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Frozen Firefighters
With winter in full swing I thought I would post a pic that illustrates just how bad it can get.
I am sure some have been in worse, and if you have some pictures send them in and we’ll post them.
As you can see, things can get rough when it is really cold. Nozzles freeze up, hoses get difficult to move around, pumps freeze, and surfaces get very slick.
Slick is an understatement for this picture. Use extreme caution when operating on icey surfaces. Especially elevated surfaces like roofs. Maybe wear ladder belts when you normally wouldn’t. Keep some webbing in your pocket, use it to secure yourself to the roof ladder or other fixed object.
Just be extra careful. On the ground, keep some ice-melt or salt on the trucks to spread around. You might have to call in public works to put down large quantities of salt if you are on a road or out for a long incident.
Bottom line, be careful. Stay safe.
http://firefightersenemy.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Doug on
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There's a picture hanging on a wall in my department. It depicts my Asst. Chief when he was just a regular firefighter, back in the early '70s, leaning over a balcony of what was a fully involved garden style apartment, icicles hanging from his mustache.
I'm liking this current January thaw, makes things much easier when on a scene, but Winter will be back before Spring arrives for good.
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Permalink Reply by Rusty Mancini on
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Here in the South we don't experience those kinds of conditions to often, but that has to be difficult and dangerous from the looks of things in that pic. Man, that's crazy!!
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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Not having ANY background in fighting fires in subzero conditions like you posted, I have a serious realtime question for folks out there that have dealt with this. My SoCal experience never included these extreme weather conditions. with that said, here's the purpose of my question.
If you have a structure fire, and you are extinguishing the fire in subzero conditions, how do you do any kind of arson investigation when everything is frozen in ice? Seems like the perfect crime scenario if you wanted to rob someone, then cover up the evidence by burning the structure down. Does this sound far fetched to you? I would appreciate your opinion here.
Why? My oldest daughters boyfriends grandmother was consumed in an early morning structure fire. Eye witnesses observed the fully engulfed home and speculated that she was probably robbed. If this is the case, how do you do fire cause and determination, not to mention possible crime scene investigations in these conditions?
Thanks in advance...
CBz
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Permalink Reply by Jason Hoevelmann on
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Well, that is a very good question. I can tell you how we have done it in the past. We brought in salamander heaters, no kerosene, just LP fueled salamanders and heated one area at a time.
To help enclose a room to keep heat in we used tarps over the windows and doors. It worked well enough to gather and sift through evidence.
Hope that helped.
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Personally, the majority of times I've found the interior of structures to not be iced over. Once the fire is knocked down the interior of the structure is still warm enough to keep the water from freezing. Despite the outward appearance of the structure pictured, I'd bet you 9 times out of 10 the inside of it is free of ice. But, as FFsEnemy also stated, portable heaters are brought in when needed, that 1 out of 10 times.
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Yes, Doug, we have only done this a couple times out of many. Usually, it has been when it has been a prolonged scene investigation.
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