Build a Harness

This is another video from Dale Pekel and in my opinion it is his best one yet. A while ago I posted another video from Dale talking about techniques to use with Personal Escape Systems:http://averagejakeff.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/bailout/

In it I also offered an alternative technique that I use and gave reasons why I do not particularly like the Personal Escape Systems. One thing I did not hit on was that typically the systems need to be utilized with some type of harness. Some departments integrate the harnesses into the firefighters bunker pants, however not everyone does this. In order for the escape systems to work properly they have to be attached to something, and typically when you are trying to use it you will not have time to build a harness or don an external one. Not to mention that most commercially made harnesses are expensive.

Well this video can provide you with a cost-effective option, to add an integrated harness to your gear and allow you to use your escape system effectively. I really thing this is a viable option so much so that I am going to revisit the escape system option for myself.

If you try it out, or have any other tips, please drop us a line via email, or in the comments section. Pictures would also be appreciated and I will put them up on the blog. As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and stay safe!

Build a Harness, posted with vodpod

 

Lightning strike

With the Spring and Summer months right around the corner thunderstorm season is coming along with it. This video depicts a fire that started due to a lightning strike. With the dense population in the western portion of the area I serve this is something we combat every summer multiple times.

Typically the lightning hits the roof of the house, and lights the roof on fire and the subsequent attic materials. Like we talked about in previous posts here: http://averagejakeff.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/did-it-start-in-the-attic/ and here: http://averagejakeff.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/roof-venting/

Fires in attic areas are difficult and can go from small to large very quickly with the amount of things people keep in their attic. Like everything else we do preparation is key, make sure you pay attention to weather reports in your area.

Also do not be afraid to do what you normally do during a storm. I have often been told to not “lay out” during a thunder-storm because if it’s nothing you can be back in service faster for the next call which in thunderstorm conditions calls are usually abundant. I think this is CRAZY! First and foremost thunderstorms is when we run a lot of significant fires, one storm last year brought 3 simultaneous fires in my department, and with all of the history we have your going to keep the hose on the truck? Secondly we are a first come first serve business, someone calls, we go, and they get our best no matter what the emergency is. I hate to miss a fire, in fact when it happens I am in a bad mood for about a week, but the person with chest pains thinks their problem is just as important as that fire, so we need to act accordingly on every call. It is the fire of your life until you get there and find out it’s not.

How does your department combat these types of fires? Leave some feedback in the comments section. As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and stay safe.

Lighting strike, posted with vodpod

 

Brush Fires, Brush Fires, BRUSH FIRES!!!

Yesterday was a red flag day all across Virginia, departments all over the state were having significant events and this was no different here in Central Va. My department was bombarded with not only our own calls for service but mutual aide requests well into the night.

It may be hard to think that Virginia has a true wildland fire season but it does and we are in the thick of it. However when the humidity gets low we always have an increased chance for brush fires just like a day back in July that I detailed here: http://averagejakeff.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/brush-fire-day/ One of the things I brought up in my post is about proper PPE usage. I know that it may be controversial and I have read in other blogs what they recommend for PPE usage. To reiterate my department does not issue wildland firefighting gear, the only thing we have is our structural PPE. So the only thing we have to protect us from any sort of fire either brush/woods/or building is our regular PPE. Not to rehash the other post but if it comes down to having nothing but station wear that will offer ZERO thermal protection, or structural firefighting PPE you can bet your last pay check that I am going to be in my PPE.

We did not have the chance to respond to any of the major incidents yesterday, my day was filled with chasing smoke in the area calls, and backfilling stations. We did however have to respond back out to an early fire in our district that was still smoking a few hours later. This county tour made me realize that my preparation is in the right direction. We knew on Thursday it was going to be a “Red Flag” day so I came to work prepaired with a cooler and water jug. Once the calls started rolling in I packed some snacks in the cooler, and filled up the jug, this was a life saver at 8pm and we were still at a different station trying to figure out where we were going next.

Moral of the story is when you get advanced warning make sure you take it for what it is and prepair for it. Its like seeing a column of smoke off in the distance, if you do not take that warning sign as a chance to get fully geared up, and figure out your water supply plan then everyone/everything is going to suffer (you, your crew, your performance, your attitude, your reputation, etc.) If it turns out to be nothing then that’s great, but if it turns out to be something then you are already a step ahead.

Please feel free to share any tips, tricks, or methods that you are using on days like this, just drop us a line in the comments section. As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

Why do you do that/this?

