The Engine Company

'Flashover is occurring more and more in less than 4 minutes trapping citizens, as well as firefighters who have been deployed to search upper floors without knocking the fire down first. Incident Commanders must realize that "cool-as-you-go" is the way to go; or face the real probably that the fire will out-pace our ability to control interior conditions.' -Courtesy of Glenn Gaines, Acting US Fire Administrator

Does your department/company conduct regular live-fire flashover training?

Are your engine company crews trained to look for the signs that a flashover is about to occur or has obviously already occurred?

Are you using your thermal imager properly, or at all?

You're making your way down the hallway, heat conditions rapidly increase, and now you have zero visibility. You're the pipe man. Now what do you do?

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 15: CRISIS: Understanding the risks

August 16: DISPATCH: Get support

August 17: SIZEUP: Make a plan

August 18: ATTACK: Take action

August 19: OVERHAUL: Live your life! 

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

CLICK HERE for the links to reduced ticket prices at your local Six Flags Theme Parks for participating in National Firefighter Health Week

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.

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)

Read the story of Firefighter John Nance, Columbus Engine Company 3 HERE

-Keith

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.

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?

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...

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.

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.

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?

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?

Think About It!

The Importance Of Plan A,B,C,D,E,F,G………

Post courtesy of Patrick McKay, Fairfax City Rescue Engine 33 Chauffeur

Company officers are tasked with strategizing and using their personnel to employ tactics during emergency incidents. When making these decisions, an alternate plan should be established in the instance that our initial actions do not mitigate the problem. Yesterday I responded to a unique, somewhat complex incident that further emphasized this. Fortunately due to proactive decision making by several good fire officers, multiple plans were established and employed without delay. If you do this job long enough, you will likely respond to a variety of emergency incidents where the first tactics that are employed are unsuccessful. With that said, we cannot simply freeze up and look around waiting for a solution to the problem to drop from the sky. This article will look at how to prepare for and employ multiple tactics during emergency incidents.

Training is probably the best way to ensure to your company is able to employ multiple plans. Incorporate elements into scenario based drills that cause failure of Plan A such as: the FDC is damaged and unable to be used yet you still need to get water to the fire on the 10th floor, your initial preconnect stretch does not reach the fire area, your saws won’t start yet the roof still needs to be opened, the stairs are burned out to the second floor and a search still needs to be conducted because there is a report of occupants inside, your hydraulic rescue tool system fails and the occupants of a vehicle are still trapped. These are certainly not the only drills that can be conducted but are merely examples of a few drills where companies need to initiate Plan B and so on. It is better to work out the kinks during training than on an actual incident. This training will create thinking firefighters and fire officers and allow them to make sound decisions quickly to overcome obstacles on emergency incidents.

Being proactive is essential to successful emergency incident operations. If we’re not proactive, we’ll be reactive and continuously playing catch-up. During rope rescue operations we always attempt to establish redundancy at least one time for each component of our systems and we incorporate elements such as load releasing hitches in case our initial plan fails. Constructing our rope systems with these elements and redundancy initially will allow us to overcome events that may cause our initial plan to fail, without delay. This is one example of taking a proactive approach during emergency incident operations.

As I mentioned in a previous article, it’s important to not only know how to use your equipment but also the limitations of your equipment. This allows personnel to identify all the equipment on their rig that may be used to cut something and also which tool or technique to utilize in the instance that your “Plan A” cutting tool fails or breaks. If all of the battery powered reciprocating saws are successful in cutting something but fail due to the battery, a company may simply need to place an electric reciprocating saw in service to continue on.
Hopefully the company has been proactive and already staged this equipment near the scene where it can be quickly deployed. If a company is unsuccessfully trying to displace something utilizing hydraulic spreaders with a spread force of 32,000 pounds and a 40,000 pound spreader is also on the scene, it would be a good idea to put the 40,000 pound spreaders to work. Knowing your equipment will allow you to make these decisions quickly on emergency incidents. The same kind of decision making can be used on the fireground dealing with handlines. If you are not making any headway on a fire utilizing a handline flowing 150 GPM’s, a decision needs to be made to increase the GPM’s. This could be accomplished by switching nozzles (a proactive move may be placing a 15/16” slug between the shut off and nozzle), bringing in another handline that flows 150 GPM’s thus providing a total of 300 GPM’s, or bringing in a larger line that’s capable of flowing 250 GPM’s or more. This decision needs to be made quickly and may be influenced by factors such as personnel available, water available, and the area that the line is being maneuvered in.

