You Must Discuss the Truss!

At some point today a firefighter in America will fight a fire involving a structure a with truss roof. Except for departments living in the dark ages, the dangers of truss failures is all too apparent. NIOSH investigates firefighter fatalities and on their site is an excellent pamphlet detailing the dangers of truss construction as it relates to firefighting. This information is FREE.
Below are some of their recommendations:
Venting the roof using proper safety precautions
Opening concealed spaces quickly to determine fire location
Being constantly aware of the time the fire has been burning
Providing continuous feedback on changing conditions to the incident commander
Watching for signs of structural deterioration
Employing a defensive strategy once burning of truss members is identified
Broadly disseminating new tactical safety concepts learned at each fire
Conduct pre-incident planning and inspections to identify structures that contain truss construction.
Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) to combat fires safely in buildings with truss construction.
Ensure that the incident commander conducts an initial size-up and risk assessment of the incident scene before beginning interior fire-fighting operations.
Consider using a thermal imaging camera as part of the size-up operation to aid in locating fires in concealed spaces.
Ensure that fire fighters performing fire-fighting operations under or above trusses are evacuated as soon as it is determined that the trusses are exposed to fire (not according to a time limit). (text courtesy of firefighterhourly.com)

Undoubtedly there are construction sites in your first due that are being built with lightweight construction trusses. Take a closer look at that construction site next time you drive by...

DCFD Engine 10 for the structure fire...

July 26,2007... John Mullen (courtesy of DCFD.com)

Units were dispatched with Battalion 2 at 20:37 hours for a reported building on fire at 7th & H St's N.E
Engine 10 went on the scene with heavy fire showing from side "c" of a two-story commercial building. The initial attack was slowed as firefighters from Trucks 13, 7, 4 and Squad 1 had to cut bars off doors and windows to gain entry.
The fire which consumed much of the second floor was quickly handled once firefighters gained entry. There were no injures reported and the fire is under investigation.

Take a look at the hazards involved and the obstacles that need to be overcome in order to extinguish the fire...

Stabilize that!

Well this could happen in many places within our 1st due. OK it could happen anywhere... now we have victims still inside the vehicle and the doors need to be forced open. (or do they?) What is our first priority? And after that is accomplished then what?

I know, I know... but at least this will provide for some entertaining debates among our folks at the Rescue houses.

Its getting hot in here...

Firefighters and Flashover. (courtesy of Firefighterhourly.com)
Flashover is the sudden involvement of a room or compartment in flames, floor to ceiling, caused by thermal radiation feedback. It's difficult to survive a flashover though not impossible. Ask the Indian Hill - Madeira firefighters or the two St. Andrews firefighters who rescued the employee at the Sofa Super Store. It should be noted that even with full PPE a flashover will burn firefighters.
Human skin burns at temperatures exceeding 125 degrees F. Wearing full protective equipment is necessary and knowing fire dynamics is essential. Here are a few signs of flashover:
--- If you feel sudden heating through your bunker gear and it's extreme, chances are the room is heading for a flashover.
Rollover is when darting fire appears in thick, black smoke. Rollover is a precursor to flashover. If you see rollover beware.
--- Thick black smoke is another sign and taken in aggregate with the above all serve as a warning that flashover is likely to occur.
Flashover signals the end of a fires growth stage and begins the period wherein a collapse can take place. All contents in the room are burning. In short, unless firefighters are instructed on fire behavior, the likelihood of knowing the warning signs is low. Survival depends on knowledge.

Take the time to discuss who has experienced the above description. If you're in that situation what do you do? Nozzle pattern? Direction?

Not sure about this one...

Definately something to talk about.

The roof, the roof... just let it burn!

Take a look ... is there any reason why those folks are on that roof? If you have a good reason please let us know.

Uh yea this could happen here... You tell me where?

Story highlights
NEW: Malfunctioning connector causes explosions, fire official says Number of those injured in blasts rises to three.One witness, a former soldier, says he thought "it was artillery" Buildings evacuated from a half-mile radius.

Check out the smoking debris on the highways.