Ever since I have been at my new station I have gotten this question over and over and well over again. It is always directed to something I carry, or something I am doing on the fireground. Granted I may go a little “above and beyond” the minimum standard but nothing I am carrying in my gear or doing on the scene is unreasonable in fact I feel like it enhances efficiency, and effectiveness.

Here are a couple of examples:

1. Why do you carry all of this stuff? I have gotten this question in a variety of forms, the other day at shift change I even got the “Your own rope bag, really? You know they have rope on the engine right and we can use it search with right?” My response was yea I know I do not use it for that. I then asked how are you going to get out of a window if there is no ladder? I was met with silence and then the typical defensive answer well I’ll slide down the hose line, or jump. I was floored, you telling me that instead of spending a little money and buying a 50 foot bag of rope and a carabiner you would rather jump, or slide down this hose line? I was literally blown away, and just ended the conversation.

Sure I carry a lot detailed here :http://averagejakeff.wordpress.com/2010/07/10/whats-in-your-pockets/ but I can honestly say I have used everything I carry, several times, and sometimes several times in a shift. I’m not advocating carrying things you may not use but you can not carry nothing. I think a minimum equipment list for an engine company fire fighter is:

2 flashlights

at least 20 feet of rope or webbing with a carabiner

cable cutters (or equivalent)

Multi tool (Gerber, Letherman)

Serated blade knife

Several door chocks

These tools will allow you to operate independently in most single family residences on either investigations or fires. The moral of the story is tailor your tools to your response area, but carrying nothing is not an option!

2. Why do you wear you gear so much? I wear my gear on every non EMS call even if I am driving. I do this for several reasons the biggest is our man power. As I have said several times we only ride with 3 on each piece of apparatus, so everyone must be a soldier in order to get the job done in a timely fashion. The bottom line is we are all fireman, and we all do the right thing eventually (even if we do not want to) If you are driving and something needs to get done (throw a ladder, rescue someone from a balcony, push hose into a building) you’re going to do it. However if you are not geared up when/if you get hurt you will not be covered. I know I am always looking for where the action is so I take the what if factor out of it and wear my gear.

One incident that seems to happen over and over again is people not wearing gear on accidents. I have been told several times “the SOG says you do not have to wear gear if your just doing EMS” My question is HOW DO YOU KNOW UNTIL YOU GET THERE!!!!!!! The simply answer is you do not know anything until you get there, so you have to prepare like every one of them is going to be on fire and entrapment. If you get there and you are just doing EMS then dress down. Its a lot easier to ramp down than up.

The facts are folks we NEVER know what we are dealing with until we get there, if it is dispatched as a fire you better treat it like one until you get there and find out it is not. If it’s an accident it has entrapment, and its on fire until you get there and find out it does not. You can always send people back, take your gear off if it’s not needed, however it is very hard to get things going in the right direction when you get “surprised” by what you find. Quite frankly getting ”surprised” should never happen especially if we are acting appropriately.

What things are you seeing in your department similar to this? How do you handle it? Any special things you’re doing? Tell us that and anything else on your mind in the comments section. Until next time thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

Average Jake Published

Just wanted to give a quick post about my article that is now up for viewing on Fire Engineering’s website.

Here is the direct link: http://www.fireengineering.com/index/articles/display/0117347484/articles/fire-engineering/fire-ems/engineco/2011/01/ems-from-the-jump-seat.html

Its my first published article (except of course for this blog and our local FD training publication) and I am really excited about it. I hope everyone likes it.

By the way do not forget if you are coming to FDIC then come see me at my class:

Wednesday, March 23, 2011
3:30 PM-5:15 PM

Long-Stretch Solutions
Master Firefighter Robert C. Owens Sr., Henrico County (VA) Division of Fire
Several solutions to enable engine companies to efficiently stretch beyond their preconnected hoselines to reach the seat of the fire, regardless of the number of personnel available, are presented. Proper apparatus positioning, occupancy application, training, and communication are also discussed. INTERMEDIATE
Room 134-135

If you can not make it to the class then find me at one of the local watering holes, and I never miss the FOOLS Brotherhood Bash so hit me up there. Hope to see you all out there.

Until then thanks for reading, spread the word, and Stay safe!

Did it start in the attic?

First off happy Valentines Day to each and every one (ok the one of you) who read this. Make sure you let the people you love know how much you love them, not just today but everyday. It’s a fact that this job is tougher on them then it is on us, so let them know that even though you are living the dream and having fun on the job, that you are still thinking of them each and every day.

