Wednesday, January 18, 2010. T-82 was on their way to do routine business inspection when they noticed black smoke coming from a residential neighborhood. They took a brief detour and confirmed heavy smoke coming from the alpha bravo bedroom window. T-82 reported it to dispatch and then took command. A-82, E-81, A-81, BC-81, E-181 and BC -181 were dispatched to the residence. It was undetermined if the house was occupied. A firefighter from T-82 had deployed a 1 ¾ cross lay, the fan, and a set of irons to the front door. A-82 arrived first and was assigned to fire attack. Command told fire attack team that an exhaust hole was made and to initiate a positive pressure attack. The front door was forced open showing heavy black smoke to the floor and the fan was turned into the structure. FF-2 checked the floor and attempted to check the ceiling but could not be reached by the hook due to the vaulted ceiling. Meanwhile FF-1 checked the nozzle pattern. FF-1 then entered the structure assuming that FF-2 had checked the ceiling. Heavy black smoke remained in the structure limiting visibility to zero. FF-1 advanced the hose line down the hallway to the bedroom looking back two times and seeing FF-2 behind him. Meanwhile, FF-2 could not see FF-1 due to zero visibility. Then FF-2 had turned around to check on FF-3 assisting with advancement of the hose and assumed he had exited the structure. Not wanting to leave his partner, he followed the hose line to catch up with him. As FF-1 approached the bedroom, fire was visible on the upper portion of the door frame and was knocked down. FF-1 continued the advancement of the hose line to the door of the bedroom. FF-1 saw heavy fire through the brown colored smoke and positioned himself to the middle of the door way to see the fire directly. FF-2 immediately turned back around and to catch up with FF-1. During that time FF-1 entered the fire room approximately 4’ unaware that he entered into the fire room. FF-2 had caught up with FF-1 and noticed snakes rolling out into the hall. FF-2 motioned to cool the ceiling to FF-1. The ceiling was cooled and the fire was extinguished. Overhaul operations began immediately to check for extension into the ceiling and adjacent rooms. No fire extension was found. As the initial fire attack team was rehabbing, it was noticed that FF-1s helmet was charred to the point that helmet had to be replaced and the nomex hood was burnt around the face and the SCBA mask was spider cracked. FF-1 had received 2nd degree burns on two fingers. During the fire investigation, a line of demarcation was clearly visible at about 3′ above the floor. The structure had vaulted ceilings that peaked at 18’-20’ above the floor that covered half the of the fire floor. It was also found that the top part of the over range microwave had melted, which was on the opposite side of the house from the fire room. Light charring was visible on everything on the fire floor above 6’. LESSONS LEARNED: |
SLOW DOWN and be patient, wait for PPV to take effect, cool ceiling during hose advancement, coordinate with command adequate exhaust holes, never assume and avoid the unknowns, know the reach of the hose stream and use it to your advantage. |
