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International Society of Fire Service Instructors; “Modern Construction Considerations for Company Officers.”

The International Society of Fire Service Instructors is proud to announce the release of “Modern Construction Considerations for Company Officers.” The program is a train-the trainer package that combines the latest research on light weight building construction from National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), Underwriters Laboratories(UL), Michigan State University, The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and the Chicago Fire Department into a single resource tailored for company-level instruction.

The program was made possible through a Prevention & Research Grant from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and the Department of Homeland Security. The ISFSI partnered with Eastern Kentucky University’s Fire & Safety Engineering Technology Program to analyze line of duty deaths between 1997 and 2009 to study the impact that lightweight construction has had on firefighters and firefighting operations.

The DVD included in the program package contains all of the instructional resources necessary to provide quality training on this important topic. A wide variety of support materials are included to provide the user a deep understanding of the challenges with modern building construction techniques. Instructors can tailor the program to meet the needs of their audience, including a 2-hour brief up to a week-long program.

The program will be distributed to all members of the ISFSI as a free member benefit. The ISFSI has also partnered with the Safety & Health Section of the IAFC to provide a copy to each of its members. ISFSI President, Eddie Buchanan, was on hand at the Safety & Health Section Meeting at FRI to personally deliver Chief Billy Goldfeder his copy as chair of the section. All members should expect their copy to arrive in their mailboxes over the next week.

“I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the ISFSI members and staff who worked so hard to bring this product to firefighters across America and the globe. It is truly a lifesaving program and a fantastic use of grant funds. It is critical that this package get into the hands of every instructor and fire officer to ensure they are educated and prepared to handle the real risk that looms out there on the next call,” said President Buchanan.

Check out the International Society of Fire Service Instructor’s (ISFSI) web site HERE.

Not a member? Take the time to sign up and get connected.

Rules of Engagement 2010

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IAFC Rules of Engagement

Rules of Engagement Project; Increasing Firefighter Survival

Developed by the Safety, Health and Survival Section International Association of Fire Chiefs

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is committed to reducing firefighter fatalities and injuries. As part of that effort the nearly 1,000 member Safety, Health and Survival Section of the IAFC has developed the recently approved “Rules of Engagement of Structural Firefighting” to provide guidance to individual firefighters, and incident commanders, regarding risk and safety issues when operating on the fireground. The intent is to provide a set of “model procedures” for Rules of Engagement for Structural Firefighting to be made available by the IAFC to fire departments as a guide for their own standard operating procedure development.

In August, 2008, following a year of discussion, the Section moved to develop a set of “Rules of Engagement for Structure Firefighting”. A project team was created consisting of Section members and representatives of other several other interested fire service organizations. These included the Fire Department Safety Officer Association (FDSOA), the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation (NFFF), and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and other organizations. All draft material has also been shared with representatives of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) who developed a joint IAFF/IAFC “Fire Ground Survival Project”. Three Section members also participated in the IAFF project. The direction provided the project team by the Section leadership was to develop rules of engagement with the following conceptual points;

Rules should be a short, specific set of bullets
Rules should be easily taught and remembered
Rules should define critical risk issues
Rules should define “go” or “no‐go” situations
A companion lesson plan/explanation section should be provided

Early in development the Rules of Engagement, it was recognized that two separate rules were needed one set for the firefighter, and another set for the incident commander. Thus, the two sets of Rules of Engagement described in the attached document. The ROE were also inserted in the August issue of FireRescue magazine. Each set has several commonly shared bullets and objectives, but the explanations are described somewhat differently based on the level of responsibility (firefighter vs. incident commander).

The attached and linked PDF document reflects nearly two years of public comment and feedback from several presentations at fire service conferences, including the National Fallen Fire Fighters Safety Summit held at the National Fire Academy this past March. The “Rules” were formally adopted by the IAFC Health, Safety and Survival Section at the Fire Rescue International Conference held last week in Chicago.

The development of the rules integrated several nationally recognized programs and principles. They included risk assessment principles from NFPA Standards 1500 and 1561. Also included where concepts and principles from Crew Resource Management (available from iafc.org) and data and lessons from the National Near‐Miss Reporting System (firefighternearmiss.com). The development process also included review of lessons learned from numerous firefighter fatality investigations conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program.

