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Post by papacheese on Jun 9, 2008 8:16:19 GMT -5
Got this link off Chief Goldfeder's Secret List: cbs5.com/video/?id=34996@kpix.dayport.comFor fans of Reading Smoke, notice the color of the smoke just prior to the "event"....without knowing anything about the building itself, it's a sign that something structural is possibly being compromised. Judging from the building's appearance, the roof supports could be either steel bar joist or wood truss....but in either case, the smoke was a sign... |
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ENG27SQ
Division Supervisor 
MS Paint Guru
Posts: 653
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Post by ENG27SQ on Jun 9, 2008 11:31:18 GMT -5
Got this link off Chief Goldfeder's Secret List: cbs5.com/video/?id=34996@kpix.dayport.comFor fans of Reading Smoke, notice the color of the smoke just prior to the "event"....without knowing anything about the building itself, it's a sign that something structural is possibly being compromised. Judging from the building's appearance, the roof supports could be either steel bar joist or wood truss....but in either case, the smoke was a sign... Holy F*$*. Thats some serious dis-colored smoke there. Right when the camera hit the :20 mark the smoke just started to pour out in such excessive amounts. Looks like, as papa said, something inside the buildings structure had reached its flammable point and just took off. |
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Post by papacheese on Jun 10, 2008 5:38:17 GMT -5
After looking at the clip again, I can't help but think about the advice that goes: "maintain situational awareness". It's so damn easy to get wrapped up in what we're doing to the point that we miss important stuff going on around us. Fighter pilots are told to keep their "heads on a swivel" at all times so they aren't caught off guard while dogfighting....apt advice that applies to us too.
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Post by breakingsomemirror on Jun 11, 2008 10:11:50 GMT -5
If I may throw my 2 cents in, I think this clip also goes to show what many seem to forget, especially in this day and age of lightweight truss and composite building materials. First, we really need to reassess our ventilation options when dealing with a building of these types of construction. Now instead of figuring out where we are going to cut, we must seriously consider, given many tactical considerations, if it's even worth putting crews on the roof. Second, once you decide to get up and make your cut, make your cut and get off the roof! There really is no time to sit and admire your work. Do that some other time!
Just as a note, I'm not saying that's what these guys did. From the looks of it, they went up there and did their job. Fortunately, they were able to get to the side wall and hold on. I am just making these comments from a general standpoint, not in reference to anything they did.
Stay safe everybody.
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Post by papacheese on Jun 12, 2008 5:21:45 GMT -5
I agree...what happened really had little to do with how long they were on the roof, although as you pointed out, the longer you're up there, the greater the chance of something happening that'll ruin your day. To me, the smoke is the key...it's practically shouting that something bad's going to happen.
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Post by WebBoss on Jun 12, 2008 6:26:33 GMT -5
Got this link off Chief Goldfeder's Secret List: cbs5.com/video/?id=34996@kpix.dayport.comFor fans of Reading Smoke, notice the color of the smoke just prior to the "event"....without knowing anything about the building itself, it's a sign that something structural is possibly being compromised. Judging from the building's appearance, the roof supports could be either steel bar joist or wood truss....but in either case, the smoke was a sign... Reminds me of a residential situation back in the Summer of 1998 which caused "GotWork" and Chief Meredith to "Quickly Exit a Roof" at a Duplex fire in Beverly. Hopefully Wylie will hop on here and give us a brief explanation of what happened. I'm looking for the pics... they're here somewhere... I think... |
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Post by breakingsomemirror on Jun 12, 2008 7:19:41 GMT -5
www.kcra.com/video/16533129/index.htmlHere's the link for a follow-up story by a local news channel. They included the fireground audio and a brief explanation of what happened. Take a look at it if you get a chance. Stay safe.
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Post by papacheese on Jun 13, 2008 6:24:07 GMT -5
A great segment...reinforces my initial thoughts nicely. Over the years, Chief Dodson has modified his original concepts about smoke color, now telling us that everything, regardless of the material, emits very black smoke when directly contacted by flame. The only "color" he specifically focuses on now is this light brown/tan/reddish variety as being unique to unfinished wood.
The thing to remember is that seeing this color does not automatically mean the place is going to collapse; the color indicates that the unfinished wood components (read rafters, joists, studs) are being heated to their eventual ignition point and not necessarily on fire yet (if they were, the smoke would be then become thick and black).
Also bear in mind that even if the unfinished wood isn't on fire yet, lightweight construction can fall apart quickly because all that damn glue holding it all together is being vaporized by the heat...severely weakening it's ability to hold any kind of weight.
The second "hair-raiser" sign in the video is the sheer force of the smoke being pushed out of the void space...that sucker has a LOT of pressure behind it, indicating that the fire is confined in a relatively small space (attic, cockloft) and that given the right situation, is going to spread VERY rapidly.
Like anything else, there are no drop-dead, absolutely concrete "facts" here, just indicators that should be observed and factored into your strategic equation.
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