Thursday, July 29, 2010 I have 3 close calls to inform you about. They all took place in the same department only a short time apart. The first was a single family dwelling( modular Type) with heavy smoke from a distance. First unit to arrive report heavy fire (fully involved) requested a tanker strike team of 4 Large tankers. As crews arrived they made entry on the dwelling (all occupants are out). They also placed 4 FF and 1 Probie on the roof which was already vented. Two or three turn out coats were burned and I believe two SCBAs. Another senior person and I stood in total awe. We have no say. Also they all stood around when they thought the fire was out and claimed what a great job they did. I then informed command the fire was still in the roof area.
Second fire, same companies was a two story farm house (balloon construction) with heavy fire on the first floor with all occupants out. Entry made with one FF has his foot go through the floor. At this time fire was now on second floor and the steps were somewhat burned out. A FF on the second floor had to bail out the window due to a flash over. The walls were covered with wood coverings.
The Third fire same companies was a two story farm house with heavy black smoke from some distance and was well involved upon arrival and the homeowner out of state. One crew starts a side A attack. A second crew tries to attack from side C. I asked them to stop. Multiple crews then tried to make entry through side A. I ask them to wait and was overruled.  Ladders were then thrown to second floor and vented second floor porch roof reached and vent entry search tried. I asked command to evac the building 4 times as the attic was now well involved. Crews stayed on Div 1. A ladder pipe was used to knock the heavy fire out. When the ladder crew asked to continue command stated, we will get it from inside. Crews were now on DIV 2 with a burnt out attic (slate roof) mopping up.  Also during this fire it was around 102 with heat index around 109. Three FFs were overcome with heat, 1 was the safety officer and the 2nd required large amounts of O2 and one required IV fluid and his heart monitored and he went back to fight the fire.
LESSONS LEARNED: I do not believe these crews learned anything. Three close calls in a short period of time. We make the same mistakes we made 30 years ago when I was on the department.