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Beyond the Academy Video Training Series – Engine Operations: Hydraulic Ventilation

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Check out the newest Beyond the Academy Video Training Series. This one is entitled "Engine Company Operations: Hydraulic Ventilation with a Smooth-bore/Solid Stream Nozzle.

Many fire service members believe that a fog nozzle is the only nozzle that can be used for ventilation, and "prefer" a fog nozzle for that reason. These techniques show that a solid stream nozzle can be used as a hydraulic ventilation tool as well.  We do not entertain the "Smooth-bore vs. Fog" nozzle debate, but we do have our preference.

As Tom Brennan stated when asked about his preference: "A smooth-bore nozzle doesn't make a terrible engine company a good engine company, and a fog nozzle doesn't make a good engine company a terrible engine company!"

Regardless of which one you use, know your tools, the capabilities and the drawbacks. 

Feel free to discuss on this blog.

Posted by on November 26, 2011 • Filed under: Attack Line, Brotherhood Topics, Email Drill Questions, Engine Company Ops, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Ventilation, videos

Coordinated Ventilation – Part II by Nate DeMarse

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I stumbled upon a couple videos that drive home points made in the earlier Coordinated Ventilation post. These videos clearly show answers to previously asked questions, and bring up some new discussion tips as well. This is precisely how we should be training at drills and training burns. I don't know where this department is, but they are a class act in training!

Video #1 – The OV Position:

In the first video, we see an Outside Ventilation (OV) firefighter in the correct position to horizontally vent the building opposite the attack line's advance. Note that at the very beginning of the video, the Nozzle Team is advancing the hose line THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR and to the seat of the fire. The door is forced, and they are moving in when the windows are taken.

The firefighter is off to one side of the window, and takes the window located furthest from him first. This assures that he will be able to vent both windows without delay. If the window closest to the firefighter is vented first, and fire vents from the opening the second (furthest window) may have to be abandoned. This is especially true if operating on a portable ladder or fire escape. 

Video #2 – Points & Pointers:

I am not certain, but I think the video below is another angle of the same video above (a very rare occurance in our profession). If it is not the same fire, we are going to use it like it is for the purposes of driving home a point.

As I stated in the comments in Part I, "We should also wait if the line is delayed in getting into position, charged and READY TO MAKE THE PUSH on the fire. There is a vast difference in a line being there, a line being charged, and all of the members masked up and ready to push in." This video starts with a charged attack line, but the door hasn't been forced. If the OV takes the windows prematurely, this fire will continue to spread and grow as the line is not ready to advance. After entry is gained, you can hear the officer telling the OV to "take that glass".

Entering the Building Side-Note:  At the :35 second mark, you will see the camera move to the front stoop of the house. Note the visibility at the floor level! You can see nearly ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE HOUSE. Yet nearly every single firefighter that entered the building entered either standing or slight crouched with their head in the smoke, unable to see ANYTHING! I will reiterate at this point that I am not beating up on this department, THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE!!

Take a second after the door is forced to put your face piece directly on the floor and look UNDER the smoke. This requires you to get on your knees to accomplish. The nice thing about taking a look at the floor level is that you have to physically, consciously make a decision to stand-up to enter after you look.

Here are a few other benefits that stem from taking a few seconds to get low and take a look:

  • You allow the heat and super-heated gases that have built up in the sealed building a few seconds to "blow" and push over your head. This in turn will cause the smoke to lift off of the floor, and allow for the following:
    • You will be able to see a victim lying on the floor 10 feet or further inside the doorway, at that point you can say you conducted a rescue instead of tripping over someone and pretending that you rescued them! The Medal Ceremony will sound supurb, but you will know the truth!
    • You will be able to get a room, floor or apartment layout.
    • You will be able to see the glow of the fire on the floor, or the fire itself. You will know that it is on the right side of the hall, three doorways down.
    • You wlll see the large hole in the floor five feet inside the house and not fall into the basement and promptly call a "Mayday" within seconds of entering the building.

You will know all of this information at the front door, without walking (not searching) blindly. Then, because you are already on your knees conducting this vital size-up skill, you will enter the building safely on your knees, crawling towards your objective(s). When we couple the skills listed in this side-note with the OV performing those tasks in the correct position and the correct time, you will have the opportunity to gather vital information before entering.

THESE TASKS ALLOW US TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND SAFE! 
(and yes, those words can be used together)!

Forcible Entry Side-Note: The Forcible Entry team did a good job on the door. If you look closely, on the fourth swing the Striking FF nearly misses high with the axe. With hand placement so close to the axe-head, just a little more of a miss could have caused a crush injury. Believe it or not, in our travels this is the most common cause of injury in forcible entry (almost always resulting in at least one broken finger). To remedy that concern, This video (one of our first created nearly 2 years ago) shows safe striking techniques. Additionally, Brotherhood Instructors, LLC axes now have our company markings (colored electrical tape) 6"-7" below the head of the axe. Any firefighter using our axes know that if they place their top hand where the tape is, their hands are in the safe zone. Again, this is a very common injury and very rarely do we get a chance to catch forcible entry tools and members practicing their craft.

