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Scene Size Up and How I Learned to Love the Smart Bomb
FireRescue1, my "go-to Guru" in terms of cutting edge info, has posted the following article regarding the "toss it in and save a Firefighter" Smart Bomb.
While I'm a major proponent of anything that keeps our brethren safe; this strikes me as a double-edged sword.
Without proper familiarization, is it possible that we might arrive at the thought process that such a device will render interior attack scenarios viable, when in fact we shouldn't be entering at all?
If you have flames shooting from every egress point, and the smoke is "breathing" and one tosses one of these "smart bombs" into this situation, and the flames and warning flags are temporarily defused....is there a possibility that we might be going in when prudence would suggest otherwise?
Be smart, be safe, ask questions, train often.....
By Michael J. Feeney
North Jersey Media Group
POMPTON LAKES, NJ — Flames were shooting from a Pompton Lakes home Wednesday when a firefighter tossed a 10-pound canister into heavy flames on the second floor.
The canister quickly released a non-hazardous chemical that drastically reduced the temperature of the blaze.
"It slowed the fire down from traveling to the other side [of the second floor]," said Fire Chief Dean Cioppa. The main body of the fire was extinguished within 10 minutes.
"In my career, that was the fastest knockdown I''ve ever seen for the amount of fire that it was," said Cioppa, a veteran of more than 20 years.
The family of five at 422 Montclair Ave. escaped without any injuries shortly before 8 a.m., the chief said, adding that the home is still habitable.
The fire remains under investigation, he said, but early indications are that it was started by a child playing with matches.
The 10-pound canister — received by the Fire Department on Monday — is known as Fire Interruption Technology, or FIT-5.
"It definitely helped us get more access," Cioppa said. "It knocked down some initial fire and stopped it from traveling.
Nearly 40 fire departments statewide have been equipped with the FIT-5 since it made its debut earlier this year in West Milford.
"It''s the best device they ever came out with," said Bob Castro, fire chief of West Milford''s Company 2, citing an April blaze the FIT-5 helped halt. "It knocked out the fire within seconds."
His Jefferson Township colleagues used the device to contain that fire to the basement.
"I had no idea what it was at first," said Castro, an 18-year veteran, describing the device as the size of a lunch box. The FIT-5 costs $1,300. "They''re very expensive, but it''s worth it," he said. "I would recommend every fire department have one of these."
More than 100 fire departments in the U.S. have the product, most of them in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
North Jersey departments with the device include Bloomingdale, Kinnelon and Butler, according to ARA Safety, the Canada-based company that makes the product.
The "fire-knockdown tool" has gained popularity in the U.S. over the past year, said Michael Gardiner, director of marketing for ARA Safety.
Very similar to a grenade, it deploys after a pin is pulled and the canister is tossed into the fire.
It emits a large cloud of extremely fine potassium salt that brings down the temperature and in some cases eliminates the flames, Gardiner said.
Fast facts
* One of the first FIT-5s employed in the U.S. was used to keep a propane tank from exploding.
* The dealer, Firefighter One, provided the FIT-5 and trained the Pompton Lakes Fire Department to use it on Monday night, just hours before the Montclair Avenue fire.
* Pompton Lakes Fire Chief Dean Cioppa said it took about three months of fund-raising to buy three of the devices at $1,300 each
While I'm a major proponent of anything that keeps our brethren safe; this strikes me as a double-edged sword.
Without proper familiarization, is it possible that we might arrive at the thought process that such a device will render interior attack scenarios viable, when in fact we shouldn't be entering at all?
If you have flames shooting from every egress point, and the smoke is "breathing" and one tosses one of these "smart bombs" into this situation, and the flames and warning flags are temporarily defused....is there a possibility that we might be going in when prudence would suggest otherwise?
Be smart, be safe, ask questions, train often.....
By Michael J. Feeney
North Jersey Media Group
POMPTON LAKES, NJ — Flames were shooting from a Pompton Lakes home Wednesday when a firefighter tossed a 10-pound canister into heavy flames on the second floor.
The canister quickly released a non-hazardous chemical that drastically reduced the temperature of the blaze.
"It slowed the fire down from traveling to the other side [of the second floor]," said Fire Chief Dean Cioppa. The main body of the fire was extinguished within 10 minutes.
