BY DOUG LEIHBACHER
Attic fires can result from defective chimney linings, pinched and arcing wiring, lightning strikes, human errors, or fire traveling vertically from below, especially in balloon-frame construction. These extending fires often go unnoticed until they become visible from the outside. As a result, attic fires are often well involved on arrival.
Attic spaces are either finished or unfinished. Finished attics provide additional living space, usually have dressed windows, and generally contain ordinary furnishings. Unfinished attics have heavy fire loading and unprotected structural members. Flooring covers only part of the floor area, usually in the center. Firefighters performing interior operations must be careful not to crawl past the edge of the flooring and fall between beams.
Vertical ventilation at top-floor and attic fires is especially important to localize the fire and retard lateral spread. Once in the attic, the fire can bank down quickly and rapidly spread horizontally. This rapid spread is especially evident in unfinished attics, where open framing and roof boards, along with combustible storage, provide plenty of fuel. However, this is also true in finished attics that are subdivided into rooms for living space. The pitch of the roof and the low, angled ceilings leave little space for the heated gases to collect overhead; they radiate down to floor level, punishing the crews operating there.
The interior hose stretch is relatively easy on the floors below; however, the attic is often untenably hot. Hose crews are well advised to begin operations from the stairs so that they can stay below the heat. Even so, without adequate ventilation, the thermal balance will be disrupted once the nozzle is opened. Steam and scalding water may bank down quickly and drive the hose team back down to the floor below the fire, especially if a fog pattern is used. The best solution is early vertical ventilation. The hole must be made above the hot spot and at the highest peak of the roof (such as in Queen Anne-style homes). Holes made lower in the roof serve only to provide the fire with oxygen.
Since fires burn upward, attic fires respond well to vertical ventilation. If the vent hole is well placed and of adequate size, less water will be needed to extinguish the fire; correspondingly, there will be less water damage below. If ventilation is delayed, interior hose streams will push heat around, driving it into voids. In balloon-frame buildings, if the attic becomes well involved, the fire may drop down and spread to the floors below where the attic crews are operating, imperiling them.
INITIAL SIZE-UP
Photo 1 demonstrates the initial efforts for positioning aerial devices for roof access and accomplishing safe vertical ventilation on peaked roofs. In photo 2, the wind has shifted, revealing a clearer view of the three-story wood-frame Queen Anne building. Fire involves the front room of the attic as well as a top-floor turret. Note that the windows are boarded up, indicating that the building is abandoned. Apparently, it was not vacant, however, as evidenced by the heavy fire condition. Any boarded-up building should be a “red flag” to responding firefighters. It indicates a neglected building that may have been open to the elements and is in a weakened condition. Also, it may have been further weakened by previous fires. Interior operations should be conducted cautiously, if at all. At this fire, a primary search revealed that all squatters had already left the building and that the building was in structurally sound condition.
Also note the proximity of exposure 2. This building is fully occupied and separated by a narrow alley. Therefore, the first line (21/2-inch) is stretched to protect the exposure (not visible in photo); the second line is stretched into the fire building. Fire is already venting out the front; that is an advantage. However, it is already well involved and will follow the path of consumable fuel. The heavy volume of fire on arrival calls for rapid vertical ventilation in the front of the roof to prevent fire spread to the rear of the attic. At the same time, an interior hose stretch should be initiated with the hose placed so as to cut off spread to the rear of the attic.
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(1) On fire department arrival, fire is blowing out the third-floor front of a finished attic; smoke is obscuring much of the structure. Wooden wraparound porches are on the exposure 1 and 4 sides. Some fire is beginning to drop down to the second-floor porch. The first-arriving ladder (a tower ladder) is in front of the building attempting to position its turntable so that it can extend its bucket through a maze of primary and secondary wires. To the extreme right, the tailboard of the first-due engine can be seen. (Photos by John Colello unless otherwise noted.)
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POSITIONING AERIAL APPARATUS
Ventilation of peaked roofs is most safely accomplished from a tower ladder bucket or aerial ladder whenever possible. They provide a stable, safe surface from which to work. Whenever an aerial ladder or elevated platform can be maneuvered into position, it is the first preference for cutting a peaked roof. Whenever a lightweight-truss roof is encountered, this should be the only option for vertical ventilation.
