OPERATING “AT” VACANT BUILDINGS, PART 2: BLOWING THE BASICS
BY TOM BRENNAN
Last month, we ran out of space trying to emphasize some of the basic mistakes that occur early in the fire operation that can cause regrets throughout the entire operation, not to mention their effects on the careers of those making the mistakes. I use the word mistake here because the tactic is so basic to training that it is impossible to believe it would occur!
Passing fire. This (other than for extreme life hazard) will always cost us within a short time. This occurs if search tactics are not coordinated with all interior operations and the lower floor fire location is “missed.” Remember, one major function of primary search at every fire is to locate the fire. Passing a fire can also occur with the young, less experienced, overaggressive, poorly supervised engine company that has not had a chance to operate at a fire during its shift for a long period of time. Here is where the company officer earns his or her pay. Don`t pass fire until you account for it in all the ways possible. Knock it down; isolate it; report its location.
“Losing the fire door!” If you fail to hold the fire within the compartment in which you find it when you force entry, you must be able to shut the compartment for control and relief. If the fire chases you out of and away from the door to the apartment or compartment, you must be able to reclose it to gain time and to protect those above and those helping them. Failure to do this will always account for some type of civilian or firefighter injury, a breakdown in operations, and firefighter (and civilian) deaths that should not have occurred. (I know none of you like to hear this, but it is as true as this is the last page of the magazine.) Always be able to control the fire door should something occur that will reverse the smooth, aggressive operations you are running.
Hi-rise apartment building delays. These fires–while hot as hell–usually are routine operations requiring the use of the water of one handline. It may take two lines to get down the hall (another random thought), but the water that puts the fire out usually will not be more than 175 gallons per minute. A delay in this water application, however, changes a routine operation into a disaster. In one case, civilians were lost on the 30th floor of a high-rise apartment complex because of poor communication practices from dispatch to the fire scene. In another incident, a firefighter lost his life because the delay in the water supply exceeded 30 minutes–30 minutes!
There are many other reasons for delays to occur at these types of occupancies. Let`s look at a few:
1. Delay in arrival on the floor below the fire–the stage from which to begin the firefight in these buildings–can be caused by a number of things. Lower floor fires (below the sixth floor) should be a hand stretch. In enclosed scissor staircases, this can take some time–especially in an engine company that will never have enough personnel because of politics. On upper-floor fires, the delay can occur because of sloppy elevator discipline. There should never be more than six fire personnel in any elevator–and maybe fewer on elevators serving high-rise apartment buildings. The elevators are made to take one family and a kid`s bicycle to a higher level. There needs to be the discipline from a company officer that ensures that an officer, three lengths of hose, fittings to connect to the standpipe, tools for forcible entry, and a search person are aboard. It is not important for others–not the second officer, not the chief, and certainly not his aide–to be on the first elevator. That`s what second elevators and portable radios are for. The process that follows from overloading an elevator is really a joke that can become a crime: Doors close, then open. Then one firefighter reluctantly steps out after being told to, and the door closes on his pouting lips and then opens again only to have the sequence repeat ad infinitum. Rubbish!
2. Delay in water supply from the standpipe. If this comes from the street, the pumper operator must get help as soon as possible. The first supply line MUST go to supply the standpipe that will be used by the firefighters–NOT to the sprinkler system (except if it`s a combination system). If the delay is inside at the outlet connection because of the lack of a proper adapter, reducer, or double-sexed fitting, that is a disgrace. If it is because there is no valve wheel, the company should be disbanded. Today, we must assume that we will have to make up all fittings to the standard thread female in the stairway. If any of the original brass fittings are there, it is a plus, but we must bring the full bag anyway. This includes some method of turning on a naked stem from a gate or globe valve that will supply the hose and serve as pressure/volume control.
3. Standpipes are usually designed so that any nozzle stretched will be within 30 feet of any part of the structure (in areas with adequate building codes, that is). That is three lengths minimum, boys and girls. And remember, you are hooking up on the floor below the fire floor, and you need one length just for the stairway.
More next time. n
TOM BRENNAN has more than 33 years of fire service experience. His career spans more than 20 years with the City of New York (NY) Fire Department as well as four years as chief of the City of Waterbury (CT) Fire Department. He was the editor of Fire Engineering for eight years and currently is a technical editor. He is co-editor of The Fire Chief`s Handbook, Fifth Edition (Fire Engineering Books, 1995).
