Blowin’ In the Wind, Part 5
The challenges of working in wind-driven high-rise fires
By Fred LaFemina

Editor's Note: This article is part of a series on high-rise fires. Read the other posts:
Part 1: Understanding conditions behind wind-driven fires
Part 2: Performing an exterior survey
Part 3: Working the interior
Part 4: Attacking Wind-Driven High-Rise Fires


As you’ve read throughout this series, wind driven-fires in high-rise structures are some of the most difficult fires to fight. Although these types of fires aren’t frequently encountered, the conditions are both punishing and severe; firefighters only have to encounter the conditions once to appreciate how severe they can be, which is why I chose to discuss them.

In this article, the last of the series, I’ll discuss what to do with the many doors and hallways you’ll encounter while inside the structure, the extreme conditions you’ll most likely encounter and strategies for advancing the line.


Dealing with Doors
When ladder crews or members assigned to locate the fire apartment encounter a door hot to the touch, it doesn’t always indicate the entrance to the fire area. Since members may already be operating under punishing conditions, a door that’s hot to the touch doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve located the fire apartment. Forcing doors other than the fire apartment door may draw fire into the public hallway.

Remember: The hottest area on the fire floor in the public hallway may be in a dead-end hallway opposite the fire apartment. This dead-end hallway collects the heat and metal doors to the apartments absorb this heat. Always evaluate your actions and anticipate rapidly changing conditions before forcing doors.

If you find the fire apartment with its door open, attempt to close the door, but don’t lock it. You must be certain you can close the door before entering, because if you regroup out in the public hallway, you’ll need to close the door to maintain control of the hallway.

If you do close the fire apartment door and have control of the public hallway, relay this information to the incident commander (IC) and to the engine officer to give them direction after they’ve charged the hoseline. Important: When the line is charged and in position, always keep in contact with your members, and operate accordingly.

Provide vent, entry and search to allow the engine company to advance the line smoothly into the fire apartment. The engine won’t have to worry about members being in front of them and in the way because conditions will be too punishing in this area.

If you can’t close an open apartment door leading to the fire area, notify the IC and consider regrouping in the public stairway. Then advance with the engine when they have water. Remember: Constantly evaluate the fire conditions, because you’re in a potentially life threatening environment.

Additional Concerns
Some additional conditions and situations firefighters may encounter when responding to these fires:
• A wind-driven fire may have control of the fire apartment and public hallway. This condition is untenable for firefighters.
• The apartment door to the fire area may be left open, and we may have trouble finding the fire apartment.
• If a window fails with members operating in the fire apartment or the public hallway, conditions will rapidly deteriorate. Members operating inside will be exposed to blowtorch conditions.
• If the apartment door is closed and a window fails prior to entry, members will be burned when the door is forced open and fire blows into the public hallway. Loss of control of the public hallway can also be anticipated if the door can’t be closed. At this point, members may get burned and have to return to the safety of the public hallway. Conditions in the public hallway will be untenable.

Advancing the Line
When the engine decides to advance the line, they should take the following steps:
1. Flake out the line to insure a smooth advance.
2. After the line is charged, bleed it, then place a loop in the line and lean it against the wall. This will assist in the advancement of the line.
3. Keep all members on the same side of the hoseline, which will promote a smooth advance.

Additional Strategies
Some additional strategies for wind-driven fires:
• Take a handline from below and gain access to the adjoining apartment. You can then breach the wall in the fire apartment and extinguish the fire through this opening.
• If available, deploy a window fire blanket. This will prevent the wind from blowing in.
• Use an exterior stream, such as a handline, multi-versal, tower ladder or ladder pipe.
• Use a handline from another apartment window or balcony.
• Use a device from the floor below, such as a high-rise nozzle to cool the fire.

The Blowtorch Effect
Blowtorch fires can reach temperatures of 1,500 to 2,000 degrees in a matter of seconds. Even if you attempted an advance with two 2 ½" lines with hose laid down the hallway, it won’t cool the fire. The heat generated will be too intense. But water must be applied directly to the seat of the fire by any means available, interior or exterior, to be successful.

If the fire is eventually extinguished via the interior, it will be after the fire has consumed most of the available fuel, or the fire has been mostly knocked down by an exterior stream.

Conclusion
Wind-driven high-rise fires will test your mettle to say the least. They are low-frequency, high-risk incidents, which is why it’s crucial to understand them and train for them.

The FDNY has been conducting research on these types of incidents for the past 2 years. As a result, they’ve developed SOPs, purchased equipment and designated units to carry the equipment when needed.

Both the research and training are ongoing; training continues via PowerPoint and DVD presentations developed by the FDNY. Hopefully, the research done by the FDNY and its partners in the fire service will alleviate the injuries and deaths to firefighters that can occur at these fires.

Chief Fred LaFemina is a 24-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), presently chief of Rescue Operations. He has been with Special Operations for more than 20 years and is the task force leader for New York’s Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue team. He is also the operations chief on the USAR IST White Team. LaFemina has written many articles on fire operations and technical rescue and lectures throughout the country.

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