“WEIRD” FIRES
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Let’s discuss “weird fires,” the usual description attributed to these incidents during the critique immediately following them.
CELLAR FIRES
Always a pain. So what is the problem? First, plan for local collapse. The fire almost always involves delayed discovery for alarm and delayed discovery by us. The reason for the first delay should be obvious, especially if the structure is unoccupied. The second delay is a mental lapse on our part—unless, of course, flames arc issuing from small windows on arrival. We usually set up for a front entry to the structure, believing the smoke condition is caused by a first-floor fire.
We then start our “let’s-find-it” waltz. Entry team in, hose team stretch. Good truck work dictates that the entry/search team find the fire. The frustrating delay of hearing it but not seeing it begins; then, outside for a moment and back in again— delay. All of a sudden is heard the cry, “Maybe it’s in the cellar.” Now, regrouping, restarting, and gaining access points cause even more delay.
Cellar fires have a built-in head start on burning that allow them to burn longer than any type of fire in any structure. This burning directly attacks the structural integrity of the first-floor support because the members holding up the first floor usually are unprotected when compared with any other floor location. There are no finished ceilings and usually no compartmentation—all of which accounts for the unusual collapse potential
COMMON SCENARIOS
Now. let’s separate the cellar tire into the following common scenarios requiring adaptive tactics: a simple oil burner fire, a one-story commercial, a dwelling unit of platform or ordinary construction with and without an interior cellar entrance, and balloon construction.
The oil burner. This category of “weird” fires is divided into simple, number-2-oil, residence type or number-6-oil, commercial type. It is further divided into whether the tire is confined to the fire box or out of the tire box. The plus here is that even though visibility is less at these occurrences, the heat problem usually is a great deal less. Overhead (first-floor supports) usually is protected in the area of the heating unit. Time is on our side.
In the box. Shut off the electrical supply (is there a remote emergency shutoff switch?) and then the fuel supply, and let it burn. And, of course, the proper venting procedures. depending on size-up.
Out of the box. Again, shut off electricity and fuel, and extinguish the fire you find. A random tip: Remember our discussions concerning the use of a 2k–gallon water extinguisher? Well, adding a few ounces of AFFF liquid and holding your finger over the nozzle, to produce a gently spray, will do excellent work in most residential oil burner spill fires. Besides, it will at least control the situation while you’re getting your foam line ready.
Number-6-oil installations. This type of fire is another matter. The unit usually is an enclosed room—a plus. The electrical shutoff is outside the room—a plus. The fuel shutoff is at the burner near and around the oil pit—a minus. And the gas preheat fuel shutoff is also there and often overlooked by routine operations—a definite minus.
CELLAR FIRES: STRUCTURAL
The one-story commercial. This type of fire is relatively the simplest. The variable is, Is there an interior cellar entrance? Again, remember the delay costs involved and the collapse factor. The ideal attack position, as always, is from the interior stairs. Stretch to it and. if you can get down. go.
Let’s pause here to talk about descending staircases to the fire floor. I have seen some pretty idiotic recommendations in training films about this subject, including the one that each firefighter descend on his or her butt, facing the fire. Again, a writer can say anything he wants if he or the reader does not go to fires. (A one-eyed man is king in the world of the blind!) You always descend turned around and facing the stair tread. If the fire attacks, your vital parts are away from the direct flame, and you’re already in position for making a rapid ascent to safety without thinking about it. The other tip about below-grade interior attacks is to get down as fast as possible and out of the “stair chimney.” You’ll be surprised at how much more habitable the floor is in comparison with the stairs. This is the same relief felt when you “make” the landing of the floor above the fire and when you get in the door to the fire area and to the side of the opening.
If the stairs are tenable, place the second line at the top of the stairs for protection and assistance. Have outside lines standing by for use only if the interior operation fails. And. speaking of failure—at this stage, the single factor that could cause failure is lack of ventilation. And, ventilation is the most difficult tactic to access at fires in belowgrade areas. Windows are never enough. Positive-pressure ventilation is a plus if used with a proper size-up and air is moved in a direction that will enhance the firefight and promote safety for firefighters. The third type of effective vent is to simply cut a hole in the flooring by an interior window behind the fire (in the direction in which the nozzle team is moving). Remove the window to give the products relieved an exit from the building. Using a fan at this opening can prove very effective.
If the stairs are not tenable but the interior first floor is, position the charged line there to operate only to control upward extension and prepare attack from the outside entrance. Always prevent opposing lines in this exterior entrance firefight; use the second line in tandem with the first.
If the cellar becomes a strictly defensive attack (cellar pipes, distributors, etc.), another trick can work great. Tie or lash a smalldiameter handline to an inside rail of a straight portable ladder; a 14-, 16-. or 20foot ladder will work. Lay it at the cellar window and open the nozzle. You now have a long cellar pipe that will move around in the cellar like a hose team. If you really want to be tricky, tie a small utility line to the control handle; you will be able to direct the nozzle up at the ceiling from time to time. More next time.
