Engine 1101 was dispatched to a structure fire at 1243 a.m. While in route dispatch reported via neighbor that there were residents inside home smoke coming from roof line. Engine 1101 prepared for rescue being first due. Upon arrival Engine 1101 officer noticed a two story wood frame structure, two vehicles parked outside, burglar bars on the front door (not on windows), and police officers breaking window on alpha side yelling for residents. Eng 1101 was first on scene and initiated rescue mode. Eng 1101 officer and firefighter entered structure through the broken window and Eng 1101 driver began forcible entry on the front door with a K-12. Conditions on first floor were noted to be moderate smoke and light heat. Officer and firefighter searched the first floor with nothing found. Engine 1101 crew met Engine 1102 crew at the front door once they arrived and assigned them to fire attack. Engine 1101 found stairwell to the second floor via thermal imaging camera. Conditions on second floor were observed as having thick smoke and moderate heat conditions. Crew began search of second floor for occupants. Stairway led to a loft space and a hall leading to two bedrooms on the bravo side. Engine 1101 crew noticed there were no doors on any rooms in the second floor and doors were removed from doorways and leaning against walls in the rooms. The doors leaning against the walls gave the illusion that there were more rooms to access. Engine 1101 crew searched the two bedrooms with nothing found. While Engine 1101 was searching additional crew was starting roof ventilation operation. Roof team was on the first floor roof of a modified garage remodel, when they found a deteriorated roof conditions. The roof caved into the attic on the first floor, causing the fire to escape, becoming wind driven, and catching the second floor on fire on the delta side. Upon completion of search on second floor Engine 1101 crew was exiting their way back down the hallway where they were met with heavy smoke and rollover conditions. Upon entering the loft conditions then deteriorated to pre-flashover and crew had no time to search for stairwell. Engine 1101 officer broke out window on alpha side and radioed for a ladder to the window to prepare for bailing out. Engine 1101 Firefighter was braced low against alpha side interior wall of the loft, and took a step to the right, finding the first step of the stairwell. Firefighter yelled to officer that the he found stairwell and both members exited to the first floor and out the front door on the alpha side. Upon exiting the structure both members looked up at the second floor and found the loft fully-involved. Ladder was placed at the window by Command while Engine 1101 crew was exiting the structure via the stairwell. At this time fire was deemed defensive and PAR was taken for all units on scene. Engine 1101 driver obtained knock down of fire with deck gun. Fire moved from defensive back to offensive and crew re-entered to fully extinguish.
LESSONS LEARNED:
Communication, communication, communication. Proper communication between crews either over radio or face to face has to be done in order to achieve the same goal safely and effectively. And proper cordination of back-up line is a must. If inspection hole was mabe on first floor location of fire would have been known and appropiate actions would have been taken.