It’s incumbent that the fire chief and the Departments management team insure the safety of all firefighters working at structural fires. All command organization officers are responsible for their own safety and the safety of all personnel working with them. All officers and members are responsible are responsible for continually identifying and reporting unsafe conditions or practices. The Rules of Engagement allows both the firefighter and the incident commander to apply and process these principles.

One principle applied in the Rules of Engagement is firefighters and the company officers are the members at most risk for injury or death. The Rules integrate the firefighter into the risk assessment decision making process. These members should be the ultimate decision maker as to whether it’s safe to proceed with assigned objectives. The “Rules” allow a process for that decision to be made while still maintain command unity and discipline. It is well known that firefighting is hazardous with varying levels of risk to the firefighter. However, firefighting is not a military campaign where lives are lost to establish a beach head. No firefighter’s life is a building that eventually will be rebuilt. Keep all members safe so “Everyone Goes Home”!

Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Survival

Size‐Up Your Tactical Area of Operation.
Determine the Occupant Survival Profile.
DO NOT Risk Your Life for Lives or Property That Can Not Be Saved.
Extend LIMITED Risk to Protect SAVABLE Property.
Extend Vigilant and Measured Risk to Protect and Rescue SAVABLE Lives.
Go in Together, Stay Together, Come Out Together
Maintain Continuous Awareness of Your Air Supply, Situation, Location and Fire Conditions.
Constantly Monitor Fireground Communications for Critical Radio Reports.
You Are Required to Report Unsafe Practices or Conditions That Can Harm You. Stop, Evaluate and Decide.
You Are Required to Abandon Your Position and Retreat Before Deteriorating Conditions Can Harm You.
Declare a May Day As Soon As You THINK You Are in Danger.

The Incident Commanders Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Safety

Rapidly Conduct, or Obtain, a 360 Degree Size‐Up of the Incident.
Determine the Occupant Survival Profile.
Conduct an Initial Risk Assessment and Implement a SAFE ACTION PLAN.
If You Do Not Have The Resources to Safely Support and Protect Firefighters – Seriously Consider a Defensive Strategy.
DO NOT Risk Firefighter Lives for Lives or Property That Can Not Be Saved – Seriously Consider a Defensive Strategy.
Extend LIMITED Risk to Protect SAVABLE Property.
Extend Vigilant and Measured Risk to Protect and Rescue SAVABLE Lives.
Act Upon Reported Unsafe Practices and Conditions That Can Harm Firefighters. Stop, Evaluate and Decide.
Maintain Frequent Two‐Way Communications and Keep Interior Crews Informed of Changing Conditions.
Obtain Frequent Progress Reports and Revise the Action Plan.
Ensure Accurate Accountability of All Firefighter Location and Status.
If, After Completing the Primary Search, Little or No Progress Towards Fire Control Has Been Achieved ‐ Seriously Consider a Defensive Strategy.
Always Have a Rapid Intervention Team in Place at All Working Fires
Always Have Firefighter Rehab Services in Place at All Working Fires

Rules of Engagement Poster, PDF File ROE 2010

Link to the IAFC Section Page and ROE Concept Paper

Posted by Christopher Naum on September 1, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", "health and safety", Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, IAFC, command presence, command-leadership, compentencies, courage to be safe, decision-making, decisions, fire service, fire suppression • Tagged: "firefighter safety", Christopher Naum, command, Command operations, commandsafety.com, IAFC, IAFC FRI, IAFC SH&S Section, Operational Safety, ROE, Rules of Engagement, Rules of Engagement 2010, Safety

Thursday 9pm ET: “We Have a Situation; Are You Aware?”

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: Taking it to the Streets with Christopher Naum

Check out Taking it to the Streets with Christopher Naum on Firefighter NetCast.com this Thursday night August 19th at 9pm ET with a live online radio call-in show addressing the most current issues affecting the Fire Service.

This month Christopher Naum’s guests include Battalion Chief Matt Tobia with the Anne Arundel County, MD Fire Department, a metropolitan combination Fire / Rescue / EMS agency in Suburban Baltimore, MD and Battalion Chief Greg W. Collier, Mount Laurel Fire Department, NJ and NFFF/EGH Region II Advocate discussing the emerging and prevailing issues related to situational awareness on the fireground and incident scene and its relationship to firefighter safety or operational integrity. The show is titled; “We Have a Situation; Are you Aware?”

