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Examining Firefighting Tactics under Wind Driven Conditions

Examining Firefighting Tactics under Wind Driven Conditions

Smoke and heat spreading through the corridors and the stairs of a building during a fire can limit building occupants’ ability to escape and can limit firefighters’ ability to rescue them. Changes in the building’s ventilation or presence of an external wind can increase the energy release of the fire. This can also increase the […]

Wind Driven Fires

Wind Driven Fires

Wind Driven Fires Wind blowing into the broken window of a room on fire can turn a “routine room and contents fire” into a floor-to-ceiling firestorm. Historically, this has led to a significant number of firefighter fatalities and injuries, particularly in high-rise buildings where the fire must be fought from the interior of the structure. […]

Deployment Decisions: Defining Operations on the First-Due

Deployment Decisions: Defining Operations on the First-Due

First-due company operations are influenced by a number of parameters and factors; some deliberate and dictated, others prescribed and prearranged and yet others subjective, biased, predisposed or at times accidental, casual and emotional. For many of you riding the seat or arriving assuming command; you understand the connotations and implications I’m making here. Here’s an […]

NIOSH Report addresses Operational Issues at Metal Recycling Facility Fire

NIOSH Report addresses Operational Issues at Metal Recycling Facility Fire

NIOSH Report Issue: Seven Career Fire Fighters Injured at a Metal Recycling Facility Fire – California NIOSH Exective Summary On July 13, 2010, seven career fire fighters were injured while fighting a fire at a large commercial structure containing recyclable combustible metals. At 2345 hours, 3 engines, 2 trucks, 2 rescue ambulances, an emergency medical […]

It's not Lightweight Construction

It’s not Lightweight Construction

It’s not lightweight construction NFPA Journal, Jul/Aug 2009 by Earls, Alan R It’s what happens when lightweight construction meets fire. Two recent studies detail the relationship between fire and engineered wood construction assemblies-notably, that they burn quicker and fail faster than their dimensional lumber counterparts. What do the findings mean for the fire service, builders, […]

Seattle Firefighters Rescue Seven People From Roof Of House Fire

Seattle Firefighters Rescue Seven People From Roof Of House Fire

SEATTLE – Firefighters rescued six people from the rooftop of a burning house and an elderly woman jumped to safety as a blaze destroyed the Seattle home early Friday. Seattle Fire Department Lt. Sue Stangl said a woman in her 70s had to jump from the house’s roof into the arms of a firefighter and […]

Residential Structure Flashover and FF LODD- NIOSH Report

Residential Structure Flashover and FF LODD- NIOSH Report

Photo Warren Skalski On March 30, 2010, a 28-year-old male career fire fighter/paramedic (victim) died and a 21-year-old female part-time fire fighter/paramedic was injured when caught in an apparent flashover while operating a hoseline within a residence. Units arrived on scene to find heavy fire conditions at the rear of a house and moderate smoke […]

Near-Misses, Maydays and Floor Collapses

Near-Misses, Maydays and Floor Collapses

Do you know what’s underneath you as you’re making entry? If you’ve been paying attention to the latest news and on the job reports these past few days, you may have noticed there’s been an emerging trend evident in near miss, close-calls resulting in maydays, RIT deployments and self-rescue resulting from floor compromise and floor […]