Flashover, what the hell were they thinking?

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Permalink Reply by T.J. on November 28, 2008 at 5:42am

Looks like poor training on Flashovers in their department, we all need to know the signs of a flashover and he must have missed that class. Of coarse I was not there but it looks like it's all ready through the roof and on fully involved on the b-side, so what were they thinking about when they entered the home, to me thats a suround and drown. Our saftey NEEDS to come first over saving a home that will be torn down anyways!

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Permalink Reply by Lt. Caleb French on November 28, 2008 at 5:50am

Copy that, doesn't look like the smartest decision they have ever made.

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Permalink Reply by kenny goines on November 28, 2008 at 5:56am

That was a loser to start with, large vent fire directly above the area of entry, lucky noone was involved in a collapse. The IC should have noticed or at least been made aware of the extent of involvement to what appears to be the attic, and not sent them in.

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Permalink Reply by Allen on November 28, 2008 at 6:52am

Just looking at the Video, it has all the classic signs of flash over waiting to happen. There was no way i would have gone in, i aggree with TJ, suround and drown on that one. If there had been anyone in there they would not have survived anyway. Everyones order of protection saying should be "Me, We, They" Varry from that at all and you get hurt.

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Permalink Reply by Megan on November 28, 2008 at 7:54am

no hoseline no ric or rit team askin to get hurt

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Permalink Reply by Lt. Tom on November 28, 2008 at 8:17am

Well given that none of us were there, it's hard to see the whole size up. That being said, I don't believe we are seeing flashover here. That room appears to be fully involved when the firefighter enters the window. Verticle ventalation would have helped in this case for sure, but tough to do under these conditions unless you have an aerial available and it looks like the engine was blocking the access for the aerial anyway. Notice how the room is pretty dark before they break the window, then it lights off after it gets freash air? This is just feeding oxygen to a starved section of the fire, or ventalation from a different direction. Agreed he should not have gone in. Basicly he made access through the vent hole. The floor below appears to be fully involved and this sets up a floor collapse. Getting the roof vented well would have cleared the air and given the fire a different path other than to head for the window.
Lets just be thankful the firefighter knew the signs to get out, otherwise we would have another name on "the list". This video shows that fighting fire is like playing chess and you have to think several moves ahead in order to turn the tide.
Lets all be safe out there,
Lt. Tom

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Permalink Reply by Tom Lambui on November 28, 2008 at 9:02am

Lt. Tom, I agree with the "given that none of us were there, it's hard to see the whole size up". But as far as your comment "Notice how the room is pretty dark before they break the window, then it lights off after it gets freash air? " If you watch the video again, you'll see that the room is already lit up, you can see the fire rolling overhead across the ceiling, and as far as your statement "That being said, I don't believe we are seeing flashover here", I don't think I've ever seen a clearer case of flashover. Sorry.

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Permalink Reply by kenny goines on December 2, 2008 at 12:23am

The roof had already self vented, no way should anybody have been on it!

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Permalink Reply by Trainer on November 28, 2008 at 8:47am

Its almost like the guy wasn’t even looking, who in their right would go into that without a line, bet he had an oh-shit moment when he realized what he stepped into. I’m going to guess they have a victim, but still, once they broke the window it got the fresh air it was looking for, hell the 2nd guy almost went in. Their has to be a reason for this, maybe a may-day, I don’t know, I just can’t see anyone being that stupid, but I’ve been wrong before.

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Permalink Reply by John on November 28, 2008 at 8:52am

That should have been a defensive attack from what I saw of the video, the fire self-ventilated on the b-side, and appeared to be almost fully involved.

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Brown on November 28, 2008 at 8:58am

I agree with you Lt.it would have been nice to see the whole thing or it would be nice to get a copy of this for training

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Permalink Reply by Bill Muehsam on November 28, 2008 at 9:00am

One very lucky firefighter!!! Not something I would have allowed my crew to attempt without at least a hoseline pulled and some sort of protection in place for the crew making entry. Stop, slow down (don't be in a hurry to get hurt!!), get a good assessment, and then execute the IAP!!!!!!!!

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