Those of you that haven’t seen, taken the course or even aware of it. This is must take class to take, video below is recent fire that shows a good example of what the class can provide you in the way of knowing the conditions that surround the fire scene. Learn when to commit! This stuff is basic fire science use it. Are you part of the solution or part of the problem?
LINKS:
Fire fighters are often killed or injured when fighting fires in abandoned, vacant, and unoccupied structures. These structures pose additional and sometimes unique risks due to the potential for fire fighters to encounter unexpected and unsafe building conditions such as dilapidation, decay, damage from previous fires and vandals, and other factors such as uncertain occupancy status. Risk management principles must be applied at all structure fires to ensure the appropriate strategy and tactics are used based on the fire ground conditions encountered.
Entire Document
2010-153.pdf
(2.27 MB; 32 pages)
The free Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view these files.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-153/
Guess we still need to beat some sense into some of us. Officer should have stopped this before it started. Come on not wearing SCBA at a car fire. Though that this was settled this back in the 70’s Car fire are no different from another fire. They contain hazards that are not always apparent. so if you got it wear it! EVERY TIME!
From You Tube engine139 — April 27, 2010 — Evansville Indiana Close Call Magnesium Explosion Car Fire
NIOSH has recently released the following Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Reports:
F2009-26 Sep 11, 2009
Fire fighter/operator suffers sudden cardiac death while operating a fire engine at a structure fire – Louisiana
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200926.html
F2009-12 Apr 15, 2009
Volunteer fire chief dies in motor vehicle incident while responding to a fire alarm – Marylandhttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200912.html
F2008-05 Feb 23, 2008
Volunteer captain dies in engine rollover – Colorado
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200805.html
F2009-24 Jul 06, 2009
Fire fighter trainee with an atrial septal aneurysm collapses and dies during debris fire operations – Pennsylvania
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200924.html
F2008-37 Nov 15, 2008
Career fire fighter dies after being trapped in a roof collapse during overhaul of a vacant/abandoned building – Michigan
Link from from Firefighter Close Calls
| Incredible Video from Chicago Smoke Explosion |
Video Courtesy of www.FireVideo.net Find more videos like this on firevideo.net
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 www.FireVideo.net has this video. This is from last week in Chicago. This was reported to be a basement fire and happened as a firefighter vented a 2nd story window. Watch and see what happens, just goes to show, they tell you to vent high – But? Watch it at about 1.37 into the video
Update 3/3/2010
Two firefighters will remain hospitalized while two others will be going home later Thursday after they were injured by a backdraft while battling a blaze in a South Side Back of the Yards neighborhood home.
Two firefighters were taken to University of Chicago Hospital and two others were taken to Holy Cross Hospital after suffering injuries about 2:45 p.m. fighting a fire at 4855 S. Paulina St., according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford.
Reminder for working around power lines this video should remind you. Think of the tree branch as your ladder, pike pole or whatever.
In case you didn't believe Louie the Lightening Bug when he said "ya gotta stay away from power lines," consider the fate of this gentle tree branch, who apparently never got to watch Saturday morning PSAs, or at least wasn't paying attention if it did. It screams, literally, for about 14 seconds before bursting into flames like a vampire in a tanning booth.
Traffic accidents involving First Responders are being reported on a frequent basis. The First Responder Safety Institute has provided a Job Task Analysis for improving road side safety for responders. The Institute created as a Committee of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association, serves as an informal advisory panel of public safety leaders committed to reducing deaths and injuries to America's Emergency Responders. A copy of the Job Task Analysis may be downloaded below.
A copy of the Job Task Analysis is available at:
http://lepcnews.squarespace.com/responder-traffic-hazards/
Job Task Analysis
http://lepcnews.squarespace.com/responder-traffic-hazards/Task_Analysis_Report11.pdf
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Randolph NJ - Firefighter Allen Bell from Dover Fire Dept. in New Jersey captured this CLOSE CALL video of a firefighter who had to bail out of a 2nd floor window while conducting a search for a missing resident. As conditions worsened, the firefighter made it to a 2nd floor window and called out for a ladder. This put firefighter Bells RIT team into action by grabbing the nearest extension ladder to assist the firefighter. This video shows the firefighter falling from the window to the ground and other firefighters carrying him to the front of the house. This video should be used as a training tool. There are several training classes and videos offered that show proper technique in "ladder bail outs". You and your dept. should learn these techniques so this does not happen to you. His injuries were minor, but he could have suffered worse injuries. Also, the FC3 Fire Helmet Camera (www.FireVideo.net) was used in the video and shows that this camera can be another "tool for the helmet", and if used properly, can assist in training, review and investigation. Below is the story from the Randolph News.