I think this fire department is doing a great job in getting their training done as we operate. Far too may training burns just walk members through the motions, leaving them with a false sense of security of what a real fire will be like (i.e: setting themselves up for failure). This department has their members on the radio, and conducting coordinated ventilation and fire attack. These videos left some open some great discussion points using realistic training and errors that occur on EVERY fireground!

Feel free to post comments, questions or concerns. We are all here to learn so let the learning commence!

Respectfully,
Nate DeMarse
Co-Owner, Brotherhood Instructors, LLC.

 

Posted by on November 2, 2011 • Filed under: Attack Line, Email Drill Questions, Engine Company Ops, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, Forcible Entry, Ladder Company Ops, Search, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Ventilation, videos

Tactical Discussion: Apartment Fire w/ Critical Decisions by: Nate DeMarse

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We first saw this video on Backstep Firefighter. An excellent video surfaced this week that addresses some very critical decisions that must be made in seconds at this early arriving apartment fire in downtown Mamaroneck, New York.  I want to preface this discussion by saying that the Fire Department in Mamaroneck did an OUTSTANDING job in getting several things accomplished simultaneously with very limited manpower. They were confronted with a very complex situation, including a complex laddering problem that they overcame without hesitation.

It appears that the first due engine has arrived to a heavy fire condition in at least one room on the second floor of a three story apartments over stores "downtown-type" building that is common across the entire North American region. In reality, this fire could have happened in nearly ANY TOWN in North America. So since it COULD HAPPEN in your town, here are a few questions to discuss the incident.

There is a visible victim at the top floor window in obvious distress. As we say at every Brotherhood Instructors, LLC course, I am going to step out of my "FDNY Manpower Fantasy World" and attempt to stir a discussion that applies to the other 95% of the firefighting world.  You are arriving with an "now-standard" engine staffed with THREE (including the boss). If you have a total of four, you are extremely lucky, and feel free to answer accordingly. The next due engine and/or truck is 4-5 minutes out.  How and when are we addressing the following concerns from the video:

1) Do we stretch the line to confine/extinguish the fire first or do we go for the ladder rescue? Why? What are the pros and cons of each?

2) Can you split your company to get both accomplished at once? If so how? What are the implications?

3) What sized portable ladder (if it was available on your engine) would you use to reach the 3rd floor sill?

4) What are other options to the portable ladder in the front?

5) What size attack line are you pulling to attack this second floor fire?

6) What are the forcible entry concerns at this fire? Type of door, locks, etc…?

Please copy and paste the questions into your reply below, and answer using your name & department. Keep in mind that we have a lot of young firefighters on this blog that read our posts  to learn, so if you have something throw it down even if you think it is very basic. To the young guys: DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS!

Now take a look at the photos below (bing.com, birds-eye-view) for some added size-up discussion. Unless you were intimately familiar with this building during inspections, EMS runs, water leaks, etc… this building can cause you some complex problems.

1) The fire is located on the 2nd floor, but the 3rd floor is only about 1/2 or 3/4 the depth of the building. Does this now become a top floor fire? How are you getting to the lower level (2nd floor roof) in the rear? How would you communicate this?

As a Roof Firefighter, in my opinion your game plan has now changed. I would be expecting to go up there and force a skylight, scuttle and/or bulkhead and do a perimeter survey. This won't be the case at this job. This is a perfect scenario to drive the point home of crawling or probing with a tool in front of you in a limited visibility condition. If you do not in this case, you can take a 1 story fall to the rear roof, rendering you injured or worse.

2) Note the potential VES opportunity that may be available on the Exposure 2(B) roof. It appears from the overview photo that the window in the A-B (1-2) corner may lead to the same room that the victim is trapped. There are also similar VES opportunities in the rear (2nd floor roof) if needed.

Feel free to add further questions or stir discussion. Remember, we strictly moderate our blog discussions. Keep it professional and to sign your posts. NO UNSIGNED POSTS or posts that simply bash the department (which would be very hard in this case) will be allowed.  Stay safe!

 

 

 

Posted by on July 14, 2011 • Filed under: Attack Line, command-leadership, Engine Company Ops, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, Forcible Entry, Ladder Company Ops, Ladders, rescues, Roof Ops, Search, Stretching, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, videos

Video: Removing Glass Block Windows

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Removing glass-block windows can be tricky and/or time-consuming if you are unaware of the methods to defeat them.  In this video, we explain the quickest and most-efficient methods of defeating glass-block windows.

Of course any firefighter can simply start smashing blocks and get the window opened.  The point of this video is to use a systematic approach to conduct this task with the least amount of work.  After all, very few buildings have only ONE of these windows.  If there is one, typically there are more.

In larger windows, members must be aware of large amounts of falling block that can injure a firefighter.  Always be aware of what will or can fall, and remember that essentially you are causing a small “block-wall collapse” as you take these windows.

———–

Note:

I would like to thank Commissioner Hoff of the Chicago Fire Department for this tip.  In one of the first courses of my career, then Battalion Chief Hoff took time to show a small-town, 17-year old volunteer this method, and it has stuck with me. It is a prime lesson of “working smarter, not harder” to get the job done.

Respectfully,
Nate DeMarse
Co-Owner, Brotherhood Instructors, LLC.

