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Permalink Reply by Rich Garrett on October 8, 2009 at 7:13pm

Watch basement fires man these things are spooky. We had one about a year ago that did not go well. We arrived and found heavy smoke showing at 0310 in the morning. I was the initial oficer and immediately ordered one of my guys to take the basement windows while my self and another firefighter stretched the attack line (13/4") to the front door to make entry. As soon as we opened the door we found smoke banked to the floor and the resident just inside. After dragging her out we made entry and headed for the basement steps. Upon opening the door to the basement the heat we were expiriencing must have tripled and we were now hung up and unable to advance due to the hose being caught in the screen door at our entry point. My nozzleman informed me that he was down to just over a quarter tank of air so I made the call to back out. As we made the front door were we had made entry, still in zero visibility, the floor immediately to our left dropped into the basement involving the entryway with heavy fire. We made it out and found out a number of hours later that taking the basement windows did absolutely nothing to help us. Because of a basement remodel that had put another poured concrete wall and set of basement windows between the windows that we took and the fire there was no ventilation help provided. So in summarization watch yourself with basements they aren't always what they appear.

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Permalink Reply by SHAWN FORINGER on October 8, 2009 at 7:43pm

We have a homemade attachment that goes on 1 1/2 .it looks like a ball with a lot of holes and it spins by th pressure of the water.it acts like a sprinkler system.It work.Ill see if i can get pics of it and post. It work by cutting a whole near the fire and sticking it down the whole and turn it on.

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Permalink Reply by Smoke Eater on October 9, 2009 at 8:33pm

We also have one of these. Although the only time we have used it is in training.

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Permalink Reply by Doug on October 13, 2009 at 9:15pm

Basement/cellar fires need to be fought the most aggressively, yet the most cautiously.

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Permalink Reply by MrNozzle on October 16, 2009 at 3:52pm

I think a good text to star with is this one...

http://vincentdunn.com/dunn/newsletters/cellar/CELLAR_FIRES.PDF

from Vincent Dunn.

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Permalink Reply by Michael C. Harrison on October 17, 2009 at 11:34am

The way we attack basement/cellar fires is 1st due Engine lays out and goes to the front, 2nd due lays out and goes to the rear, 3rd due picks up 1st dues line, 4th due picks up 3rd dues line, 5th due lays out from an independent hydrant and becomes the "safety company" (basically stretches an attackline for the RIC)

1st due advances a line into the house/structure.
2nd due ALWAYS gives a basement report (even on highrise boxes with smoke reported on the top floor)

if it is a confirmed basement/cellar fire and there is rear access to the basement, the first due engine holds the line at the top of the stairs to protect the rescue operation and the 2nd due attacke from the rear (with coordination from the officers and permission from the IC)....if there is no basement door (burned away/non existant) the 1st due keeps the fire from extending on the 1st floor (again thru coordination)

IF no rear access or an English Basement (a basement door in the front usually underneath the 1st floor entrance) 1st due will ask permission to enter the basement and 3rd due will usually take the 1st floor landing while the 2nd due comes around to the front.

If no rear access and no English basement (only basement access is down interior stairs) the 1st due officer can try to asses the integrity of the stairs and get permission to descend (not well liked option....depending on structure) or a hole is cut in the floor and a cellar pipe is used (distributing nozzle)

Disclaimer* That is the way MY dept operates, I am not recommending that any OR every dept operate this way.....I was merely answering the posters question. I am sure that 10,000 FDNY firemen don't operate this way.....and I am sure that many depts in the Carolinas operate differently as well.
WHEW....hope THAT covered all the bases (but we shall see)

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