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FIRE OFFICER DEVELOPEMENT

FIRE OFFICER DEVELOPEMENT. INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER. NIOSH Fatality Investigations. Federal Mandate Reports found at: www.cdc.gov/niosh Reoccurring recommendation:

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FIRE OFFICER DEVELOPEMENT

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  1. FIRE OFFICER DEVELOPEMENT INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER

  2. NIOSH Fatality Investigations • Federal Mandate • Reports found at: www.cdc.gov/niosh • Reoccurring recommendation: “…ensure that a separate Incident Safety Officer, independent from the IC, is appointed…responds automatically to pre-designated incidents.”

  3. Applicable Standards • NFPA-1521 • EM-06 • EM-07 • EM-29 (references Increased Hazards)

  4. Benefits of the Incident Safety Officer • Diminishes accident potential and enhances safety culture • Minimizes time lost due to injuries • Helps protect against liability • Maximizes Incident Commander focus • Instills safety-consciousness in the Firefighters themselves • Enhances efficiency and effectiveness

  5. The Nature of Firefighters • Aggressive - want to get in • Action oriented • Results oriented • Risk-takers • Hot and cold influences on behavior • Fatigue (post incident) • Adrenaline burn – chemical imbalance? • What do we know about ourselves?

  6. Duties of the ISO In it’s simplest form, the ISO evaluates: • Fire Behavior • Building Behavior - the environment • Firefighter Behavior This helps you READ the RISK!

  7. Risk : A chance of damage, injury or loss Risk Management: process of minimizing the Chance, Degree, or Probability of damage, loss, or injury Risk Management

  8. Classic Risk Management • Hazard identification • Hazard evaluation • Prioritize hazards • Control hazards • Monitor hazards

  9. ISO identifies hazards Provides an assessment of hazards for IC Provides solutions to the IC Develops credibility Predicts injuries BEFORE they happen Makes a DIFFERENCE! The ISO as a Risk Manager

  10. The ART of Reading Smoke

  11. Why “Read” Smoke? To determine “HOW MUCH” fire

  12. Why “Read” Smoke? To help find the LOCATION of the fire

  13. Why “Read” Smoke? To help predict COLLAPSEpotential

  14. Why “Read” Smoke? To help PRIORITIZE Strategies & Tactics

  15. Why “Read” Smoke? To PROTECTFirefighters from a “HOSTILE FIRE EVENT”

  16. The “ADVANCED” Basics Gases Concept #1: “Smoke” Is Fuel Aerosols Particulates

  17. The “ADVANCED” Basics Concept #2: Fuels have changed - Mass and Make-up!

  18. The “ADVANCED” Basics Concept 3: The Fuel has Triggers: • Flash Point • Fire Point • Ignition Temperature

  19. The “ADVANCED” Basics How does “flammable range” factor in?

  20. Flammable Range & the Three Fires Too Rich . . . Too Lean . . . Just Right . . .

  21. “ HOSTILE ” Fire Events • Flashover • Backdraft • Smoke Explosion • Rapid Fire Spread

  22. FLASHOVER WARNING SIGNS: • Turbulent Smoke • “Rollover” • Auto Ignition outside Smoke –Cloud Ignition is likely after flashover

  23. BACKDRAFT Remember – Backdraft is triggered by O2 being introduced to a pressurized “box” • Yellowish-grey smoke • Whistling • Bowing windows • “Sealed” containers

  24. SMOKE EXPLOSION Remember – A Smoke Explosion is a spark or flame applied to a mixture below its ignition temperature • Trapped gases in upper areas • Growing fire • Increasing smoke density • Air intake overtaking smoke exiting

  25. RAPID FIRE SPREAD Usually “Container” Influenced SMOKE is the Fuel that is spreading the fire Look for fast moving smoke in high pressure zones May result from another “event”

  26. “ Reading Smoke” • Observations are typically made from outside - inside observations hide the “real” picture.

  27. “ Reading Smoke” • Nothing is absolute • Visible FIRE is easy to read - look past it for the real story • Compare vent openings

  28. The ART of Reading Smoke A 4-STEP PROCESS to help predict fire behavior and hostile events

  29. Step 1:Evaluate Key Factors • Volume • Velocity (Pressure) • Density • Color

  30. VOLUME • Always relative to the “Box” • Tells “how much” fuel has off-gased • Sets the Stage

  31. VELOCITY (Pressure) • How fast is the smoke leaving? • Can indicate volume or heat • Helps find the location of the actual fire

  32. DENSITY • Most Important Factor • Quality of Burning • Continuity of Fuel • Likelihood of an event • “Degree” of the Event

  33. COLOR • Rarely tells “material burning • Stage of Heating • Location of Fire • Amount of Flaming • “Brown” Smoke

  34. Step 2: Weigh Factors • Container (most important factor) • Thermal Balance • Weather • Firefighting efforts

  35. Step 3: Judge the Fire Status Are conditions getting better or worse?

  36. Stable -predictable Classify the Fire: Rapidly changing -predictable Unstable/Unpredictable

  37. Step 4: Predict the EVENT Consider that: • One hostile event can - and usually will - lead to another event. • Communicate your observations. • Warning Signs are not always visual – use your KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCE. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS…

  38. Some other “Tricks” Watch open doorways - watch what the smoke does – and what the fresh air does!

  39. THE ART OF READING SMOKE Some Examples

  40. Reading Buildings

  41. The Science of Predicting Collapse The “Science of Predicting Collapse” is actually A “ 5 STEP-APPROACH” to evaluating collapse potential.

  42. Methods/Types of Construction • Fire Resistive • Non-Combustible: Steel, concrete, masonry, glass • Ordinary:Load-bearing masonry exterior wall, combustible interior construction • Heavy Timber (Mill) • Wood Frame:Platform, Balloon, Lightweight • Hybrids?

  43. Relationship of Mass/Fire Resistance • The most prevalent reason the year 2002 fire is different than the 1980 fire! • Most interior Firefighting tactics are based on a 1950’s structure! • Mass = Fire Resistance

  44. The 1950’s Building • Most Members are in COMPRESSION • Connections are “through” the materials • MASS not MATH • Fire Loading at 8000 BTUs per Pound

  45. 2000 & Beyond • Members in TENSION • Connections are surface attached • MATH not MASS • Fire Loading is 16,000+ BTUs #

  46. Lightweight Construction • Trusses Throughout • Engineered Wood: Waste Wood Glued and Pressed Particles • Composites • Experimentation Methods

  47. Predicting Collapse: The 5-Step Process

  48. Step 1: Classify the Type • Generalize Type of Construction • FR, NC, O, HT, & WF • **Hybrid** • Strengths & Weaknesses • Fire behavior within type • Fire spread potential • Hazards vs. Tactics

  49. Step 2: Determine Structural Involvement • Structural Fire or Contents Fire • Connections Involved • Protective Barriers Compromised • Lightweight components off-gassing

  50. STEP 3:Visualize Load Imposition • Visually “Undress” the Building • Bring in your Knowledge of Materials – and how they react in fire • Weak Links?

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