Now on to the video! This video illustrates some good and bad things. First it appears that this is a volunteer fire department that has people respond in POV (judging by the one guy on the exterior flowing water, the subsequent arrival of more people, and the commentary of the cameraman) so that already mean they are behind the 8 ball since they could not arrive with a proper crew to make an impact right away. It makes a bad situation worse however I feel like this “lone ranger” did a good thing. He stayed exterior which while tought to do is smart, I’m assuming he recognized the travel path of the fire which is why he directed his stream into the attic area.

However those are the few bright points of this fire. Once more people arrived they elect to go interior, that’s great but I do not know (could be a good reason) why the entry point was the B side porch and not the A side door. The house appears to be a split level house and it appears that the fire started on the lowest floor and traveled up wards to the floor above and the attic (look at 15 seconds in you can see fire venting from either a wall, vent, or window at the ground level). Sure the fire is in the other floors, and the attic but you have to put out the lower floor as well other wise it’s going to keep burning no matter how much water you throw in the attic. Entering from the front door would have given the company access to stairs that lead to all floors and a relatively easy stretch. Entering where they did would make access to the stairs difficult.

I did like that once the engine crew made entry someone though that laddering the building would be a good idea, I even liked that they were placed on side C which would most likely be the easiest window to get to. However they did not place the ladders to the windows and they had no tools in order to take the windows out. In fact the only tool I saw on the fireground (until later) was the hoseline. It is 2011 and there was a fire truck there, so not having a tool in hand is unacceptable.

They eventually make a hit on the fire but, risk a lot for a little by sending guys to an already compromised roof structure. At this point with the amount of loss already to the structure and the assumption (since I was not there) that a primary search had proved negative, a n exterior stream would have been more appropriate in my opinion then sending firemen to the roof. Also at one point I thought I heard a saw running, probably venting the roof, this again in my opinion is inappropriate since the fire had already vented through the roof, weakening the roof structure, and allowing for a vent hole. Time would have been better spent adding additional handlines, searching, or laddering the building.

I want to know what you think, if this fire happened in your department how would it be handled? Leave some feedback in the comments section and as usual stay safe and spread the word about the blog. Thanks for reading!

Fire, posted with vodpod

 

Roof Venting

This video is an oldie but a goody, and unless you have been under a rock somewhere I am sure you have seen it.

As anyone who has ever been in a rip snorting attic fire (especially on the nozzle) you know that a hole in the roof, or venting of the gable ends of the house can offer a lot of relief and allow you to stick it out longer and put a hit on a fire that could cause a house to become a total loss.

However as this video shows operating above the fire (either the floor above, or on the roof) can be extremely dangerous and precautions need to be taken in order to allow for relative safe, efficient, and effective fire ground operations. Here are some things to consider when thinking about going to the roof.

1. Size up: This is a no brainer, every firefighter on every scene needs to be constantly looking at the building and the fire conditions. These are the factors that allow us to do out job. It does not matter if 1,000 people are trapped, if the building is compromised, or the fire is to advanced we can not make entry, and as the old story goes if you’re not going to put firemen in it, you should not put them ON IT!

2. What are you venting?: Roof ventilation in a lot of areas has become a thing of the past (well unless you are in LA). The reason for this is 2 things Staffing, and attic construction. First a lot of companies are running with 3 person rigs. The time it takes for the driver to ladder the building, start the saw, climb up, and get the hole cut will not be fats enough to assist the engine in making the push. I argue that I can gain more by having that driver horizontally vent (windows or gable ends if we are talking attic fires) and have a more coordinated effort with the engine rather than waiting for the driver to go to the roof. Secondly, going to the roof to vent more than an attic space has become virtually impossible. Think about your attic, I know mine is PACKED full of old toys, clothes, decorations, etc. not to mention the solid floors that allow me to store all of that. I am sure my attic is not much different from most others out there. The point is there is no way you can vent the room below the attic through all of that, so unless you are venting the attic itself its better to take the windows.

3. PPE: Some will argue that you do not need to be on air while venting a roof, I look at this video of an example of why you not only need all of you gear but SCBA on air as well. 1 breath in that fully involved attic and your done. Fire is unpredictable, sure we always try to make the best decisions based on our experience and training, but bottom line is we really do not know what fire is going to do, that’s why we must always maintain our MAXIMUM protection level when operating in and above the fire. Do not sacrifice your safety for your comfort!

One last thing to consider, if you still feel that venting the roof is the way you want to go, then I suggest the aerial ladder vent. This can be done from the tip, or bucket/basket/platform of either a straight stick or tower. While this may take a little longer it will keep you off of the roof structure and allow for less fatigue (if it’s a tower you can ride and it will ride your tools up as well). If you get good enough with it I have seen firemen just run the saw up to max RPM, put it in the roofing material and let the guy running the basket controls move the basket to make the cuts.

