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It’s in the Basement!……but where is the Basement?

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Uh, what the *%#$? Are you flexible enough to get to the stairs, good luck making the push down them to fight fire.

“It’s in the basement” can be a frantic transmission heard on the fireground.  Often, it’s one that heightens our awareness and can trigger the myriad of tactical decisions that are imperative for basement fire success.  Basement fires can be some of the most dangerous and challenging fires we face.  In the residential structure they can be especially dangerous, all you have to do is review many recent “close calls” and several line of duty deaths.

The run-of-the-mill basement fire possesses enough challenges for the Combat Ready Company, day in and day out.  Some of  these challenges include:  the presence of lightweight components (eager to fail and drop you into the basement), the task of finding and maintaining control of the basement door, and the absolutely essential coordination of multiple hoselines to extinguish the fire.

Imagine if you added to the litany of issues in the challenge of finding a basement / cellar door.  How long do you think that we would be searching for the steps that are located behind the storage doors of an entertainment center!

We recently discovered this “cosmetic covering” of a basement stair entrance during a walk-through of a local assisted living residential facility.  This would certainly only add to the complexity of a basement fire in this structure.

As pictured below, the basement entrance appears to be part of the entertainment center.  It only becomes obvious when you open the door.  There are no indicator signs to what is behind the door.  Imagine a firefighter attempting to enter and descend these stairs.  Compounding this downward obstruction is the cheap construction of the open wooden steps that lead down, certain to fail quickly in fire conditions.

To be Combat Ready we must:

  • Identify these areas in our response areas.
  • Share the information with our fellow firefighters who may respond with us.
  • Prepare for how we will overcome this obstacle and do your job – get to the seat of  the fire!

Thanks to the firefighters at Fairfax Firehouse 10 for spotting this during a routine medical local call.

A view down the rickety steps

Looks like an ordinary run of the mill entertainment center....

This is actually the entrance to basement.

Posted by Dan Shaw on August 19, 2010 • Filed under: Combat Ready, Engine Company, RIT / Survival, Tips & Skills, fires • Tagged: , , , , , ,

The Combat Ready Engine Company – Pony Sleeves

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Long setbacks can make hoseline deployment difficult.

We Bring Water!

Much like forcible entry, when we consider hose loads and hoseline deployment we must have a “Plan A, B, C, D”, etc, to get our Engine Companies hoseline in place and ready to put water on the fire.

That said, is every building in your district within 200’ or 250’ of where we park our Engine Company Apparatus?  Obviously, the answer is no.  Then why do we as a fire service continue to train and design our preconnected hose loads to reflect this ridiculous notion? (more…)

Posted by Dan Shaw on June 7, 2010 • Filed under: Combat Ready, Engine Company, Tips & Skills, Training Resources, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

NFPA 1407 – R.I.T. – Part II

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In our first post on R.I.T, we reviewed the new “NFPA Standard for Rapid Intervention #1407 ” and its role in defining RIT training.  In this is second blog post we will take a look at the rest of the NFPA 1407 document.  On the fireground, No one is coming in for us, but more of us…  We need to be sure that we are ready to go to work as a member of a R.I.T Company.

RITCache

If you missed Part 1 of this series, you can find it here

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Posted by Dan Shaw on April 14, 2010 • Filed under: Combat Ready, Company News, Incident Command, RIT / Survival, Tips & Skills, Training Resources, Truck Company, Uncategorized, fire-prevention-education, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, in-the-line-of-duty, news, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

NFPA 1407, New Standard on Rapid Intervention Training……

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Recently, a new NFPA standard was released that impacts Rapid Intervention Team Training. Along with a few other  items,”NFPA 1407:  Standard for Training Fire Service Rapid Intervention Crews, 2010 Edition” has formalized the training requirements for members who participate in RIT and for those who serve as leaders of a RIT.  The document provides a framework for identifying the skills that are necessary to be included in training for RIT and for training in Firefighter Safety and Survival.1407.1

The wording in the NFPA standard is clear to point out that the document does not attempt to address the operational deployment of the R.I.T.  But, as is found with most of the training we do, the training mirrors what we do…when we go to work. (more…)

Posted by Dan Shaw on March 29, 2010 • Filed under: Company News, RIT / Survival, Tips & Skills, Training Resources, Truck Company, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Pistol grips are made for one thing… Pistols

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6a010534b1b78f970c011570190563970b-800wi-1.jpgI don’t think any trade journal, instructional manual, or firefighter in the Country would disagree….the key to putting out fires relies heavily upon the selection, deployment and operation of the initial hoseline.   How many times have we heard the late Andrew Frederick’s quote used, “If you put the fire out, you won’t have to jump out the window” in the course of general firehouse conversation.  Yet, as a collective Fire Service we occasionally still screw this up.  Miscues with the first hoseline do not occur in just one particular phase (selection, deployment or operation), rather there seems to be a random sampling in each. (more…)

Posted by Dan Shaw on January 9, 2010 • Filed under: Combat Ready, Engine Company, Tips & Skills, fire-rescue-topics, firefighting-operations, fires, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , ,

Crawling or Falling?

