Newark Bar Removal

Nice video showing how to defeat different types of bars.  Does your department use truck guys or a Ric team to remove these? 

Chain Saw- Adjusting Chain Tension

Video link http://youtu.be/g9Hzr7sEZOI

 



Nozzle Forward

http://youtu.be/QzIsAN-V3lA

This is a sneak peak into a world of hose movement that will change the way you get work done.  It's called fire attack for a reason. 

Colorado Water Rescue

http://5280fire.com/?p=46544

Thanks Brass for the link to this rescue.
Share this with your crews.
What would be your department tactics?

Rotary Saw- Adjusting Belt Tension

Video link http://youtu.be/P1yygBRCcbM

 

 



Roof Remodel

Engine 26A stopped by a building remodel to check out the roof construction.  This was a great opportunity to see two types of roofs and extended to a discussion of parapets, void spaces, and forcible entry.

The construction crews were removing a "gravel roof" and replacing it with a "TPO" (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) roof.  The gravel roof consists of metal decking, foam (about 2"), tar, and gravel.  This particular roof had two layers from a previous remodel.  The foreman on site said city code only allows for two layers so they had to remove both layers before installing the new roof. The building across the parking lot only has one layer so they will put the new roof directly on top.

The TPO roof consists of metal decking, insulating foam (3.3" in this case), and the TPO membrane. The foam may be thicker in other applications.  The foreman said a 1/2" of foam adds 6 to the R-value.

 Old roof, two layers.

 New foam layer, the TPO membrane is being pulled back.

  Stacks of foam insulation.

So what's your plan to cut?  Will you handle the gravel roof differently from the TPO?  The rotary saw probably will not go deep enough on one pass.  If you use a rotary saw you will likely have to make one cut remove the material and them make a second cut inside the first.  The chain saw will work on many of these materials but you have to be careful about hitting metal beams as they can throw or break the chain.

 10' drop off behind parapet.

 From the inside.

 Void space in the parapet.

Interior of building.

 Forcible entry discussion.  How would you handle this door?  We discussed starting traditional but it probably would not work.  With a good size-up and prior knowledge you might realize this is a panic/drop bar that is most always engaged.  It is not removed everyday like a traditional drop bar.

We discussed cutting the bolts or completely cutting a rectangle around the pair of bolts.  Last resort might be a doggie door (horizontal cut, edge to edge under the panic hardware.

Take a look around out there after your next call and see what you find.

Saw Daily Check

Everyone seems to have their own version of what a daily check includes.  Some check fluids, some start and shut down and some go through a general maintenance check.  Here is a solid version of the daily check.

What is your daily check?

Video link http://youtu.be/bhx7rlg6Xrc

 

 

1991 Rescue paving the way

Video link http://youtu.be/mBdS1QV3lII

One of the coolest rescues on tape.  Yeah I said on tape get your VCR's out.

Door Control Owning the Attack Corridor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uans40KdVI

LA county fire attack study UL

This video is along with the UL study about to be released.  It considers flow path and how the introduction of air can increase the chances of flashover.  Give this video the 7 minutes it deserves.  Love the message in the video to go ahead and cool the upper atmosphere as you advance into the structure.  You control the fire with water and not giving it oxygen, it goes out plain and simple. 

Apparatus Positioning

A follower of StreetSmart sent this drawing in of a recent fire (E1 represents the first in, E2 second in etc.).  As you can see the engine companies took the front of the address and the ladders were boxed out to the side.  I was not at this fire and I don't know exactly how it all happened, this is just the end result.

This fire, along with previous fire where the engines took the front of the address, started a lot of discussion at my station on ways to improve our positioning.  The general thought in our department is to get the engines moved down to give the front of the address to the first in ladder.

The picture below shows a fire that happened after the discussion.  The first in engine pulled past the house viewing all three sides.  The second in engine pulled passed the first in engine leaving the front of the house open (1st and 2nd engines go straight to the scene in our department).  The truck pulled in front of the house.  The third in engine (water supply) came to the scene and pulled 200' of 5" to a hydrant.  The second ladder had to park about three houses down.  The rescue parked down the street with the 4th in engine.

 

View facing east

View facing west

In general this is what we look for in positioning apparatus at a house fire but every situation can be improved upon.  What could have been done better?  How would your department have handled this situation?

Streetsmart days

DC fence not a good day for that guy

What are your actions to stabilize the fence and victim?
What is your tool of choice?
Interesting thanks Brass.


******************************************************************************************
The following picture are from a previous post.  This training was presented by PL Vulcan Fire Training at FDIC 2013.  Although different from the above scenario it shows how we secured the victim to the fence and cut the fence to remove the victim with the fence still attached.

We used a portable band saw which worked great.  Minimal vibration if any and no heat build up.

Roof Covering

 
    This roof covering was found on a roof top patio downtown.  It has removable concrete panels that reveal the actual roof below.  Not sure how common this is.

    The last picture shows a tool that is designed to remove the panels but they can also be pried with a screwdriver.

Come Along

Yesterday after a house fire the Rescue Co. and Truck Co. worked together to remove a vehicle with a come along.  We are working to make a general video on the come along and high lift jack, but in the mean time, please respond to the following question.

If you were on a fire scene with 20 other fire fighters from your department, how many would know how to use a come along effectively and efficiently?

Streetsmart Firefighter Days

 

On September 18th and 19th we will be running totally free training sessions 4 hours a day in the afternoon from 1pm till 5 pm.  This will be held on a monthly basis and the back to back dates will be a mirror image of each other so all shifts can go.  It will be open to surrounding departments also.  It will be different topics every month but the first will be Fire streams and hose deployments.  More details will be coming soon but here is a taste.

http://youtu.be/KDk7jztOe4E

http://youtu.be/RCZqIzJGvgA