I hope this article provides some insight or merely initiates thoughts on developing and employing multiple plans to mitigate an emergency. A good rule of thumb is to always develop at least one back up plan to whatever plan you are utilizing (e.g. if we are on Plan C, then Plan D needs to be established). This will allow you to stay ahead of the game and prevent long periods of inactivity. Nobody has the answer to every problem, however we can effectively work towards solving these problems by developing multiple plans. Another important element of developing and employing multiple plans is having someone who is standing back from the immediate work area and can provide insight as to what’s working and what’s not working. Sometimes when we are actively involved in an operation we become so engrossed with what’s taking place that we lose track of time or fail to see what’s taking place in the big picture. Happy holidays and stay safe!

The Rescue Company Member

Post courtesy of Patrick McKay, Fairfax City Rescue Engine 33 Chauffeur

Lots of American kids grow up with hopes and dreams of being a fireman at some point, many of these kids grow out of it and some are lucky enough to fulfill their dreams and ride fire trucks. Growing up in a fire department household, I always wanted to be a fireman and more specifically a Rescue Company fireman. Due to my father’s assignments, I was introduced to the Rescue Company at an early age and everything about the Rescue Company seemed larger than life. The rig carried so many cool tools, the guys loved their jobs, and it seemed like they got to do all the “fun” stuff on calls. I loved watching VHS tapes that showed footage of FDNY Rescue Companies in action, they really got to do “fun” stuff whether it was cutting cars, rope rescues, or searching a tenement building on fire. Whatever needed to be done, they did it and they did it well. As I got older I made it a point to learn as much as I could about the Rescue Company and what it really means to be a member of the Rescue Company. This article will outline what I believe it means to be a member of the Rescue Company, because it certainly goes far beyond just showing up for work and jumping on the fire truck.

Members of the Rescue Company should not be new members to the fire service and should have significant fireground experience before assuming the position on a Rescue Company. Being an experienced firefighter is critical to operating as a member of the Rescue Company, as there are many skills and responsibilities the Rescue Company has. While basic firefighting skills should be maintained, they shouldn’t have to be learned while riding the Rescue Company. If a member of the Rescue Company doesn’t have the knowledge, skills, or abilities to conduct a primary search or force doors, surely we cannot expect them to take on more advanced tasks that the Rescue Company is responsible for. The reality is, not every member of the fire service is meant to be a member of the Rescue Company nor does everyone in the fire service want to be a member of the Rescue Company. We, the fire service as a whole, cannot simply place any warm body on the Rescue Company. While it may keep people happy for the short term, eventually it will lead to problems for everyone, the citizen’s and fire department. We cannot afford to waste precious time upon our arrival to an incident to catch someone up to speed on how we conduct operations.

Members of the Rescue Company should take a significant amount of pride in their work and realize that everything they do or don’t do is a direct reflection on the company as a whole. Just doing enough to get by doesn’t cut it on the Rescue Company, it entails going above and beyond. If it didn’t, there wouldn’t be a need for the Rescue Company as any firefighter would be able to carry out these duties. Many of the tasks the Rescue Company is responsible for are on “high risk, low frequency” events, meaning it is even more critical to carry out these tasks in a proficient manner as the results of not doing so could be disastrous. Attention to detail is critical and a simple oversight could result in things such as the failure of a haul system due to improper rigging, shifting of a vehicle in a precarious position due to ineffective stabilization, or failing to locate a victim in a fire because we didn’t complete a primary search of all areas in the fire building. Nobody wakes up in the morning and wants something like that to occur, however if we don’t operate in an efficient and precise manner they can happen.

Members of the Rescue Company need to have courage. It takes a certain amount of courage to knowingly place yourself in harm’s way to protect or save another person. With that said, the Rescue Company member needs to be intelligent which will allow them to operate in a dangerous position while minimizing the risk as much as possible. The majority of Rescue Company fireground operations occur independent of a hoseline, meaning the benefit of having a hoseline to protect you or lead you back to a safe position isn’t an option. This is why it is essential for the Recue Company member to be intelligent by taking note of egress points as they search, deploying a search rope in a cut up occupancy, or understanding what the fire is doing by observing smoke or heat conditions. Intelligence will also allow Rescue Company members to minimize the risk on other “high risk, low frequency” events such as water rescues, rope rescues, or confined space entries. Knowing what tactics to employ, what PPE to utilize, and how to “safe” an area (i.e. atmospheric monitoring, maintaining a zero mechanical state, placing upstream and downstream safeties) will allow us to minimize risk while still operating efficiently and effectively in a dangerous position.