Posted by on January 31, 2011 • Filed under: Attack Line, Engine Company Ops, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, Forcible Entry, Ladder Company Ops, RIT or FAST Operations, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Ventilation, videos • Tagged:

Flat-Roof Operations: Safely Traversing the Roof

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This is a series of photos resembles what you may see upon arrival.

Take a look at the last shot of the 4-side (d-side) at the roof level. The owners of this building sealed up the shaft at the roof what appears to be nothing more than a sheet of plywood. The weight of a fully geared firefighter would almost certainly fall through this if they stepped on this “feature of the building”.

Take a few seconds to give the building a look from the ground before heading to the roof. This dangerous feature would be invisible if looking at it on the roof. It will look like a substantial roof from front to rear, and you will have no way of knowing about the presence of the shaft on the 4-side.

One other tell-tale sign (not present in this photo) deals with the parapet wall. If a parapet wall runs front to rear, and there is a 10-15 foot opening in that parapet wall, this may be a sealed up shaft area.

Stay away from these areas while traversing the roof! They are deadly.

Stay safe!

Posted by on January 21, 2011 • Filed under: Building Alteration-Renovation, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, Ladder Company Ops, Ladders, RIT or FAST Operations, Roof Ops, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Ventilation • Tagged:

A Tribute to Major Richard Winters, Easy Company

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This is an interview with Major Dick Winters of Easy Company.  Some may remember Major Winters from the HBO mini-series “Band of Brothers”.  This hard-charging, extremely efficient leader’s character was depicted by actor Damien Lewis.  If you didn’t catch the series, it is certainly a MUST-WATCH!  This interview specifically is depicted in Episode II: Day of Days.

I believe that all firefighters and fire officers in today’s fire service can take a lesson from Major Winters.  The above video is Major Winters discussing in his own words Easy Company’s assault on Brecourt Manor in Normandy, France on the morning of June 6th, 1944 (D-Day).  We’ll dissect this video to pull some fire service parallels that may be drawn:

20s: Colonel Strayer orders a young officer (then First Lieutenant Dick Winters) to “take care of that fire coming from the right flank”, referencing the (4) 105mm guns that were “zeroed” on the causeway (landing zones) on Utah Beach, dug into a hedgerow.  There is no micro-management, he is just simply ordered to take care of a problem!  Major Winters then comments that Colonel Strayer didn’t know that Winters only had twelve men.  Twelve members to take on a heavily entrenched and extremely dangerous foe! Sound familiar to many?

35s: Major Winters discusses his reconnaissance of the enemy position that he was ordered to eliminate.  We call this a pre-plan in our business.  In our courses, we like to get everyone thinking that every run should be treated like a pre-plan.  Remember subtle things about the building so you can recall them at a later time.  How are the doors locked? How many stairways are in the building? What doors are blocked? The presence window bars, etc.  Major Winters conducted his own size-up noting that he found a “connecting trench”.

45s: Major Winters discusses the results of his reconnaissance (pre-plan).  He recognizes the “connecting trench” that he is confronted with, and recalls the correct way to attack this position.  In our world, he is conducting SIZE-UP.  He is gathering information that is immediately available, recalling training and previous experience to formulate a plan of attack.  He already had a plan-of-attack because soldiers before him had been confronted with similar situations.  He plugs in the people (riding list) to where they will be most efficient (pre-determined job assignments) to conduct this operation and eliminate the German resistance.

1m 12s: Major Winters describes the textbook execution of an assault on a connecting trench.  Major Winters and Easy Company with TWELVE members took on a well dug-in artillery and machine gun emplacement of over 50 German soldiers.  Easy Company disabled four guns that were “zeroed” in on the landing causeway on Utah Beach.  They killed 15 of the enemy (wounded many more) and captured 12 prisoners.  Upon taking Brecourt Manor, they also captured a map with nearly every gun emplacement in Normandy.  When he describes this assault for Steven Ambrose for “Band of Brothers”, he simply describes the operation as “a simple frontal assault with covering fire”.  In our world, this is the OPERATION.  With training, experience, well-informed leaders and men that trust their instincts, their training and their leader (officer), they execute a seemingly impossible task with extreme professionalism and efficiency.

After the assault on the gun emplacements at Brecourt Manor, then First Lieutenant Dick Winters was given command of Easy Company (previous commander killed in the overnight jump).  This was followed by a promotion to Captain on July 2nd, less than a month later.  Colonel Sink recommended Winters for the Medal of Honor for his actions at Brecourt Manor that morning, but only one member of Easy Company was to receive that award.  Major Winters instead received the Distinguished Service Cross, and Silver and Bronze Stars awarded to the members that participated in the assault.  In our world, perhaps Major Winters would be called a “buff”, “gong”, “nerd” or “fan” if he was a firefighter or officer in one of our firehouses.  The fact is, he knew what had to be done, how to do it and who to plug into the various positions to get the job done.  An OUTSTANDING leader of an OUTSTANDING company.

Later in life, when asked if he thought of himself as a hero, he responded “No! but I served in a company of heros!”

This was ONE DAY in a great man’s career in the military!  So why do we recognize Major Winters today?  Unfortunately, Major Winters passed away on January 2nd, 2011 at the age of 92.  He led a full and great life, and I am sure that there were several nights that he thought he may not see 40.  We recognize him for the lives he touched, the lives he saved, the men he led and the absolutely efficient operation that he was in command of in World War II.

