Transcript Firefighters & Safety

Firefighters & Safety
Uh! Yeh!, Sometimes!!
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Content provided by:
FirefighterCloseCalls.com.....
FIREFIGHTER
ON FIRE....
This photo shows a firefighter
on fire. The firefighter is
intentionally on fire. The
firefighter is participating in a
demonstration for kids of how
to stop, drop and roll. This
was conducted inside an
occupied elementary school
classroom.
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Personal Protective Equipment
WEAR YOUR PPE:
• -The Better Chance We
Have To DO The Job
THEY EXPECT US to
Do.
DON'T WEAR YOUR PPE:
• The Better Chance We
Have In NOT Doing The
Job Successfully And
Ending Up In The Burn
Unit.
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Sure Chief, but it’s…..
"Partial" PPE?....yep, it's hot out and whatever other excuses we have.
But we gotta take care of "us" before we take care of "them"....
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The Big Picture
•
Sure, like ALL of us, this FD has the best intentions in the
world...but SOMEONE isn't looking at the BIG PICTURE! As you
can see, one firefighter is on the ladder with a "booster line"
WITHOUT BUNKER PANTS, and the crew below him just
opened up the window directly below the ladder. SO... DO WE
HAVE A PREDICTABLE OUTCOME? Yeah! And what is
predictable:
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The fire will roll out that window, burn his ass and then once
again, a firefighter, one of "our own" is admitted to THE BURN
UNIT. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" is a great song and
wonderful for the holidays-but NOT on the fireground.
•
BOOSTER line? WHY do we even HAVE booster lines
anymore?... high $$$ cost to the apparatus and low water flow
capability makes it worth strongly reconsidering when specing
apparatus.
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His "brother and sister" firefighters are flowing THEIR handline
into the vented area, predictably pushing the fire right back in,
spreading it into the house, endangering any interior firefighters
and maybe even pushing it out the window-back onto our
"slacks wearing" friend at that window.
A few things to CONSIDER:
•
All firefighters wearing ALL of their gear and SCBA.
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Ladder placement-this ladder is right in front of the window
which blocks the window as well as potentially placing a
firefighter (gear or no gear) directly in line with the venting fire.
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Strict line management to insure the use of our lines does NOT
work AGAINST US.
•
Strict Command and Control so fire operations are coordinated
to benefit our SAFETY and our ABILITY to do what the public
expects us to do.
AVOID: "CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON
AN OPEN FIRE!!"
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SCBA Does Not Stand For:
Shit!!! Can I Breathe this Air ?.....
..........WEAR YOUR MASK !
YES! WEAR SCBA's...
but wear your BUNKER GEAR AS
WELL to insure that
YOU are as well cared for as the
people you are trying to help.
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How many firefighters does it take???
BE SURE TO ASK AND/OR KNOW:
 WHERE ARE YOU
POSITIONED?....
 WHY ARE YOU POSITIONED
THERE?...
 WHAT IS SUPPORTING
YOU?........AND
 WHAT ARE YOUR STRATEGIC
OR TACTICAL REASONS FOR
BEING WHERE YOU ARE?
 HOW WILL YOU ESCAPE THE
AREA YOU ARE OPERATING
IN?
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Ladder Placement.....
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Firefighters are reminded in this photo
of the importance of the seeing the
"BIG PICTURE"...Roof operations
require a way up...and also a way
down!
Just from a FIREFIGHTER
PROTECTION STANDPOINT, it is
important for the OIC to make sure the
members have a way OFF the
roof...as well as making sure that there
are enough-or perhaps too manymembers operating on the roof.
Safety Officers, Ops Chiefs or Sector
Officers must be assigned to insure
that the members on the roof have
someone looking out for them while
they work their tasks. Someone who
can see THE BIG PICTURE.
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Look Up...
BEWARE OF WHAT IS ABOVE
YOU!
This is a structure fire involving this house and
an 88 year old woman who perished in the fire.
My guys were doing an interior attack when I
(as the IC) noticed the roof failing. They were
backing out, due to conditions changing inside
and we sounded the air horn evacuation order
also. After the "smoke began to clear" we
noticed this interesting flue on this home. We
can only guess the builder/owner had it
constructed like that for looks. It's stability was
checked with a VERY LONG pike pole and I
stationed a safety officer to keep watch on it
during overhaul as well as to watch over the
police investigators safety during their work. I
thought is was a neat picture that shows
hidden dangers in some construction and
maybe you could use it also.
TAKING CARE OF "OUR OWN" WHILE OPERATING...
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and Down!
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Ladder placement is critical-be
sure to look and see "what might
happen" prior to, or following the
placement of, your ladder.
Keep in mind the questions of:
...where IS the fire, where WAS
the fire and where WILL the fire
be going....and use that info to
determine your most effective,
safest actions.
Also: A firefighter footing the
ladder, in addition to stabilizing,
also provides us w/another set of
EYES and EARS to protect those
operating on the ladder...and
helps us all see "the BIG
picture"...
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Off the Roof
FIREFIGHTER FALLS FROM ROOF - 4/28/04
• FFCC.Com Notes: Although
this firefighter ended up with
no injuries-the results could
have been tragic.