Members of the Rescue Company need to have a thorough knowledge of their equipment. Knowing how something works is a good place to start, however knowing the limitations of your equipment is essential as well. Many folks don’t believe it’s important to remember the “numbers”, meaning to know things such as spread or cutting forces, WLL’s, or lengths of winch cables. Guess what? Those folks don’t belong on the Rescue Company! It may seem harsh or not PC, but it’s reality. Failure to fully understand the limitations of your equipment is dangerous to you, your fellow firefighters, and the citizens. If you are trying unsuccessfully to cut a “B-Post” with a cutter that has a cutting force of 152,000 pounds, it wouldn’t make much sense to try utilizing a cutter with a cutting force of 72,000 pounds. If the Rescue Company was tasked with winching one vehicle away from another, it’s important to know the weakest link in the system. Knowing the “numbers” on your winch, winch cable, snatch blocks, and chains will allow you to complete this task in the safest manner possible. If the Rescue Company is assigned to free someone from a machine, knowing how many CFM’s your whizzer saw or impact wrench consume will ensure you have an adequate air supply to complete a cutting or disassembling operation without delay. The point is: knowing how to use your equipment, when to use your equipment, and the limitations of your equipment are all very important for members of the Rescue Company. While you as an individual may not remember every number tied to every piece of equipment, conducting frequent company drills will reinforce this information and allow the Rescue Company as a whole to stay proficient with their equipment.

Members of the Rescue Company need to be able to function as members of a team. The Rescue Company is truly a team concept and it is imperative that all members are on the same sheet of music. A good Rescue Company can go to work with very few words having to be spoken, meaning that the members are part of a team that know their responsibilities and are entrusted to carry them out. This solid teamwork is established in the firehouse and on the fireground. In the firehouse, conducting frequent company drills will get everybody on the same sheet of music, reinforce skills, and expose individual strengths and weaknesses and allow the team to capitalize on individual strengths in specific areas. For example, the rig I ride has 4 members of which 3 of us ride in the same spot everyday. The 4th position is rotated between 2 members that split time on the Rescue Engine and Medic unit. The 3 of us that are on the rig everyday have pretty well established our respective roles on a rope rescue based on our strengths and weaknesses: the Captain is a tactician in every sense of the word and effectively lays out a game plan for us and works the edge, Bill is our member that is in the best physical shape and is our member that will likely go over the edge, I am good with rigging and constructing systems and will likely serve as the rigger. We are all capable of doing the other’s roles, however to operate in the most efficient and effective manner we take the job that best suits us. That is what being part of a team is all about. There is no better place to solidify teamwork than on the fireground, especially for a new member. All members on the Rescue Company need to be able to trust each other and know without a doubt they will do whatever needs to be done to get the job done and ensure we all go home at the end of the shift.

The final thing I will discuss is attitude. Having the right attitude is essential to being a member of the Rescue Company. Folks that are go getters with a “can do” attitude make excellent Rescue Company members. To quote a FDNY Rescue Company member from the 1980’s, “when the public needs help they call the fire department, when the fire department needs help they call the Rescue”. Giving up or quitting is not an option, the citizens AND your fellow firefighters are counting on you to show up and do what needs to be done. This is what makes or breaks the Rescue Company. In my company we have the motto “Whatever It Takes” and our members truly embrace that concept. We will do whatever it takes to get the job done and do whatever we can to ensure everybody goes home in the morning.

In closing, some folks look negatively upon the Rescue Company and refer to the members in a sarcastic manner as “the heroes”. The best thing a Rescue Company can do is train hard and perform at the highest level which will allow your actions to speak for themselves. At the beginning I said not every member of the fire service is meant to be a member of the Rescue Company. With that said, every member of the fire service is capable of becoming a member of the Rescue Company. It is incumbent upon the person to possess the qualities and traits that are essential to be a member of the Rescue Company. With hard work, initiative, and drive you could make yourself marketable to be the next member of the Rescue Company. Stay safe!

The Engine Company

Engine company hose beds should be configured based on that individual company's needs and response area.  Larger departments tend to set up all of their engine company's hose bed configurations the same.  That way, regardless of what engine company a member gets assigned to (overtime, detail, or transfer), he/she is already familiar with the locations/lengths of all supply and attack lines.  While there should be some consistency, with the amount of supply line for example, this allows little room for companies to 'customize' their engine to match the needs of their first-due area.  -Keith

How is your company's rear hose bed set up?

