Adapting

What size line would you take?

This was a fire I was on one night over ten years ago. It was a great learning fire and the tactics had to be changed for a successful stop.

I can tell you that a great deal went right this night and there were things that happened away from the fire that paid huge dividends.

If you are the first arriving unit and officer, explain where your going and what your doing. I’ll give you a little information to help you along.

-This is in a rural area, no hydrants.

-The house is old. Old newspaper and straw were found in the walls during overhaul.

-We had plenty of manpower.

-On side B there is a door that leads to the kitchen and the stairs go up from the kitchen on that side, just so you know.

I would like to see a great deal of feedback on this one. Please let me know what operations would be going on away from the fire. After I get enough comments, I will post what we did and why it worked.

As always, thanks for your continued support and use this however you want for your training purposes.

Stay safe and be careful out there.

http://firefightersenemy.com

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Permalink Reply by Chris Kennedy on July 22, 2010 at 6:41pm

How about a very rural suggestion: First due would be Engine, Engine/tanker and tanker for 5000 gal water, with automatic aid 2 - Engine/ tanker for 3600 gal more plus medic. Arrival, establish command and do 360 plus determine equipment placement and additional needs and secure utilities as possible, another 2500 gal tender and engine company for second RIT. Judging solely by the photo, this fire looks high, no smoke in first floor, blacked out second floor and flames out of the roof. Walk around would tell that. Primary search 1st floor while setting up lines. Ladder the back porch, 1 3/4 to back ladder, 2 1/2 with break-apart playpipe with fog and a piercing nozzle with 50' section of 1 3/4 hose to the stairs, plus another 1 3/4 attack line for the stairs and 1st floor defense. This would be a good time to use class A foam or wetting agent. Establish drop tank and shuttle operation as a precaution. Establish RIT at side A and have them open access to second floor by removing windows above porch after water supply established interior, should help push the fire back on itself. 2 1/2 upstairs after venting and, if it is above ceiling, switch to 1 3/4 with piercing nozzle and work it through the ceiling (if old enough, probably wood not drywall or plaster). Other wise push it out the burn with big volume. Primary search second floor. Handline on 1st floor can move up behind big line for support at this time. Depending entirely on how I felt about the elapsed time and damage extent to the roof, laddering the main roof might be an option with another piercing nozzle set up. If not advisable then ladder the A side attic vent and remove then begin applying water from the 1 3/4 through the opening. Soon as possible cover stuff upstairs and start cutting and pulling the ceiling for overhaul. That is, unless it is in the cellar............

Adapting

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