You guys can bash me if you want , but I have not used a scba on a car fire in god knows how long. Now I do wear all my turnout gear. I know I should because all the rolling meth labs and poss propane tanks in the trunks but I just don't. Actually now that I think about it nobody at my dept uses them on car fires. The dept that I am employed with don't give a **** about us hell we can't even get nfpa compliant gear. Our dept probably breaks every nfpa standard there is. Hell they still ain't paying us minimum wage. For I get out of hand about my dept let me stop now and just say that no I do not wear a scbe on a car fire.
Yes,with today's auto's it's impossible to tell anymore what chemical's are in the plastic resin's that were molded to make various part's of the car/truck.
I work in metro Atlanta. We had FF from a nearby deparment, that had a Magnesium steering column, on an older model van, flash on him. His SCBA was all that kept his face intact. I always wear mine.
absolutely yes, too many opportunities for inhaling carcinigens from the plastics, and there is always the possibility of explosion, as well as intense heat from the fire. this should be a departmental SOP no matter what.
YES! Their is so much more that could go wrong on a vehicle fire today than their was ten years ago. For instance a magnesium explosion! Go on youtube and check out magnesium fire. My dept ran into this about a year ago. Speaking for my self if their is smoke my SCBA goes on!
This is a no brain er! Why would you not, a car fire is one of the most dangerous smoke events that you will respond to, I don't want that crap in my lungs. Come on folks this is an easy one.
Always.I make sure my guys always have them on.They can put them on in the engine on the way.Too much bad stuff to breathe to not put them on.I don't even know why we have to tell them,should be obvious to them.Just my opinion.(Yep,I know what opinions are like.Everybody has one.)