The ventilation process begins with gaining access to the roof. Positioning ladder apparatus for rescue and roof access is a little bit of science, a little bit of art, and a large part of experience. Often, it is an essential factor in the successful control of fires, but it must be done quickly if it is to be of use at attic fires. Proper spotting requires an understanding of the most stable aerial positioning in relation to turntable location, direction of ladder or boom extension, and incline. Moreover, a thorough knowledge of the response district, prior planning, and creativity are essential to properly position a tower or aerial ladder.
POSITIONING THE ENGINE COMPANY
As mentioned above, the first-due engine company has pulled beyond the building to leave the front of the building open for the first-due ladder company. As a rule, the front of the building is kept open for the ladder company. It is good policy for ladders and engines that respond from different locations to anticipate each other’s response direction. In addition, it is important to anticipate the order of arrival: Will the engine or ladder get there first? Is the first-due unit delayed or at another response?
Many fire stations that house an engine and a ladder together have a rule of thumb policy when responding to first alarms. If a reverse lay is primarily used, the engine goes first. If the forward lay is used primarily, the ladder goes first. In either case, the purpose is to allow the ladder access to the front of the building. At this fire, the engine and ladder both responded from the same direction but from different fire stations. Knowing this, the engine driver pulled past the building to open it up for the ladder truck. In situations where the ladder comes in from the opposite direction of the engine, the proper move for the engine driver (using a forward lay) is to stop at a hydrant before the building, “stretch up,” and position the engine before the building to keep the front open for the ladder.
Communicating the direction of response by radio is a good practice if a company is responding from other than its usual location. When this occurs, the first-due unit may approach the scene from a direction that may not be anticipated by other responding units, who might assume the unit started out from quarters. A delayed response should also be reported so that the second-due apparatus is made aware that it may be the first to arrive.
ADJUSTING TO POWER LINES
As can be seen from photo 1, the first-due ladder company is a tower ladder. On arrival, the ladder officer sizes up the scene. This fire is already well involved in the attic; vertical ventilation will be critical to allowing an interior attack on this fire. The initial turntable position at the corner of the building allows for a sweep of both the front and side. The 75-foot vertical reach of the tower ladder boom is certainly enough to reach much of the roof, but the bucket is too wide to effectively penetrate the thick maze of electrical wires, some of which carry high voltage. Aerial ladder drivers must use caution not to have their aerials contact overhead wires, whether primary or secondary house lines.
This officer knows that the second-due ladder is a straight aerial that will make it less difficult to weave through the wires. Even though the front of the building is his, he relinquishes it and looks for an alternative location to position his apparatus. This will delay starting ventilation, but there is no other option.
Photo 3 shows the tower ladder company members using bolt cutters and a metal cutting saw to gain access to the parking lot on the side of the fire building. Once this gate has been opened, the tower ladder can back into the lot and gain full access to the exposure 4 side of the building while leaving room for the second-due ladder in the front. A survey of the lot revealed that access can also be gained through a second gate on the far side of the lot fronting on the next street over. When a second alarm is transmitted, the second-alarm truck (also a tower ladder) is advised to enter the lot from the far side, thus providing an opportunity to surround the building with an aerial and two tower ladders. While these ladders are positioned for ventilation, an aggressive interior attack is mounted with an initial attack line and a backup line brought in through the front door and up a central staircase.
MAKING THE CUT
After gaining access to the roof, primary ventilation can be accomplished by taking out existing leeward openings such as dormer windows, roof vents, and skylights. The initial hole is cut over the fire as close to the ridgeline as possible. It should be at least 4 feet by 4 feet and enlarged as necessary. After the initial hole is cut, additional cuts may be necessary to enlarge it or remove roofing material during overhaul. Sparks and brands from the fire often lodge between rafters and roof boards, and hidden fire tends to smolder in felt paper and the tar of asphalt shingles. To prevent rekindle, these additional roof cuts are often needed during overhaul, and large sections of the roof may need to be removed.