Thank you brother.  You will be sorely missed, as will all veterans of your era that continue to fall in only increasing numbers.  Godspeed, and watch over us always!

Respectfully,

Nate DeMarse
Co-Owner, Brotherhood Instructors, LLC.

Reference: CMOH Website of Major Richard Winters

Posted by on January 11, 2011 • Filed under: administration-leadership, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighting-operations, news, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged:

Commercial & Industrial Warehouse Fire Considerations – By Nate DeMarse

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This drill was previously posted on our old Online Drills page on January 29th, 2010.  We are gradually bringing our old content to the new blog site.

This photo provides a great overview of operations in a commercial-type warehouse. Several points of discussion are present:

- The roll-down gate was able to be raised without defeating it, most likely with this type of door, it was raised by using the chain inside the building. The door must be secured open in case of failure, and since this is a large door for a vehicle, conventional methods are not useful. Here a ladder company has used a 24′ portable ladder to assure that the door does not drop down pinching hose lines and trapping members. This is a very simple solution to an often overlooked and very dangerous issue.

- A heavy fire condition in the building with little or no smoke showing from the doorway. This indicates that vertical ventilation is working well, or that the ceilings are of very high and heat and smoke is building up drastically. Communication with members operating on the roof is paramount.

Members must be EXTREMELY AWARE of this build-up. In the photo, visibility is great, even near the fire area. This “false-sense of security” can lure members into trap-like conditions. Once the ceiling reaches the correct temperature, roll-over will occur and fire will rapidly drop down on the members and overwhelm hose lines (in some cases even 2 1/2″ hose lines). The only way to guard against this is by communication and awareness. Use thermal imaging cameras (also in the photo) and 2 1/2″ attack lines. The reach and “punch” of the stream will darken fire down well in advance of the nozzle team.

- The 10′ hook on the right side of the photo is also a must if ceilings must be pulled down. A member in this building with a 6′ hook is all but useless. As a rule, I will drop the 6′ hook and take a 10′ hook at most commercial fires. This will allow me to pull the multiple ceilings typically found in these old buildings. Don’t stop pulling until you’ve reached the roof boards. Sometimes, the 10′ hook can be used as a “thermometer” of sorts in the absence of a thermal imaging camera. You can extend the hook into the smoke above you, then lower it and CAREFULLY feel the head of the hook. This may give you an idea of the conditions above you if you cannot “see” them with a TIC. This will keep you from getting too deep, too fast and getting into trouble.

- A search rope is also present on a few members in this photo. Remember to secure the search rope on the EXTERIOR (parking meter, street light, rig, car, etc…) of the building regardless of conditions inside the building as you enter. Although clear in the building presently, if conditions deteriorate, you want the search line to bring you back to the street, NOT 20′ inside the door, which is now banked down to the floor and you have to “guess” the rest of the way.

- Water run-off: In this photo there is a single 2 1/2″ attack line flowing 250-300 gallons per minute. The trickle of water coming out of the overhead door is not nearly the amount of water being poured into the building. Perhaps it is going to a harmless point in the building, a drain, the basement, out another door due to the natural slope, etc…

What if it is not running off harmlessly? In this case it was being soaked into all of those pallets filled with antique furniture and other combustible and “sponge-like” items. Those items were stacked floor to ceiling, across TWO FLOORS of this 300×300 warehouse. Simple math: 250gpms at 8lbs per gallon = 2,000lbs (or 1 TON) of water per minute PER HOSE LINE! There were at least 8 attack lines on this fire during the offensive stage. That doesn’t even account for the floor load already present.

ALWAYS watch the water run-off. If it is going in, and not coming out it is going somewhere. This is equally important during exterior operations while utilizing master streams. After the bulk of the fire has been knocked down, the tendency is to enter the building to extinguish stubborn pockets of fire. The video below illustrates why that may not be such a good idea if the building is not allowing the water to run-off.

In the video above in Midtown Manhattan serves as a great purpose for watching water run off. D/C Vincent Dunn had command of this fire, and would not allow members to enter the building to extinguish pockets of fire. At :53 seconds, you will see his reasoning.  The early video of the fire, you see no run-off even though several tower ladders throw TONS of water per minute into the building. If you listen to the video, the building was FILLED FLOOR TO CEILING with shoe boxes (excellent sponges).  They flowed water via master streams for ELEVEN hours.  Listen closely to the audio at 1:50 as well. “Engineers” declared this building “structurally stable” 3hrs before the collapse.

Feel free to jump in with any comments or questions.  I also want to extend a warm welcome to the members of the firehouse that are keeping up with the current events of Brotherhood Instructors, LLC.

Have a Safe & Happy New Year!

Nate DeMarse
Brotherhood Instructors, LLC.
ndemarse.broinstructors@gmail.com

Posted by on January 1, 2011 • Filed under: firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, Ladder Company Ops, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, videos • Tagged:

FDNY: Taxpayer Fire Discussion – By Nate DeMarse

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This is a great pre-arrival series of videos shot from an elevated position. It appears that the neighbor shot this from his fire escape on the 4th or 5th floor. Great stuff since we don’t normally get to see this operation.

