Forcing Doors with Mike Perrone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv4fkhQTuhA&feature=em-subs_digest

Good video

What is this?  It is clearly labeled right?

Thanks Gabe Thompson (E17A).

Firefighter Orientation and Mobility Training

https://www3.ci.austin.tx.us/omtraining/

This is a study that has never been done.  Working with the Texas School for the Blind on how they orient themselves.  Very interesting video and great training tool.  Thanks Capt Williams he has well over 30 years of Fire experience and was my first Lt.  at AFD. 

Notching an Axe to Marry with a Haligan

Notching an 8 pound from Patrick Brown (Q35).

If video does not play, click here http://youtu.be/yyFYF1WAitk



Reinforced Garage Door

We were sent on a box alarm at a workshop/storage shed on a golf course around 1:30 a.m. This facility stored all of the lawn cutting equipment, plus power and hand tools, acetylene and O2 bottles.


On arrival, E15 went out saying the entire building was fully involved and was going defensive. They pulled a bundle and requested saws to gain better access into the structure so they could flow water. L15 came with both the diamond blade saw and the combination blade saw (nugget blade).


The main door was a roll-up door. I sized it up like any other roll-up and began to cut using the diamond blade saw. My goal was to make a large square opening for the E15 firefighters to shoot water from the exterior without having to go into the structure. I started the vertical cut, meeting some resistance from the thicker braces on the inside of the roll-up. When it felt like it was cut, I rolled the saw downward and proceeded to finish the cut. The other L15 FF, using the combi-blade saw, made the horizontal cut. When that was done, nothing seemed to happen as far as the roll-up giving way. My Cpt. checked it out and noticed that the cuts were not completely finished to release the opening. The combi-blade saw was used to try and finish the cut, but it was not doing the job. I went back with the diamond blade and noticed that the blade guard kept getting in the way preventing me from fully plunging the blade, even with it completely pulled back. With some forcing of the tool, the cut was complete and we just pulled the door open.


After the incident was over. We looked at the door and found that it was heavy duty. The panels were metal with 2 sheets separated by insulation approximately 2-3" deep and the horizontal braces holding them together was approximately 3" thick steel.


Have you seen this type of door before? If you have ever dealt with this type of roll-up on an actual fire, let me know what you did different or what was your go-to saw.

 

Fresno Apt Fire

If the video does not play click here http://youtu.be/E1Eth985dmM 

 

Where are your lines going?  What is your plan of attack?  Read somewhere that they closed 6 companies that year and delayed going up stairs till they had 2 in 2 out.  How does your department handle 2 in 2 out? 

More Nozzle Forward

If the video does not play click here http://youtu.be/QzIsAN-V3lA

 

Practice these techniques and get better every day.  Practice doesn't make perfect, Perfect practice makes perfect. 

Philly Fire Attack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgciMO8hzK4

Good job getting a quick knock Philly   Thanks Brass for the video.

The PIG making a window into a door.

If the video does not play click here http://youtu.be/FVjXGu2i9g4

 

Gotta love this tool.  8 lbs. of Fireground Domination.

Apartment Fire Part 2- How it went down.

The acting officer decided to stay put and pull three inch supply around the building to a 150' 2" bundle that flows 210-265 gpm.  They flowed 265 gpm and knocked down the fire on the second and third floor balconies to protect egress for the units on the right.  They then knock down the fire in the second and third floor fire apartments and ascended the stairs.  They did a quick search of the second floor apartment and knocked down more fire.  Next they went to the third floor, did a quick search and knocked down more fire.  Due to the third floor breezway decking burning the through and heavy fire in the attic the crew was pulled out and cut off lines were sent to the next breezeway where the fire was stopped. 

 

Apartment Fire Part 1- What's your plan?

You arrive as acting officer and position the engine at a standard apartment fire.  You see moderate fire on a second floor apartment door (see picture below).  The initial call came is as a still alarm "Unknown Condition" so incoming units are slightly delayed. 

You have the crew deploy a line and go to complete a 360.  You walk through the breeze way and see this...

If video does not play, click here http://youtu.be/IQkJ9Sdm3HQ

1 minute before first unit's arrival

What is your plan?  Your apparatus is on the opposite side.  Do you change your postition?  If you stay do you stretch your lines through the breeze way or go around?  What line are you pulling?

Interior Doors

Thank you Captain Prange (Q19A) for the pictures.

       Look at this average looking shelf from a home to the north of Austin.  Now look below to see this is a hidden door into a media room.  Would you find this or be expected to find this on a primary search?  How about a secondary?

The truth of the matter is that builders and home owner's do not build houses expecting them to catch on fire. They add cool features that sell houses and make it a unique place to live.  We should be aware of these things to the best of our ability.  This particular home owner is a friend of an Austin firefighter and the friend said he never thought of the implications on firefighters.

Is the home owner's job to build a firefighter friendly home or our job to adapt as best we can?

Fire in south Austin

If the video does not play, click here http://youtu.be/XyjQ7hfnFWY

 

Saw this on youtube.   I was not there but looks like they are getting cut off in place and are about to get a good knockdown good job southies....

FF falls from Ladder

If the video does not play click here http://youtu.be/Xi5ZsUKxZvM

This is an avoidable incident.  What ways do you secure a ladder besides the obvious?  Everything from driving the pic on a halligan...  What are the pros and cons of your ideas?  Dig in the toolbox.

Cincinnati Heavy Rescue 9 Compartments

Compartment pics from Andrew Brassard.

Pawn Shop Parapet Collapse

Thank you Ruben Menchaca (E25B) for the following write up and video from a pawn shop parapet/awning collapse.

 

Jollyville E38 arrived 3rd in to an AFD fire at a pawn shop. It was a very humid night with a slight breeze blowing from the charlie/delta corner to the alpha/bravo corner. Smoke condition was very heavy and hugging the ground. AFD units were attempting to force entry at the front door and had a attack line ready (these units were barely visible due to the smoke). Jollyville E38 was assigned to cut off utilities (on the bravo side). Another AFD unit was forcing entry at the rear door near the charlie/delta corner as E38 finished with utilities. I remember hearing "we have forced entry at the rear" on the radio, shortly after that a mayday was transmitted indicating firefighters down at the alpha side. E38 came back to the front to find the collapse and intensifying fire conditions. The down firefighters were pulled out by their crews. A PAR was immediately initiated and a defensive operation ensued.

 

If the video does not play, click here http://youtu.be/8A_bDQMPtTk