Go to www.FirefighterNetCast.com to listen and participate live, with a national and international audience of firefighters, officers and commanders from rural heartlands of Oklahoma to the suburbs of Chicago and the urban streets of DC. Or download the program later in the week for later use. Check out the premiere show with featured guests Chief Billy Hayes (DCFD) and Chief Doug Cline (High Point FD, NC).

Also, if you haven’t taken the time, check out the latest on the FireEMS Blogs Community at CommandSafety.com and TheCompanyOfficer.com. Taking it to the Streets is a Buildingsonfire.com Series and Fire Fighter NetCast.com Production

The Newest radio show on FireFighter Netcast.com at Blogtalk Radio…

Taking it to the Streets

With Christopher Naum

A New Monthly Radio Talkshow on FireFighter Netcast.com

A Buildingsonfire.com Series and FireFighter Netcast.com Production

Advancing FireFighter Safety and Operational Intergrity for the Fire Service through provocative insights and dynamic discussions dedicated to the Art and Science of Firefighting and the Traditions of the Fire Service.

Posted by Christopher Naum on August 17, 2010 • Filed under: "Situational Awareness" assessment, Building Construction for the Fire Service, Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, Safety Culture, buildingsonfire.com, decision-making, fire behavior, firefighting-operations, risk-based assessment, size-up • Tagged: "firefighter safety", "Situational Awareness" assessment, Anne Arundel County, Blogtalkradio, buildings, Christopher Naum, commandsafety.com, Dynamic Risk Assessment, Firefighter Netcast.com, Greg Collier, Health and Survival Section, IAFC Safety, Matt Tobia, MD Fire Department, Mount Laural FD NJ, risk, Situational Awarness

The Waldbaum Fire Collapse FDNY 1978 Remembrance

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The Waldbaum’s Supermarket Fire and Collapse FDNY 1978

The Waldbaum Super market fire, Brooklyn, New York occurred on August 2, 1978. Six firefighters died in the line of duty when the roof of a burning Brooklyn supermarket collapsed, plunging 12 firefighters into the flames. The fire began in a hallway near the compressor room as crews were renovating the store, and quickly escalated to a fourth-alarm. Less than an hour after the fire was first reported, nearly 20 firefighters were on the roof when the central portion gave way.

Thirty-four firefighters, one emergency medical technician and one Emergency Services police officer were injured in the fire and the tragedy is remembered as one of the worst disasters in the New York City Fire Department’s 143-year history.

The FDNY members killed in the Waldbaum’s fire included:
• Lt. James E. Cutillo, Battalion 33
• Firefighter Charles S. Bouton, Ladder Company 156
• Firefighter Harold F. Hastings, Battalion 42
• Firefighter James P. McManus, Ladder Company 153
• Firefighter William O’Connor, Ladder Company 156
• Firefighter George S. Rice, Ladder Company 153

The fire started at 8:40 am in Waldbaum’s supermarket located at 2892 Avenue Y and Ocean Avenue in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn. Nearly 23 electricians, plumbers and contractors were renovating the building when the fire was discovered in mezzanine area. Box 3300 was transmitted at 08:39 hours and the All hands transmitted at 08:49 and subsequently a 2nd alarm at 09:02 hrs. Shortly after 09:20 with 20 firefighters operating on the bowstring truss roof a crackling sound was heard and the center portion of the roof fell into the smoke and flames. Some of the firefighters were seen running toward the edge of the roof; some made it, others nearby fell into the gaping hole. The third alarm was transmitted at 09:18 3rd alarm and subsequently escalated to a Fifth alarm assignment during the rescue and recovery operations.

Roof Operations prior to collapse

Laborers and firefighters managed to pull out some who were near walls, some crawled out. Several holes were made into the wall to pull out injured survivors and victims.

The Building

The approximately 120 ft. x 120 ft. primary building was originally built in 1952 as a supermarket and at the time of the fire was undergoing extensive renovations and was open and operating. Constructed with exterior masonry bearing walls of with timber roof trusses with a 100-foot clear span, supported on pilaster columns embedded in the exterior walls, it was classical Type III construction. The truss system supported an ornamental tin ceiling and 18 inches below that concealed space a conventional suspended acoustic ceiling tile panel system was present. Reports indicated the tin ceiling was attached directly to the bottom cord of the truss system. A two story mezzanine and machine room was located at the north wall of the original building. Access through the truss loft area was accessible through man-doors at the plane of each truss.