Leave some feedback in the comments section about what you are doing in your department when it comes to venting roofs. As always thanks for reading, spread the word about the blog, and STAY SAFE!

Fall, posted with vodpod

 

Oh Really

Apparently some people out there are not to fond of the job we do or the sacrifices we make.

I wonder how some of these “suits” would fare working a 24, getting dirty, getting no sleep, and eating on the run. It’s a far cry from that cushy office job, and catered lunch.

Bottom line is folks times are tough and we need to let people know more than ever how important we really are. So take some time the next time you are out to actually talk to the people, put the kids on the fire truck, hold open doors, and do the little things on you next call like making sure Mrs. Smith has turned off all her appliances before she goes to the hospital, or that her cat has some food before you lock up. Trust me it really makes a difference.

Lets prove these people wrong and lets show them that not only is this job dangerous, fun, exciting, hard, etc. it’s also IMPORTANT! No one else can do what the fire department does, and it is past time we made sure people know about it!

Oh Really, posted with vodpod

 

February Drill of The Month: Side C Operations

This video from Gary Indiana, shows us a townhouse fire. The fire itself is not very significant and there are several learning points that can be viewed, however the focus of this post is operations on Side C of the occupancy.

Typically in my department initial Side C operations are done by the Truck Driver. We run with a crew of 3 (driver, officer, firefighter) on all suppression units. In order to get critical functions done our drivers (Engine and Truck) must sometimes pull “double duty” until other units arrive.

This includes but is not limited to forcible entry, ventilation, utility control, laddering, and search/rescue of victims.

However in order to do these tasks successfully and safely the drivers must don their PPE to a minimum of pants, coat, helmet and gloves(SCBA is also recommended but not always practical). Failure to do this could result in inefficient operations, and firefighter injury. We all know that when a firefighter gets injured on the fire ground the focus shifts from the incident to our brother. In addition in already low man power situations it could make the mitigation of the incident impossible since a critical function is no longer being filled.

Also in order to complete the tasks at hand you need to bring the right tools with you for the job. These tools need to be based on the structure you are facing, the fire conditions, and the job you are tasked with doing based on departmental directives.

Here are a few posts I have already written that can help you in your Side C operations:

http://averagejakeff.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/one-man-ladder-drag/

http://averagejakeff.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/may-drill-of-the-month/

http://averagejakeff.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/june-drill-of-the-month/

http://averagejakeff.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/forcible-entry-baseball-bat-swing/

So this month take a look at your operations on Side C, figure out what you want done, who you want doing it, and what tools and equipment you are going to need based on your district, and the people you have. Then get out there and put it in practice!

If you have any other Side C tips, then please share them in the comments section. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

PPE?, posted with vodpod

 

SUPER BOWL!!!!

It has been a very busy few days for me. First and foremost my youngest son turned two, throw in going to a hockey game in DC, a UFC fight tonite, working my regular shifts at the station, and the Super Bowl party I am going to tomorrow and I have barely had time to sleep.

However I do like to stay busy and I am going to be even busier with FDIC, EMT-I class, and hopefully a rope rescue course around the corner.

So like I said earlier the Super Bowl is tomorrow and I am going to take the back half of the shift off in order to go to a party. While I do not have a dog in this fight(I am a Redskins fan) the party I am going to is a long-standing tradition dating back to before I was born so I always try to go.

So while I am going to be just relaxing watching the game, a lot of our brothers (yes ladies this means you as well) will be working a tour. While I hope for a very non eventful shift for all of you if anything is consistent in our job we know that BIG events usually lead to BIG calls, and the Super Bowl is no exception. People are having parties, and that means alcohol will be flowing freely. Some people do not know how to handle their drinks responsibly, even I have been to known to “have a few to many”. During times like this we have to remember to remain diligent and never let our guard down, quite the contrary we must be at a heightened state especially AFTER the event.

While this may not happen in your city the below video illustrates what happens when a few people having a good time turns into a menacing situation for first responders. I remember when I attended Eastern Kentucky University and coach Roy Kidd won his 300th game. All of the students rushed the field and tore down the goal posts and marched them into town and into a bar. Think of the calls that could have come from that, and that was just a small Division 2 College Football Game, nothing like THE SUPER BOWL!

So remember to be safe out there, wear your reflective turnout coats/vests, buckle up, always have a way out, and let the police do their job so that we can do ours. It also might not be a bad idea to go over some mass casualty incident management topics like triage at the coffee table in the a.m.

Thanks for reading, stay safe, and of course ENJOY THE GAME!

Sports Riot, posted with vodpod