Great Fire Conditions Video
This is a video I stumbled across on another great website the other day. Credit goes to www.fireservicewarrior.com for this post and find on the video. I thought it was definitely worthwhile to repost and see what everyone’s take is on it.
This fire is in Fairfax County Virginia. Three firefighters were hurt in this fire and a resident was hurt even worse. These videos have some great things for us to take away and learn from. Like many videos before, we are not here to bash other jobs. However discussion and comments about the fire and what we could have done, or what we learned from this video are always great. Anyone that has some thoughts should throw it out there for all to hear.
This is a very common building found in almost all of our districts. To stay brief I see to main points. The fire seems very under-ventilated and is screaming to get out. Second, possibly due to the first point there appears to be a delay in getting the first line advanced to the fire.
This shows some great fire and smoke conditions, and shows how quickly that dirty smoke will light up. The second video is the same fire, just later into the incident. It gives you a much closer view of the building and shows where the fire made it to.
Explore posts in the same categories: 4. VentilationTags: apartment fires, flashover, smoke conditions, ventilation
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IRONSandLADDERS.com 
02/10/2011 at 10:18 pm
Good video with a lot of lessons for both engine and truck work. I have very little knowledge on this fire but it appears to have been a first floor fire that spread rapidly to the second floor of the apartment and eventually flashed over. It is imperative that the first line gets to the seat of the fire and stops the fire from traveling vertically through the interior staircase. This will protect not only the occupants who may be trapped above the fire but also the firefighters searching without a hoseline. The videos show a lot of smoke under pressure exiting all sides of the apartment. At least at the time the videos were filmed I think this fire was a good candidate for vertical ventilation. Fire has progressed from the first floor to the second floor and it doesn’t appear that the first line has been successful in extinguishing or slowing the fire down. If vertical ventilation is not possible, a window nearest the seat of the fire may have a significant effect on the interior conditions (both good and bad).
02/11/2011 at 2:42 pm
I saw this video a week or go on the other websites and had a lot of questions. From the way the first video stands, these boys were by themselves for a little while….”john wayne time”. After seeing the second video I have to give these boys credit for the Portable Ladder work. Although, I would of taken the fence long before they had. Nothing like a “BIG” entrance and exit to work in. As far as the initial fire; I’m not really going to comment on that due to many questions still out there….i.e. What was there staffing? Where was the individual that got burn located? Did the crews get caught up in trying to perform the rescue first? I just got to say…under ventilated, yes, as far as getting the job done…gota give them a -B. To many flare ups that grew larger after the initial knock down. If you notice, the “C” side ladder tip got burned up pretty good due to a flare up on the second floor. Just hope the units involved performed an extensive follow up debriefing after this incident. And pray for the Brothers that got hurt, God Speed in your recovery.
02/13/2011 at 10:15 am
Fairfax County’s staffing is four on the engine and four on the truck company.
02/20/2011 at 11:50 am
Well seen as there was no other way/place to post this comment I hope you find some worthy category for it. Congratulations to the webmaster of irons and ladders for his well deserving recognition as his departments Firefighter of the Year! Good job Brother!
02/21/2011 at 6:55 am
Thank You, very humbled.
02/22/2011 at 11:40 am
I would have to agree with Lynch’s comment about vertical ventilation. This townhouse was screaming to be opened up….and quickly. When you have that much pressure and amount of smoke it needs to be vented quickly. Although you can see a FF going around back with a ground ladder a good question to ask is if he racked the window’s while he was on side charlie. I know that I always keep my personal bar on my hip so when I bring a ladder around back I can vent the windows while putting the ladder up. If you don’t have a personal tool the tip of the ladder can be used to start the process of clearing the glass. All this of course has to be coordinated with fire attack but it looks like a line was in place while the ff was around back with the ladder. My other concern/comment is, why did it take so long for the truck operator to get the stick into position whether on the roof or at a window. One of the first things I do as a truck operator is to get my aerial ladder into service. I believe vertical ventilation (when done right) is invaluable and under performed. It also looks like there was another truck on side Delta with out its aerial in service. Just my humble opinion. My prayers to the brothers from Fairfax.
02/22/2011 at 11:47 am
To add to my original comment….Once the rooms on the first floor flashed, The fire had no other place to go but side ways. Meaning, if there was a vent hole on the roof it could have kept the temperatures in check and keep the fire/smoke off the crews inside.
08/03/2011 at 8:41 am
All I can say is underventilated.
BUT I love the “Truck 422 has landed” thing on the outrigger. That’s awesome.