres-ence of storm windows. Aluminum storm windows are the predecessor of the current energy- efficient window. They worked quite well, lowering heating bills for countless people by re-ducing air transfer around and through the glass. Not only do these windows reduce the amount of air that enters a home, they also limit the amount of smoke that can exit a home. Smoke will travel the path of least re-sistance. A fire on a lower floor of a home will spread upward until it has no other path to follow. It will then start to bank back down to the lower levels. After the smoke has filled all the open spaces that are present, it will then start to seep out of any “cracks” in the outer envelope of the structure, including open windows and doors, ventilators, and the area around closed windows and doors. The tighter the house, the more pressure needed for the smoke to escape.
A second consideration when houses are separated only by gangways or narrow drive-ways is the siding used on the fire building and the exposures. Asphalt shingles, affectionately known as gasoline siding, can rapidly extend fire on the exterior of both buildings. Once the siding starts to burn, the fire extends up and into both buildings, quickly taxing the operating forces.
Photo 2. The engine company has started the first handline to the front of the building. Smoke is visible at the second-floor level as well as in the attic and eaves. The ladder company, positioned in front of the fire building, has started horizontal ventilation by using the aerial to push in the large front window at the second-floor level. The heavier smoke starts to push from the eaves and attic window.
Photo 3. The first line is charged and put into operation on the second floor. A second line is stretched to back up the first line but is not charged. The smoke condition from the attic is turning black and is really pushing under pressure. The second-due truck company raises its aerial toward the attic window. One of the firefighters on the front porch observes smoke at the first-floor level.
Photos 4 and 5. As the second aerial is lowered to the second-floor window, the smoke condition on the first floor starts to intensify. Firefighters working on the front porch realize that the fire must have originated on a lower floor. They must now force the door to the first floor and check the basement. Two problems immediately arise. First, fresh air rushes into the first-floor fire area, which intensifies the fire. Second, the area that the fire is now exposing is right next to the stairway that the first two engines have stretched up and are operating on. This open stairway will act like a chimney for the fire to rapidly extend upward.
Photo 6. The fresh air has intensified the fire. As it receives new oxygen, the fire spreads toward the new source of outside fresh air and explosively lights up. The front windows, previously heated, start to fail under the increased fire conditions. The fire spreads rapidly along the underside of the wood ceiling on the front porch. A firefighter operating on the aerial above the fire is also exposed to the rapidly extending fire. Finally, the first floor flashes over, and fire rolls out the apartment door and the two front windows (see cover photo).
Fires in private dwellings, both one- and two-family, are some of the toughest fires that firefighters face daily. Do not underestimate them, as these are the fires that kill most civilians and many firefighters per year. This fire underscores the importance of following the basics.
LESSONS LEARNED
The IC must ensure that crews check all six sides of the fire area; exposures are also above and below the fire area. Even though this fire appeared to be an upper-floor fire, the main body of fire was on the lower floor.
All members operating on the fireground must wear full protective clothing. This rapidly spreading fire subjected several members to extremely high heat conditions without warning.
Whenever a handline is stretched and operating, a second handline should be stretched to the same location as a backup.
The IC must know when to abandon interior operations. With heavy fire on all three floors of this building, interior companies were withdrawn and master streams were used to bring the fire under control.
All personnel operating on the fireground must remain vigilant for the unexpected. Be curious. If something does not seem right, investigate.
Always notify companies on staircases or the floor above of any fire discovered below them. If a handline is available, it should be stretched to protect their means of escape.
Never underestimate the fire!
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Photos by Conrad Webley
BOB PRESSLER, a 23-year veteran of the fire service, recently retired as a lieutenant with Rescue Company No. 3 of the City of New York (NY) Fire Department. He created and produced the videos Peaked-Roof Ventilation and SCBA Safety and Emergency Procedures for the Fire Engineering video series “Bread and Butter” Operations. Pressler has an associate`s degree in fire protection engineering from Oklahoma State University, is a frequent instructor on a wide range of fire service topics, and is a member of a volunteer department.