Here are the links to the Youtube videos, and a few tactical comments:

Video #1

Video #1: Early-arriving footage from prior to the FDs arrival until the first engine arrives. Note how the first-due engine (95) approached slowly and pulled past the building allowing room for the first due ladder company. It is equally important to note that the first due truck (36, an aerial ladder) also stayed out of the way so that a tower ladder (TL-46, 2nd due) could get position in case it was needed later (very common as we know). Keep an eye on smoke conditions, there is not much showing throughout the first video. Note the discoloration (darkened & lack of graffiti) on the top third/top half of the roll-down gates. This is a good indication that the fire is directly behind or is impinging on the roll-down gate. This gate is probably warped from the heat which will make it nearly impossible to roll-up conventionally (as it is designed). If we arrive to this condition, we should think about attacking the gate directly as they did.

Video #2

Video #2: In the beginning of the video, Engine 95 stretches a 2 1/2″ line to the front of the fire store. The engine drops the required amount of hose to cover the fire store, then proceeds to a hydrant. As the Control FF at a taxpayer fire, a quick “trick” is to take the depth of the store and double it. This will account for any fire on the first floor. It will also provide enough hose to reach a fire in the front of a cellar if the access stairs are in the rear.

Video #3

Video #3: On the right store, it appears that they did a modification of an “inverted-V” cut. I am not sure what happened as there is a bit of a skip in the video. After a few seconds they were able to pull the slats and drop the left half of the roll-down gate so water could be put on the fire. Note that the saws working on the store to the right of where the fire is issuing and the gate to the left (same store) are cutting the locks.

Video #4

Video #4: On the left store at the 1 minute mark, it appears that the members are attempting to raise the roll-down gate conventionally. At 2:33 they appear to abandon attempts to raise the roll-up gate and start to directly attack the gate. It appears that the intention of the “Irons” firefighter (on the saw) was to conduct a curtain cut. Members pulled the right side of the gate prior to the completion of his last cut (on the left side). We should always attempt to leave the gate intact until the cutting operation is complete. Note the several methods used to pull/drive the slats from the gate. Many techniques were used:
• At 3:30, they are using the pike of the Halligan to drive a hole in the slat and pull it out. Another member is using the Halligan from the other side to drive the slat out of the door.
• At 3:50, they use the pike of the Halligan to drive a hole in the slat and attempt to pull it out. When possible, put the hole in the slat using the pike of the Halligan prior to cutting the gate to avoid the “waving” action of the gate, shown in the video.
• At 4:00, they are using the Halligan to drive the slats out of the gate, this is complicated by the warping of the gate.
• At 4:25, they are using the pike of the Halligan, placed in a hole then striking the Halligan to drive the slat out of the gate
• At 5:25, and as a last resort, they cut the gate into sections
• At 7:00, on the far left store a member pulls the slats of a gate that is not warped by heat.

Video #5

Video #5: Some overhaul video. Note all of the crap on the sidewalk that is present at the front of these stores. Typically, this stuff is piled into the front windows and display cases for storage as seen at the 2:00 mark. Additionally, any items that are normally sold in the front of the store during normal business hours, will be jammed into the aisles at night, impeding any progress to the rear of the store.

An equally important note is that TL-33 was probably 4th due (or greater) at this box. Regardless of when TL-33 arrived, they were able to get into position and “touch” the building. Responding aerial ladders and engine companies left room for tower ladders as per FDNY protocol at taxpayer fires. The million dollar fire truck does no good if it can’t reach the building. First due Ladder 36 has laddered the roof almost 5 stores away from the main fire building, providing access/egress but remaining out of the way for tower ladders.

An outstanding operation captured on videotape of a typical taxpayer fire that was able to be “stopped”.  Much of the time, this is not the end result of a 99-cent store fire.

Feel free to jump in with any comments, questions or anything that you may have seen in the video that we didn’t point out.  Stay safe!

Posted by on December 21, 2010 • Filed under: Attack Line, command-leadership, Engine Company Ops, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, Forcible Entry, Ladder Company Ops, Ladders, Roof Ops, Search, Stretching, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Ventilation, videos, Water Supply • Tagged:

The American Series 2000 Padlock – By Nate Demarse

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A new youtube video has been posted to our channel.  Subscribe to us or become friends with us on Youtube.

All videos are also available on our players located throughout this page.

American Series 2000 Padlocks

Posted by on December 14, 2010 • Filed under: firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, Forcible Entry, Ladder Company Ops, RIT or FAST Operations, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, videos • Tagged:

Newark, New Jersey: Aggressive Engine Company Operations – By Nate DeMarse

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Youtube User Allhandsgoingtowork continues to catch and document outstanding work in New Jersey.  Below is some great early arriving footage of aggressive and professional fireground operations.  We are often asked why we don’t post more “engine stuff”.  I think the main reason is due to the lack of first-arriving or simultaneous arriving video cameras with the first due companies, and of the first-due footage that is available only a fraction of it is usable for teaching aggressive engine operations.  This video is obviously useful to discuss several points, and is an excellent example of an aggressive interior attack.

