Monthly Training Packet

Transcription

1 All Subject Packet Bertrand Twp. Fire Department November 2013 Monthly Training Packet Upcoming Training Date/Time Fire Behavior 11/25/2013 Bertrand Twp. Fire Training Division Review Materials First Responders Role in Fire Investigation Fuel procedure Echo Vent Saw Intake valve SCBA checks Size Up: Take your time, do it right! Quick Drills P.A.S.S. Device Air Track The Swamp Person Reading Smoke

2 The First Responder s Role in Fire Investigation Quick Reference Card OBSERVE Fire characteristics and behavior: Color of smoke and flames Velocity of smoke Light push or heavy push Height and level of flames Any odors Fire behavior Individuals, including the demeanor, dress, location, injuries, smells, behavior, and statements of: Victims Witnesses Crowd members People leaving the scene Response: Whether burglar and smoke alarms weree sounding Fire attack pattern Suppression tactics Overhaul actions Moving furniture and contents Changing the position of any items Entry and exit points: Condition of doors and windows upon arrival Were doors closed/open? ocked/unlocked? Whether or not door had to be forced to make entry Condition of utilities upon arrival Who or what broke windows Strange: Any item, condition, or absence of an item or condition that seems unusual, out of the ordinary, unexpected, or out of place Poor housekeeping Evidence of a possible crime PRESERVE Suppression: Tactics that preserve walls, contents, and patterns, including combinationn fog nozzles and hitting ceiling above fire instead off base of fire Only use as much water as necessary Overhaul: Use thermal cameras to pinpoint hotspots Leave objects in place or as close to in place as possible Do not throw contents out of the room Do not break windows unless absolutely necessary Extinguish furnishingss in place Do not remove sheetrock unless absolutely necessary Refrain from flooding floor with water Stop overhaul when reach a non-burned section Avoid using gasoline-powered tools Control: Establish a perimeter Establish one point of ingress and egress and log in and out Limit scene access to only necessary personnell Keep civilians out of the fire scene Cordon off deceased victims DOCUMENT Witness contact information Observations Written report preservation COMMUNICATE To supervisor or fire investigator CFITrainer.Net The First Responder s Role in Fire Investigation FireArson.com 1

3 BTFD Fueling Procedure At the register. the attendant will have a card and a PIN. Enter the PIN on the keypad. For vehicles obtain the odometer reading. Fill apparatus or can using appropriate fuel. Sign merchant copy. On our copy write your name and the apparatus number. Return the fuel slip to the Chief. When prompted, enter the odometer reading.

4 Echo Vent Saw BERTRAND TWP. FIRE Tools November 2013 Echo Vent Saw Operating Overview Read the attached GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS per the manufacturer as well as this document before operating the saw. The Echo Quick Vent saw is the primary power tool for cutting vertical ventilation holes. This saw has a unique design for it to be dipped into the roof system for easy and quick ventilation during vertical ventilation operations. This saw is frequently operated during apparatus and equipment inspections. The following is the proper procedure pre-operational checks. Step 1 (see figure 1): Remove the saw from the storage location and place on a flat surface. Visually inspect the saw for any obvious damage. Inspect the chain/bar, switches, handle, and outer shell (see figure 2). Next check the fuel and bar oil levels (see figure 3). These should both be full. Top off if needed. A rule of thumb, the bar oil level should decrease as the gasoline level decreases. If the gas is empty and the bar oil is full the bar oiler may be plugged or degraded. If this is the case remove from service. Once all exterior checks are performed take the saw to a well ventilated area (outside or open a bay door). Proper eye, ear, hand and foot protection should be worn while operating any power tool. The next steps outline the operating method. Prepare the saw (see figure 2). Turn the ON/OFF switch to ON. Close the chock by pulling the lever OUT. Squeeze the trigger and set the LOCK. Ensure the chain brake is applied, push it forward to lock. Next, kneel on the top of the saw (see figure 4), DO NOT DROP START THE SAW! Pull the starter cord to start the saw. Allow to run for 10 seconds or so then push choke in. DO NOT THROTTLE THE SAW ALL THE WAY UP. Allow the saw to operate for about 60 seconds to achieve operating temperature. You many then disengage the chain brake and run the saw at higher rpms to allow the chain to spin and be lubricated. Lock the chain brake once again then allow the saw to idle for 30 seconds before shutting off. Let saw cool off before placing back into the storage compartment. If the saw does not start after 3 attempts, adjust the choke. Do not flood the saw! Seek assistance from an Officer or senior member. Why we do not drop start a chain saw in the fire service! Kneeling on the saw, with body weight, creates a push motion rather than a rip motion. This saves energy and drastically reduces the potential for injury. How will you start a saw on a pitched roof from a roof ladder? This method creates muscle memory for roof operations. Using your foot on the handle does not work well either while wearing boots. While wearing full PPE and SCBA this method provides great advantage, especially when its 3am, raining, dark and chaotic. This method has many PROs over CONs compared to drop starting a chain saw.

