Chief Ronald Hiraki, Chief of Training, Seattle (WA) Fire Department
Response: The Seattle Fire Department uses PPV as its primary ventilation method. When the situation warrants, our policy is to have a team of firefighters from the ladder company set, start up, and stand by the fan at the entrance opening. A second team from the ladder company performs a primary search and establishes a ventilation exit point. This is done in cooperation with the firefighters on the hoselines, who locate the seat of the fire and attack the fire. The firefighters inform the incident commander that water is being applied to the seat of the fire and that an exit point has been established. At that time, the incident commander directs the firefighters at the fan to turn the fan into the entrance opening.
These firefighters then throttle up the fan and ensure that the cone of air completely covers the opening. Once the fans are set and running, firefighters are trained to control the movement of air throughout the structure. Closing or opening interior doors establishes a definitive path for the airflow between the entrance opening and the exit point. Firefighters must check and protect the exit point for fire that could blow out.
An essential factor in using PPV is to ensure that the fire has not breached the walls or ceiling. One of our veteran truck officers, Lieutenant Bill Hall of Ladder 5, advises: “Think of the walls and ceiling as an envelope enclosing the fire. Firefighters must check to make sure the envelope is intact so that PPV does not cause the fire to spread.” With training and coordination, PPV can be accomplished quickly, effectively, and safely.
