This week a common structure that can be found in many communities. The multi unit self storage facility.
1.) In the photo you see a vehicle in one unit. Are there other vehicles? What is actually behind those doors? Do you know? Start with obtaining the rules of storage from the facility. Then anticipate people break the rules.
2.) Are the outside doors connected at the rear of the unit to a common interior hallway?
3.) Each of these units should be considered a residential garage. This means a two and a half inch line as a minimum.
4.) What is the construction? Will the side walls hold fire to the unit? What is the roof construction, how soon will it fail?
5.) What is the access to the building like? Locked gates to enter, narrow alleys between building, where do you park to investigate?
Go out in your response district and take a look at these facilities.
This week we have an urban fire problem of two vacant dwellings with some tactical questions.
1.) Consider your department’s first alarm response and within the first thee-four minutes 2 pieces of apparatus and a supervisor show up first. How do you deeply them?
2.) Which house gets checked first and why?
3.) What are the hazards that can be found based upon your view of this scenario?
4.) Have you and your department defined for everyone in your department the difference between, vacant, unoccupied ,and abandoned ? Are your procedures any different for the different definitions.
5.) In an urban department this might be routine. In a small suburban department it might not be so common. Train for it, prepare for it, and remember that you might have to conduct a “protected search”. I am using the term protected search because the rescue profile exists but it is low, and your crews should be protected by a hose line. The life of your firefighters must be protected.
This week a fire in a garden style apartment complex.
1.) Create a brief initial radio report using the conditions, actions, needs (CAN) format.
2.) The landscape in some of these buildings may not allow apparatus placement as close as you want. What is the length of the stretch for this scenario?
3.) How does your first alarm assignment compare with the apparatus and manpower that will be required to handle this.
4.) Have you preplanned these facilities in your response area? Is there detection? Is there suppression? (Sprinklers) Are there stand pipes available?
5.) What methods will you use to account for all residents that live in the entire building, not just that apartment.
Is it just a car fire single engine company response as it was dispatched or is it something more? Take a look and you decide.
1.) What is your normal response for a reported car fire? When do you upgrade?
2.) What is your strategy here and what do you do with the first attack line?
3.) What challenges will be encountered if the entire carport becomes involved?
4.) is it likely that a structure such as the one shown might be located up a long driveway or a gated residence?
5.) When you are reviewing your response district look at these carport, canopies, and overhangs and imagine a fire underneath. These could be cars, vans, or delivery trucks.
This week something that you might not normally think of. A fire at an amusement part or local carnival.
1.) What challenges will there be to the apparatus placement and the length of the stretch? 2.) What hazards might be associated with this type of temporary structure? 3.) How do you gain access to rescue the 3 persons inside? 4.) How many lines will you need for this fire and or exposures in a tightly packed midway? 5.) Explain how your manpower would be used if the carnival was in full swing? How do you manage the spectators! Thanks and until next week stay safe, and stay thinking! Pete Lamb Copyright 2013
