These guys get it - vehicle fires are NOT routine - no matter what we think!

This apparatus purchased by Cameco Corporation – Key Lake Uranium Mill.  It was specifically ordered with Hi-Vis chevrons on the rear for increased visibility and a hydraulic hose bed cover (which when open, also functions as an integrated fall protection system with built in lighting).  These additions not only enhance the safety of ERT members, but exceed our requirements under the OH&S Regulations.

Great Job on the Apparatus Striping with Safety being #1!

Recently put into service by the Trumbull Center FD, 2009 Crimson/Spartan Stainless Steel, Rear Mount Rescue/Pumper assigned as Rescue 100.  In addition to the reflective black and white stripes on the apparatus cab and body, the apparatus features chevrons striped with Retro-reflective material on the rear, upper sides and front bumper.  The chevrons were added to the side of the apparatus to counteract the fact that when all of the rollup doors are open on the truck, the reflective material installed on them becomes not visible.  Additionally of the rollout/slide out trays and toolboards have been provided red/white reflective on 3 sides.

Finally, the inside of all crew doors are provided with chevrons and also red/white LED's to the inside of each door that alternate when the door is open.(Something that all of our trucks have).

The apparatus will be first due to all highway and motor vehicle related calls.

The Town of Cheshire, CT Fire Department just took delivery of a new 2009 Pierce Arrow XT for Engine 6. In addition to the front and rear chevrons, the Department's Apparatus Committee chose to add chevrons to the entire rear wall of the crew cab. This was done to increase visibility from the rear, especially when protective highway placement with the apparatus may cause the tailboard chevrons to aim away from oncoming traffic. 
 
The added visibility from the cab significantly adds to the rear and side warning approaches. This is the first apparatus with this type of configuration by Pierce (and possibly any other manufacturer). Perhaps more Departments will opt to use this space to increase visibility. Our THANKS to the Officers and the Members of the CFD.

Full PPE During Defensive Operations. Proper Back-Up Personnel. Big Lines for Big Fire!

GOOD JOB GUYS!

On August 8, 2009, at approximately 0120, Lancaster County Wide Communications (LCWC) alerted MTFR units from Neffsville (27), Southern Manheim Twp (211) and mutual aid from East Petersburg (23) for a reported building fire at 37 Wythe Circle. Assistant Chief Slaymaker (Chief 272) went enroute and was advised from LCWC of multiple reports of a working fire, now believed to be a dwelling. Chief Slaymaker advised heavy fire and smoke from a mile out. Upon arrival Chief Slaymaker advised a well involved house and established Command. Command requested a 2nd alarm 3 minutes after arrival. Engine 211-3 (Southern Manheim Twp.) was the first arriving engine and wrapped the hydrant and the end of the street and layed in. Command instructed E211-3 to pull a handline for exposure control on side Bravo and provide a supply for the first arriving truck. Engine 272 arrived, hooked up the hydrant and pulled a handline to the Charlie side. Truck 23 (East Petersburg) arrived and set up master stream operations on side Alpha. After the truck was set up, water supply was established; they completed 3 sweeps of the house to knock the bulk of the fire down.
 
The 2nd alarm apparatus were instructed to stage at the end of the street and send their manpower to staging. Engine 251 (Lititz) was re-directed to Station 27 for stand-by and was told they would be handling the Township.
 
As a result of a quick initial size up, a 360 of the dwelling and experience of reading the structure, the Command Staff, Chief Slaymaker (Chief 272), Chief Elliott (Chief 27) and Chief Kane (Chief 20), the operation mode was to go defensive. Unfortunately the residence died in the fire. A female was home at the time of the fire. Since the structure was heavily damaged and collapsed, she was found in the basement. During the investigation, it was determined that she was originally in the 2nd floor bedroom, right side, side Alpha (Closet to the Garage).
 
The attached photo was taken 3 minutes after Chief Slaymaker arrived.
 
This is a good training tool to show how things are to be done. After Chief Slaymaker arrived he determined that the house and occupants inside would be a write off. How can anyone with that much fire showing survive? All in all no fire service personnel received injury and ALL WENT HOME.
 
Submitted by:     Assistant Chief Troy Slaymaker
                        MTFR Station 27
                        Neffsville Fire Company

Around 4:00 AM, Engine 503B was dispatched to a water hazard in the 16000 block of Flotilla Wy. off Powells Creek Blvd. in Dumfries. A neighbor told dispatch that there was a lot of water flooding her downstairs. E503B arrived on scene to find an end-row townhouse with the front door open. E503B's crew made entry and was met with moderate smoke conditions. After a quick search of the townhouse no fire was found and the sprinkler system was secured. A more detailed size up of the master bedroom was conducted (where the sprinkler was activated) and a mattress was found to have been on fire as well as the wall behind it.

The sprinkler system extinguished the fire prior to arrival; if not the fire could have been much worse. The cause of the fire is unknown at the time of this story. The scene was turned over to the on-duty Fire Marshall and E503B cleared the scene around 5:40 AM.


