By Scott Kleinschmidt
Much research has been done over the past few years on fire behavior in modern furnished dwellings. Studies have emphasized the importance of fast water application, coordinated ventilation, and a heightened awareness regarding flow paths. This article examines a few modifications that you can make to your bread-and-butter operations using some of the applicable lessons from the studies to achieve your primary mission. With simple adjustments, you can ensure life safety with aggressive and successful search in a private dwelling fire while minimizing fire growth and still making a push toward extinguishment.
In most departments, especially those with limitedstaffingor delayed second-due companies, the company most likely to find a victim in the primary egress route is fire attack. Although these personnel's principal purpose is to execute a rapid stretch to get water on the seat of the fire, they are still responsible for basic search responsibilities. The backup or door position is best situated to accomplish this task when advancing up the line. When moving up to rejoin their crew, they can account for the immediate area on both sides of the stretch, sweep along the egress for adjacent openings (i.e., bedrooms and bathrooms), and isolate these rooms until a traditional search can take place.
If you are a current subscriber,login hereto access this content.
If you would like to become a subscriber, please visit ushere.
