Transcript FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS IN MANUFACTURED HOUSING

Course Objectives
• At the end of this program the
participant should:
– Have a basic knowledge of manufactured
housing construction and standards.
– Know the most common causes of
manufactured housing fires.
– Understand the unique hazards
associated with manufactured housing
fires.
Manufactured Home Types
• Single-Wide
• Double-Wide
• The focus of this program is on single-wide models.
Manufactured Housing
Standards and Codes
• Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety
Standards are administered by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
• NFPA 225, Model Manufactured Home Installation
Standard
• NFPA 501, Standard on Manufactured Housing.
• NFPA 501A, Fire Safety Criteria for Manufactured Home
Installations, Sites, and Communities.
HUD Codes
• The National Manufactured Home Construction
and Safety Standards Act was enacted by the
U.S. Congress in 1974.
• This act required HUD to establish standards to
improve construction and safety in manufactured
housing.
• Manufactured housing constructed before June
15, 1976 is considered a “mobile home” and
commonly referred to as “Pre-Standard.”
• Manufactured housing constructed after June 15,
1976 are commonly referred to as “PostStandard.”
Pre-Standard Mobile Home Exterior
Post-Standard Mobile Home Exterior
Pre-Standard Mobile Home Interior
Post-Standard Mobile Home Interior
NFPA 225 - Model Manufactured
Home Installation Standard
• Contains information about:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Site preparation
Foundations
Appliances and utilities
Installation in seismic and flood zones
Life safety features
And much more!
NFPA 501 – Standard on
Manufactured Housing
• Based on HUD standards and establishes the
minimum criteria for manufactured housing:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Fire Safety
Body and Frame requirements.
Testing
Thermal Protection (Insulation)
Plumbing, Electrical, Heating, and Cooling.
Transportation
NFPA 501A – Fire Safety Criteria for
Manufactured Home Installations,
Sites, and Communities
• Currently, NFPA 501A addresses items such as:
– Manufactured Home Site Fuel Supply
– Community Electrical Equipment and
Installation
– Fire and Life Safety Requirements
– Responsibilities of the Manufactured Home
Resident
An Example of a NFPA Standard
• NFPA 501A, 4.3.6.2 (1) states that:
– The following emergency information shall be
printed and posted in conspicuous places in the
manufactured home community:
•
•
•
•
Fire Department
Police Department or Sheriff’s Office
Community Office
Person responsible for operation and maintenance
Manufactured Home
Construction
• Lightweight materials are used for easier
transportation.
• Pre-Standard exterior is usually metal.
• Post-Standard exterior may be wood, metal, or
vinyl.
• Walls normally use 2”x4” construction.
• Older units may have paneling or other laminate,
newer units use mainly drywall.
Manufactured Home
Construction
• Floor joists are usually 2”x 6” construction
mounted to steel beams.
• The deck is usually made of particleboard
or waferboard (OSB).
• For transportation reasons, the slope of
the roof is often limited.
Manufactured Home
Construction
• Trusses are commonly made of 2”x 2”
construction.
• Pre-Standard roofs are normally metal.
• Post-Standard roofs may be made of
metal or pitched with shingles.
• Like other dwellings, older homes may
have aluminum wiring.
Causes of Manufactured Home
Fires
• From 1989-1998 the most common
cause of fires in manufactured homes
was electrical distribution.
• During the same time period, heating
was the second leading cause in prestandard homes and cooking was the
second leading cause in post-standard
homes.
• Intentionally set fires were the third
leading cause.
These statistics are from Manufactured Home Fires, Feb. 2005, Dr. John R. Hall, Jr, NFPA
Causes of Manufactured Home
Fires
• From 1999-2002 the most common
cause of fires in manufactured homes
was cooking.
• During the same time period, heating
was the second leading cause.
• Intentionally set fires were the third
leading cause.
• Electrical distribution was the fourth
leading cause.
These statistics are from Manufactured Home Fires, Feb. 2005, Dr. John R. Hall, Jr, NFPA
Causes of Residential Structure
Fires in Rural Areas
• Heating is the number one cause of
fires in rural areas. (26% of reported
fires).
• Careless smoking is the second
leading cause. (23% of reported fires).
• The third leading cause is electrical
distribution (17% of all reported fires).
These statistics are from A Profile of the Rural Fire Problem in the U.S., Aug. 1998, FEMA/USFA
Causes of Residential Structure
Fires in Urban/Suburban Areas
• Careless smoking is the number one
cause. (28% of reported fires).
• Arson is the second leading cause.
(17 % of reported fires).
• The third leading cause is heating
(17% of all reported fires).
These statistics are from A Profile of the Rural Fire Problem in the U.S., Aug. 1998, FEMA/USFA
Natural
Causes
Other Heat
Source
Exposure
Open Flame
Child Playing
Smoking
Appliances,
Tools, or A/C
Other
Equipment
Cooking
Intentional
Heating
Electrical
Distribution
Causes of Manufactured Home
Fires
30%
25%
20%
15%
1980
2002
10%
5%
0%
These statistics are from Manufactured Home Fires, Feb. 2005, Dr. John R. Hall, Jr, NFPA
Causes of Manufactured Home Fires:
Pre-Standard vs. Post-Standard
25%
20%
15%
Pre-Standard
Post-Standard
10%
5%
Natural Causes
Other Heat Source
Exposure
Open Flame
Child Playing
Smoking
Appliances, Tools, or A/C
Other Equipment
Cooking
Intentional
Heating
Electrical Distribution
0%
These statistics are from Manufactured Home Fires, Feb. 2005, Dr. John R. Hall, Jr, NFPA
Manufactured Home Civilian
Death and Injury Rate
• The fire incidence rate in
manufactured housing is over 40%
lower than in other dwellings.
