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Video: Firefighters in air bag explosion close call in Idaho

This fire and near miss is a reminder about the dangers of vehicle fires

While making entry into the hood to check for additional fire, an air bag explodes from the passenger side of a car in a close call video posted online from a Fourth of July fire.

Luckily in this case, the firefighters were not injured despite wearing limited PPE.

The firefighters in Moscow, Idaho, are seen going to work on a garage fire with multiple exposure issues in the clip. They work to protect adjacent structures and limit extension into the main residence of a single family dwelling. Intense heat consumes a vehicle near the garage during operations, and the close call can be seen at the 4:45 minute mark.

This fire and near miss is a reminder about the dangers of vehicle fires. We must be and vigilant and attack with our guards up. There is no valid reason for an unprotected aggressive attack on any unoccupied vehicle.

Remember the explosive hazards, and that the majority of vehicle fires on arrival are total losses. Treat them that way, and make your safety and the integrity of your crew the priority on all attacks.

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Jason T. Poremba is the owner and creator of Bestfirefightervideo.com. His ‘Close Calls on Camera’ section on FR1 won Best Regularly Featured Web column/Trade category in the 2009 Maggie Awards, which honors the region’s best publications and Web sites. Jason is a 14-year member and captain in an engine company of a volunteer fire department in New York. His specialty training includes rapid intervention, firefighter survival and engine company operations. He has developed a way to train firefighters via the Web in the dangers of firefighter close calls, and dangerous training and firefighting procedures.

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