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Five Minutes in the Street: Making the Call...
You’re the first-due company officer. Your company has arrived at a well involved and progressing fire in a two story wood frame (Type V), residential occupancy, housing two families; one on each floor. It’s 03:50 hours.
You have a report of trapped occupant on the number two floor either in the hallway or bedroom.
The fire is rapidly extending, you observe pre-flashover conditions on the second floor based upon the smoke assessment.
You have a six person crew, half are experienced the other half are relatively new. The second due company is at least 5-6 minutes out.
What are you going to do?
You have a limited widow of opportunity….
Think about realistic tactical objectives and tasks…
Think about the time factors…
What are you going to do...YOU have to make the call and right now…?
BTW, you did not pick up a hydrant coming in...but you have a 1000 gallon tank on the engine...
Did I mention, you've got family members "screaming" at you to do something....
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Robert Owens on
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BTW 6 people is not realistic in my FD our minimum staffing is 3....I am curious to see what some peoples responses would be then.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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OK you must have a policy about laying in everytime... "moron" and "kick in the butt" comment.
Agree to disagree here:
Many agressive first due city's do not lay in knowing other companies are coming in right behind them. The delay for stopping and tagging a hydrant will be a definate factor in saving a potentially trapped victim.
Explain that to the family.... people coughing and screaming from a rear window... "hold on" I must stop and wrap this hose before I save your life!
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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In this 'Type', is the type of external cladding specified? Most houses here are wooden frame with brick external cladding, a lot of older houses have overlapping horizontal wooden planks as the cladding (called weatherboard here, I can't remember the US term for it).
I know this a little of the track, but it helps me to understand the answers!
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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I agree, especially if the 1st due engine has 1,000 gallons of water on board.
Even if flowing a 2.5 inch line, that's 4 or 5 minutes of water, depending on the nozzle choice.
Remember, the parameters here are the first 5 minutes. The tank water should last nicely for that time.
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Permalink Reply by Aaron Robbins on
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lol
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Permalink Reply by Marques Bush on
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I would definitely say drop a man at the hydrant. With proper training laying out and getting hooked up shouldn't take long you have six people. Three firefighters stretch and search the second floor and the one firefighter knocks down the fire from the door. Once the hydrant firefighter is finished hooking up he or she can make there way up the supply line and start making an attack on the first floor with the firefighter on the line and the driver can throw ladders. I would have no problem explaining to the family that if I put the fire out I have a better chance at saving the family members. We should never count on a second engine especially with apparatus accidents on the rise; there is enough firefighters to accomplish multiple tasks here. Considering the construction and what looks to be advanced fire I would definitely want a secure water source.
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Question then, same fire, same 5-6 delay for the next in company but there are no hydrants? We are in the business to save lives right...
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No question you go get them. If I have the opportunity to grab a hydrant I will though. Great question We are in the business of saving lives right?
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I don't think anyone questions what business we're in.
The question here is how, not what.
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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only thing you missed was the second due needs to lay a line to the scene. Otherwise a good quick analysis
The laid in line will ensure you have constant water. The first due was tasked to making the grab, the second due while assisting needs to ensure for firefighter safety and thats water
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Very good thoughts guys enjoying the responses! Chris anymore pics so we can finish a 360?
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While our SOG's do have a clause that you must establish a water supply I can't belive that you would not lay a line on a working fire or even a supposed working fire!!!!!!!!!!!! They called us becuase they think something is on fire...lets take there word for it and act appropriately. Every run is a fire until we get there and say its not. Check out www.traditionstraining.com for some Engine Company Combat Readiness tips.
If it takes you so long to lay out that you might delay the rescue then I suggest more training.
If there was no hydrant I still lay out so when the water shuttle or rural water op is established it is down the street and not in the way of incoming units that I may need at the scene and allow for quick turn around of the water shuttle units.
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