Monday, August 15, 2011

National Firefighter Health Week


When it comes to your health, you're always on duty

National Firefighter Health Week 2011 will be held THIS WEEK August 14-20. The theme is: "When it comes to your health, you're always on duty." Each day of the week will focus on a different topic to help first responders take the steps towards a healthy lifestyle. Follow the links below for each day.

August 14: National Firefighter Health Week Kick-off






August 20: National Firefighter Health Week wrap up/event day

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Think About It!

We all know that firefighting poses an interesting problem when it comes to being fit. We frequently have to expend a great amount of energy when fighting a structure fire, extricating victims from an overturned car, or even while training.

When we are not performing these duties, however, we can become very sedentary. You are sitting in front of the computer right now, aren't you? The very nature of firefighting can make working out difficult.  We have all had our fair share of workouts interrupted by the tones dropping. Despite the inconvenience, the effort is worth it. If you do not put in the effort to work out and train your body to be ready for anything that might be thrown your way while on a call, then it will not be ready to do what you need it to do.

Hard work + fit firefighter = success
Hard work + unfit firefighter = disaster

The overexertion at a "routine" fire may be all it takes for that plaque in your arteries to rupture and send you to the hospital.  Isn't it our goal to go home to our families every morning?

What workout routine do you follow?  Does the rest of your crew/shift workout regularly? 
How about when you are off duty?  What do you think about the P90X, Cross Fit, or Insanity workouts? 

Are you eating healthy?

How can you justify taking care of someone else if you aren't even taking care of yourself.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Firefighter John Nance Remembered

(Photo courtesy of the Hamilton, NJ Fire Department)

Today marks the 24th anniversary of the murder of Columbus fireman John Nance.  I am reposting this in hopes some of you will get out in the bay and practice some ways to get a member up out of a hole, or just simply honor him by discussing the fire that took his life just a short time before he was to retire.  Read the story of that fateful day below.

Think about it. You're dispatched as the engine company, along with a truck company, to a fire alarm in a commercial building at 2:30 am. Upon arrival, you have a decent amount of brown smoke showing from the front of an 110' x 50' single story, old, brick building that is currently being used as office and storage space for an auto parts manufacturer. After notifying your dispatcher to "fill the box" for a working fire, the truck forces entry and your crew starts to advance a line through the front door to investigate and locate the fire. Visibility is almost zero as you make your way down the hall, and you can feel a good amount of heat coming from below your feet. Just then, without warning, a member of the truck crew falls through the floor into a basement. You can still barely see him through the smoke, but can't reach him.

What are your immediate actions as the engine boss?

What building construction features should you have noticed/been looking for during your initial size up/360 that may have prevented this scenario from happening?

Is there anything you can do with the staffing/equipment on scene, or will you have to wait for additional companies?

What method(s) would you use to rescue a member who has fallen through the floor?

Have you (and your crew) ever trained for this type of scenario? (Columbus Drill)


-Keith

Friday, July 22, 2011

Think about it!


Post courtesy of D. Lee Warner, Battalion 4/A, Fairfax County Fire
(Repost from 2007)

Recently comapnies participated in a battalion level drill at one of the above ground parking garages at one of the malls here in Fairfax County simulating a vehicle fire on an upper floor. This garage, like most open parking garages, contains a manual dry standpipe system (i.e., only supported by FDC). The purpose of the drill was to test a few different methods of attack to determine which was most effective, primarily measured by the time necessary to place a handline in service.
On each scenario a crew member was located on the 5th floor, but the exact location would vary slightly on the floor so the incoming crew would not have prior knowledge of the exact location. This is what we found out...

Scenario #1- Using the Dry Standpipe

The engine driver spotted the hydrant and pulled lines to supply the standpipe system. The crew exited the vehicle with the standpipe pack and made there way to the 5th floor. Once the location was determined (obvious upon arrival at the 5th floor), the crew connected the to the closest standpipe, opened the valve, and awaited water. From the time the crew began up the stairs until water flow was achieved was 25 minutes, and even then the pressure was minimal. Leaks were found in the system, and on one of the floors an additional valve was open, which is typical of these types of dry systems.
Multiple 3" lines had been stretched to the connection, so it wasn't a supply end issue. I have seen this before, but wanted the entire crew to witness this for themselves. The bottom line is that these systems are not reliable for fire operations. In 25 minutes you wouldn't have just one car still on fire, which although is more fun for us, and is what we are paid to do. Plus, think of people watching you holding that line for all that time waiting on water. Not fun.

Scenario #2 - Flying Standpipe w/Ladder Company

For our second go the engine crew stopped adjacent to one of the stairwells and allowed the crew to ascend with their standpipe pack again (and yes, we did rotate crew members, except for the rookie. He was allowed to play each time!). Again, once on the 5th floor they determined the fire location, and radioed the information. The line was stretched while one member stood at the closest outside wall to direct the truck. The truck arrived, set up, and laddered the 5th floor. The standpipe pack was connected to the pre-piped waterway, and the engine supplied the truck with water. Water was flowing in this operation in 11 minutes. This was a significant improvement. A couple of possible problems would be a truck without a pre-piped waterway (reserve trucks for us), and truck access.