In your department, are all of your engine companies' hose beds set up identically, or configured based on the needs of their individual first-due?

The Truck Crew

(Photo courtesy of firefighter Amos Akers, Loudoun County Tower Ladder 619)

Here, in the picture above, one of each length of ground ladder (two 35' extension, two 28' extension, one 20' straight, and one 16' straight) is stored with the tip facing out, and one with the tip in.  This gives the driver and/or OVM a little bit of flexibility when retrieving ground ladders for placement regardless of whether if the truck has pulled past, or just short of, the fire building.  -Keith

How are the ground ladders configured on your truck/tower ladder?

Who Is On Your Truck Company?

Post courtesy of Firefighter Amos Akers, Loudoun County Tower Ladder 619

Most of us can agree that the aerial device doesn’t make a truck company. It’s the crew that makes the truck company.

On the fireground, truck companies are expected to perform multiple, coordinated tasks simultaneously in order to support engine company operations. John Norman, retired FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief, used the acronym LOVERS U to describe the basics of truck/tower company operations in his book “The Fire Officers Handbook of Tactics”.

This acronym spells out the basics of what “Truck Work” is all about:

   L adders

   O verhaul

      V entilation

                               E ntry (of the forcible type)

 R escue

S earch

          U tility control

Here in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, truck companies, like rescues, are referred to as “Special Services” units. Meaning, units have special responsibilities not only on working fires, but also at heavy technical rescues, and other special operations assignments.

Being a "Special Services" unit, a truck company is not the place where just any firefighter can be assigned, or “rotated” into. There should be a set of minimum requirements in order for someone to be on the truck/tower ladder. Unfortunately, in the “Kinder and Gentler” fire service, not a lot of people understand this.

If your department has a truck company, how are members assigned to it?

Do you place a firefighter, 1 year out of the academy with no previous fire experience, and who’s never been in a fire, as your Forcible Entry position on the Interior Team?

Do you assign a firefighter as the Outside Vent Man (OVM) spot knowing for a fact that they cannot carry and/or raise a ground ladder by themselves?

Do you assign the newly promoted Apparatus Technician who’s never driven anything bigger than an ambulance as the driver operator of your truck?

As I stated before, the truck company is required to perform multiple, coordinated tasks simultaneously on the fireground. Many times this requires the truck crew to split, and to operate on their own, without the direct supervision of their OIC. This is the work that your experienced, highly skilled, and well trained firefighters should be performing.

Are you an Urban Firefighter?

Please take the time to check out Brother Ray McCormack's online magazine related directly to our job. It is time well spent, and provides some great information to share and drill with at the firehouse. - Ron Kuley

http://www.urbanfirefighter.com/

Welcome to Urban Firefighter Magazine, the latest in fire service culture, training and media. Urban Firefighter Magazine is a new and vibrant trade publication representing a major shift in: content, reader participation, and the delivery of both. Urban Firefighter Magazine is a digital magazine available to you around the clock and around the globe. Urban Firefighter Magazine is free and does not require a subscription. At Urban Firefighter Magazine, we believe in passing on life saving skill-development lessons, just as past and present firefighters have shared their lessons with us. We will only pass on credible information to you, our readers and supporters. Come join us in our journey of discovery and the celebration of the Urban Firefighter in all of us. Sincerely,

Ray McCormack, Publisher and Senior Editor, Urban Firefighter Magazine

"Keep Fire in Your Life"

Get Out The Door!

Post courtesy of Patrick McKay, Fairfax City Rescue Engine 33 Chauffeur

I recently found myself captivated by a discussion that was taking place on a social networking site (soon that will be a bad word to the fire service) in reference to a photo depicting a piece of fire apparatus leaving the firehouse. Believe it or not, the individuals involved in the discussion were “senior men”, some even retired. The discussion revolved around which crews and rigs turned out for runs the quickest. It was great to see a bunch of older guys engaged in this discussion and the pride that obviously came with getting out the door fast. Anyone who knows me can agree that this is very important to me. Unfortunately, I believe this is becoming a lost practice to many companies and maybe even discouraged by some folks.

Citizens call 911 because they are having a bad day and are looking for our assistance in mitigating whatever issue is causing them to have a bad day. These “issues” can range from an elderly person falling out of bed to an apartment building on fire with multiple people trapped. Whatever the nature of the call is, it’s our duty and responsibility to turn out as quickly as possible. Notice I said “turn out”, which is synonymous with getting out the door, and not “respond”. Anybody who has been doing this for a while knows that you don’t make up time by driving like a mad man to calls but rather by turning out quickly. This is especially true in box alarm areas that are tight in the run order.