(Watch the video... and you're the first engine that may have rolled right up to the incident... now what?)

http://player.clipsyndicate.com/play/159/1278857 --- This link has audio and different angle.

This video rocks literally. --- http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/25/dallas.blasts.ap/index.html#cnnSTCVideo
DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- A series of explosions at a facility that sells industrial gas sent flaming debris raining onto highways and buildings near downtown Dallas. At least three people were injured, hospital officials said.

Looks like fun so far... well look take a look at the videos!

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/inc/photo_slideshow.asp?showid=339

Click on the above for pictures and click on below for some great videos.

http://www.spokanetogo.com/news-video/?mgid=7245

Keep an eye on the rig placements and especially the foam unit operations.

Who is going where?

Go to the following link http://www.30engine.com/fullstory.php?48197... review the first picture with FIRE then ask yourself... who is going where? Put yourself in any riding position.

House Fire 808 51st St. N.E.
July 6, 2007...Alan Etter courtesy of http://www.30engine.com/
Fire & EMS responded at 6:33 PM for the house fire, reported in the 800 block of 51st Street, Northeast.
First arriving units found heavy fire showing from side A of a two-story brick duplex. An aggressive interior attack found fire on both floors and in the walls. The fire was stopped with serious damage to the house of origin with some extension to the adjoining home.
No one was home at the time of the fire, but firefighters were able to rescue a small kitten from the exposure building. The cause and damage estimate are still being determined.

Things that make you go boom!

Propane Refresher
Sun. Jul 22nd 2007
Propane is a liquefied petroleum gas and aromatic hydrocarbon that may be used as a gaseous fuel. Propane's best-known hydrocarbon neighbors are methane (natural gas) and butane (disposable cigarette lighters).
Vapor is heavier than air. A leaking propane tank can allow vapors to settle underneath the home, creating an explosive atmosphere. Liquid propane will vaporize at any temperature above 144°F. A gallon of liquid propane weighs 4.24 pounds and contains 91,650 Btus. Propane, and all other hydrocarbon-based fuels, must be kept away from open flame and ignition sources. It is, therefore, vital to treat propane with the utmost respect.
Propane fires, or fires that directly affect propane tanks, require immediate attention. The fire department will have to consider how it is going to protect the structure from the propane tank or vice versa.

So what were you gonna do?

Bridgeport (CT) house fire
At approximately 11:15pm on March 6, the Bridgeport Fire Department received multiple calls for a house fire on Connecticut Avenue near 6th Street. First arriving East Side companies found a multi-family heavily involved. The fire quickly communicated to both the B and D side exposures, with heavy fire conditions consuming the third floor of the D-side exposure. The D-side exposure, also a hulking multi-family, proved difficult on the third floor due to many knee walls and already taxed firefighters. A second alarm equivalent was needed to put the fire under control. Photo by Keith Muratori / firegroundimages.com

Know your enemies...hmmm?

Credit to STATter911.com and firefighterclosecalls.com

http://firefighterclosecalls.com/video/Leesburg1Jul09.asf

KNOW YOUR ENEMY!FIRES IN SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS!**As the Late Frank Brannigan used to say: "THE BUILDING IS YOUR ENEMY.. KNOW YOUR ENEMY!"

Take a look at the video from Loudoun County (VA's) Chief Fire Marshal Keith Brower about a pair of fires that helps illustrate a problem firefighters across the country are dealing with. One of the fires was in an older home. While that fire reached the attic, the house is still standing.The other fire was in a more modern home. It burned to the ground. Chief Brower says homes built over the last two decades use lighter lumber and connection plates that can easily separate during a fire. He says a combination of faster fire spread and a greater collapse potential often keeps firefighters from getting into the house and stopping the fires. Brower has long been a champion on the issues related to new construction as well as residential sprinklers to save civilians...and FIREFIGHTERS LIVES.
CLICK THE ABOVE PHOTO TO VIEW THE VIDEO COURTESY OF DAVE STATTER www.WUSA9.com

Well Done... Da Job not the Burgers!

Is that smoke or steam?