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Ten Minutes in the Street: Engine Co. 21-On Location, Nothing Showing
Hey everyone. In response to the overwhelming number of inquiries these past few weeks as to the next posting of Ten Minutes in the Streets I want to provide you with a quick update that we'll have a new brand new interactive post up this coming weekend.
I've been doing some traveling over the past couple of weeks lecturing around the country, so I have been remiss in getting a new post up in a while, with some of you going through some "slight withdrawals".
Anyways, while I'm on the road again this weekend, here's a quick exercise for your ten minutes in the street;
You've been dispatched to a report of smoke coming from a building.
· You arrive at the address, and there is nothing immediately evident.
· Conduct an assessment of the building.
· What are you going to do?
· What risks are evident, and what is not?
· Vacant or Unoccupied; what will your company do or not do and why?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Boarded up - vacant, unsure if it is unoccupied.
First move is to see if there's any visible smoke from either inside or from somewhere close to the building. It's possible that another building nearby is actually on fire and the caller mistakenly reported it here.
I want law enforcement support here right now. This could be a crack house, a meth lab, or just a squat, but there's a strong possibility of homeless people and/or ciminal activity here.
A 360 is important. Look at all of the doors and windows to make sure that they are all still really boarded up and not either open or faux-boarded.
During the 360, I'm going to look for smoke or unusual odors, piles of beer cans or other debris below windows that may indicate that the structure is in use, and look for ways for fire and law enforcement to enter the building...safely. I'm also going to look for electrical wires snaking into the corner of a window or through a wall - sometimes these vacant buildings are wired for stolen electricity. I'm also going to listen for voices, noises, the crackle of flames, and do a verbal search by calling out to see if anyone is inside. I'm also going to frequently identify us as firefighters so we don't get mistaken for cops if anyone inside is both armed and nervous.
If this got a box alarm, I'm going to have the 1st due truck or rescue stage close by, the 2nd engine (assuming I'm the 1st due engine officer) stage at the water supply and verify that it is in service, and have everyone else stage at least a block away. If I'm on a 2 and 0 fire alarm, the 2nd engine is staging on the water supply.
The structure is an old, decrepit small apartment building. It's probably a Type III (Ordinary) but the roof and floors may be rotted out or damaged by previous fires. Ditto for the porch, 2nd Floor balcony, and interior stairs and floors.
If this is a crack house or meth lab, there will be lots of drug paraphernalia, possibly floors full of needles, and possibly booby traps. If there is a fire and we have to go interior, the first nozzleman move is to sweep the floor with a tight fog stream to push the needles away from where we're going to crawl.
If the structure is actually on fire, that's a whole new ball game on this one. I'll let that one ride and see what everyone else comes up with for size-up and initial tactics.
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Permalink Reply by Ron Ayotte on
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It appears that the building is vacant/abandoned.
The first due companies should do a 360 of the building, checking the boarded up lower floor area for loose or missing plywood sheets. If any sheets are loose or missing, it must be assumed that there are either kids using the building for "party central" or squatters using it for shelter. If there is no fire, have the PD respond to evict any kids/squatters and the building should be re-secured.
If there is smoke showing, a quick search should be done depending on the percentage of involvement. Fire conditions can and will escalate rapidly, 2.5" lines should be used and preparations to go defensive should be in place.
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Permalink Reply by Shareef Abdu Nur on
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The bldg appears to be vacant but unsure if it is occupied. Boards up on all of the ingress/egress points. Power lines on that side of the street will make it hard to get the aerial up so we would consider 24 ft'ers to get to the 2nd floor windows and a 35 ft'er to get to the roof from the "C" side if need be. The "C" side because tere is no need to get trapped between the fire building and an exposure if you do not need to.
As we arrive, my size up would be, "Dispatch...Truck 3 on scene at 123 Main street, 2 story abandoned apartment building, nothing showing, we'll be out to investigate. Companies will be operating on Fireground channel 5..."
We would place our apparatus with the turntable at the A-C corner to cover both sides if needed and to give me a quick look of at least 3 sides of the structure.
The 1st due Eng Co would stage at the A-D corner and stretch to a hydrant. They would not deploy attack lines with reports of no smoke or fire showing, but they would be ready to enter at a moments' notice.
I would quickly complete a 360 and then I and my crew would force entry through the front door and search for smoke, fire, and/or victims. We would announce ourselves as, "Fire Department! Anyone here?" throughout our search. This could be a drug stash spot and some angry bad guys need to know that we are not cops. As we entered we would sound the floors on the way to ensure stability and the search would be a quick and dirty primary.
Once the Chief arrived, I would give him my report and he would probably cancel the rest of the incoming alarm assignment. He would put us all in service and before we returned to the firehouse, by it being daylight hours, I would take my crew around this building to do a quick walk through of this type of construction and occupancy to hear their oppinions and thoughts as well as to communicate my objectives and strategies.
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Permalink Reply by Smoke Eater on
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The structure looks to be abandoned. Unfortunately there are boards up on all windows and doors. Upon arrival, I would do my initial 360 to see where I could possibly get a crew inside to check it out. I would also note the locations of any utilities to the building and see if the meters are running. If they are, then the utilities are not shut off and there may possibly be someone inside. As stated before, this could be a drug house and full of traps. Or this may just be an abandoned building with squatters inside. After doing my 360, I would have my engine crew force entry and advance an uncharged 1-3/4 line into the structure and search for the cause of the light smoke. I would also have PD respond to this location in case this is a possible crime scene. All other incomming units will be placed in level 1 staging.
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Permalink Reply by Roy Walker on
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I tend to agree with all the posts, common sense rules ,we've all seen the problems associated with run down /abandon buildings. One of the areas I would like to address in addition to those mentioned would be to open up some of the boarded up windows. I want light for the guys operating inside so no surprises are encountered and some alternate means of egress available. That means I want multiple ladders thrown if we have a worker for the same reasons.
Another problem we have encountered around here is some of these properties have had previous fire damage so we have to watch for problems such as stability , holes and quicker spread than we normally encounter. An awareness of strange chemical odours and smoke colors will be a consideration not wasted at these calls .
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Chris, I think we've about covered the initial investigation and size-up issues.
Do you have additional photos or additional scenario information for us now that the first-due engine is working on the 360?
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