BY BRIAN ARNOLD
The Oklahoma City (OK) Fire Department introduced positive pressure ventilation (PPV) during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It began removing from the apparatus old smoke ejector fans, which moved approximately 3,200 cubic feet per minute (cfm), and replaced them with new, gasoline-operated positive pressure fans that move between 15,000 and 23,900 cfm. Our department has had some success in our newfound tool; it is considered only one of several ventilation options for truck crews arriving on-scene.
But over the past several years, I have seen a trend developing in many departments that may one day result in a catastrophe. PPV is sometimes theonlyventilation method they use on well-developed fires that would be better handled using vertical or horizontal ventilation. Some consider PPV theonlyway to ventilate at many incidents, instead of just one option among others. I see fewer structures vertically or horizontally ventilated; the PPV fan is dropped off and turned into position while firefighters are still stretching the attack line through the front door. Using PPV in this manner is completely contraindicated for several reasons.
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