Taking it to the Streets

A Conversation on Basement Fires

This program is dedicated to the memory of the lives of those

Firefighters and Fire Officers that have paid the ultimate sacrifice while operating at an incident

involving a basement fire.So that they did not die in vain we learn from the lessons learned at

these tragic events.

Objectives

•Incident Priorities

•Size Up

•Safety

•Strategy

•Tactics

Incident Priorities•Life Safety

•Incident Stabilization

•Property Conservation

Incident Priorities NEVER Change

Size UpDiscuss basic size-up for

•Fire Officer Strategic

•Firefighters Tactical

•An information gathering process conducted at EVERY incident

Strategic Size Up

C onstructionO ccupancyA pparatusL ife Safety

W ater SupplyA reaS treet conditions

W eatherE xposuresA ux AppliancesLocation / ExtentT imeH ieght

13 Point Information Gathering Process

Tactical Size UpE L B O W S

• E xtent & Location of Fire• L ife Safety• B uilding construction• O ccupancy• W ater Supply / needs• S moke

Extent & Location

• It is more important to know the building that is on fire than the fire in the building

• Early identification of a below grade fire will determine Strategy & Tactics

Building Characteristics• Construction Type & Size

• Structural Condition

• Occupancy & Contents

• Floor Construction

Type 5 Construction• Braced Frame

• Balloon Frame

• Platform Frame

• Truss / Lightweight Wood

Terrazzo or Tile Flooring•May conceal fire, and heat

•Concentrated Load

•Collapse can occur without warning*

Floor Construction

Water Supply• Establish reliable primary water supply

• Ensure strong hydraulic reserve

•Preplan hydrants—don’t rob system

Smoke…What is it telling us?

• Volume: amount of fuel, fullness of windows

• Velocity: Rate of heat release, speed exiting from the structure

• Density: Quality of burning, potential for other events; flashover

• Color: Illumination, shimmering, unusual, heavy carbon (fuel) based

Common terminology

•Crawl Space–A small space between the Lowest floor of a structure allowing for access to wiring and plumbing

•Basement–A full story below grade with one half of it’s height or less Above Grade level.

•Cellar–A below grade area that has more than half its height BELOW Grade

Access• Interior Stairs

• Exterior (Bilco Doors)

• Direct access ( Grade Level )

Questions that need to asked• Do you know the building

construction?• Was a a credible size-up

completed?• Have sufficient resources been

requested?• Are operations coordinated?• Has the location and extent been

confirmed?

When in doubt… Stay Out

Strategy and Tactics

•Attack Lines

•Search Strategies

•Ventilation practices

Attack Lines3 Prong Strategy

1. 1st Line - Seat of Fire2. 2nd Line - Back Up Line3. 3rd Line - Area of Critical

Extension Prevention

Strategy and TacticsAttack Line Placement

•Initial Line to seat of fire–Line goes between Fire and Life–Locate / Confine seat of fire–Prevent vertical extension

3 Prong Attack First Line In

The first line should…

• Protect the floor above

• Hold the fire at the top of the stairs if you can not make the fire floor

• Attack from the exterior for initial knock down

• Last resorts are to flood the floor above and below

Strategy and TacticsAttack Line Placement

•Back Up Line–Firefighter Safety–Operates in the same environment as 1st

Line–Monitor conditions for attack crew–Additional fire flow–Same size or larger

•May become the Primary Attack Line– From same level as fire– Exterior Knockdown

3 Prong Attack Second Line

Strategy and Tactics• Critical Exposure Line

• Prevent extension

• Search Team Protection

3 Prong Attack Third Line

Fire ExtensionIf you think fire is in…

•The Floor–Open the wall where the beams meet

•The Wall–Open the ceiling above

•The Ceiling–Open the floor above if accessible

ALWAYS OPEN UP WITH THE PROTECTION OF A CHARGED HOSE LINE

Making the fire floorDon’t advance into the basement

•Line is charged and bled•Back up line in place•Ventilation team in place and ready•Properly dressed

Search Considerations• Are there credible reports of victims in

the area?– In the basement or the structure itself

• Will fire spread impact those rescues– Vertical fire spread via

• Stairs• Balloon Framing• Improper tactics

Search Strategy• Search Priorities

– Fire Floor– Floor above– Top Floor

• Thermal Imaging Cameras– Increase Safety– Increase Visibility

Search Strategy

• Below grade search and rescue operations require coordinated effort between search and suppression teams

• Speed is essential

• Exposed structural members compromise building integrity

Ventilation Practices• Ventilation is critical• Removes heat and smoke from

entry points • Reduce exposure to members• To prevent and/or reduce the

chance of a flashover• To limit fire spread

Ventilation Key PointsNo matter what type used the most

important factors are:

• Teamwork

• Timing

• Communications

Risk Benefit Analysis• Risk a lot to save a lot

• Risk a little to save a little• Risk nothing to save nothing

Potential victims come before property

Program developed by:

Lieutenant John Lewis Chief Robert Moran