Off-the-Bucket Ventilation

Technological advancements in the construction industry usually equate to new challenges when it comes to the essential task of ventilating a fire. With these new challenges–particularly those related to lightweight construction–truck companies must use the tools they have in creative ways. Fortunately, in the tight-knit world of truck company operations, we have no problem sharing lessons learned from our training and fire experiences.

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel–Tweak It
When it comes to safe and effective roof ventilation on lightweight structures, as with so many things, there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel. Just tweak it to fit your truck’s tactical approach. One way to tweak your approach: Work off a bucket. This enables the sawyer to operate in a safe and efficient manner while interior crews reap the benefits of a ventilated roof. Although this task must be front-loaded with some training, it’s an easy operation. (Note: Regardless of the operation, firefighters should not operate on, or above, a roof when there is a strong possibility of collapse. In these cases, firefighters have no business being inside once survivable victims have been rescued.)

Bucket Safety
Before it’s determined that a crew will operate a saw from a bucket, they must first figure out how they will configure all the equipment that will be elevated in the bucket. Firefighters must be in full PPE and breathing air while performing this operation. It helps to arrange the chainsaw in a manner that will prevent it from crossing the sawyer’s body while it’s being handed to the sawyer.

One of the most important safety factors that needs to be considered is how to tether the sawyer to the bucket using a safety tether that’s rated for holding the sawyer’s weight. I recently had the opportunity to train with Captain Roy Noriega and Ladder Company 191C of Peoria, Ariz., performing vertical ventilation from the end of a bucket. In our training evolutions, we used a “pick-off strap” that had two carabineers on each side. This simple piece of equipment enabled the sawyer to be attached to the bucket (the safety harness) while enabling the firefighter behind them to pull up the slack at any time, thus pulling the sawyer back to the safety of the bucket.

Another important note: Setting up a bucket is usually a longer operation than throwing a ground ladder, so both interior crews and command officers must be aware of the ventilation tactic being employed and cautiously monitor interior conditions.

Step-by-Step in the Bucket
Knowledge of building construction is important to apply to this evolution. To keep the rafters perpendicular to where you’ll be cutting, the bucket should advance on the part of the roof that’s a load-bearing or ledger wall. When advancing to the ventilation area, it helps to allow the crew in the bucket to have control as to where the bucket will be situated to perform this operation. A good rule of thumb is to position the edge of the platform that the sawyer will be working from about 2 feet below where the intended bottom cut will be located.  

Once the area to be ventilated is reached, the sawyer should sound the area to be cut to ensure that it will support a portion of their body weight, and locate a rafter on which they can place their foot while performing the cut sequence. Only when the area is deemed stable and a rafter has been identified should the sawyer trade their sounding tool for the chainsaw.  

While the firefighter who remains in the bucket controls the slack of the pick-off strap, the sawyer steps out onto the roof with one foot remaining on the platform and the other foot on the rafter. Reaching out with the saw and using the length of the bar to perform a head cut allows the sawyer to cut the largest hole possible.  

Once the head cut has been completed, the sawyer can make their down cuts. The sawyer should stop the down cuts approximately 2 feet from the edge of the platform from which they’re operating. This allows a final bottom cut to be made while keeping the sawyer in a position that allows them to do it without being crowded.

During the final cut, the company officer must decide whether they want the sawyer to make the cut with one foot on the roof or with both feet on the platform. (Note: This decision should be made in the training scenario, so there is no confusion during a real operation.) After the hole is cut, it can easily be made larger by repositioning the location of the bucket and extending the original down cuts.

Finally, although cutting from a bucket is a safer operation when considering the sawyer’s footing, you must take all the necessary safety precautions to ensure that the sawyer isn’t overcome by flames after making the cut. Specifically, they should listen to interior reports, look at attic vents, read smoke and/or cut indication holes to determine if they are dealing with a structure or contents fire. A fire in the attic is a different beast than a contents fire, with each having its own set of dangers that go along with it.

Final Notes
Effective ventilation should always be a top priority of a truck company. Ventilation helps ensure interior crews aren’t operating in low-visibility or flashover conditions, and improves the chances of victim survival. But with lightweight construction, this task has become more challenging and forces a truck companies to expand their toolbox. Operating from a bucket is not practical in every fire situation, and company officers should preplan the types of structures for which this tactic will be used. As with any task in the fire service, training will make for a successful, safe and efficient operation.