Close One On The Roof
Here is an interesting video that shows about as close of call as you can get. I just saw this over at http://www.workingthejob.blogspot.com/ . If you have not seen his blog yet check it out, it is a good one. The comments that workingthejob.com made pretty much cover my thoughts on this video, I am not going to repeat them all. But a few things I must say, I agree we are only seeing a small picture into a larger situation so I am not going to comment like I was there or pretend to know the whole situation. This obviously is a smaller department (guessing by the amount of white hats on the roof and fire ground), which may also have budget issues or are not issued the proper equipment. If you take a close look at the saw that is being carried off of the roof after the situation happens you can see that it is a smaller saw that is very under equipped to handle venting roofing materials. It appears it may even be an “echo” style homeowner brand chain saw. If we are assigned to vertically ventilate a lightweight pitched roof one of the safest things we can do is vent it quickly and then get off. Especially if this fire is already in the attic. Anyways I don’t need to describe the rest, you will see it for yourself.
Explore posts in the same categories: 4. VentilationTags: attic fire, close calls, firefighter falls through roof, vertical ventilation
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IRONSandLADDERS.com 
06/14/2011 at 9:20 am
I know that quite a few depts on the east coast firefighters with the rank of LT and up where white helmets
06/14/2011 at 6:17 pm
Thanks for the nod Ryan. I agree, I would think this were a smaller dept. I know in my home county, you’ll see 5 or 6 white helmets working only to find out most of them are Company Officers at the vollies. At work, the only guys that wear white are the B/C’s and above. Thanks for giving me credit, but I got it from someone too. Aren’t we all robbing from one another anyway! Take care and stay safe pal!
06/29/2011 at 7:20 pm
Thanks guysfor posting this. I hear all the time that operating on a shallowed pitched roof like this is quick and easy work. However, like you said, get up, get it done, get off. Thanks guys. Definately a very close call.