Power Saw Operations: How Proficient Are You?

By Frank Ricci and P.J. Norwood

Ventilating a roof with a power saw WHILE working over hostile conditions demands a level of proficiency that too many firefighters are lacking. When we entered the fire service, the recruit class consisted of instructions on how to cut a hole and work in personal protective gear. Everyone in the class had worked with saws or other tools and had a degree of natural aptitude. Today, as Battalion Chief David Rhodes from the Atlanta (GA) Fire Department has stated, "Most kids haven't even cut the grass." Instructors must recognize a need for building block instruction.

The power saw is a critical piece of power equipment that we must maintain properly so that it will work as designed when needed. It is one of those tools that can make or break an incident. It can make the difference by allowing firefighters to control the building by facilitating interior operations; however, it can also break an incident by causing an unnecessary injury or failing to start. Saws go well beyond fire ventilation. Power saws have a place in forcible entry and rapid intervention team operations to "soften the building." A power saw and a skilled team tasked with softening the building can take proactive measures to remove boarded and barred windows before firefighters find themselves trapped. Waiting until a member becomes trapped to start operating may be too late.