Waldbaum Supermarket FDNY Box 3300 1978

The heavy timber bowstring arch roof consisted of seven (7) truss units constructed of 4-5 bundled 3 inch x 12 inch attached assemblies. Two factors contributed to the collapse of the bowstring arch truss system; double roof (rain roof) alterations with concealed spaces and the extent and severity of the fire within the concealed spaces affecting the assembly’s structural stability. The presence of the double concealed ceiling systems; the truss system supported an ornamental tin ceiling and 18 inches below that concealed space a convential suspended acoustic ceiling tile panel system was present. Reports indicated the tin ceiling was attached directly to the bottom cord of the truss system. The failure of operating companies and command personnel to recognize the signs of an unchecked concealed fire that was propagating at a rapid pace impinging upon critical structural assembly points was a significant contributing factor in the incident outcome.

Typical Heavy Timber Bowstring Arch Truss Configuration

This roof collapsed 32 minutes after the initial units arrived. The immediate collapse occurred approximately 85 feet inward from the Alpha side (Ocean Avenue) and approximately 50 feet from the Bravo side (Avenue Y). The immediate failure and loss of structural stability and collapse of truss unit #5 was followed with the subsequent collapse of truss units #6 and #4 that were interdependent on the roof rafter and purlin system to maintain thier structural stability and vertical orientation. This type of interdependent structural system of structural trusses, rafters and roof deck (membrane) result in large area collapses since the primary truss will usually cause the adjacent two truss systems (on either side of the primary compromised truss) to fail by pulling downward.

The effects of direct flame impingement on the truss assessmblies, thier connection points of bearing at the outter masonry walls, coupled with the tactical trench cut that had been comopleted by the operating ladder companies resulted in 4,000 sf section of roof to collapse in the truss #5, 6 and 4 bay areas. Rapid and progressing fire travel within the concealed spaces and the degradation of the roof assembly and structural support system, failure to recognize the inherent opertaional risks associated with roof and interior operations on heavy timber truss roof systems and the failure to correlate continued interior suppression operations with simultaneous roof ventilation operations with no significant change in operational progress or mitigation contributed to the tragic outcome of the incident.

A short ten years would pass and the lessons from the Waldbaum Fire would soon be forgotten when on July 2, 1988 operations in a Type III building consisting of an auto dealership would lead to the deaths of five (5) Firefighters in Hackensack, New Jersey when operations were being conducted in the truss loft storage area when an 80 foot heavy timber truss collapsed trapping the firefighters. The Hackensack Ford Fire occured less than four weeks short of the tenth anniversary of the Waldbaum Fire right across the Hudson River. More on the Hackensack Ford Fire HERE.

Bravo Side View

Additional References :http://stevespak.com/waldbaums.html

Fire Investigation: An Analysis of the Waldbaum Fire, Brooklyn, New York, August 3, 1978. Quintiere, J. G. NISTIR 6030; June 1997 http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=442&itemID;=18676&

NFPA Fire Command Magazine, Brooklyn Roof Collapse Claims six Lives. Demers, David P.; December 1978

Waldbaum Fire Facebook page, HERE with numerous photos and recollections honoring those that lost their lives and those that operated at FDNY Brooklyn Box 3300.


Rescue efforts on the Bravo Side



2892 Ocean Avenue Today

The lessons learned in the years following the Walbaum’s fire in 1978 and the subsequent Hackensack Ford Fire, NJ in 1988 focused on understanding building construction systems, occupancies and structural assemblies, in both of these cases the timber bowstring truss systems. Over the years the foundation of knowledge necessary to build competencies and knowledgeable firefighters, fire officers and commanders cognizant in the science and technology of building construction has waned and at time has been less than an area of focus.

Take the time to learn about the FDNY Walbaum’s fire, its history repeating significance as a major fire service LODD event, the lessons learned from the Hackensack Ford Fire (July 2, 1988) and other related case studies that can be found on the NIOSH, USFA and NFPA web sites.

Look at your buildings within your response areas and jurisdiction. Understand how they’re built and more importantly how they are affected by the exposure and impingement of fire and its byproducts. Understand key building performance indicators and appropriate strategic and tactical actions based upon building profiles, occupancies, fire loading, construction features and fire service resources. Take the time to honor the brave brother firefighters from FDNY who made the supreme sacrifice thirty two years ago, and gave a legacy to learn from in this and in future fire service generations.