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Traditional Search

A show of hands…How many firefighters, in the course of a zero visibility training drill or while searching at a working fire, have crawled headfirst into a wall or piece of furniture?  How many firefighters have been part of a human “search” train, and when the leader crawls into a wall, the other searchers “rear-end” the partner in front of them?

If you got certified as a firefighter in the USA, you should be waving your arm wildly in the air as to affirm that you have used your head for scouting large, unmovable objects…

(more…)

Posted by Dan Shaw on November 2, 2009 • Filed under: Combat Ready, Engine Company, RIT / Survival, Tips & Skills, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mayday Triggers…

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Let’s say, that in the course of doing what we do, we are as diligent as possible in preparing and delivering our training.   Yet we certainlyfdny12404 can run the fire that flashes over on the crew, the building suffers a partial collapse, God forbid, a brother goes down. We are now faced with a definitive Mayday situation but, have we prepared our personnel for this situation?  Do they call a Mayday for a partial collapse?  Do they know what a Mayday situation is?  Or, are they waiting for someone else to call it?

We all know that you cannot expect compliance out of personnel if there is not standard for them to be held accountable for. Ok, to simplify it: if your members have never been taught what Mayday triggers are, how we can expect they will recognize when to call one?

I think we have all heard, “Oh, I would know when to call a Mayday”.  Is that really accurate?  Are we willing to take that gamble? (more…)

Posted by Dan Shaw on March 30, 2009 • Filed under: Combat Ready, RIT / Survival • Tagged:

Doomsday Training…

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We spend a considerable amount of time in the fire service discussing Rapid Intervention Team training and preparation.  This training is indeed necessary and appropriate to comply with 2-in, 2-out and to review procedures in our operational manuals / S.O.P’s. However, this training should be no different than practicing pulling lines because you ride in an Engine everyday or conducting a primary search drill because you ride a Truck. These basic tasks are an expectation on the fireground every time, as is the assumption of a potential RIT activation.

AnnandaleFire

The caveat is that we do not typically practice pulling lines every time by creating hazards (jamming lines under doors, intentionally kinking hose, or breaking the nozzle) so why should we continue to train RIT and Mayday situations only in this “doomsday” approach.

(more…)

Posted by Dan Shaw on March 25, 2009 • Filed under: RIT / Survival

So now you have "Command"

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Election night is over and you were elected to an Officer position or you just got the call from the Chief that you got promoted. Regardless of your affiliation, you are the new “Loo” and tomorrow you will go from riding the backstep to sitting in right front seat….now what?

The admin part you got, the training your probies part you got (in-part from visiting the TT weblog), the “lead the guys down the stairs” part, well either you got it or you don’t by now. The question that remains is, are you prepared for your first working fire while riding that right front seat as the officer in charge?

 Your first call is a reported building fire and you arrive second due. The Chief is responding but still a while out and tells you to hold “Command” until he gets there. Now you must be ready to manage a working fire.

p10100011

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Posted by Dan Shaw on February 4, 2009 • Filed under: Incident Command

Chock that Door!

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Recently, NIOSH released the report on the LODD of Allan Roberts (BCFD) that occurred on 10/10/06 in Greek town neighborhood of Baltimore City. FF Roberts died at a fire in the middle of the group row home in which, due to numerous factors, he and his crew became trapped inside the dwelling. The report is an excellent training document for you to review with your members because the conditions faced that day are re-created everyday all across the Country. Here is a link to the report:

Baltimore City Fire Service

The fortunate aspect of our occupation, the associated LODD’s, and subsequent comprehensive reports that follow is that they validate what we train on and why we train on these particular skills. The contributing factor and recommendations in the report that each and every firefighter should review, and is the focus of this posting, is surrounding the chocking of doors. FF Roberts and his crew became trapped inside the dwelling when they fell back into the front metal door which caused the 1 3/4″ hoseline to became jammed under the door. Aside from this obstacle that was limiting their egress, they also had to deal with the fact that the three of them were piled up behind the door in high heat / zero visibility conditions. Essentially, no one could get in or get out because the hoseline was jammed under the door. If this scenario sounded unrealistic before, now we know it is not, and can happen to anyone. So what do we learn to take this factor out of the equation? Chock every door we go through.

