SAVING PROPERTY: SALVAGE OPERATIONS, PART1
BY ANTHONY J. PASCOCELLO, JR.
When a fire occurs in an office building, industrial complex, hospital, department store, or school, the damage from heat, smoke, and flame may be less severe than that from the water used to extinguish the fire. As always, life safety is the primary concern when a fire occurs, but property damage follows closely behind.
Firefighters play an important role in reducing damage through proper salvage techniques. In addition, building engineering/maintenance staff members are key players with specific duties in salvage operations and can greatly assist firefighters at incidents.
The following hypothetical scenario demonstrates how a small incident can turn into a major disaster. It is 1:30 in the afternoon when a cigarette is carelessly tossed into a wastepaper basket in an unoccupied office on the 18th floor of a 20-story corporate office tower located in a sprawling industrial complex. Flaming combustion occurs and becomes large enough to fuse a single sprinkler head, which immediately extinguishes the fire. Approximately five to 10 minutes pass between the alarm transmission from the water flow switch and firefighters` arrival on the 18th floor. On arrival, firefighters assess the situation and temporarily “chock” the sprinkler head with a wooden wedge they are carrying.
One firefighter sets out to locate and shut down the floor control valve located on the sprinkler/standpipe riser in the stairwell. The head is replaced, and the system is restored to operation. Fortunately, the fire was not very serious, no one was injured, and damage was kept to a minimum–or was it?
Depending on the pressure supplied, a single 12-inch orifice sprinkler head can discharge quite a bit of water. For instance, with 50 psi at the head, the flow is about 40 gpm. Even with only a single head operating for five minutes, the total water discharge could be a couple of hundred gallons. While sprinklers are a necessary part of fire protection in all buildings, their one drawback is their steady flow of water even after a fire has been controlled (except for “on/off” heads).
In our hypothetical situation, the water that has accumulated in the office on the 18th floor needs to be relieved. Naturally, through gravity, water is drawn downward in the building. Unfortunately, right below the 18th-floor office is the accounting department`s main computer room. An immediate and thorough salvage operation is needed to prevent a major catastrophe. What can be done in this situation?
Probably the best course of action is to first use salvage covers to completely cover the contents (i.e., computers) to prevent water damage. In addition, as much of the water in the fire occupancy as possible should be vacuumed, pumped, or mopped up.
PERSONNEL
Many fire departments can handle this type of salvage operation as part of a truck company function; some departments have special units equipped and trained as special salvage companies. As in most other firefighting operations, time is a critical element in a “good save.”
As mentioned, building engineering/maintenance staff can preplan and train with firefighters to enhance salvage operations. The maintenance/engineering staff`s familiarity with building equipment and systems, including plumbing/drainage systems, heating/ventilating equipment, and so forth, makes them particularly valuable resources when trying to minimize water and smoke damage.
Overall, salvage training for all personnel should include information on safe operating procedures, including the proper use of salvage covers, pumps, and vacuums. The quickest and most efficient ways of removing water must be described.
EQUIPMENT
Many different types of equipment can be used for cleanup following a fire. Some of the equipment is not very costly and, when used effectively, can substantially reduce losses. Salvage covers are among the most important items to carry. They are available in a variety of styles and materials, including canvas, vinyl, and other plastics. The most common size is 12 feet by 14 feet.
Covers are designed to be spread over equipment, fixtures, and furniture; but they have many other uses. They can be used as floor runners to protect carpeting; made into chutes for water runoff; formed into bags or catchalls to collect water in a concentrated area; or folded into blocks/barriers to keep water out of elevator shafts, other rooms, and hallways.
Squeegees and push brooms are other helpful tools for salvage teams. Both can be used to push water out of affected areas and into drains or salvage cover bags to catch and remove water. Push brooms can be used not only to move water out but also to clean up debris.
The best tools for removing small, spread-out amounts of water are wet/dry vacuums. They come in capacities ranging from five to 55 gallons. For large quantities of deep water, submersible pumps will do a fine job if a floor drain, bathroom fixture, window, or other outlet for the water is available.
Sometimes, the salvage team may have to breach a floor to relieve excess water. It should carry a flathead axe, halligan-style tool, and duckbill lock breaker for breaching a wooden floor and a maul and pavement breaker bits for concrete floors.
Pike poles or hooks can be used to make openings in ceilings or walls to relieve excess water buildup from the floors above. Some materials such as drop or acoustical ceiling tiles fall and disintegrate when they become waterlogged. Plaster or gypsum-board ceilings generally hold up longer, collecting a greater quantity of water. However, they eventually will collapse in large sections due to the excess weight at the seams or joints, possibly causing injuries or damage. When using the pike pole, place a small hole where bubbles or wet spots indicate a buildup of excess water, allowing the water to drain into a container, chute, or catchall, preventing additional damage.
Sometimes special equipment may be needed to stop the water flow and divert the water from broken or difficult-to-shut pipes and sprinkler heads. Devices specifically designed for this type of situation can be placed in operation quickly. They work well, but ingenuity and improvisation using some plumbing fittings and fire hose can accomplish the same result of minimizing water damage.
Electrical extension cords, portable lights, and an electrical generator may also be needed should the power supply have to be shut down (always ensure that all electrical equipment used is appropriate for wet areas). Shovels, buckets, and mops are also important for salvage work. Although it will not remove all traces of smoke, a portable ventilating fan can be very helpful. Deodorizers can help mask the smoke odor in the space. Finally, plywood, tar paper, and plastic sheeting, along with hammers and nails, will allow you to temporarily secure a building after a fire, especially if firefighters have opened ventilation holes in roofs or broken any windows.
STRATEGY
A three-stage strategy that works very well is to locate, contain, and remove the water. Salvage operations begin by locating the source of the water. At building fires, salvage efforts should begin as soon as possible on the fire floor and, more importantly, in the floor area directly below so that the water`s damaging downward journey can be stopped. Another priority is to stop the flow of excess water. At a fire scene, as previously mentioned, this could mean chocking a sprinkler head or shutting the system down, shutting down unused hoselines or standpipe outlets, and even tightening leaky hose butts.
At water-leak incidents, locating the shutoff valve–whether it is a running or overflowing bathroom fixture or a broken pipe–usually is the best solution. Sometimes these shutoff valves can be inaccessible and difficult to find in large commercial buildings. Keep in mind also that water and fire have a common characteristic: Both will spread to other locations within a structure whenever openings or voids exist. Fire can travel up or down, but water will only go down. Light fixtures, pipes, and other sites of artificial openings act as drains for runoff water.
Various techniques and different kinds of equipment can be used separately or together to eliminate the excess water. An important reason for doing this as quickly as possible is that the added weight of the water increases the risk of a floor collapse. At commercial occupancies, floors already may be overloaded with machinery or stock, and the additional weight from the water could be enough to cause a collapse. Be alert for floors with large quantities of stock or supplies; heavy machinery; or a deep volume of water with little or no runoff.
The next article will present recommendations for properly using water-removal equipment and salvage covers and actions building engineering/maintenance staff members can take to assist firefighters in conducting proper salvage operations.
ANTHONY J. PASCOCELLO, JR., a former volunteer firefighter, is a member of the New York City Fire Patrol, a group of insurance industry-sponsored salvage units that respond to incidents in commercial occupancies, and is assigned to midtown Manhattan. He has a bachelor`s degree in fire service administration.