5 Figure 2 Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 4

6 KEY SAFETY AND RISK PREVENTION RULES GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS All chain saw service, other than the items listed in the operator s manual maintenance instruction, is to be performed only by competent chain saw service personnel. (For example, if improper tools are used to remove the flywheel, or if an improper tool is used to hold the flywheel to remove the clutch, structural damage to the flywheel could occur. This could cause the flywheel to shatter, resulting in serious injury to operator and bystanders.) Spark arrester mufflers are standard on ECHO chain saws to reduce the possibility of forest fires. Do not operate the chain saw with a loose or defective muffler. Do not remove the spark arrester screen. Insist on a replacement guide bar with holes to allow the mounting of the Kick Guard TM device. Insist on the proper replacement saw chain for your chain saw. PROPER GRIP ON THE SAW - A firm grip is one requirement for chain saw control. The saw should always be held firmly with both hands whenever the engine is running. Wear heavy-duty, non-slip gloves to improve your grip on the handles. Grasp the front handle firmly behind the front hand guard with your left hand. Always use a wraparound grip, with fingers encircling and the thumb on the underside. Thumb position is the key to a strong grip. WARNING! Never use a grip where the thumb and finger do not encircle the saw handle. If you use an improper grip, even a slight push or kick of the saw may dislodge your hand. The hand guard is not a handle. Do not pick up or hold the saw by the hand guard. Grasp the rear handle in the same manner as the front handle. Use index finger to work the throttle trigger, and practice turning off the engine stop switch without losing your grip on the saw. DON T USE AN OPEN GRIP KEEP BODY OUT OF CUTTING PLANE WARNING! Never hold the saw directly in front of your body where you would be in the line of a kickback. Always keep to the left of the saw. PROPER STARTING TECHNIQUE- Start the chain saw on the ground. Grip the front handle with your left hand and hold the saw down by putting your right foot on the rear handle. Pull the starter rope with your right hand. WARNING! DROP STARTING IS PROHIBITED! DROP STARTING CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE SAW AND POTENTIAL INJURY. USE PROPER GROUND STARTING PLANE OF CHAIN ROTATION BODY ENTIRELY TO ONE SIDE OF PLANE OF CHAIN ROTATION PROPER STANCE, BALANCE AND BODY POSITION FOR CUTTING- After starting, pick up the saw and proceed as follows: At completion of the cut, let go of the trigger, carefully lift the saw clear, and allow the engine to slow and chain to come to rest before moving away or to another cut. Moving toward the next place to cut before throttling down and lifting the chain saw clear of the cut can cock the saw blade against the sides of the cut. This can result in a kickback. Always throttle down and let chain come to a stop and lift the saw clear of the wood before moving away. THUMB ON UNDER SIDE OF HANDLE BAR GOOD CONTROL STRONG LEFT ARM AND ELBOW POSITION FOR GOOD CONTROL 21

7 Several actions should be performed regularly. Fully open and fully close valve to ensure opens and shuts smoothly. Swivel the coupling to ensure free spinning occurs.

8 Open the drain valve. a.) ensure a stream of water b.) ensure valve operates smoothly. Remember this is needed to be open when charging the supply line to release the air. Close when a solid stream of water flows.