• However, the civilian death rate per
100 fires in manufactured housing is
nearly twice as high (1.7 compared to
0.8 per hundred.)
• Civilian injury rate per 100 fires is
nearly the same as other dwellings.
These statistics are from Manufactured Home Fires, Feb. 2005, Dr. John R. Hall, Jr, NFPA
Smoke Detectors
• HUD standards require smoke
detectors to be placed in homes at the
time of manufacture.
• A recent study shows that nearly 50%
of post-standard manufactured homes
do not have a working smoke
detector.
• This indicates either poor maintenance
or that many are removing smoke
detectors from their homes.
These statistics are from Manufactured Home Fires, Feb. 2005, Dr. John R. Hall, Jr, NFPA
Fire Prevention
• What we can do to help in the fire service:
– Stress the importance of working smoke
detectors.
– Educate the public about ways to combat
the causes of manufactured housing fires.
– Stress safety with heating, use of candles,
cooking, and electrical equipment.
– Encourage Exit Drills In The Home
(E.D.I.T.H.)
Characteristics of Manufactured
Housing Fires
• Small Area
• Short Time Frame
• Intense Fires
Small Areas
• The median size of a manufactured home is about
1,100 square feet.
• Other dwellings have a median size of about
1,700 square feet.
• Manufactured homes have on average, nearly the
same amount of rooms as other dwellings.
• These are all factors that may decrease time to
flashover.
These statistics are from Manufactured Home Fires, Feb. 2005, Dr. John R. Hall, Jr, NFPA
Tactical Considerations
• Water supply may be a primary concern.
• When pre-planning, include 2-3 sources of
water and detailed plans for shuttling operations
(if used).
• Many manufactured homes in rural areas may
not be close to a hydrant.
• First arriving pumper should lay supply line if
smoke is showing.
Tactical Considerations
• Exposures may be a
primary concern in
many cases.
• Crews must be ready
to protect nearby
homes.
• 10% of all
manufactured home
fires are caused by
exposures.
Residential Land-Lease
Communities
• May present
challenges with:
– Water supply
– Exposures
– Crowd control
• Lanes are often
narrow, and once
committed to a lane,
it may be difficult to
reposition.
Utility Considerations
• Electricity
– Shut-off breakers first.
– Unplug from receptacle if possible.
– Notify utility company to pull meter.
• Natural Gas
– Meter can be shut-off similar to other dwellings.
• LP Gas
– Tanks may be placed close to structure.
– Tanks may need to be cooled with water spray,
especially if relief valve is venting.
Firefighting Operations
• It is a good idea to check for
fire extension under
manufactured homes before
entering.
• Remove part of the skirt if
necessary.
• It is possible to easily fall
through the floor.
• If inflated tires become
involved in fire, they will
blow similar to that of a
vehicle fire.
Firefighting Operations
• Post-Standard
manufactured housing
is required to have two
outside entrance/ exit
doorways.
• It may best to enter the
door which is farther
from the fire or the one
nearest the bedrooms
if possible.
Firefighting Operations
• Watch the steps
when entering the
structure.
• The steps may be
in poor condition.
• They are often
narrow and provide
little room when
forcing entry.
Firefighting Operations
• Have charged hoseline
ready, with air bled off
before opening door.
• When entering, stay low
and watch for signs of
flashover and be ready to
react.
• Have a Rapid
Intervention Team (RIT)
ready.
• If necessary, complete
any rapid search/rescue
activities.
Firefighting Operations
• Pre-Standard
manufactured housing
often has laminates that
contain glues and
finishes that lead to
rapid fire growth and
spread.
• This can lead to a
quicker flashover time.
Firefighting Operations
• Ventilation
– Mechanical horizontal
ventilation is often the
preferred method.
– Positive or negative pressure
ventilation may be used.
– Due to lightweight materials
used in roof construction,
firefighters should not attempt
to perform vertical ventilation
operations on the roof.
Firefighting Operations
• Salvage and Overhaul
– Over 50% of manufactured home fires are
currently contained to the room of origin.
– Good salvage operations will be important to
the owner.
– Always wear PPE and SCBA during loss
control operations.
– During overhaul, it may be necessary to bring
larger items that have been involved in the fire
outside to complete extinguishment.
Firefighter Rehab
• Due to the intense fires encountered in
manufactured housing, a firefighter rehab area is
especially important.
• During hot weather a rehab area is essential to
preventing heat exhaustion.
• Follow departmental SOP/SOG about initiating a
rehab area.
Cause and Origin
• Keep in mind that arson is the third leading cause
of fires in manufactured housing.
• Be careful not to destroy any possible evidence,
especially during overhaul operations.
• If you see anything suspicious, let the IC or
investigator know immediately.
• Do not pickup or touch anything that you find
suspicious.
• If something must be moved during overhaul,
remember where it was or take photographs.