This feature is intended to spark the sharing of ideas, information and techniques to make firefighters safer and more effective. The following video and discussion points must not be used to berate, belittle or criticize those firefighters. Rather, in the spirit of near-miss reporting, please use this feature as another teaching tool to help you better do your job. Please leave your comments below and use this material in your own department. I hope you find this Reality Training valuable; stay safe and keep learning.
When they burn, wood-frame, multi-story apartment buildings constructed in the last 40 years present a multitude of operational challenges to firefighters. The 1970s brought a new approach to the building construction industry: new construction design techniques replaced mass in building materials.
We’re talking about light-weight materials and composite materials; truss construction for floor and roof assemblies; central heating and air conditioning ductwork that required more frequent and larger penetrations of walls and partitions; and improved insulation and building air-tightness to reduce energy consumption.
When firefighters arrive at these types of occupancies and have visible fire conditions, they must recognize these signs for what they mean: the fire already has a substantial head start and firefighters must proceed with extreme caution.
Not only that, but the structural components of the building are providing fuel for the fire, those light-weight components burn faster, there are plenty of avenues for interior fire spread, and the interior BTUs will keep piling up until the fire vents.
Discussion points
- What fire behavior do you observed in the video clip?
- What do you believe are the interior conditions to be on the first and second floor of the structure?
- What is the building’s structural integrity at this time?
- What are the pros and cons of multiple, small caliber (less than 2 ½-inch) handlines — as deployed in the video — as opposed to fewer large caliber fire streams?
- Is one handline size better than the other for managing water supply when supplies are tight, if so, why?
- How would you assess the effectiveness of the incident command system and crew accountability on this video?