(for whatever reason, the “embed option” was disabled by the Youtube user.  The photo above is now a link to the Youtube video that will open up in a new window)

The video begins with a coordinated ventilation operation.  The door has been forced and the line is charged and ready to advance on the fire.  We are aware that the member that took the windows is not in full PPE.  Is this correct? Probably not.  Does it happen? It does.  That’s all of the discussion that we will have regarding the lack of PPE in this video.  Any further comments only pertaining to “lack of PPE” will not be posted.  There are plenty more points that were done correctly, and much more can be discussed and learned from those points.

The nozzle firefighter opens the line, and hits the exterior of the house before entry.  This is a very effective tactic for knocking down EXTERIOR FIRE ONLY, especially in the presence of “gasoline siding” or asphalt siding.  Fire can quickly extend to upper floors or expose other buildings when asphalt siding is present.  Keep in mind that asphalt siding may be present under vinyl or aluminum siding, and is just as much of a problem.  Again, it is not a bad move to knock down rapidly extending fire before making entry if the fire is ON THE EXTERIOR.  When the line gets placed inside the window, it defeats the purpose of coordinated ventilation.  Judging by the very brief duration that the nozzle was allowed to flow into the room, I think that it was an error that the stream was aimed in the window.  A firefighter (assuming the engine boss) appears to tell the nozzle firefighter to shut down and move into the building at the 00:12 mark, and the nozzle firefighter follows him in.

This was an OUTSTANDING example of an aggressive interior attack.  As the nozzle team moves into the building, take a look at the fire inside the building.  I was always taught (and we always teach) that just before making entry to put your face to the floor and look for a couple of seconds.  This video allows us to get a glimpse of what we may be looking for.  At 00:14 look under the smoke through the entry door.  You can see the location of the main body of fire, and the most direct route to access it.  You may also see room, hallway or furniture layouts or a victim laying on the floor.  All of these things are incredibly important in their own right, but you cannot see that if you are not on your knees or you don’t take a look.  At 00:30-00:35, the nozzle team makes the fire room, knocking down the main body of fire.  An OUTSTANDING JOB by a very aggressive and professional engine company.

Also take a look at what appears to be an outside vent firefighter taking a look on the 4(d) side around the same time.  He will be noting fire and smoke conditions, possible victims, the presence (or lack thereof) of fire escapes and the routes to VES the fire floor or floors above.  A simple transmission from the OV firefighter, “Engine 1, you still have fire out one window in the rear!” will tell engine 1 that their job is not yet done, and they may have fire behind them at this point.  Remember to communicate your findings.  It appears that the same firefighter comes back to the front of the building, entering the fence to go around to the 2(b) side.  Also note that a second line has been stretched dry to the front of the building for potential use on the second floor or to back-up the first line.  It is a very common practice in this area to the country to stretch a dry line to the front, even if it may not be needed.  This saves tremendous amounts of time over stretching a line from a rig down the street when the line is needed on the second floor NOW!   If it isn’t needed, we’ll repack it!  It’s ok…it’s hose!  It is meant to be pulled and repacked multiple times, even if it won’t be used.  Again, a sign of a professional operation.

A quick side-note:  If for some reason this first floor fire cannot be controlled, and searching firefighters have advanced past the doorway that we see glowing inside the building, the nozzle team CANNOT LEAVE this doorway regardless of conditions until the searching firefighters have either gotten down the stairs or found another way out.  This is where the nozzle team earns it’s respect.  Abandoning this position and withdrawing outside will spell disaster for the members operating above.  Fire will travel out of this doorway and directly up the stairs trapping members above and cutting them off.  There WILL BE firefighters transmitting maydays and potentially bailing out of windows if this happens.  If you are the nozzle firefighter, YOU ARE THE LAST ONE OUT OF THIS FRONT DOOR IF THINGS GO TO HELL.  This is a tough day to be a nozzle firefighter.  Keep the nozzle working (read: move the nozzle fast) on the ceiling in circles just inside the fire room and over your head, if needed get on your back or belly to stay as low as possible.  Consequently, if you are one of the searching firefighters that went above, let the nozzle team know if you found another way out so they are not taking a beating for no reason.

At the end of the video, you can also see that the top floor windows were not broken out.  The members operating above realized that the fire was being knocked down, so only the top pane was dropped down to ventilate.  Believe it or not, when dealing with the energy efficient windows such as these, they are much easier to open without breaking them, than breaking them.  I have on several occasions, used the clips to remove these windows simply because it makes sense and is a more efficient vent than smashing a little hole in the glass, leaving much of the glass intact.

Great job once again to Newark and to Allhandsworking.  Thanks for the great drill material, and a professional operation to use an example!

Posted by on December 2, 2010 • Filed under: Attack Line, Engine Company Ops, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, Forcible Entry, Ladder Company Ops, Search, Stretching, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, videos, Water Supply • Tagged:

Several Upcoming Classes Announced for 2011

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February 2011

Saturday February 12th, 2010 – MacBoston Truck 18 2011 Seminar

Clifton Park Fire Department – Clifton Park, NY
2 – 3 hour, LECTURE: Firefighter Safety & Common Fireground Tasks
Open Enrollment Registration & Enrollment Information Coming Soon

Saturday February 26th, 2011 – Chief Shabonna Fire Academy

Morris, Illinois
8-hour, Hands-On: Beyond the Academy: Forcible Entry Operations
Closed course for Chief Shabonna Fire Academy Candidates

