A multipronged approach
A multipronged approach to fire attack should be employed on multifamily fires IF the complex roadways, your response model, and hydrant availability allow for this suppression tactic (Picture 1). On this fire, there was an engine and ladder on the Alpha and Charlie sides of the apartment with positive water supplies. Having an engine and ladder on two sides of the fire building allows the incident commander (IC) increased tactical flexibility in his or her suppression strategy. The IC can easily call for lines stretched through various unit’s entrances. To effect the stretch, crews may use a portable ladder or hook or rope stretch and enter the balcony on multiple sides of the structure to “squeeze” or flank this fire problem. The IC can have primary searches started quickly on multiple fronts of the fire building by forcing entry into units and searching or by performing vent-enter-search tactics from a portable ladder or via a balcony. In addition, the aerial or tower ladder can cover the structure for a means of access, egress, and exterior water operations, if needed. This multipronged approach further allows the IC to deploy a member to the Charlie side of the building to establish a “Division Charlie” early in incident.
Large vinyl soffits
If the building possesses large vinyl soffits, expect rapid fire spread to the attic (Picture 2). The vinyl soffit, once exposed to heat, will melt rapidly, allowing the fire to quickly gain access to the attic area. This is especially true if the fire was an outside-in fire, meaning the fire started on the exterior and communicated to the interior of the building. Another possibility is that the fire can auto expose from a window, near the vinyl soffit, then gain access to the attic area. Whatever the scenario may be on arrival, if the vinyl soffit has been compromised by fire, the large opening may be a viable option to introduce water into the attic, via the truss bays, to slow the fire spread (see the UL FSRI Attic Fires Studies). This is especially the case if a large portion of the roof is still intact. In some instances, large heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units in the attic may hamper exterior stream application inot some areas of the attic. The IC must quickly get crews into exposures downrange from the fire to identify any fire spread in the over head away from the original fire.
Lines over ladders
At many of these apartment fires, you will find the stairs and balconies to be made of wood, allowing them to be quickly consumed by fire spread. Handlines over ladders may be a viable option for fire attack and overhaul operations in exposure apartment units (Picture 3). It’s imperative that ground ladders are deployed to exposure units quickly for a multitude of reasons, include deploying handlines over ladders, rescues, removal of victims, and firefighter access and emergency egress. Gaining quick access to the exposure units can provide a means of strecthing a cockloft nozzle into the fire area overhead. Hoarding fires are another situation where handlines over ladders may have to be used for fire attack. In either case, engine companies must train on this task with both dry and charged handlines.
Joseph M. Rock is a captain with the Virginia Beach (VA) Fire Department.
