BY FRANCIS L. BRANNIGAN,SFPE (FELLOW)
Editor’s note: For further reference, consult Building Construction for the Fire Service, Third Edition (BCFS3). Page numbers, where applicable, are included after the caption.
 |
Asphalt composition siding designed to resemble brick has been used to rehabilitate low-value wooden buildings. It burns furiously and produces heavy smoke.
 |
All alleyways are po-tential death traps for firefighters; SOPs should emphasize the hazards and forbid entry and op- erations in the collapse zone. This narrow Penn- sylvania alley is especially hazardous because of the extremely combustible siding on both sides of it. Aggressive units might try to move into the alley to be more effective. This extremely hazardous situation must be controlled by clear, direct SOPs. Potential mutual-aid units should be fully informed of the plan. Use master streams and aerial units positioned at both ends of the alley. Do not let streams hit personnel, and do not allow a unit to shift a stream from one building to the other without notifying personnel operating on the other end to take cover. Of the units stationed at each end of the alley, assign one unit only to each of the buildings. Establish an alley sector for the operation. In some cases, a window spray system may have been installed; know how to turn it on. In a recent year, three firefighters died as a result of being trapped in alleyways.
 |
These two houses had both been rehabilitated with asphalt shingles. Are the pre- cautions offered with top right photo excessive?
 |
These firefighters are in mortal danger—a wooden building is heavily involved in fire! There is no way of knowing when the building will collapse, and there will be no warning. All personnel should stay out of the collapse zone! (For another alley picture, see BCFS3, p. 128.)
FRANCIS L. BRANNIGAN, SFPE (Fellow), the recipient of Fire Engineering’s first Lifetime Achievement Award, has devoted more than half of his 63-year career to the safety of firefighters in building fires. He is well known as the author of Building Construction for the Fire Service, Third Edition (National Fire Protection Association, 1992) and for his lectures and videotapes. Brannigan is an editorial advisory board member of Fire Engineering.