"In my career, that was the fastest knockdown I''ve ever seen for the amount of fire that it was," said Cioppa, a veteran of more than 20 years.
The family of five at 422 Montclair Ave. escaped without any injuries shortly before 8 a.m., the chief said, adding that the home is still habitable.
The fire remains under investigation, he said, but early indications are that it was started by a child playing with matches.
The 10-pound canister — received by the Fire Department on Monday — is known as Fire Interruption Technology, or FIT-5.
"It definitely helped us get more access," Cioppa said. "It knocked down some initial fire and stopped it from traveling.
Nearly 40 fire departments statewide have been equipped with the FIT-5 since it made its debut earlier this year in West Milford.
"It''s the best device they ever came out with," said Bob Castro, fire chief of West Milford''s Company 2, citing an April blaze the FIT-5 helped halt. "It knocked out the fire within seconds."
His Jefferson Township colleagues used the device to contain that fire to the basement.
"I had no idea what it was at first," said Castro, an 18-year veteran, describing the device as the size of a lunch box. The FIT-5 costs $1,300. "They''re very expensive, but it''s worth it," he said. "I would recommend every fire department have one of these."
More than 100 fire departments in the U.S. have the product, most of them in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
North Jersey departments with the device include Bloomingdale, Kinnelon and Butler, according to ARA Safety, the Canada-based company that makes the product.
The "fire-knockdown tool" has gained popularity in the U.S. over the past year, said Michael Gardiner, director of marketing for ARA Safety.
Very similar to a grenade, it deploys after a pin is pulled and the canister is tossed into the fire.
It emits a large cloud of extremely fine potassium salt that brings down the temperature and in some cases eliminates the flames, Gardiner said.
Fast facts
* One of the first FIT-5s employed in the U.S. was used to keep a propane tank from exploding.
* The dealer, Firefighter One, provided the FIT-5 and trained the Pompton Lakes Fire Department to use it on Monday night, just hours before the Montclair Avenue fire.
* Pompton Lakes Fire Chief Dean Cioppa said it took about three months of fund-raising to buy three of the devices at $1,300 each
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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From good old YouTube-
ARA Safety's groundbreaking Fire Interruption Technology is new to the fire service, but is already being recognized for saving lives and property in cities and towns across North America:
"The FIT-5 saved the crew from having to enter an extremely dangerous fire. It put it out and lowered the heat. This fire might have resulted in a complete loss if we didn't have the FIT-5!"
Dave Matteucci
Fire Chief, Merritt, BC
Knock Down Fire Fast
The FIT-5 is the most powerful handheld fire knockdown tool available in the world today. FIT-5 handheld knockdown tools are safe, non-toxic and very easy to use. No wonder fire fighters are already describing this new fire suppression technology as an important tool in their toolbox.
FIT stands for Fire Interruption Technology and the name describes exactly how the FIT works. Fire needs fuel, oxygen and heat to sustain a chemical reaction. In seconds, ARA Safety's Fire Interruption Technology removes the fuel from the equation at the molecular level, interrupting the fire triangle, and knocking down flame and heat.
The FIT-5 can be effectively deployed in a wide variety of structure fire scenarios, from incipient to fully involved and in defensive, offensive and transitional modes.
And a testimonial-
Interesting concept....
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You raise some good points in your post- will it suck us into a false sense of security????
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Permalink Reply by Mary Ellen Shea on
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Lu...
You and I have entered into some interesting discussions: that said. my overarching concern is tossing this device, wich has merit, into a situation that has already devolved into an untenable situation.
The bomb thus renders said scenario as a "good" entry, but then the scene rapidly reverts to the "never shoulda gone in" scenario.
it's the false sense of security that gives me pause for thought.
Thanks for your feedback.
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Jinx, you owe me a Fosters.
"false sense of security"
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Permalink Reply by kenny goines on
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I under stand where you are coming from as well, and can see it making for a bad situation. But if used properly I think it is great. The MAIN problem I hav with it is the cost. I know for a fact that my department could definately benifit from them but we will never be able to afford them!
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and that, my friend, is where a grant writer becomes invaluable.
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Good point may just have to give it a try.
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are you invited to that Ted? Can I go?
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Permalink Reply by BL on
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I hope you have a good training session.
Till you see the device in actual use, take a look a the two training videos I have recently put online at http://www.usfiretech.com
Regards
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