|
|
Post by papacheese on Mar 18, 2008 6:31:40 GMT -5
 The lowly dumpster fire....never a favorite and to me, always underestimated as a possible threat. Much depends on location and contents... What concerns go through your mind when you arrive on a flaming dumpster? What precautions and practices are used? Share a few war stories and spread some hard-earned knowledge. |
|
|
|
Post by voyager9 on Mar 18, 2008 7:47:30 GMT -5
My biggest concern on arrival is exposures. Nothing to save in the dumpster itself so the first priority is making sure it doesn't spread to adjoining structures.
If there is no exposure I'm going to float the thing. The concern is that these things can be filled with ANYTHING, chemicals, plastics, paper..etc. Hit it with either with the deck gun (as above) or a 3" in the access door. Control runoff as best we can. Everyone in full PPE, and on Air if close.
|
|
|
|
Post by thelurker on Mar 18, 2008 8:50:08 GMT -5
Depends on the size of the dumpster. The possibility of exposures is always an issue. 30 and 40 yard and bigger, consider opening the end and getting it pulled apart by a loader. NEVER ENTER THE DUMPSTER. SCBA always , establish a water supply or the ability for a water shuttle because you never know what has been thrown in there. If water doesn't seem to be effecting it quickly, switch to foam if available. Also, don't stick your head in there, use a Trash Rake (or Arson Hook, depending how you know it) to reach over the side and mix it up.
|
|
hp4l
Division Supervisor 
Remember Your Roots
Posts: 600
|
Post by hp4l on Mar 18, 2008 14:16:23 GMT -5
I am late to the conversation as usual. I don't want to sound like a broken record so I will say that I agree so far. One of the biggest things I have noticed on dumpster fires is knowing the area that the dumpster is in. Apartment complex, someone's driveway because they are renovating, an industrial complex, etc. We will never know exactly what is in these things, but you should be able to get somewhat of an idea. Always prepare for the worse. Don't be afraid to hit a hydrant or use a tanker. If you want to drown the thing, see if you can get your tanker close enough and dump the load on it. I've seen it work once after the fire was darkened down. Quick and easy.
|
|
|
|
Post by shader101 on Mar 18, 2008 15:02:20 GMT -5
we used duck seal a few times to clog the drain then filled the dam thing up ove course 1/2 the houses in my district are dumpsters no one takes away to empty!
|
|
|
|
Post by firstin312 on Mar 19, 2008 14:13:40 GMT -5
Yes, SCBA, guys think that it is just a dumpster fire no big deal, as you know pappacheese we get them at the Township yard once in a while and there is every from under the kitchen sink in those things and guy want to run up to them and stick an 1"3/4 in it and blast away, in which has happened to some our guys a while back and they were splashed with all kinds of stuff. Take off the nozzle and fill it up, don't over do it with the pressure, just enough to put it out and fill it. Now sometimes if you have an exposure or you need to use a nozzle be smart about it don't use 165psi and blow everything around and out of it. Now the picture is showing a deck gun being used, maybe they know it is only wood in there and they feel comfortable doing that, but what else did the homeowner put in there and maybe even the neighbors...
|
|
|
|
Post by voyager9 on Mar 19, 2008 15:11:11 GMT -5
Now the picture is showing a deck gun being used, maybe they know it is only wood in there and they feel comfortable doing that, but what else did the homeowner put in there and maybe even the neighbors... I assumed the deck gun was for overhaul. It appears a line was pulled and that was probably used for the initial knock. I'm not opposed to using the deck gun in either case as long as the pressure is controled, as you said, so we don't blow the contents out the back. |
|
|
|
Post by Kramer on Mar 19, 2008 15:20:17 GMT -5
On the few of these i've been on we just filled the dumpster up with water, stirred the materials around inside it with the hooks, and cleared the scene. Not sure if its the best way, but its all i've done. Of course we took the usual SCBA precautions and never entered the dumpster(duh). There was one with an exposure problem so we cooled that before making our attack.
|
|
|
|
Post by WebBoss on Mar 19, 2008 15:43:00 GMT -5
The lowly dumpster fire....never a favorite and to me, always underestimated as a possible threat. Much depends on location and contents... What concerns go through your mind when you arrive on a flaming dumpster? What precautions and practices are used? Share a few war stories and spread some hard-earned knowledge. I've been known on several occasions to arrive, tell everyone to stay on the truck, and lob an entire tank full of water into a dumpster. Trash Fires get Trash Tactics! ;D Handlines on a dumpster... I wouldn't even bother to be honest. It's just not worth the effort or the chance for the crews to get hurt by falling or what have you. |
|
|
|
Post by papacheese on Mar 19, 2008 16:37:10 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Trash Fires get Trash Tactics![/glow]
I like that turn of phrase...very concise.
Another thing that we have to be concerned with when dealing with dumpsters - especially ones located in a semi-public venue - isn't what the contractor or homeowner's been throwing in it, but what everyone else has been dumping into it..including anything nasty enough to make them drive around looking for a freebie. Think gooey medical stuff and plenty of failed chemistry experiments...
|
|
|
|
Post by thelurker on Mar 19, 2008 20:49:59 GMT -5
one concern, you still need to look in the dumpster, same reason you need to look in car fires...VICTIMS. People have been know to dump babies and bodies in dumpsters, and we have to at least look for them.
|
|
|
|
Post by capt311 on Mar 20, 2008 10:31:21 GMT -5
This is not a favorite of mine, from propane to insane. Today people have no regard for properly disposing trash items where they belong. Like it was mentioned above, we have to worry about bodies, chemicals, traps, hazards that can change the color of your skin. Guard your grill and knuckle up!
|
|
smiley
Forum Crew Member
Posts: 28
|
Post by smiley on Apr 8, 2008 0:29:44 GMT -5
I know I'm late too. 360. It could be close to the house or fence or anything else flammable. My strategy 3 engines. Eng 1 hit it with the deck gun. the rest of the crew open the door. have an 1 3/4''. Eng 2 drop line at hydrant. Eng 2 crew shovels and plaster rakes. engine 3 take over at hydrant and send manpower forward.
|
|
|
|
Post by bcliff10 on Apr 8, 2008 21:52:31 GMT -5
Look for victims and propane tanks or whatever obstacles could be in the way.. then deck gun fill it till it overflows
|
|