Scenario #3 - Rope Hoist

Prior to trying this, my preferred method of dealing with these was to bring up the standpipe pack, locate the fire, determine the closest location, and lower over the the hose for direct connection to the engine. Although that is effective and fast, it doesn't allow as much flexibility as this would.
The engine again stopped at a stairwell and climbed to the 5th floor, but this time without the standpipe pack. They brought up utility rope instead. Most of our rigs carry a 200' utility / search line. Once they determined the fire location they called the engine driver and lowered the rope from the best location on the 5th floor. The driver positioned, tied the rope to the leader line, and the crew hoisted and stretched the line. Once enough line was up it was tied off at the top and the engine driver was called for water. In this case there was plenty of hose, so part of the 2 1/2 was broken down and connected directly to another outlet to avoid extra hose on the ground. Water was flowing to the location (center of the garage) in 5 minutes. The bottom line is that this is the way to go.
Pros:
Very fast deployment.
Plenty of available hose if longer lines are needed.
Less fatigue on the crew (and greater speed) since there is no need to carry the standpipe packs up the stairs.

Cons:
Potential for someone to lock up when asked to tie a rope to the hoseline (or anything). Practice your knots and attach carabiners to your ropes.

Other general thoughts / issues:

Everything is case dependent, but in most of the open parking garages in Fairfax County, this should work well. Below grade is another story, as are garages attached to buildings. These may or may not be covered by dry pipe sprinkler systems. If so, they will limit the fire spread, but not put it out. They also can add to your smoke problem by cooling it and pushing it down. Enclosed garages (usually below grade) should also have large ventilation fans, which is the only way you will get the smoke out.

As for the standpipes in enclosed and attached garages, they are usually a part of a combination dry-pipe system, which provides them with a water supply once a sprinkler head goes. This makes them usable for us without so much delay as they may be equipped with exhausters and accelerators to assist in purging the air from the system.

Always bring a dry chemical extinguisher up anyway. Most of the companies running these structures will have a truck company with them, so you should be going up with two crews, for a total of five people. Ensure that all units going up bring some basic tools and a dry chemical extinguisher. They can buy you some time until the line is in service, if not put the fire out. They also work great if you have fuel on the ground burning, but watch out if it starts running into the drains!

Make sure you are able to identify your location at all times. Side-A isn't so clear, and neither is "east", etc. Best to use a landmark.

Know your buildings, and understand how the different FDC systems work.

Reposted by Keith Bresnahan on 7/22/11 at 7:00 PM.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

The Truck Crew | Flat Roof Vent 2


This second video about flat roof ventilation touches on trench cuts and upper floor horizontal ventilation.

Have you ever had the oportunity to make an actual trench cut?

What tools and manpower issues, if any, did you run into?

What tricks of the trade could make these types of evolutions easier?

Monday, July 11, 2011

The Truck Crew | Flat Roof Vent 1



Part one of two (starts around the 1:00 mark).  Great points to think about while operating on a flat roof.

What are some things your company / department do differently while operating on these types of roofs?

What are some of the basic tools that you bring with you?

Are you even able to complete a flat roof cut with the manpower you have?

Part two to follow...

Sunday, June 19, 2011

2011 IAFC Firefighter Safety, Health & Survival Week


Photo courtesy of Northern Virginia Fools

Fire departments around the country are encouraged to suspend all non-emergency activity during the 2011 Safety Week, and instead, focus entirely on safety, health and wellness-related training and education until all shifts and personnel have taken part.  An entire week is provided to ensure each shift and duty crew can spend AT LEAST one day focusing on these critical issues.

During the week of June 19-25, 2011, members should focus their training time on this year's theme:
Surviving the Fire Ground and Fire Fighter, Fire Officer, & Command Preparedness.

For more info and training resources visit:
www.IAFC.org
www.firehouse.com

So, what training topics will you and your crews be focusing on this week? Please post below.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

The Engine Company

In prioritizing our operations, we talk about the protection of exposures. This can mean both interior as well as exterior exposures.

Cluster homes are showing up in new communities all over the county. These are homes of various sizes but some are quite large. The homes are built with very similar floor plans, extremely close to one another and often have windows facing each other on the B and D sides of the homes.

Assume you are a later arriving engine company and units are already working on the inside of the building of fire origin. Fire is out of two windows on the B side facing the next door home. Discuss all the possibilities for fire extension and what tactics you might have to employ if given the assignment to protect the exposures.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

The Truck Crew


Video courtesy of Northern Virginia Fools

Here is a follow up video to a post on barred casement windows back in October of last year.  There are many ways to take care of this type of window, but the best way is the circular saw.  The window in the video is not a common find.  The bars are mounted on the inside of the casement window.  You usually don't find window bars on many casement windows.  Is there an other way your company would attack this window?

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Think About It!

Photo courtesy of HCFTN

There are numerous ways to secure ground ladders that are placed on uneven or slippery surfaces.  No matter what your company's staffing is, there is no feasible way to leave a firefighter at every ladder to heel it.  What are some other ways to quickly secure a ground ladder in place?