It’s time to think; BUILDING KNOWLEDGE = FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

Memorial

Posted by Christopher Naum on August 1, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", Brooklyn, Building Construction for the Fire Service, Christopher Naum, Collapse, History Repeating Event, LODD, Naum, Remembrance, Uncategorized, building construction, buildingsonfire.com, construction, fire behavior, firefighting-operations, honor, roof, tactics, timber • Tagged: "firefighter safety", 1978, 2892 Ocean Avenue Brooklyn, Battalion 33, Battalion 42, building types, buildingsonfire.com, Christopher Naum, Collapse, collpase rescue operations, concealed ceilings, concealed spaces, FDNY, FDNY August 2, FDNY Box 3300, FDNY Six LODD 1978, fire behavior, Firefighter Charles S. Bouton, Firefighter George S. Rice, Firefighter Harold F. Hastings, Firefighter James P. McManus, Firefighter William O’Connor, Hackensack Ford Fire, Hackensack LODD, Heavy Timber Truss, Ladder Company 153, Ladder Company 156, LODD, Lt. James E. Cutillo, multiple alarm, pilaster, renovations, Rescue, roof assembly, Roof Collapse, strategies and tactics, truck company, truck company operations, Truss, type III, ventilation, Waldbaum Collapse FDNY, Waldbaum Fire, Waldbaum Fire 32nd anniversary, Waldbaum's Fire Brooklyn

In the Streets; On the Air

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Taking it to the Streets had its premier July 21^st on Firefighter Netcast.com with a lively and provoking discussion on “What’s on YOUR Radar Screen?” The program theme aligned with a recent posting on the same topic. Join me on the program were two prominent and nationally recognized fire service leaders, who I’m honored to have known for many years, Chief Billy Hayes and Chief Doug Cline; the program explored leading fire service issues affecting firefighter safety, training, credentialing and education; fireground operational variables related to the continuing changes in building construction, engineered systems and extreme fire behavior, and the emerging need for “Tactical Patience” as I’ve been exploring the relationships towards the need for tactical enhancements to our current fire suppression theory and firefighting models.

Conversations expanded on the NFFF/Everyone Goes Home Campaign and programs, the newest EGH initiatives on Behavioral Health and the successes achieved through the Courage to be Safe Programs and the Advocacy Program.

Both our guests provided cutting edge perspectives and commentary on the key issues that the fire service needs to have on their radar screen and the need for emerging and practicing fire officers and commanders to continually strive to increase skill sets and maintain a pulse on the leading issues affecting the fire service and apply emerging research and studies to increase operational capabilities, improve performance and enhance and promote firefighter safety and survival and operational integrity.

Although technical difficulties from the live feed coming from the Inner Harbor in Baltimore at the Firehouse Expo, precluded the ability to have the call-in segments of the program to work, the 120 minute program gave the listeners a wealth of information to talk over in the firehouse, at the kitchen table or in the apparatus bays.

The program is a Buildingsonfire.com Series and a Fire Fighter Netcast.com production, produced by John Mitchell and Rhett Fleitz. The live program segment will be edited and available for iTunes download soon. You can check out the other programming and shows produced by Fire Fighter Netcast.com HERE. Stay tuned for announcements on the next program date for Taking it to the Streets coming to you live from the IAFC Fire Rescue International Conference in Chicago in August.

Taking it to the Streets; Advancing Fire Fighter Safety and Operational Integrity for the Fire Service through provocative insights and dynamic discussions dedicated to the Art and Science of Firefighting and the Traditions of the Fire Service.

Firefighter Netcast.com HERE
Taking it to the Streets, HERE, HERE
“What’s on your Radar Screen?” July 21, 2010 Program, HERE
“What’s on your Radar Screen?” post on Commandsafety.com, HERE

Posted by Christopher Naum on July 24, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", Building Construction for the Fire Service, Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, Deployment, Recommendations, Taking it to the Streets, Uncategorized, building construction, buildingsonfire.com, compentencies, courage to be safe, education, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, training, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: "firefighter safety", Billy Hayes, Blog Talk Radio, Building Construction for the Fire Service, Building Knowledge=Firefighter Safety, buildingsonfire.com, Christopher Naum, Command Safety, commandsafety.com, Doug Cline, EGH, Everyone Goes Home, Fire Officer Training, Fire Rescue International, fire service, Fire Service Training, Firedaily.com, Firefighter LODD, Firefighter Netcast.com, firefighting, Fireground Operations, FRI, IAFC, John Mitchell, NFFF, Rhett Fleitz, Risk Management, Safety, Taking it to the Streets, thecompanyofficer.com

Transmitting the Box for an Alarm of Fire…Taking it to the Streets

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Taking it to the Streets

Premiering Wednesday July 21st 9:00pm ET

Live on Firefighter Netcast.com

Premiering “What’s on YOUR Radar Screen”?