9 Fire Training Toolbox Free Training for Firefighters The Swamp Person By Dale Saucier Anyone who has been involved in an active role at an extrication scene knows it is hard to see everything going on around you at a motor vehicle accident. With parts of automobiles, extrication tools and hydraulic lines around the area it is very easy to get yourself into trouble. That is where a Swamp Person comes into play at an extrication. No, I am not talking about someone from the show Swamp People, what I am referring to is a second set of eyes for the person operating the extrication tool just as in a backup person on an attack line advancing in to a burning structure. This person should have technical knowledge of the task at hand and should be alert to hazards in the area. The Swamp Person will also make sure that the whole work area is clean and no parts of the vehicle are in the work area. When operating a reciprocating saw the Swamp Person would want to have extra saw blades located in their pocket (I would suggest the radio pocket if so equipped). At our organization we are equipped with a Hurst 40 Spreader and this beast weighs in at 85 lbs. While a very effective hydraulic tool it is very cumbersome for one typical firefighter so the Swamp person would be a second person on the tool especially working above the waist line. (Figure 2) Figure 2 Personnel assigned to the Swamp Person role will have many things to look at. They will be a tender for the hydraulic lines and will make sure the lines do not get entangled in the operator s feet, do not become a trip hazard and does not get placed underneath items being spreader or cut, such as doors (Figure 1). Also when working in a confined area such as a semi-trailer under ride, the Swamp Person can help out with tool placement since the operator would only be able to use upper body strength to manipulate the equipment. (Figure 3) Figure 1

10 Fire Training Toolbox Free Training for Firefighters Placement of the hand on the underside of the arms of the tool will allow for better balance for the operator. A couple of safety tidbits for this operation, the hand must be in the open palm position because you do not want to get your fingers into the inner side of the spreading arms while it is closing. Also, you should not perform this operation the first time at an extrication incident; you must try this out first in training and gain the trust of your fellow operators. In closing, this is a position to be filled at the extrication event and is not a position to be taken lightly. A good set of eyes and a strong knowledge of extrication techniques will allow the incident to be managed effectively and allow firefighters not to be exhausted after an extrication. Figure 3 The Swamp Person can also be a set of eyes for the tool operator by watching how the spreading action is moving the vehicle components into the passenger area and encroaching the entrapped victim. The final task of the Swamp Person (but by far not the last) is assisting the hydraulic tool operator with tip placement. (Figure 4) Figure 4

11 Personal Alert Safety System by Christopher Huston FIRE TRAINING TOOLBOX Drill Series Firefighter PPE & SCBA P.A.S.S. Device or Personal Alert Safety System is used to help locate the wearer in situations where they may be trapped, unconscious or unsure of their location. The 2013 edition of NFPA: 1982 Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems marks many changes to the way this device is manufactured, tested and certified. All members should possess proper and relevant knowledge of their departments P.A.S.S. devices. Use this sheet as a guide to start a discussion and hands on lesson! Discuss the following topics based upon your make and model of P.A.S.S. device: Evacuation Alarm Integrated PASS Stand Alone PASS Pre-Alarm Full Alarm Modes: Off, Sensing and Alarm. Reset to sensing mode using the reset button. Low power light in off mode. Low power signal in sensing mode. User full alarm to sensing mode. Sensing mode to full alarm when motionless for how long? The different chirps and clicks you hear. How do you test the P.A.S.S. during pre-operational checks per the manufacturer and department standards? When staged avoid the PASS reset dance! Whenever possible keep your hand on your PASS and click the reset button when its starts to pre-alarm, rather than shaking around! Not only will you know your equipment better, and save energy, it makes us all look more professional! Did you know? The pre alarm mode is around 80db and full alarm 110db. This level of sound is very close to a chain saw running. How well can you hear the P.A.S.S. in full alarm while other fireground tasks are going on? Do you practice finding a P.A.S.S. under noisy conditions? firetrainingtoolbox.com