hosejammedundersoor

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Posted by Dan Shaw on November 26, 2008 • Filed under: Uncategorized

Building Construction and Basement Fires

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Quite often, we find websites to share with you that have some great info, which is the case with UL University. They have conducted a study on fires in Single Family Dwellings, in particular “Structural Stability of Engineered Lumber in Fire Conditions”.  I recommend that you log in and view this presentation with your shift, on your duty crew night, or just for your own knowledge. 

tahoeholeinfloor1

Basement Fires and Collapse:

One of the most compelling items I pulled from the presentation is the T.I.C. portion. If we asked 100 FF’s what they view as the most dangerous fires that they could encounter in a SFD, I would venture to say a majority would say “basement fires”. They are hard to find, they are hot, they create zero visibility, and if not put out quickly they turn into a FF’s nightmare.

(more…)

Posted by Dan Shaw on November 4, 2008 • Filed under: Training Resources, Uncategorized

What's in My Pockets: Dan Shaw

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We have talked about in previous posts that what we carry is based on the space you have available, the rig you ride, and the experience you have gained from running calls. Since I ride an Engine everyday, my focus is on the simple, yet sometimes challenging, task of putting water on the fire by stretching and operating hoselines. 

 

 

 

 

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Posted by Dan Shaw on October 2, 2008 • Filed under: Tips & Skills, Uncategorized

The Garage Door revisited

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Hopefully, we have all seen the video from the 80′s that shows the companies operating a handline on a house fire and members outside in the driveway watching as the door slowly closes, cutting off the line and causing the mad scramble to get the members, who are out of air, and banging on the door. If you have not, it is attached below. 

Most of us watch the video and, as we do with a lot of close calls and LODD, wonder how could that have had happened. Well, as old as the video is the situation occurred recently while I was operating at a rather “routine” house fire. The situation concerning this incident was not an indictment of the actions of the personnel but rather another example of how a routine incident became anything but….

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Posted by Dan Shaw on September 17, 2008 • Filed under: Engine Company, Tips & Skills, Truck Company • Tagged: ,

Back to Basics Drill

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Put it in the category of oldie-but-a- goodie, but here is a drill for you to run at your Firehouse that requires minimal setup but will achieve maximum results. We have seen too many LODD’s and close calls that fall into the “lost/disoriented” category that may have been prevented. Most have not done a hose coupling identification drill in zero visibility since recruit school but it only takes one time when you are in trouble to understand how important this skill is to have.

Have each person black out their face piece and follow a 1 3/4″ hose line for about 50-100′ feet, than take the next section of hose and jumble it up (put it in knots, over couches, under the Engine Co., etc.)so that the FF will have to carefully follow it. When they get to the next coupling, have them identify which way is towards the fire, and which way is towards the exit. Record the results and review with everyone afterwards, hopefully you will have 100% success but unfortunately, you probably will not. Try to come up with new and innovative ways to remember how to get out, for instance, smooth – bump – bump to the pump. Which equates to the smooth male coupling to the first lugs and than the female lugs and out to the Engine and safety. Post your comments for all to learn and share

 

Posted by Dan Shaw on August 27, 2008 • Filed under: Tips & Skills

You're on the Truck and given the assignment to vent the roof. Easy, right?

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You are riding the truck and arrive at a working fire in an elementary school. The Chief assigns you to vent the roof because the Engine is having a hard time making the push to get to the seat of the fire and Truck is crying that it is too hot (as they often do!). Sounds easy right? Imagine the first picture is Side Adam and you have a considerable amount of smoke and fire showing, seems managable, you’ll head to roof, determine the area over top the fire, make your cut, and the companies will be able to complete their jobs. One problem, take a look at the next set of pictures, the roof is a ball field and playground! As our society becomes more “green”, this technique of building schools to use the earth to assist in insulating is becoming more common. Talk amongst your crew and devise how you would vent the roof? What would be your game plan? What would be your radio report to the Chief? 

The key to this fire and getting out and knowing your area. Just like a cop who walks the beat, we need to know our buildings before they are on fire.

side-adam
roof-shot
roof-shot-3


Posted by Dan Shaw on August 22, 2008 • Filed under: Truck Company