Check out what’s on of off your radar screen on CommandSafety.com

If you’ve never listened to a FirefighterNetcast, visit the site now, sign up for a new user account for BlogTalkRadio, and be prepared to join in the conversation Wednesday night.

Listen in via the Internet, listen and/or participate by calling in, and join in the live chat that takes place amongst listeners while the show is going on. In case you miss the live show, you can even download the recording after the fact on FirefighterNetcast and iTunes too. It’s free, it’s fun and it’s easy.

Taking it to the Streets is a Buildingsonfire.com Series and Fire Fighter Netcast.com Production

Check out Buildingsonfire on Facebook and Twitter

Posted by Christopher Naum on July 20, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", "health and safety", Building Construction for the Fire Service, Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, Deployment, Fire Service Tradition, Generations, History Repeating Event, Safety Culture, Taking it to the Streets, building construction, buildingsonfire.com, command-leadership, courage to be safe, decision-making, development, education, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, professional development, research, tradition, training, training-development • Tagged: "firefighter safety", Blog Talk Radio, Building Construction for the Fire Service, Building Knowledge=Firefighter Safety, buildingsonfire.com, Christopher Naum, Command Safety, Commandsafet.com, fire service, Fire Service Training, Firedaily.com, Firefighter Netcast.com, firefighting, John Mitchell, Rhett Fleitz, Risk Management, Safety, Taking it to the Streets, thecompanyofficer.com, TheFireCritic.com

Premiering “What’s on YOUR Radar Screen”? on Fire Fighter Netcast.com

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Taking it to the Streets

Premiering Wednesday July 21st 9:00pm ET

Live on Firefighter Netcast.com

Premiering “What’s on YOUR Radar Screen”?

Check out what’s on of off your radar screen on CommandSafety.com

If you’ve never listened to a FirefighterNetcast, visit the site now, sign up for a new user account for BlogTalkRadio, and be prepared to join in the conversation Wednesday night.

Taking it to the Streets is a Buildingsonfire.com Series and Fire Fighter Netcast.com Production

Check out Buildingsonfire on Facebook and Twitter

Check out FireDaily and The FireCritic

Posted by Christopher Naum on July 17, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", Building Construction for the Fire Service, Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, Naum, Remembrance, Safety Culture, Taking it to the Streets, building construction, buildingsonfire.com, compentencies, courage to be safe, dynamics, education, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, professional development, strategies, structure fires, tactics, training, training-development • Tagged: "firefighter safety", Blog Talk Radio, Building Construction for the Fire Service, Building Knowledge=Firefighter Safety, buildingsonfire.com, Christopher Naum, Command Safety, Commandsafet.com, fire service, Fire Service Training, Firedaily.com, Firefighter Netcast.com, firefighting, John Mitchell, Rhett Fleitz, Risk Management, Safety, Taking it to the Streets, thecompanyofficer.com

Newest NIOSH Alert: Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters at Structure Fires

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NIOSH released it’s latest Alert on Firefighter Risk Reduction. Fire fighters are often killed or injured when fighting fires in abandoned, vacant, and unoccupied structures. These structures pose additional and sometimes unique risks due to the potential for fire fighters to encounter unexpected and unsafe building conditions such as dilapidation, decay, damage from previous fires and vandals, and other factors such as uncertain occupancy status. Risk management principles must be applied at all structure fires to ensure the appropriate strategy and tactics are used based on the fireground conditions encountered.

Fire fighters should take the following steps to minimize their risk of death and injury while fighting structure fires:

Report conditions and hazards encountered to your officer, incident commander, or incident safety officers
Recognize that maintaining your safety is a shared responsibility
Comply with your department’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) / standard operating guidelines (SOGs) and safety rules.
Be constantly aware of your surroundings and changing conditions.

