December 2019 Fire Notes

■ You may not have a fire every shift, but you will go out the door every shift.

■ Top three fatality incident types of the 49 on-duty deaths to date.(USFA 2019)

■ When working in corridors and hallways, take the time to get your hose in the correct position.

■ Loading the hallway to create the attack location from the hinge side of the door helps to ensure that we move the line with at least one fewer obstructions, the door.

■ This means we may need to take a little more time in the set up to have a better outcome and better line advancement on the attacking end.

If you think you need 1 tanker, call for 3. If you need 3, call 6.

■ When tankers are needed to provide water supply, an IC or water supply officer must account for the time it takes for them to refill, often this is not accounted for.

■ A minimalist approach to calling tankers is guaranteed to result in an inconsistent, interrupted water supply.

Plunge Cut for the Framing

Square to Open Panic Hardware

Having trouble finding basement stairs from the 1st floor of a

taxpayer ?■ Don’t be afraid to open up the

display window floor. This space is often a straight shot to the basement.

■ As always, make sure the engine & truck are on the same page before making holes with a good fire going.

■ It’s not always easy or even possible, but setting up trainings to reflect real world challenges is critical to developing the skills that give us a better chance at making a true difference on the fireground.

■ I have tried to pay attention in my travels around the district I serve, and without question, people keep things in the hallways between the front door and the rest of the house or apartment. Shopping carts and wheelchairs are common with the older crowd, while bikes and toys point to the younger ones.

■ We have at least one senior citizen apartment building that borders a grocery store, and the shopping carts got so bad they put up signs asking the old folks to stop taking them into their units.

■ We have had fires in the building!■ We have pulled people out of them!■ Pay attention and prepare

accordingly.

■ a legacy feature that will surprise you pocket doors, lots of fire spread potential always check for extension and remember new members may not know

■ Thoughts on preventing the MAYDAY through MINDSET...

■ ■ Overkill ■ ■ Aggression ■ ■ Discipline ■ ■ Teamwork ■ ■ Plans ■ ■ Mindset More thoughts at

the link. Your thoughts??

■ “New” Type II stores can have just a big of a void as a old school Type III make a small access by moving a panel at front door check conditions upon entering you could have a lot of heat and smoke above

■ Very important point on garden apts if you hit it from exterior be ready to go. learned this at a fire I commanded “get set after you reset” not promoting interior/ext you do you just wanted to make others aware

■ In Type III look for easy basement vent and attack access from the show “room bump outs” the flooring in these cases allow ease of access

■ If you protect an older area always be on the lookout for asphalt shingle aka “gasoline siding” it was very prominent early 1900s it is a hidden surprise if ignited

■ Another issue in older communities with legacy housing lots and lots of shingles if you have old housing get to know them totally different bird than today’s toothpicks

■ Getting the bulkhead open is necessary to relieve the building of hot gases and smoke. Firefighters assigned to roof position will take different routes. Example would be 1st FF use Bravo side and 2nd FF takes Delta because obstacles may not be evident from street. Ventilation needs to be coordinated with FFs on fire floor.

■ Water boils from the bottom, it’s true. The leader’s responsibility is to create an environment where water can boil efficiently. Empower your people at the lowest possible level, by giving them the tools, the training, and the opportunities they need to succeed.

Great option for when you don’t want to break the lock and/ or

want to be able to lock it 🔙. Lock operability remains intact

■ Light haze conditions require certain safety precautions.

An unknown amount of fire can be above the drop ceiling, make inspection holes every 10’ so fire doesn’t get behind you.

Also, CO levels may be high, especially in sprinklered buildings when the sprinkler incompletely extinguishes the fire.

■ Ref the Bret Tarver Southwest Super Market building moving tiles and inspection holes may not tell the entire story. Don't get a false sense of security. And don't expect people to actually stop shopping. And the pharmacist may give you shit about securing the drugs.

■ Getting you jacks properly spotted the first time, and being able to overcome any obstacles, is a trait of a practiced and polished Truck Driver. Knowing where you are going to land the jacks to properly optimize the ladder or tower is a crucial skill when using the hydraulic ladder/tower.

Get out and practice and practice often.

■ The truck is ready. Your gear is ready. Great-they should be. The real question: is your mind ready? The job demands focus & mental engagement at all times. Be in the books & on the drill ground, reach out to others if you need #peersupport These are things that make YOU ready.

■ Another issue in older communities with legacy housing lots and lots of shingles if you have old housing get to know them totally different bird than today’s toothpicks

Use the snow to show you where the trusses are

■ As soon as you open the door, this is your prime opportunity to scan the room. While the smoke and gas from inside balance to the air and pressure outside, you are left with a few seconds of clear to semi clear void space. Most victims are found within a few feet of an exit!

Cutter tip placement.■ Pic 1 incorrect tip

placement!!

■ Pic 2 correct cutter tip placement!!

■ Cutter blades should be able to wrap around whatever they are cutting!!

■ Culture - the attitudes and behavior characteristic of a particular social group.

■ How’s your culture? How many do you have in your department? How do you influence a culture change?

■ Be consistent and hold fast. Be the example and hold yourself accountable.

■ It’s critical that someone, preferably LCC, after placing the roof firefighter on roof gets to the top floor windows for VEIS. If it’s a true Brownstone the interior stairs are open and people may be trapped above fire.

■ "Place a car on its top, stabilize it and then have a manikin in the vehicle still restrained upside down. Provide care for the manikin while figuring out how to extricate the victim safely and without dropping them on their head."

■ Wainscoting will line the walls and staircases in many of our frame multiple dwellings and Queen Annes still today. Often covered with multiple layers of polyurethane and/or combustible paint is just one of the many reasons why we place the first hose line in the front door and interior stairs of these type buildings! Always put water between fire and people.

■ *What would you do?* While searching for the seat of the fire, a member of your two man crew falls through the floor up to his chest. What do you do? Do you drop your tools, grab him immediately, and hold on? Or do you take the time to transmit a mayday first?