12 In-Station Training Fire Behavior Topic: Air Track & Flow Path Drill Number: 13-2 Author: Chief Ed Hartin Training Code: Aim Firefighters apply understanding of burning regime (fuel or ventilation controlled), air track indicators, and flow path. References Corrigan, S. (2013). Horizontal ventilation. Retrieved April 6, 2013 from Hartin, E. (2011) Reading the fire: Air track indicators. Retrieved April 6, 2013 from Hartin, E. (2013). Ventilation controlled fires: 10-minute training Retrieved April 6, 2013 from Conducting the Drill As always, don t simply hand out the 10-Minute Training to your crew. Use it as a guide to discussion and distribute copies after the drill. Have a look at the references and expand on this drill as necessary. As discussed in Ventilation Controlled Fires and Horizontal Ventilation, increasing ventilation to a ventilation controlled fire increases heat release rate (HRR). Reading the fire requires that firefighters consider look at all of the relevant B-SAHF (Building, Smoke, Air Track, Heat, and Flame) indicators holistically (not simply one or the other or as a simple list to check off). However, air track indicators are particularly relevant in recognizing ventilation controlled fires and understanding both existing and tactical ventilation. Air Track: the movement of both smoke (generally out from the fire area) and air (generally in towards the fire area). This term applies to smoke and air movement in general and to specific, observable indicators. Air track is directly related to, but somewhat different than Flow Path. Ask your crew to identify the basic categories of air track indicators. Basic categories of air track indicators include wind speed and direction, direction of smoke and air movement, velocity, and flow (turbulent or laminar). Consider the implications of these categories of air track indicators when approaching your intended point of entry. Flow Path: Movement of air from an inlet (or inlets) to the fire and of smoke and flames from the fire to an exhaust opening. Understanding flow paths and potential flow paths is critical to firefighter safety and effective tactical ventilation. Rev: 1.0 Page 1

13 10-MINUTE TRAINING Is the door open or closed? Remember at this point, a closed door is your friend! If it is open, close the door! Is the door locked or unlocked? What forcible entry may be required? How will you control the door if it needs to be forced? While considering these questions, it is essential to read the fire (holistic look at B-SAHF). For now consider the air track indicators. Is the wind blowing (in particular is wind velocity over 10 mph)? If so, what direction is it blowing in (most important to consider in relation to your point of entry and the known or suspected location of the fire)? Why might this be important? Wind over 10 mph indicates potential for a wind influenced or wind driven fire! Is the smoke moving out the top of the door and air moving in at the bottom? What might this indicate? A bi-directional air track often is an indicator of a ventilation controlled fire. The access point is an exhaust and an inlet. After entry you will be working in the flow path (dangerous place). Is air going in, but no smoke coming out? This might be an open door with an absence of smoke along with smoke exiting elsewhere. What might this indicate? Air in will likely increase HRR, control the air and control the fire. Consider the size and location of the fire and exhaust opening(s). Is smoke exiting the door from top to bottom? What might this indicate? You intended access point is an exhaust opening; you will be in the flow path. This is an extremely dangerous position. Consider another way in. Do you see smoke discharge from the door and then no smoke being discharged (e.g., a pulsing air track)? What might this indicate? A pulsing air track indicates and significantly ventilation controlled fire, potential for vent induced flashover or backdraft exists. Consider indirect attack and if vertical ventilation is an option (think about building construction and fire location here as this is not always possible). Is the velocity of smoke discharge high (evidenced by turbulent flow) or low (evidenced by laminar flow)? What does the velocity of smoke discharge tell you? Is the velocity increasing or decreasing? What might be inferred by changes in velocity? Changes in velocity indicate changes in HRR and resulting temperature. Beware! Decreased velocity may simply indicate that the fire is becoming more ventilation controlled. Knowing the answers to the questions is only the first step in developing the ability to apply this knowledge. Use photos or video (even better) and have your crew look for air track indicators that provide important clues to flow path and potential changes in flow path based on ventilation (tactical or otherwise). Feedback Please forward your feedback on this 10-minute training to Chief Ed Hartin Rev: 1.0 Page 2

14 TACTICAL TABLE TOPS Officer Size-up of Structures: SMOKE One of the best ways of determining your courses of action at a fire is to properly read the smoke present. Key safety issues are identified by doing so. Inventory Key Factors Volume: amount of fuel, fullness of windows Velocity: Rate of heat release, speed exiting from the structure Density: Quality of burning, potential for other events; flashover Color: Illumination, shimmering, unusual, heavy carbon (fuel) based Weigh Other Factors Container: Where is the smoke coming from, is this the origin or is it traveling to an opening Weather: Low temperatures & humidity usually mean low hanging smoke FF efforts: Has entry been made or other openings that allow the smoke to migrate from areas of origin Based on the fire scenes above: 1. What type of strategy would each of these incidents be? Explain your reasons. 2. What tactical decisions would you make for the first arriving companies at these incidents? Explain your answers. 3. What is your inventory of the key factors regarding the smoke visible here? (Volume, Velocity, Density, Color) What will happen next? 4. Are these incidents getting better? Getting worse? Or unchanged? Explain your decision. 5. Based on the above information, is this a stable, rapidly changing or unpredictable situation? Determine Fire Status Getting Better: Smoke changing is volume, velocity, density and color Getting Worse: Increases is above with visible flames or other significant events Decide on Tactics/Strategy Categorize: The event one of three ways: Stable; Contained within an area Rapidly Changing: Preflashover, developing significant heat Unpredictable: Confusing, unstable fire behavior, plan for worst case scenario 6. Define your companies objectives at these incidents for First-in Engine and First -In Truck companies. What assignments do you have for Second-due units?