UPDATE: Prince William County Fire Marshals arrested a 27-year-old and charged him with arson. InsideNoVA.com reports the man entered a bedroom of a bottom-level, town house-style apartment about 4 a.m., lit a pillow on fire, and left.

Further details can be viewed at: http://www2.insidenova.com/isn/news/local/dumfries/article/man_27_arrested_in_dumfries_area_fire/42500/
 

When Sedona firefighters recently responded to a fire on Abbott Road, the sprinkler system had already put it out.

Damage on Aug. 15 was estimated at $1,000, Sedona Fire District Fire Marshal Will Loesche said, thanks to the sprinklers.

That’s good news for the homeowner, who came home to find the same house burning 10 years ago, causing $175,000 in damage.

“This is the 16th time a single sprinkler head has put out a fire,” Loesche said. Just recently, when crews arrived at Oak Creek Brewery, they found a swampy mess, but no fire.

After the initial fire at the Abbott Road home, the owners were mandated to install a sprinkler system, by Sedona Fire District policy, which requires sprinklers for homes more than 500 feet from fire hydrants.

This time, when flames sparked from a water heater, igniting a straw broom, the sprinkler head in the water closet was activated, dousing the flames.

The plastic on a nearby vacuum cleaner melted and water soaked the carpet, but the damage seemed minor compared to the total destruction of a bedroom 10 years before.

The cause of the latest fire was purely accidental, Loesche said. The straw broom was too close to a heat source — the water heater.

Cigarettes or smoking materials caused the fire 10 years ago, which destroyed a bedroom and attic after the homeowners left for the store.

This time, a neighbor heard the alarm that goes off when the sprinklers spray, and ran over to see what was wrong. The homeowner, who was home at the time of the fire, told Loesche she smelled smoke, but didn’t know where it was coming from.

Residential sprinklers are set to go off if surrounded by 155 degrees for just under one minute.

Commercial sprinkler heads are set to spray when it reaches 165 to 175 degrees for one to one and a half minutes.

“Residential sprinklers are quick-response heads because in residential, the main concern is life,” Deputy Fire Marshal Gary Johnson said. “We’re biding time for people to get out.”

According to Johnson, SFD code determines if sprinklers are necessary based on how fast crews can reach the building and the availability of water.

Sprinklers are necessary for buildings larger than 3,600 square feet; if the building is farther than 500 feet from a fire hydrant; and if the roadway is obstructed by a low water crossing, security gate or speed bump.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 6,000 people die a year in the United States from house fires.

True to the statistic, SFD responds to more house fires than commercial, Loesche said, which is why SFD pushed to mandate sprinklers in 1988 when it updated its codes.

Homes with smoke alarms alone reduce fire-related deaths by 63 percent, Loesche said. Sprinklers alone reduce the death rate by 69 percent. In homes with smoke alarms and sprinklers, there is a reduction of 82 percent of death in fire.

These pictures are of a one car MVA on Storm King Mountain in the Fort Montgomery Fire District.  The highway that passes over the mountain is US Hwy 9W a very heavily traveled road through our fire district.  The picture that I want to point out is that the engine is blocking both lanes of traffic allowing the firefighters, EMS, police and tow operators to work on the highway without fear of being hit.

DESPITE EVERYBODY’S BEST ATTEMPTS TO PROTECT AN ACCIDENT SCENE, there are always some drivers who seem intent on driving into parked fire trucks and already-wrecked cars.  Now most FD’s are having to run extra apparatus and plan their positioning on highway accidents just to assure the survival of the firefighters and paramedics working on the wreck.  A few months back we pointed out one department that was using a ladder truck for maximum protection and a car drove into it anyway.

A couple of days ago one of our readers John Sachen, a Senior Fire Instructor, was traveling up I-55 just south of St. Louis, Missouri, when he came across an accident scene being worked by Rock Community Fire and Rescue Dept. that had traffic stopped for a moment allowing him to take this picture of what he calls “doing it right.”  John points out:  Note the two blocking vehicles securing the extrication and triage zones.  Also see that with properly angled block vehicles the approaching traffic automatically moves to the preferred lanes without the need for extra law enforcement or firefighters directing traffic.

 

 

That is a very important view as we teach using block vehicles and angling them to direct traffic. Our success rate, when the procedure is used, is very high. When we first were made aware of the procedure I personally impemented it twice in a 30 day period and was astounded with the way it worked.

He also adds, “Hats off to the Rock Community duty crew!”

Rock Community Fire Protection District WEBSITE.

2009 Pierce Dash Heavy Duty Walk Around Rescue

Pearland, TX VFD on scene of a major accident on one of the city's major thoroughfares. The incident commander was told by a local police officer to unblock the lefthand lane, but refused to do so to protect his crews.

Unionville Fire Department, Union County, North Carolina.

Photos courtesy of: Ron Williams Fantastic Photos

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Friendswood, TX VFD on the scene of a structure fire along one of the city's major thoroughfares.