By turning out quickly for every call we receive it becomes second nature and the norm. So, when seconds count, chances are your company will be on top of their game and not fumbling around in the firehouse. One of the first skills learned in recruit school is donning your PPE in an expedient manner. Unfortunately after completion of recruit school this skill is rarely practiced and folks don their gear in a less than expedient manner. Do you think the hours spent learning to quickly don your gear was done just to fill out a schedule? No! That time was used to give you a foundation for a skill that you are expected to do for the duration of your career. Once again, if we don our gear in an expedient manner for all calls, chances are we’ll be quick and proficient when it counts.

Some folks believe area familiarization and memorization aren’t essential because we have maps and GPS to navigate us. Yes, we do have those resources but what happens when GPS doesn’t work? What happens when a map shows two roads connecting that don’t actually connect? We are still tasked with getting to the incident and getting there in a timely manner. Upon receipt of the alarm, the driver should have a good idea where they’re going. This will prevent a company from sitting on the ramp of the firehouse wondering whether they make a left or right turn. Time on the front ramp is wasted time and for the citizen trapped in their vehicle or whose house is on fire, seconds count.

It seems that more and more folks subscribe to the theory that quick is reckless. Operating in a quick, deliberate manner is not reckless and will provide us opportunities to make a difference. Training and experience will allow us to operate in this quick, deliberate manner without being reckless. We should all have pride in ourselves and companies that drives us to operate in the most efficient and effective manner as possible, this includes turning out quickly for every alarm received. If your company doesn’t turn out quickly, identify the reasons why. If you’re in a position to initiate change, do so! The citizen’s we serve and your fellow firefighters deserve it. Stay safe!

Think About It!

A fire-related emergency involving a structure with one or more solar panels would not be considered an unlikely or even rare occurrence in the United States anymore. There are, for the most part, two different 'types' of solar panels that firefighters need to be aware of, as well as a few basic hazards associated with each. Regardless of what type, either thermal or photovoltaic, the first unit on scene must relay the presence of solar panels to all incoming units.

Before I get started, let me state that I am just discussing the basic hazards we should all be aware of while operating near roof mounted solar panel systems, and am in no way an expert on these systems.

Thermal systems, for the most part, use solar panels to collect heat from the sun, and transfers it to the water that runs through the piping. This hot water feeds down to a storage tank, and acts as a pre-heater to the house's existing water heater. Some of the hazards that firefighters need to be aware of while operating near this type of panel are (but not limited to): tripping/slipping, structural collapse due to extra weight, flame spread, inhalation issues (from burning panel materials*) and hot fluid scalds. Fires in/near this type of system can be extinguished with normal tactical and strategic approaches (water).

Photovoltaic systems use the solar panel's cells to convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. To provide electricity, these systems include several pieces of equipment in addition to the solar panels. The additional components typically include a charge controller, an inverter (to convert the DC current to household AC current), heavy cables, wiring, and some form of electricity storage (typically batteries).

Some of the hazards that firefighters need to be aware of while operating near this type of system are (but not limited to): tripping/slipping, structural collapse due to extra weight, flame spread, inhalation issues (from burning panel materials*), and most importantly: severe electrical shock and battery hazards. Be aware that a solar panel exposed to any sunlight is always "on" and the system remains energized. DAYLIGHT = DANGER.  The only way to eliminate the electrical output of a panel is to cover it with 100% light-blocking material (heavy tarps). Fires in/near this type of system should be attacked similarly to any piece of electrically energized equipment.

During roof operations, firefighters will need to remain aware of the added weight of the solar panels on a roof that may be weakened by fire below. An array of solar panels may also prevent direct access to the section of roof providing the optimum point of vertical ventilation. Under no circumstances should solar panels be cut or damaged to perform vertical ventilation.  -Keith

*Panels are made up of many materials that may include gallium arsenide, phosphorous, and cadmium telluride that, when exposed to fire conditions, introduces potentially dangerous levels of cadmium, a know carcinogen.

You Make The Call!

Aggressive truck companies know that you ventilate vertically (the roof) immediately upon arrival, and ventilate horizontally (windows) in conjunction with the engine company being ready with their attack hose line.  What are your thoughts on this video, or this topic in general?  -Keith