Jun 04, 2009
Fire fighter suffers intracranial cyst bleed during residential fire operations and dies three days later – Virginia http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200922.html
Dec 31, 2008
Fire fighter suffers sudden cardiac death while working at a residential fire – Mississippi http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200919.html
Mar 26, 2008
A career fire fighter dies and a career engineer is seriously injured investigating smoke resulting from a manhole fire – California http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200811.html
Jul 27, 2007
As posted to You tube - A Baltimore fire official says five firefighters were injured battling a blaze at a row house.
MD Baltimore N. East Ave Fire Department spokesman Chief Kevin Cartwright says when firefighters arrived at the row house on North East Avenue around 6 a.m. Friday they found heavy smoke and fire coming from the basement spreading to the first floor.
Cartwright says one firefighter suffered a first-degree burn and may have fractured his arm. He was taken to Bayview Burn Center, where he is listed in stable condition.
Four more firefighters with less serious injuries were taken to other hospitals and are also in stable condition.
Cartwright says it took about a half hour to control the blaze and the cause is under investigation. He says its not yet clear whether anyone was home when the fire broke out.
OSHA issued a compliance directive
<http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02_02-075.pdf>
OSHA issued a compliance directive Nov. 20 to ensure uniform procedures when conducting inspections to identify and minimize or eliminate high to very high risk occupational exposures to the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus. The directive closely follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel.
<http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_infection_control.htm> "
To learn more, read news release Compliance Directive.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=16749
Enforcement Procedures for High to Very High Occupational Exposure Risk to 2009 H1N1 Influenza. 20 Nov 2009
http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02_02-075.pdf
Note: Link to compiled list of flu resources/guides:
http://www.ynhhs.org/emergency/pdfs/Flu_References.pdf
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This Instruction establishes agency enforcement policies and provides instructions to ensure uniform procedures when conducting inspections to minimize high to very high occupational exposure risk to the virus identified as 2009 H1N1 influenza of workers whose occupational activities involve contact with patients or contaminated material in a healthcare or clinical laboratory setting.
Scope: This Instruction applies OSHA-wide.
References:
A. OSHA Instruction CPL 02-00-148 Field Operations Manual (FOM), November 9, 2009.
B. OSHA Notice 09-05 (CPL 02) Site-Specific Targeting 2009 (SST-09), July 20, 2009.
C. OSHA Instruction CPL 02-00-120 (CPL 2-0.120) Inspection Procedures for the Respiratory Protection Standard, September 25, 1998.
D. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers, OSHA Publication 3328, 2007 (reprinted 2009).
E. Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic, OSHA Publication 3327, 2007 (reprinted 2009).
F. CDC Guidelines, Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel (October 14, 2009).
Abstract - 1
G. National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan, Homeland Security Council, May 2006
Cancellations: None.
State Impact: Notice of Intent and Equivalency is required. See Section VI.
Action Offices: OSHA National, Regional and Area Offices, State Plan and State Consultation Offices.
Originating Office: Office of Health Enforcement.
Contact:
Directorate of Enforcement Programs
Office of Health Enforcement
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20210
202-693-2190
| Why is wearing your PPE important??? Watch the security video from YouTube, it’s a little grainy but just goes to show why you use fall protection, hard to believe he did not have more injuries other than a little finger? |
Window-washer tumbles 8 stories to street, breaks one finger - Bloomington Pantagraph
Nov 20, 2009 ... SEATTLE -- A lucky window washer survives an eight-story fall from a building in downtown Seattle. Friday, November 20, 2009.
www.kirotv.com/news/21666063/detail.html - Cached -
Nov 19, 2009 ... A window washer plunged eight stories down the side of a building ... Others saw the man fall as they looked out of their windows from ...