In photo 4, members operating in the tower ladder basket first made a large hole aft of the roof turret (partially obscured by the basket). To provide additional ventilation, a second hole was cut along the ridgeline using a triangle cut. Note that a small pocket of fire can be seen through the hole. For ease of effort, a triangle cut is often used from the tower ladder basket. However, it can be enlarged to provide greater heat release when necessary. Inside and outside crews must coordinate their overhauling efforts until every last brand is extinguished.
 (4) The light smoke from the vent openings indicates steam generation from the interior hose teams. Some fire shows through the hole at top right. |
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THE USE OF ROOF LADDERS
The steep inclines of this peaked roof encourage the use of ladder platforms, which provide a stable, flat work surface. However, when aerial access is not possible at a traditional, rafter-constructed roof, ventilation can be safely accomplished from a roof ladder (photo 5).
Although essential on steeply peaked roofs, a roof ladder is recommended even on low-pitched peak roofs, because it distributes the firefighter’s weight. Because they are sloped, peaked roofs are designed to carry less weight than flat roofs, and the dimensions of the structural lumber supporting the sheathing are often less substantial. Moreover, roof sheathing itself often is not designed to hold the weight of a firefighter, especially if it is weakened by fire below. And, don’t assume that the roof sheathing is plywood. In many older homes, such as the one shown here, only furring strips spaced six inches on center were used to span the rafters.
In addition to distributing the live load, roof ladders can also help firefighters to maintain their balance and lessen the chance of falling, especially in slippery conditions. The first member to climb onto the roof ladder is the one who makes the cut. If the saw is temperamental, this member should start the saw on the ground and then shut it off before ascending to the roof. Before restarting the saw, he should position himself securely on the roof ladder and lean into the roof with his weight as much as possible.
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The firefighter who is second to climb the ladder acts as a safety man and supports the member using the saw. A power saw can bind or kick back and cause the user to lose his balance. For this reason, many departments prefer using an ax instead of a power saw when operating on steep peaked roofs. The member using the saw must keep his weight balanced over the ladder and not lean too far. To achieve the greatest ventilation effect, the hole must be at the ridge on the leeward (downwind) side of the roof.
An effective cut from a roof ladder is a narrow rectangular cut, sometimes referred to as a coffin cut. It is cut along the edges of the rafters approximately 30 inches apart so that the cut spans only one joist in the center. This allows the cut section to be hinged on the center rafter for easier removal. Once the cut is complete, the side closest to the edge of the roof ladder can be pushed down while the far side can be pulled up. The location of the joists is often visible if you look closely, because of settling of the shingles between joists.
 (6) An aerial ladder and two tower ladders work the peaked roof at this second-alarm fire. They provide the most effectual means of venting and overhauling a peaked roof. (Photo by Stuart Barksdale.) |
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When working from a roof ladder, do not place the hole in your path of egress. This is easier to do than you might think. Righthanded members have a natural tendency to work off the right side of the roof ladder. However, if they came from the right side of the roof, their means of egress could be cut off once the hole is opened unless they have an alternative way off. Given that the roof ladder is often chosen because an aerial ladder could not be placed to the roof, this can leave the crew in a precarious position. Therefore, the hole should be placed on the side away from the means of egress. If the hole is cut between the roof ladder and the means of egress, move the ladder to the safe side of the hole before pulling up the roof boards.
The best remedy is to be able to switch hit—to be able to cut from both sides of the roof ladder. To develop this skill, practice cutting with the saw with both lefthand and righthand grips during training sessions.
Vertical ventilation is important at most fires, but it is essential when making an aggressive interior attack on an attic fire. The sooner it occurs, the faster the superheated gases will be harmlessly released into the air above the roof, reducing horizontal fire spread and aiding hoseline advance. Strategically placing aerial devices is essential to safe and rapid roof ventilation, the key to success at attic fires.
DOUG LEIHBACHER is a captain and 24-year veteran of the Yonkers (NY) Fire Department. He has an associate’s degree in fire protection technology and a bachelor’s degree in education. He is a New York State certified fire instructor and municipal training officer, has been an instructor at FDIC, and has written numerous articles for Fire Engineering.
