| Editor’s note: The following is a two-part column on extreme high-rise fires. Part 1 describes fires and ventilation practices. In Part 2, LaFemina will provide some tips to reduce the potential for a catastrophe. |
High-rise fires present some of the most extreme and dangerous challenges, as well as some of the most punishing conditions, you are likely to face during your career. One of the hottest fires I experienced was a wind-driven, high-rise apartment building fire. These types of fires can create conditions that even a firefighter in full PPE cannot endure. Sometimes it’s not humanly possible to advance down to the involved apartment to commence an attack.
Generally, high-rise buildings are those that exceed 75 feet in height, but extreme fires can also occur in buildings on the lower floors. We have experienced several in the past couple of months here in New York City.
Cold temperatures and high winds exacerbate an otherwise routine fire. These fires are usually handled by the initial units on the scene, but if ventilation occurs uncontrollably or a window fails when exposed to heat, these operations become anything but routine.
Firefighters have died and many others have been severely injured during such wind-driven fires. As these fires progress, we tend to see a lot of burn injuries. Injuries occur as the fire rapidly expands to any and all openings, including public halls and stairwells. These fires will also threaten occupants trying to evacuate the building and hinder the fire attack.
Such fires generally occur several times a year; sometimes we get lucky and accomplish early extinguishment. But these operations often become anything but routine. A mattress fire on the 4th floor doesn’t sound like a whole lot, but if uncontrolled ventilation occurs or if a window fails due to heat during extinguishment, the event could become disastrous. The key to this operation-and it occurred in the Bronx this past Sunday-is getting the apartment door closed. In essence, this confines the fire to one apartment and, at the very least, we have control of the hallways and stairwells to deal with our number priority — life. If the door is left open, the fire will vent out the apartment door down the hall and into the stairwell. The conditions can become so severe that it may not be possible to extinguish the fire from the interior.
Auto exposure is another concern: Not only will the fire spread to the hallways and stairwells, it will also spread to the floors above. In the Bronx fire on Sunday, the fire extended to the floor above. The units were soon fighting two similar fires, both wind driven, at the same time. We must, if possible, get to the apartment door and maintain control of it throughout the operation.
As conditions (i.e., wind speed and direction) change during operations, units will be able to attack the fire with the handline. There are also alternative tactics we can implement to allow us to move in and attack the fire.
Some buildings with long hallways require smoke stop doors. When in the closed position, these doors keep smoke and heat out of that side of the hallway, providing an area of safety. This allows better access for firefighters and a safer evacuation route for occupants.
Here’s a typical scenario: The ladder company is delaying ventilation until the hoseline is charged and the engine company is ready to put water on the fire when a window self-vents and all hell breaks loose. It is asses and elbows trying to get back to the apartment door to get it closed.
The bottom line: It is important to shut the door to the apartment on your way out, as well as the door to the public stairwell when you are trying to re-group. This will keep the heat and smoke out of the hallway and the stairwells, and provide an area of refuge.
I will follow up this article with tips on how to recognize these types of fires, tactics that you can implement to minimize the dangers and put the fire out.
Click here to read Part 2 of High Rise & Extreme High Rise Fires