SCBA on the Roof?

Below are a series of photos courtesy "FirehouseGuy" from theWatchDesk.com from a daytime house fire last week in Maryland.

These photos are circulating around the Web on sites such as Firefighter Close Calls on the aspect of firefighter safety ... with the site noting "No one hurt but good pictures from the scene drawing "THINK" attention to PPE, SCBA and roof operations. While we love roof operations when needed, we are don't love un-needed exposure to the smoke -- today's smoke is some nasty crap.....we need to THINK. 1000 active Firefighters die each year to cancer."

What are your thoughts and your department's SOPs for firefighters operating on the roof of structure firefighters?

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Permalink Reply by Timothy D. Stone Jr on January 26, 2009 at 10:32pm

The way i see it. He shouldn't have been on the roof, but since he is...Hell yeah he should have had SCBA..I fought a car fire without scba once..and ill never do it again..I was sick for days.

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Permalink Reply by Robert on January 26, 2009 at 11:07pm

I have to agree completely with you on this. and I also agree that there is no reason for the ff to even be up there.

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Permalink Reply by Billy B Casteel JR on January 27, 2009 at 2:16am

In your department when we go on the roof we put are scba its SOP

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Permalink Reply by Todd Fetcho on January 27, 2009 at 8:50am

It still points in the direction of "how we use to do it" syndrome. We see too many movies and get the macho complex that we are on the roof and don't need the pack. Safety must be the utmost concern for all. The IC should have yanked these guys off the roof immediately. None of these guys brothers even stopped to question them on the roof in the hazardous smoke without the required PPE. I also like the gentlemen on the front lawn with no turnout gear moving hose. We as officers need to stress the importance of wearing PPE at all times. No gear no play!

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Permalink Reply by Rob Young on January 27, 2009 at 9:53am

I have to say I am a little perplexed at the idea that anyone would be on the roof without being on air in this circumstance. I wouldn't let any of my firefighters be on the roof without being ON AIR at this fire. I don't understand the idea of "wasting air" as stated above. Even if you are outside you should still have on air if you are going to be close enough to get into the smoke (i.e. ventilation). If you are manning a masterstream far back from the fire, then I can see no need for air, but if you are on the roof, and there is the potential for fire underneith you, you better have on your SCBA and be breathing from it.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Young on January 27, 2009 at 9:55am

Truthefully, this looks a lot like freelancing to me!

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Permalink Reply by Rob Young on January 27, 2009 at 9:57am

I beg to differ, he is using a roof ladder, it's the one at the improper angle he is using to get on the roof and for his only egress. :)

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Permalink Reply by John on January 27, 2009 at 11:33am

They should always have SCBA on you never know whats in the smoke how much is going to come out and cover you up ETC. With SCBA on you are protecting yourself Period. It's in our SOP to have SCBA on while doing roof ops.

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on January 27, 2009 at 1:42pm

I make a motion that this meeting be adjourned.
There are only so many ways that you can say "stupid".
We have covered them all.
Motion to adjourn.
"Sammy; a little travelling music, please."

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Permalink Reply by Moose on January 27, 2009 at 2:45pm

If that roof were to let go and you fall into the garage and bust both of your legs...you would be glad you had the air pack on. It should never be considered a "Waste" of air.

If you are performing roof ops and they need help inside than the chief will just draw from the staging area that should be set up and stocked with interior firefighters ready to enter the IDLH. Its a bigger cluster "F" if the vent guy decides to enter the house through the second floor window to help out when the chief or IC has no clue they are doing so and the IC needs more vent holes cut..."IC to roof, cut another hole on the AB corner please...Roof?...Roof ops are you there??" Get the picture? Everyone has a job to do and its a team effort, you do the job assigned to you and do not freelance, that just causes more problems.

My opinion is the same as most of you have already stated; That roof is definitely not safe enough to send anyone on. Look at the amount of fire under the roof and along the eaves? How long do you think that fire has been burning and what construction is that roof made of? Truss? Rafters? Sorry, but it looks vented enough for me, keep the roof crew on the ground in staging.