Make The Call #10

[3105]

Jimbo again.....I like this picture mostly because we can find dwellings like this all over the county....very typical arrangement and construction.

OK....asking again: make the call: Offensive, Transitional, Defensive and why. What are your chief concerns?

[voyager9]

My first concern would be access: Where's the Truck going to park if there is "no parking" along the front??

Looks like a rocking fire in the front bedroom. If its not already in the attic it soon will be (smoke from Div 3D window). It doesn't look like its throughout division 2 yet.

I'd go offensive (carefully). 2.5" to division 2, pull ceilings as you go. Second line to protect the stairwell/interior crew. Truck crew to search the back bedrooms on Div2.

Exposure isn't a concern yet, since the radiant heat is focused out the front. If we loose control I'd want an Engine for both B1 and D1 exposures due to proximity.

[WebBoss]

I would go for 2 - 1 3/4" handlines because of the speed of putting it in place and the ability to move easier. Knock the crap out of it, make sure you've got some well caffinated hookmen going to get it opened up ASAP. Keep that extension in check!

In my area, that house screams balloon construction. I would already be having a crew on the top floor to check, but I also want my A-Team checking the subdivision for drop down extension as well. Of course, inspection holes and a solid TIC check of the Division 1 walls as well.

[havingfun]

the 2", its a great line, yes its fire, just remember your training and make sure that the basement is not involved, protect your escape!

[hp4l]

Sounds like we have a good idea on attacking the fire. Here's something else to ponder. With the house being close to the street, and assuming there is an engine and/or truck in front of the house, and the decorative wall/fence in the front, where would you put the RIT and manpower pool. It doesn't look like there is much room. There may be room in the street but is that the closest, quickest area for the RIT? What is everyone's thoughts?

[WebBoss]

Next to the command post.

At this point of the game (based upon the picture) I would have the RIC split, keeping 2 by the CP and having 2 doing their recon, making sure all points of entry are forced, throwing a few more ladders to the upper floors and so on and so on. While they're walking around, they can possibly secure the gas from the outside as well.

Remember, our current trend of using RIT/RIC/FAST is a reactive one. There's nothing wrong with putting the "Intervention" into Rapid Intervention and using the manpower to help prevent the problem from actually happening. IE: Ladders, access points, structural deficiency recon, things of the such.

Just something to think about... better in my mind to be proactive instead of reactive. Plus keeps the RIC from becomming "Lawn Ornaments with an excuse."

[JDub]

2 1.2 through the window to darken it down. Send a line in (1 3/4) and finish it up. If you can get a truck company close enough...vent the roof....or send a crew up using ground ladders.

[bricker252]

I would have 2 1 3/4 go in and get a truck crew opening the roof over the fire if at all possible. Have one 1 3/4 protecting the stairs and the other pushing it out of window with an aggressive attack. I would throughly check for extension in the attic due to the smoke on the Div 3d window.

This is assuming the second floor is only partially involved.

If the second floor turns out to be fully involved I would rethink to a more defensive attack with ground monitors shooting in the window due to the light wood construction and heavy fire load.

[3105]

Just to prove I'm not the "King of Transitional Wusses", I'm gonna call "Offensive" for the following reasons:

1) Based on my smoke read, the fire appears to be confined to the Div A2 bedroom and has not as yet extended to the attic void.

2) I see no indications that untreated wood is being heated to its ignition point....yet. The roof can be considered tolerably safe

3) Older homes such as this, along with having balloon construction, also feature plaster and lathe walls which do a pretty decent job of containing the fire to the room (up to a point).

4) The light grey, thin wisp of smoke on Division D indicates (to me) that the attic is getting hot....put not ignited yet.

We need three 1 3/4 lines on this job: 1 for attack, 1 for back-up, and 1 for attic.

The Roof Shepards MUST get this thing open NOW....no dilly dallying around. The faster we vent, the better chance we have of holding it to the bedroom. My personal choice would be to quickly do a horizonal vent on the D side

To answer Jim: we need TWO RIT teams on this job: one on Division A, the other in Division C

I agree with Sean: check the basement fast, just in case, although there's no visibile indication of a basement fire.