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Chesterfield County Fire and EMS video: Chesterfield Fire and EMS crews battled a stubborn house fire on Apr. 15 in the 8600 block of Chester Forest Lane, where the first-arriving firefighters found heavy fire showing from the rear of the home.
Let’s watch crews in action: Crews moved quickly to establish command, stretch attack lines, and push into the structure to knock down the flames, bringing the fire under control in about an hour. After being marked under control, the fire flared back up, forcing crews to re-enter the home to track down and extinguish hidden hot spots before the scene was fully secured.
3 highlights for firefighter training:
- 360-degree size-up shows possible outside-in fire. We see the officer of Engine 217 and a firefighter at the rear with a hoseline knocking down the bulk of the fire on the exterior before repositioning the hoseline to the front door.
- Communication of initial actions. Engine 217’s officer reports the actions done in the rear and the movement to the front for fire attack and search. The officer reports finding and removing pets as well as the result of the primary search of the first floor.
- Transition to truck work. We see the officer and another firefighter open a section of the roof at the rear of the structure to ensure the fire has not extended into that area. For some departments, staffing levels may require firefighters to perform additional tasks regardless of their company assignment.
Crew questions:
- What factors should guide the decision to knock down heavy exterior fire before repositioning the hoseline for an interior attack?
- What information should the first-arriving officer communicate to command after completing a 360, beginning fire attack and conducting a primary search?
- When staffing requires engine crews to perform truck work, how should your crew prioritize opening up, checking for extension and maintaining fire attack and search responsibilities?