March 2011

Friday March 11th, 2011 – Brotherhood Instructors, LLC & Firefighter Education Group, LLC Joint-Training Weekend

Lockport Township Fire Protection District – Lockport, Illinois
8-hour, Hands-On: Beyond the Academy: Forcible Entry Operations
Open Enrollment
Registration & Enrollment Information

Saturday March 12th, 2011 – Brotherhood Instructors, LLC & Firefighter Education Group, LLC Joint-Training Weekend

Lockport Township Fire Protection District – Lockport, Illinois
8-hour, Lecture: Balloon-frame Construction & Tactics, Platform Construction & Aggressive Search in Private Dwellings
Open Enrollment
Registration & Enrollment Information

Sunday March 13th, 2011 – Brotherhood Instructors, LLC & Firefighter Education Group, LLC Joint-Training Weekend

Lockport Township Fire Protection District – Lockport, Illinois
8-hour, Lecture: Ordinary, Fire Resistive & Non-combustible Construction & Commercial Building Fires
Open Enrollment
Registration & Enrollment Information

Monday March 21st & Tuesday March 22nd, 2011 – FDIC 2011

FDIC 2011 – Indianapolis, Indiana
8-hour, Hands-On: Truck Company: Essentials
Open Enrollment
Registration & Enrollment Information

Wednesday March 23rd, 2011 – FDIC 2011

FDIC 2011 – Indianapolis, Indiana
1hr 45min Lecture: Power Saw Safety & Operations
Open Enrollment
Registration & Enrollment Information

Thursday March 24th, 2011 – FDIC 2011

FDIC 2011 – Indianapolis, Indiana
1hr 45min Lecture: Flat-Roof Operations
Open Enrollment
Registration & Enrollment Information

May 2011

Wednesday May 4th, 2011 – City of Delaware Fire Department

City of Delaware Fire Department – Delaware, Ohio
8-hour, Hands-On: Beyond the Academy: Forcible Entry Operations
Open Enrollment
Registration & Enrollment Information Coming Soon

Monday May 9th – Friday May 13th, 2011 – Bowling Green State University Summer Fire School

Bowling Green State University Summer Fire School – Bowling Green, Ohio
4-day, Hands-On: Engine & Ladder Company Operations (official title TBA)
Open Enrollment
Registration & Enrollment Information Coming Soon

Posted by on November 26, 2010 • Filed under: Announcements-News, Brotherhood Topics, Forcible Entry, Ladder Company Ops, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged:

Class Announcement: March 2011 – Hands-On & Lecture Training in Lockport, Illinois

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Brotherhood Instructors, LLC and Firefighter Education Group, LLC are pleased to
announce a joint-training weekend in Lockport, Illinois
(click here or flier above for further details)

Friday March 11th, 2011 – Beyond the Academy: Forcible Entry Operations
Cost: $200.00 per member
Length: 8-hours, hands-on, open enrollment
Topic and detailed information in flier
This is a prerequisite course to the Beyond the Academy: ADVANCED Forcible Entry Operations course coming to the Illinois-area in the Spring/Summer of 2011

Saturday March 12th, 2011 – Building Construction Features & Tactics (Part I):
Cost: $75.00 per member
Length: 8-hour lecture
Topics:
- Balloon-frame Construction Features (Firefighter Education Group, LLC)
- Stopping Fires in Balloon-frame Buildings (Brotherhood Instructors, LLC)
- Platform Construction Features (Firefighter Education Group, LLC)
- Aggressive Search in Private Dwellings (Brotherhood Instructors, LLC)

Sunday March 13th, 2011 – Building Construction Features & Tactics (Part II):
Cost: $75.00 per member
Length: 8-hour lecture
Topics:
- Ordinary Construction Features (Firefighter Education Group, LLC)
- Fire Resistive/Non-combustible Building Features (Firefighter Education Group, LLC)
- Commercial Building Fires (Brotherhood Instructors, LLC)

Attend one, two or all three days

Sign up for ALL THREE days of training for only $325.00

Posted by on November 24, 2010 • Filed under: Announcements-News, Brotherhood Topics, Building Alteration-Renovation, Engine Company Ops, Ladder Company Ops, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged:

Question #2010-01: Roof Teams & SCBA Use

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Brothers & Sisters,

A brother posted on our Facebook wall the following question for a research paper.  Please respond with your answers.  There is an answer from one of our Brotherhood Instructors, LLC guys (an FDNY member) below.  I don’t think that they answer has to be as elaborate as the one below, but any information will help.  Please jump in and help him out.  He will collect the answers via this blog.

Please realize that this is NOT a CRITIQUE on how things SHOULD be done, so refrain from adding commentary to the responses about
how YOU think THEY should operate.  There are no right or wrong answers here!

The question is as follows:

Which municipalities have their Roof Firefighter(s) wear their SCBA to and/or while operating on the roof?

One answer from one of the Brotherhood Instructors, LLC./FDNY firefighters is here:

Jeff, I know in NYC we are required to wear our packs to the roof, and I agree with the procedure, and here is why:

We do not cut peaked roofs as an initial operation (meaning no one from the first two truck companies go to the roof as a com…mon practice). At peaked-roof private dwelling fires, our Roof FF will team up with the OV, and VES the bedrooms opposite the fire. I would say that 99% of the peaked-roof private dwelling fires are extinguished without opening the roof.