15 Fire Training Toolbox No one of us, is as strong as all of us! SIZE UP: Take Your Time, Do It Right! By: Scott A. Conn, BA, CFI I can remember when the trend in the fire service started to shift and emphasis was placed on things such as riding assignments and coming off the unit, fully geared and masked up, tools in hand, and ready to hook on air and be at the door in seconds flat. However, I often questioned one fundamental thing many folks forgot, and that is a good size up, including an even more thorough 360 degree size up by the first arriving officer (or senior crew member). Don t get me wrong, I am not saying it s not good that arriving fire crews be prepared to go to work. I often did question, however, if this could create tunnel vision among first arriving crews. This is a question I then started asking my classes, and it really got students thinking. Going one step further, I asked students if it is not indeed each and every crew member s responsibility to size up the situation. Which, absolutely, it is! I was surprised to see how many departments out there were forgoing a good size up because they were so concerned about getting in and going to work fast. I have even had the misfortune to witness it in person on occasions. Just think of some of the many issues that could be missed. Was the officer only seeing things from the address side, or possibly from the approach and address side? If the officer was so intent on getting crews in the building quickly, he or she could miss so many vital things! What if a good size up and 360 was not done? Did the officer miss seeing civilian victims hanging out a window perhaps on the Charlie side of the building? Did the officer mistakenly miss the fact that fire was in the sub level (basement) and only saw smoke or fire coming from the first division of the building? Did the officer not recognize signs of potential hostile fire events such as Backdraft or Flashover? Was there something in regard to construction features that the officer missed, such as lightweight construction for example? Did the officer consider potential setbacks such as water supply issues, long hose stretches, limited access to the building with apparatus? Did the officer miss the fact that the building was equipped with fire protection features that could make the job easier such as Knox boxes, standpipes, or sprinkler systems just to name a few? These are just some of the many considerations that could be missed without a proper size up. The list could go on and on. The most vital, however, being issues of situations that could put the crew s safety in jeopardy.

16 Fire Training Toolbox No one of us, is as strong as all of us! Consider what we know today as well in regard to topics like reading smoke, flow paths, and ventilation limited fires. If a proper size up is not performed prior to allowing crews to enter, all of this vital information is useless. Worse yet, without taking these items into consideration, we really are putting our folk s lives in jeopardy more than ever with today s fire environment! Think of things in terms of being on the first entry crew as well. Again, size up is everyone s responsibility! Instead of being apt to rush inside like Superman, crews should be sizing up the construction, predicting fire travel paths, looking for egress points in case things go bad, how they will maintain crew integrity, and so many other things! Crews should also be reading smoke. After all, no one is perfect, and what the officer might not see, a crew member might. If we have the mindset that crews should be rolling off the apparatus, ready to go to work in seconds flat, how are these vital size up points getting done? Please don t get me wrong, I am not saying crews should mimic Mister Rogers, slipping out of their shoes and sport jacket in exchange for Bunker gear and boots versus slippers and sweater, all the while singing merrily once they arrive on scene. After all, time is of the essence more than ever in regard to fire spread and growth. I am saying we should all take our time a bit more, and do it right. Crews should take the time to assure needed tools are gathered, check each other s gear quickly, assure radio frequencies, and all the while doing their own personal size up of the building and situation. This in turn will give the first in commander time to perform their size up, including a 360, and start developing strategies and choosing tactics. Know as much about the situation as you can prior to making entry, or in command s case, before sending crews inside. Take your time, do it right!