• This FF was performing
ventilation.
• Members operating on roofs
are reminded at ALL TIMES to
use extreme caution and
insure a SAFE means of
egress.
Our Sincere Thanks to Thomas Bishop of Fire Photo News.
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Vent is a Vent
A VENT IS TO ALLOW THE FIRE, HEAT AND
GASES TO ESCAPE... so WE or the VICTIMS
have a better chance.
FFCC.Com Notes: Although there are
some VERY RARE circumstances
where a hose line may be directed by
the IC into a vent hole... (such as to
protect a firefighter stuck in that
specific area or when we "write the
building off")... but it is VERY rare.
Why? We vent to let "the bad stuff
out". So when a hose line is directed
into that hole we are interfering with
the VENTING process as well as
causing potential DANGER to our
crews operating inside. We may get
away with it a few times but
eventually, like all "Close Calls or
worse..." it will bite us in the ass. Let
the interior crews knock the fire after
the roof crews open up... with strong
COMMAND, CONTROL and
Accountability by the bosses.
ADDITIONALLY: WHAT IS coming out of your
vent hole? Nasty shit. Wear your mask so you
don't
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Ventilation
►No question that ROOF (vertical)
ventilation plays a critical role in the
job we do.
 BUT-how many firefighters do we
need to send up to the roof on a
SFD? (Single family dwelling).
 What about a roof ladder for those
up there?
 How many DOES it take? LOOK at
the dwellings in YOUR community
and pre-think (that’s like preplanning-only it doesn't take fancy
forms or expensive computers) how
many YOU need to put a good
sized hole (4 x4 or larger).
 DRILL for that task...and once the
hole is made--get off the roof!
IC's - LOOK at the big picture.
 Where are your people?...
 Where is the fire?...
 Where is it going?...
 What’s under them?...
 What’s holding them up and
 How are they getting out-safely?
The Roof Is a Popular Place!
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The Roof
SOMETIMES WE JUST SHAKE OUR HEADS...
Someone wrote us a few weeks ago and said to light'n up on some of this stuff.
Yeah-OK, we'll get right on it. We are glad that letters like that are very, very
rare. As long as this kinda stuff keeps going on-we'll be busy on this site for a
long time to come. Almost everyone knows that this site is dedicated to the
PREVENTION of FIREFIGHTER INJURY AND DEATH. The stuff we write and
the photos we use are here to LEARN FROM. Often, we write a CAPTION so
these shots can be used for training-and to make specific points about
FIREFIGHTER SAFETY. And then there are times when we don't have to write
ANY caption. This would be one of those cases. WHAT THE @$#^% !?!! WHO
is looking out for the BIG picture here? And what do you suppose the firefighter
BEHIND him, fully bunkered and SCBA'd up is thinking? Yeah-thats what we
thought too.
Part 2 - In one
moment...things can turn
UGLY... So keep your
gear on until out of the
danger zone!!
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Working Fire
(1 of 3)
FFCC.Com Notes: Here is a recent working fire. USE
these photos for discussion & TRAINING at your FD to
determine how your FD would handle this fire.
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Working Fire
(2 of 3)
Some considerations include:
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What type of Construction is involved?
What is the Occupancy and where are the
occupants? What is the Life Hazard (along
w/occupancy)....Where are the people who live
here? How will you find them and how will you get
them out? Who will TREAT any injuries?
What is the Apparatus and Staffing that is
responding. It is always MUCH easier to return
companies not needed than needing them "NOW"
and having to wait! HOW QUICK can you get the
needed companies? MATCH the reported fire with
appropriate response, staffing and apparatus thru
pre-plans and dispatch procedures.
PREDETERMINE the tasks needed (before the
fire)! and then apply the amount of firefighters (and
apparatus) needed for each task... THAT'S a good
start to help plan your needed STAFFING which
directly contributes to firefighter SAFETY and
SURVIVAL!
What Assignments would the companies be given?
What Sectors would be established?
Water Supply...What Flows are available? What
size lines will be used for supply and attack? Will
your lines reach the fire? What master streams are
ready and easily usable?
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Working Fire
(3 of 3)
Some additional considerations:
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Are there any Auxiliary Appliances available such
as standpipes and sprinkler system?
What's the Structural Condition prior due the fireand due to the fire. Where IS the fire now?...Where
WAS the fire (deterioration) and where IS the fire
GOING to be in 1 minute, 5 minutes or 15 minutes?
Are there any Weather Conditions effecting fire
operations?
What are the Exposures to the fire?
What Area Size of the area involved in or effected
by the fire?
What is the Height of the building and do you have
MORE THAN Appropriate Apparatus and Crews on
the scene or on the way to deal with that
consideration?
What about REHAB and Additional Firefighters that
may be needed?
•THE ABOVE ARE AMONGST
SEVERAL CRITICAL TACTICAL
COMMAND AND CONTROL
CONSIDERATIONS THAT MUST BE
MADE IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY
AND SAFELY OPERATE. IT'S EASY
TO JUST LOOK AT (these or any)
PICTURES....BUT THE BETTER
ACTION TO TAKE IS TO LOOK AT
PICTURES AND APPLY WHAT YOU
SEE TO HOW YOUR FIRE
DEPARTMENT WILL HANDLE THE
FIRE.
