BY JAMIE C. MORELOCK
Firefighters exist to protect life and property from the ravages of fire. Once we have addressed all of the life safety issues, we can then turn our attention to saving the structure and its contents.
For the small-town fire department, performing salvage operations is difficult at best. Incident commanders face a multitude of problems and have only so many people to mitigate them. Unfortunately, salvage is often near the bottom of the strategic list. A good time to start thinking about salvage is once the fire has been knocked down and some of the smoke has cleared. Many times, as much (if not more) damage occurs during the initial stages of overhaul as during the fire. It takes only a few minutes for one or two well-trained firefighters to gather up some of the more important items in the structure and throw salvage covers over them and even lay down floor runners on their way to the overhaul area. By no means does this complete proper salvage, but it is a very good start.
To accomplish salvage efficiently, we must first have the proper equipment and practice using it. Second, personnel need to understand the importance of proper salvage operations.
COVERS
Covers are probably the most widely used of all salvage equipment. Nearly every fire department has at least a few in inventory. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) wants to see at least two covers on every engine and 10 on each ladder or service company. Regardless of how many covers you carry, it’s more important to use the ones you have.
Covers come in many sizes-the most common dimensions are 12 × 14 feet and 14 × 18 feet. A single firefighter can handle these two sizes when necessary.
Commercially manufactured covers can cost hundreds of dollars, depending on size and material. Inexpensive “poly” tarps, readily available at most home supply and hardware stores, also make useful salvage covers. If damaged, they can be replaced at a low cost. Although you may not get an ISO credit for them, they will accomplish the job. Some fire departments carry these tarps to supplement their normal salvage cover complement.
RUNNERS
Runners, used to protect the flooring between paths of entry and egress during operations, are similar in construction to covers, except they are only 24 to 30 inches wide. A partly unfolded cover can be used as a runner when a proper runner is not available.
Lay down runners at nearly every type of call. Since most firefighters do not routinely clean their boots, this simple yet professional and courteous act prevents unnecessary damage to floor coverings and saves the fire department some embarrassment.
FOLDS
Folding methods for covers and other salvage equipment are strictly a matter of local preference, based on geography; apparatus storage space; and, most significantly, the number of personnel available for salvage duties. In small fire departments, the folds used should be such that a single firefighter can easily deploy the cover or runner.
The double-roll is easy for a single person deploying a cover. Start with the cover laid out flat (photo 1). Fold one of the long sides to the centerline, and repeat with the other side (photo 2). The cover should now be half of its starting width. Repeat this process one or two more times, depending on the desired finished width (photo 3).
 1. Photos by author. |
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Next, roll one end halfway down the length, and stop. Then move around to the other end and repeat, making sure to go slowly to allow air to escape (photo 4). Finish the roll by tying it with a rope, or secure it with a section of tire inner tube (photo 5).
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Runners are most easily deployed when they are made into a single roll. Simply lay the runner out flat and begin rolling at one end, finishing at the other. Some departments fold their runners in half (on the long axis) for storage. Photo 6 shows the finished runner (left) and cover (right).
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To deploy this type of roll, place the rolled cover, with rolled ends facing up, on the center of the stacked contents to be protected (photo 7). Unroll the cover in both directions (photo 8). Now grasp the cover’s corners (which are folded into the center) (photo 9), and in one quick motion pull the corners upward and outward (photo 10). The cover should now be open on one side. Move to the other side, and repeat the process. Be sure to secure the cover in some fashion to keep it in place and prevent it from sliding off the stack (photo 11).
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STORAGE
Storage space on most apparatus is at a premium. Frequently used equipment is placed in the easiest-to-reach compartments. Many times, salvage items that are not used often are stored in an out-of-the-way area. If salvage equipment is not easy to reach, personnel will not normally use it.
Store salvage items together in a designated, readily accessible compartment (photo 12) to promote routine use in an operation’s initial stages.
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Keep a single cover and runner together, stored in a bag or strapped together with a section of inner tube or rope. This allows a single firefighter to easily and quickly transport these two items to the incident building.
Never store salvage equipment with fuels or other petroleum products-they can degrade the material.
TRAINING
In a small-town department, a single firefighter working on salvage must understand which contents are salvageable and most valuable. Working quickly, the firefighter carefully stacks items together and fully covers them. Some items are simply too large or heavy to move out of harm’s way; the only option may be to protect them in place. Be thorough in covering items; leaving even a small area exposed may defeat your salvage efforts.
Continual training ensures that salvage is accomplished efficiently and effectively; these skills are honed with practice. As with other firefighting techniques, salvage is more of an art than a skill.
The firehouse is the perfect place to practice salvage. Using the furnishings available, practice stacking items in different ways and experiment to discover techniques that require only a single firefighter to employ. This will also help personnel to understand what is and is not possible with salvage operations in their fire department.
Time is of the essence in saving the building’s contents and freeing the firefighter to perform other critical functions; periodic training helps keep personnel proficient.
Additionally, when conducting prefire planning and fire safety inspections, note which items in the occupancy are most crucial to salvage. Training officers should also instill in firefighters the importance of salvage. Remember that these are someone’s possessions; treat them as you would want other firefighters to treat yours.
MAINTENANCE
Covers and runners do not require a lot of attention, but they do require some routine maintenance. After each use, you should clean them thoroughly with water and a mild soap; rinse and allow them to dry to prevent mold and mildew.
Before returning them to the apparatus, carefully inspect the covers and runners for damage. Take damaged items out of service, and repair them before using again. Normal damage such as tears and burns can usually be repaired by a local tarp shop (photo 13).
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The material used in covers and runners is the biggest factor in maintenance. Covers and runners are normally constructed from canvas or vinyl (photo 14). Canvas is more durable and resists tearing and burning, but it is heavier, more susceptible to dry rot, and more difficult to clean thoroughly.
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Vinyl, on the other hand, is easy to clean and lightweight. Salvage items made of vinyl take up much less storage space than those made of canvas. On the downside, vinyl tears and melts easily.
Failing to properly maintain salvage covers and runners by routinely cleaning and repairing even small holes can ruin salvage efforts.
In the early days of the fire service, salvage was a common practice. We must return to those roots and include salvage in our tactics. Efficient salvage helps prevent unnecessary loss and damage to the building’s contents, keeps irreplaceable personal possessions safe, reduces losses for the homeowner and the insurance company, and limits possible legal issues. Finally, it’s the responsible thing to do for the people we serve.
JAMIE C. MORELOCK serves with Toledo Fire and Rescue. He previously served with the Fremont (OH) Fire Department. He is an Ohio-certified fire instructor, a lead instructor of fire tactics at Bowling Green State University, and a member of the Truck Company Operations-Ground Ladders team at FDIC.
