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Comment by M.J. 6821 on November 6, 2010 at 10:21am

FW I was wondering how wide the stairwells are I have noticed that they are getting narrower and narrower in the newer buildings to the point that they arent effective for the number of people is designed to hold.

Comment by Fabulous Heather Days of Summer on November 6, 2010 at 9:31am

Yup FW - follow U.S. street traffic patterns - that's what I learned.
Forward movement - stay to the right.
Forward movement down = inside wall.
Forward movement up = outside wall.
During evacuation and re-entry.
It makes it easier for non-rescuers to remember and associate their automatic memory to "traffic rules."

Comment by Firewriter on November 6, 2010 at 12:47am

M.J. Thanks! That is what we were trained to do. These drills are very frustrating because of the attitudes people take - both occupants and building management. If I am willing to risk my life to keep you safe; the least you can do is follow protocol to help me and the other responders do our jobs.

Comment by M.J. 6821 on November 5, 2010 at 10:52pm

FW That looks like a nightmare one thing that we did on my old Dept. and the school that we had is we had the stairs set up like a street the right side was up the left side was down if we were to meet evacuation people on the steps. It doesnt always work but it was one way that we tried to solve it.

Ralph it sounds like your going to have a fun night hopefully its quiet and theres no full moon and you get a decent partner.

Comment by Nyssa Aker on November 5, 2010 at 10:42pm

Have a good and safe night everyone. I'm going to bed and then up for shift in the morning which shall be interesting.

Comment by Firewriter on November 5, 2010 at 1:05pm

Chief, we do not evacuate ADAs. They remain on their floor near stairwell until FFs can arrive via elevator or through stairwell for evacuation. Part of my job duties include remaining with them until evacuation can be effected. I will check out the video.

We have an established protocol based on recommendation of fire department that basically says, "all evacuees will descend stairwell using inside wall to allow firefighters to ascend on outside wall ..."

This keeps FFs from having to cross the flow of descending traffic since they are against the "outside" wall. This term does not mean outside as in exterior of building; it means the wall which is opposite the core wall.
Sorry if that was confusing; just the terms we use here. I did not write the damn thing! :)

Comment by Firewriter on November 5, 2010 at 12:35pm

Chief, this is a high-rise building with no fire escapes and sealed windows. Employees must evacuate to bottom floor and exit through lobby or external door to street. This is one of those where FFs ascend in same stairwell as evacuees descend.

Comment by Eric B on November 5, 2010 at 12:20pm

Yes Heather semi old age lol , i may be young but my i have alot of issues with my knees always have and always will , i walk like a 90 yr old specially after a long shift like last night

Comment by Firewriter on November 5, 2010 at 12:08pm

Popping in for some help (one of those times where I really want to grant some death wishes!!)

We had an unannounced evacuation yesterday. I am getting ready to issue a Violations Report (protocol not followed in several instances). I have conflicting responses from two members of command team regarding one protocol; I have had enough of their BS.

I am leaving my training/experience out of the equation and asking for your response so I can get the damned thing off my desk and move on with issuing reprimands (after telling these pompous asses to “f” off … can we tell FW is highly peeved?!

"During a fire, do evacuees descend a smoke-proof stairway on the inside wall or outside wall?" Firefighters will be ascending at the same time.

I promise you, had yesterday been a real emergency; we would have had a total cluster "f" of major proportions.

Comment by Tom Williams on November 5, 2010 at 11:30am

Bows and tips the helmet to the lovely Ms. Heather, thanks for the compliment ;o) I think...LOL Hey, I was just kinda guessing she would fall asleep in the class and studying sounded at least like she was going to make an attempt at getting ready for the exam. Love the carton on the 2% milk, that's hilarious.

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