The fall time change takes place on Sunday, November 1. Time to change your clock and your Battery. In your smoke detector that is. It’s also a good time to check it for spiders, dust and even see if it’s still working along with you carbon monoxide detector. Many fire department are taking part in the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program. For the 22nd year, the International Association of Fire Chiefs IAFC, Energizer, and our network of 6,200 fire departments have partnered on the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program to remind communities nationwide of the life-saving habit of changing the battery in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when they change their clocks back to Standard Time. The United States Fire Administration has a lot of information concerning smoke detectors and is a good source for materials. Also Consumer Product Safety Commission has some info you can use.
smoke Alarms
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From Firehouse.com
Later this month, advocates for and against mandating fire sprinklers in new home construction will gather in Baltimore, Md. for an important vote. Meeting Info Link
The International Code Council will consider proposals to remove language from the International Residential Code requiring fire sprinklers in new construction come 2011 during its annual meeting at the Hilton Baltimore Convention Center.
Looks like there is till unresolved issues with the ruling by the ICC on residential fire sprinklers. More information on this issue can be found at Home Fire Sprinkler and National Volunteer Fire Council or International Code Council See Older Post HERE
Really, still not wearing your seat belt when responding? Maybe today, tomorrow or next week, your are going to get caught. Read this from firefighterclosecalls Wednesday, October 7, 2009
As you will recall, a responding Phoenix (AZ) FD engine company (E910) was involved in a serious crash where, among others, Captain Crystal Rezzonico was very seriously injured after being ejected. The facts related to the August 10, 2009 crash are as follows: Read full article HERE
Old issue, still not resolved see old post at Everyonegoeshome and visit |
From time to time I stumble back upon a web site that I used to check all the time. Here is some training sources from the Underwriters Laboratories. At issue still, is the residential sprinkler requirement with the the National Association of Home Builders still resisting the IRC-2009 sprinkler requirement in RB66. You can get some free training that gives some insight into the issue at hand.
Jul 31, 2009 ... IRC requiring sprinklers, UL focuses on firefighter safety ... Still, the coalition argues, with 95 percent of homes having ...
| UL Main Site Link HERE |
| UL Online Learning Here Fire Behavior in a Single Family Occupancy |
| Structural stability of engineered lumber in fire conditions online course Structural Stability Course Here |
A mannequin simulates a crawling firefighter in the UL test of the structural integrity of various floor and roof assemblies during a fire test.
| Home Fire Safety Issues Land on the Front Burner By Douglas Gordon, Hon. AIA http://info.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek09/0731/0731p_lightweight.cfm How do you . . . stay up to date on residential fire regulations and best practices? Get informed! |
I like this, it’s what we all should be doing anyway. There are entirely too many close calls and collisions with fire apparatus.
From firefightereclosecalss.com
Perhaps you are following the issue down in Austin (Texas) where the Fire Chief wants members to briefly stop and make sure intersections are clear before proceeding through red lights, stop signs, things like that.
Some Austin Firefighters are concerned about the new policy ordered by Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr. Under the policy, Firefighters must drive the speed limit and come to a complete stop at intersections before proceeding during an emergency. They don't have to wait for the light to turn green-just make sure it is clear.
However not everyone agrees.
"When we respond to an emergency we work as a team," said Steven Truesdell, President of the Austin Firefighters. "We have multiple sets of eyes surveying the traffic and the driver and officer work together to make sure they are proceeding through traffic safely." State law in Texas (like just about everywhere else) allows Firefighters responding to an emergency to drive over the speed limit and to go through red lights and stop signs.
You just can't hit anyone. And the only way to make sure that doesn't happen is to make sure it doesn't happen by briefly stopping-and then going thru when it is clear. That procedure works for thousands of FD's everyday across North America.
Some Austin Firefighters are concerned, saying the new policy is above and beyond the state law.
"We feel state law is appropriate. It requires us to use necessary caution and to be very careful," said Truesdell. But Kerr says the policy is designed to reduce the number of crashes where she is the ultimate person responsible-along with the officer-along with the driver.
So is the Chief looking out for her members?
Absolutely.
As she stated: "In today's world, there is so much going on in heavily-traveled streets. People are talking on their cell phones or texting or looking at their e-mails; we just want our Firefighters to have better control over hazardous situations"
So the order reduces Firefighter liability when driving apparatus.
So they don't hurt or kill someone who doesn't hear or see them coming.
So they don't potentially run into one of their own family as happened last year in Ohio when a Firefighter/Apparatus driver (who was doing nothing more than responding to help people with a vehicle fire)ran a controlled intersection without stopping, striking and killing 2 of her own relatives.
Literally a living nightmare for all affected. NO ONE wants to go thru that. EVER.