For flat-roof operations, we are required to wear them because after completing our primary roof duties (one of which include sweeping the heavily charged stairway bulkhead for victims), we are required to team up with the 2nd due Roof FF and drop down the fire escape to VES each apartment above the fire floor from the top down.

I have also had to mask-up at several top floor and cockloft jobs where we were working close to the hole, cutting and extending the primary roof cut. All of the guys at those jobs that decided to drop their masks, were driven away from the hole and either unwilling or unable to assist.

Hope that helps, anyone else with any thoughts? We have firefighters from all over the world here, jump in!

If you have any operational or tactical questions, feel free to contact us to be posted on our wall.  With over 6,200 Facebook users and already 3,000 hits on this blog, we can get some answers for you!

Stay Safe!

Posted by on November 14, 2010 • Filed under: Email Drill Questions, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, Ladder Company Ops, Ladders, Roof Ops, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Ventilation • Tagged:

November 6th, 2010 – Beacon, NY – RIT/FAST Scenario Course Photos

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On Saturday November 6th, 2010, we conducted an open enrollment Beyond the Academy: RIT/FAST Scenarios course hosted by the City of Beacon Fire Department in Beacon, New York.

This course was held at a building under renovation.

18 members were in attendance from 4 fire departments across 2 states. New York fire departments in attendance were: Beacon, Hughsonville and FDNY. Additionally 3 members from the Jamestown Fire Department (Rhode Island) attended.

Topics:
Review of firefighter packaging, drags, carries and removal options
Scenario #1: Firefighter separated from a hose line
Scenario #2: Stairway Collapse with Firefighters Trapped
Scenario #3: Major Collapse with Multiple Firefighters Trapped Requiring Extrication

All 18 members of the course worked to their max, treating each incident as if it were real. A single firefighter removal is exhausting for an entire department, the brother’s that attended this course performed FOUR very intense and complicated removals in less than eight hours. NICE WORK BROTHERS!

Feel free to tag your photos and/or add comments or questions.

Posted by on November 13, 2010 • Filed under: Brotherhood Topics, Class Photos, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, RIT or FAST Operations, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged:

Know Your Area #2010-001 – Beacon, New York

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Photo #1: Exterior of a Type IV/Heavy Timber mill. What size and type of construction components would you expect to find in this type of building?

In our blog, we will have several sub-blogs.  The “Know Your Area” blog is one of those sub-blogs.  Here we will provide photos and a description of buildings that we have found in our travels.  While these buildings are PROBABLY NOT in your response area, perhaps a business owner, contractor or civilian is conducting the same renovations or alterations as we see in this blog.  We encourage you to jump in with your thoughts.  If you have photos of your own, that you would like to contribute, email us.  We will be happy to make you an author so you may contribute your photos as well.

We found these buildings, and worked in them at our Beyond the Academy: RIT/FAST Scenarios course that we held in Beacon, NY on Saturday November 6th.  In Photo #1 we see the exterior of a mill-type (Class IV, Heavy Timber), shows the exterior of the building. We would expect to find exterior walls made up of several courses of brickwork and the framing substantial beams.  We would expect to find a very heavy fire load, but we would not fear an early collapse (at least initially).  Roof teams working on these buildings should have a descent amount of time to conduct operations before they will either be driven from the roof by fire conditions or collapse becomes a concern.

Photo #2: Starting to see signs that the building may have been altered. Replacement windows have been installed that are not typical of "factory" or "warehouse" buildings

Photo #3: Another view of the replacement windows

These buildings are in the process of being converted from an old mill to what appears to be commercial occupancies with condominium units above.  There is an attempt nationwide to revitalize these dilapidated buildings to remove their “eyesore appearance” from the community.  In many cases, tax revenue from this type of revitalization can save a community.  These renovations will only become more popular as other cities succeed in revitalizing their old “industrial corridors”, and other cities follow suit.

As we move inside the buildings, and to the top floor, we can see that alterations and renovations that CRITICALLY COMPROMISE the building’s structural components exist.  See the photos and descriptions below:

Contractors/building owners have MIXED lightweight tongue $ groove I-beams (TGI) with heavy timber construction.

It gets worse: It is not a "localized issue". Lightweight TGIs support THE ENTIRE ROOF of this 300x600 mill.

Two soil stacks were observed cut off at the roof level. It is uncertain as to whether these pipes will be completely removed, or penetrate the top floor ceiling to the roof support system which will provide a route for fire spread.

It is EVERY firefighter and officer’s job to be on the lookout for such building alterations and renovations.  There is always a reason why a certain building component or building feature catches your eye.  Investigate it further, and make sure that ALL MEMBERS are aware of situations which can cause harm to us.  In this day in age of computers, emails and digital cameras and cell-phone photos, there is ABSOLUTELY no reason why every member of your department shouldn’t know about such an issue.  The photos outlined above, may not be illegal in Beacon, NY; but they can certainly cause injury or death to the members that respond.

If you have any photos that you would like to contribute, please email us.

Stay Safe!

Posted by on November 12, 2010 • Filed under: Building Alteration-Renovation, fire-prevention-education, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, Ladder Company Ops, RIT or FAST Operations, Roof Ops, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Ventilation • Tagged: