BY DANNY STRATTON
Firefighters working above the fire floor are in the most dangerous location at a structure fire. The convective energy, fire, smoke, heat, and steam from the fire streams tend to move in a vertical direction, making operating above the fire a challenge. The fire can eat away at the load-bearing structural supports, weakening the structure's load-carrying capability. The interior firefighter must be able to identify hazards and know how to execute precautions to prevent death and injury when operating in such a vulnerable position (photo 1).
We must make every effort to improve the way we operate by applying what we learned from past incidents so we can operate aggressively with confidence. The following incidents, which involved working on a floor above the fire, deserve our attention.
If you are a current subscriber,login hereto access this content.
If you would like to become a subscriber, please visit ushere.