HERE it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga_vHeGYQ34
HERE are some other related examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPeyFND68Zs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9zAOEGAdfs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZQMeGW-hyY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6l-BkRhcfE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGuZQGgXFgY
Wanna reduce response times?
A few tips include making sure your dispatch center processes and tones out serious calls in about 30 seconds. And make sure the members get out and are responding in less than a minute. And while we don't know if there are any underlying issues in this case (that has been known to happen at "some FD's) however, with about 30 or so of us killed in the Line of Duty each year, and many more seriously hurt in vehicular related crashes, it makes sense.
Fire apparatus in any FD is ultimately the Chiefs responsibility and anyone driving the truck needs to drive them in the manner that the chief wants. That's called following policy, training, orders and direction.
Stuff like that. No one likes to do that all the time, but we have to pick our battles. This one isn't worth fighting because the Chief is right. And NO firefighter WANTS to have a crash. But we have them and speed and/or intersections are the heart of almost all.
Fire service history has absolutely proven that the Chief is right and is attempting to help her own members stay out of court, out of intense mental stress counseling and out of attending the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend for one of their own.
Whenever responding to a life threatening emergency, EVERY Firefighter-from Chief to probie WANTS to get there "5 minutes ago"-but we have to get there. Our goal is to help people with a problem without becoming part of the problem. If we crash responding-we help no one and create a brand new emergency with a host of new problems-some life altering to all affected.
Quite often, a Chief MUST be THE Chief and it will undoubtedly reduce the members of any Chiefs fan club. That's OK, we save on postage. When you are a Chief Officer, a Company Officer or someone that establishes/enforces policy, we think it is better if your Firefighters don't like you in circumstances like this, as opposed to having them "like" you-and them then losing their life in a situation that YOU KNOW can be prevented-by being THE CHIEF.
We have to pick our battles.
The Emergency Responder Safety Institute has conducted a review of typical functions performed by emergency responders at roadway incidents. This effort was funded as part of a grant from the Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (EMW-2007-FP-01749). To assist in the development process, the ERSI established a panel of experts to conduct the initial analysis and review the materials as they were developed. This report discusses the process utilized, outlines the specific job performance requirements for critical positions assigned to emergency responders and provided guidance on the use of the requirements by potential users and training organizations.
Full Report
http://www.respondersafety.com/Download.aspx?downloadID=77a342f9-9dcd-4ee6-ba8c-acb9548c0d28
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr_167.pdf
Attached is a Press Release from the US Fire Administration announcing the release of their technical report on the NIU campus shooting. The link at the top of this e-mail will open the technical report. The link below will download the full report also if the other will not work.
+ Full Report (PDF; 1.8 MB)
Hampton Twp. FD says firefighter was thrown after portable hydrant exploded.
Firefighter Close Calls is gathering information for IAFC on any similar incidents (other than Lambertville) for the IAFC Safety, Health & Survival Section. Click here to provide details.
The pictures and information below are from Deputy Chief Bruce Cole of the Hampton Township Fire Department in Sussex County, New Jersey:
On 7-27-09 the Hampton Twp Fire Dept in Sussex County, NJ, was conducting a training exercise. The drill involved 3 tankers and 2 pumpers. It was to be a water shuttle exercise. Eng 48-62 was set up as the hole pumper at the draft site to fill the water tankers. There was 100' of 5" LDH from 48-62 to the portable hydrant, (The hydrant was a Snap Tite water Thief/Manifold,with 5" LDH intake and 4 2-1/2" discharges). We were using two (2) of the 4 discharges with 100' of 2 1/2" hose from each discharge. The flow rate was 125psi. The order was given for the hydrant to be shut down as the tanker was full. The fire fighter controlling the hydrant began the process of a slow shut down and the pump operator on Engine 48-62 began to reduce his pressure. As the Hampton Twp fire fighter was leaning over the control valves shutting down, for undetermined reasons the portable hydrant exploded. The force of the explosion threw the fire fighter into the air, Her boots were found approximately 50' from were she landed and 25' apart from each other her helmet landed next to one of her boots. Hampton Twp EMS, which was on scene for the drill, started 1st aid procedures and the fire fighter was airlifted to a trauma center.
Chief Cole adds that the firefighter in Monday's incident was treated and released.
You may recall a similar incident in Lambertville, New Jersey on March 28. You can find Snap-tite's report on that incident here. We have emailed and phoned Snap-tite officials and will pass along any comments they provide.
