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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on October 21, 2011 at 12:08pm

Casey, we use this exclusively. Years ago we used the vent fans in the doors and windows blowing the smoke out. Today we use positive ventilation. It is much more effective and facilitates our crews to do the job more efficiently. Early and often!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Reynolds on October 21, 2011 at 12:43pm

I have used it for nearly 15 years.  Works great when used correctly.  When used correctly, it is second to none.  A very effective tool for aggressive crews.

 

However, if the user applies it incorrectly, WOW!  Very dangerous, very scary.  Training is a good start, just make sure your IC's know what their doing.  We built a prop (building) to burn in and exercise this tactic.  Perfect Practice makes perfect.  Hopefully, you will see the benefit.

 

My $.02

DR

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Permalink Reply by capcityff on October 21, 2011 at 2:08pm

I'm not a fan of it and it's never used out here in DC.  However with our staffing, we have truck companies on scene in minutes and can get guys on the roof right away.  Also with fire houses being so close together in the city we can almost always make a quick attack on everything before a fan could be set up.  The idea seems good, but it really depends on how your department operates.  With our staffing(5 on a truck, 4 on an engine, 5 on a rescue and 5 engines, 2 trucks, 1 rescue to every box) it just doesn't make much sense for us.

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Permalink Reply by Don Catenacci on October 21, 2011 at 8:29pm

PPA is a tool in the tool box.  Use it when it is appropriate, don't when it isn't.  You need to know where the fire is.  You need to control where the byproducts exit and make the proper sized opening.  You need to understand the possibility of pushing fire into void spaces and through the walls in balloon frame houses.

 

I have used it in attacking a fairly involved basement fire.  We had the line all ready to go, popped a couple of windows in the basement opposite the side of the basement we were entering on.  Fired up the fan and blew all the heat and gasses right out the windows.  We walked right down the steps and killed the fire.  The fan continued to blow the byproducts and steam right out the windows.  really quite comfortable conditions to work in.

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Permalink Reply by Gregory Borg on October 23, 2011 at 2:17am

This subject was beaten to death about six months ago, check the old threads.

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Permalink Reply by Ron King (Fire Chief) on October 23, 2011 at 10:11am

I agree with Chief Sharp Positive Ventilation is the only way to go.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on October 23, 2011 at 1:54pm

Please use the "SEARCH" function.  There are numerous previous discussions on PPV listed.

Virtually every aspect of PPV has been covered in those threads, most of them numerous times.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Owens on October 23, 2011 at 3:30pm

Im not a fan and we do not use it at all...however I do knwo of FD's that use it with success.

 

For every success story I have seen I ahve also seen a failure, its a tool in the tool box but it is not used here or even thought of.

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