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Overhaul
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Some of the WORST smoke is
present during overhaul.....
Wearing PPE...INCLUDING
SCBA can allow firefighters to
be around long enough to enjoy
grandchildren.
Yeah, It’s just overhaul… but
wear your gear!
Sure - After a working fire, we
all wanna take the stuff OFF.
But we can't let our guard down
and by taking it off--we do! And
we then GET HURT.
If it takes extra crews coming in
to relieve the FF's, so be it. But
do WHATEVER IT TAKES to
make sure everyone is properly
protected while operating.
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Electricity
After all, how do we justify this to a
firefighters family....
Firemen pull a power line Monday from Jared Johnson's new Mazda on Washington Avenue in downtown. Johnson said
he saw a transformer sparking, then a power line whipped onto his car. He waited in the car about 45 minutes before his
rescuers cleared the line. Owen Riley Jr./Staff
USE EXTREME CAUTION.....AND WEIGH THE RISK VS. THE BENEFIT
OF FIREFIGHTERS ACTIONS....
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Vehicle Fires
This was a car fire on the side of the road. The car was
pretty much fully involved, and the people were out
already. It was in July 2005, during the day, and
apparently manpower is a problem in this area. The
gentleman in the green shirt worked for the town DOT
and drove the truck to the scene and didn't even have
bunker gear. The guy in the gear came in his own car,
and the flip flop guy wasn't even in an active department
(x-air force firefighter).
Steve Pekar Photo
Chief? Company Officer?
Firefighter?
Your status and rank
doesn't mean crap in the
burn unit....so....
Use caution and protect
yourself.. No matter how
hot the weather may be!
...So wear all of your PPE
to maintain your status!
WHY TAKE THE CHANCE?
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Construction
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WHAT YOU SEE MAY NOT BE
WHAT YOU GET!
Sure-this building appears to be a
"standard" commercial building... NO
SUCH THING!
SURPRISE!!!!! NOW look what we
would be dealing with! WITHOUT
preplanning and building walk thru's by
the FIREFIGHTERS and OFFICERS
who will actually responding, NO ONE
would have a clue as to what was
above them while fighting a fire at this
building... until it is possibly too late!
Information and knowledge AHEAD
OF TIME is one of the KEY
INGREDIENTS to "EVERYONE
GOING HOME" after the run.
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Learn your areas
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When is the last time YOU took your crews out-and LOOKED and
LEARNED about the construction types that are designed with everyone...
BUT FIREFIGHTERS in mind? Don't think for second that builders actually
give a damn about FIREFIGHTER safety... that's your problem. They could
care less... yeah pal, it's ALL up to you! So... whatcha gonna do?
Get out there now... yeah, right now! Take your inexperienced firefighters
and educate them on BUILDING CONSTRUCTION by looking and reading
the articles as well as Chief Frank Brannigan’s book! You don't have his
book? E-mail us and we'll tell you HOW to get it.
When Firefighters don't think, or
don't know... WHO is watching the
BIG picture to look out for them?
That's why COMMAND is
established... but it must be taken
seriously-and that means after the
fire is declared "under control" as
well. THE BIG picture IS all our
responsibilty-but "the buck stops"
with whoever is running the fire.
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360° Walk Arounds
WHY DO A 360 WALK-A-ROUND?
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What’s up front may not be around back!
If you were to see only one side of this building,
and had F/F's lost, which1st floor are they really
lost on (SIDE 'A' or SIDE 'C'), and why can't we
seem to find them? Planning ahead is the best
way to manage this:
Pre-Plans that are simple and easy to accessand understand.
A 360 walk around so you have a clear idea of
what you are dealing with.
Identify on the radio what is SIDE A, (and the
related sides) so it is CLEAR to all on the
fireground... and everyone is reading off the
"same sheet of music".
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Training
Require PPE....Even When Training.
As one reader recently suggested
maybe we should just start a "wear
your PPE" gallery....and then she
wrote:
"Why Is It So Hard To Get FF's To
Just WEAR IT"?
Photos by Stephen Takacs
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Training
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FIREFIGHTER PPE....ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF WHY IT MATTERS
On 6/17/2005, these firefighters were
at a drill on the roof prop. This
firefighter was rolling rafters when the
chain saw hit a nail that must have
been only in the sheeting. He was in
full PPE with eye protection when the
nail slid by the goggles and was
embedded 1/2" into the bridge of his
nose right between the eye...see
photos below.
They took him to the hospital and they
took a CT and found that the nail was
into the bone fracturing it ....but no
other problem. The nail was removed
and he was sent home. He worked the
next day. Our thanks to the
Montebello, CA FD for this information.
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WHY WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE PLENTY
TO DO IN THIS BUSINESS...
ROOKIE ON THE HYDRANT…
WHY ROADWAY BARRIERS SHOULDN'T BE IGNORED
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