Fire departments (chief officers, company officers and policy makers) should take the following steps to protect fire fighters:

Develop and enforce risk management plans, policies, and standard operating procedures and guide-lines (SOPs/SOGs) for risk management.
Train incident commanders, incident safety officers, and fire fighters in the fire department risk management plans and SOPs/SOGs for risk management.

Develop and implement fire department policies and SOPs/SOGs for emergency response and fire-fighting activities in and around abandoned, vacant, or unoccupied structures.

A thorough size-up and risk analysis should be performed before conducting operations in any burning structure.
Fire-fighting operations should be limited to defensive (exterior) strategy if the structure is judged to be unsafe and in any situation where the risks to fire fighter safety are excessive.
Offensive (interior attack) operations should only be considered when sufficient resources are on scene to conduct offensive operations with a reasonable degree of safety, including the ability to perform essential support functions (i.e., water supply, ventilation, lighting, utility control, accountability, rapid intervention teams).
Additional size-ups and risk analyses should be performed before changing strategies, including any decision to conduct interior overhaul operations following a defensive fire attack.
Have adequate resources available on scene to per-form rapid intervention team (RIT) duties anytime personnel are operating at any structure fire.
Inspect and preplan buildings within your jurisdiction. Note the type of construction, materials used, presence of trusses and/or lightweight construction in the roof and floor, type of occupancy, fuel load, exit routes, and other distinguishing characteristics.
Enter preplan information into the dispatch computer so that when a fire is reported at a preplanned location, the critical information is provided to all responding units. Adopt and enforce a standard system of marking dangerous abandoned, derelict, and vacant buildings, based on a prefire assessment of their structural conditions and other risk factors, in cooperation with municipal agencies and local authorities such as local housing authorities.
Train fire fighters and officers to recognize the marking system and incorporate the information into their size-up considerations. Additionally, local authorities should ensure programs are in place that provide for the demolition and removal of structures deemed unsafe by code enforcement.
- Make sure that the incident commander conducts an initial size-up of critical fireground factors before beginning fire fighting efforts and continuously re-views and reevaluates these factors during all fire-ground operations. A 360-degree size-up should be conducted for all abandoned, vacant, or unoccupied structures.
- Ensure those in charge of fire incidents (e.g., incident commanders, chief officers, safety officers) are fully trained to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations in the execution of their duties.
- Educate the public on the need to have home fire drills and designated meeting places in the event of an emergency. The location of designated meeting
- places should be communicated to the fire department as a way to help confirm and verify building occupancy status.

Incident commanders (IC) and incident safety officers (ISO) should do the following:

The IC should conduct an initial size-up of each incident weighing critical fireground factors (i.e., occupancy status; occupant survivability and rescue potential; vacant building markings or indicators; size, construction and use of the building; age and condition of the building; and the location, size, and extent of the fire in the building) against the department’s risk management profile to determine the initial incident strategy (offensive or defensive). The IC should develop an incident action plan before beginning firefighting efforts and continually review and reevaluate the factors and the risk management plan throughout the operation.
The IC should use appropriate risk management criteria to decide whether an offensive or defensive strategy should be employed to attack a fire. The IC should attempt to determine whether the building is occupied or not. Signs to look for include vehicles in garage, driveway, or parked nearby; people at windows of apartment or office buildings calling for help indicates the possibility of other occupants as well; time of day; type of occupancy; and reports from occupants who have escaped the burning structure. Reports from neighbors and bystanders may also provide valuable information.
The IC should consider the number of fire fighters, the amount and type of apparatus and equipment available, and the stage of the fire when determining the type of fire attack.
Follow departmental policies (risk management plans, SOPs/SOGs) for risk management.
Establish, clearly mark, and monitor an exterior collapse zone at structure fires where there is a risk of collapse.
Use effective and universal evacuation signals when command personnel determine that all fire fighters should be evacuated from a burning building, as well as during the initiation of defensive operations and during overhaul and salvage operations.

NIOSH Summary HERE

NIOSH Publication No. 2010-153:

NIOSH Alert: Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters using Risk Management Principles at Structure Fires, HERE

Posted by Christopher Naum on July 16, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", "health and safety", Alert, Building Construction for the Fire Service, Christopher Naum, History Repeating Event, NIOSH, building construction, compentencies, decision-making, events, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, major-incidents • Tagged: "firefighter safety", Abandoned, Alert, Christopher Naum, Collapse, commandsafety.com, fire department policies, fire suppression, fireground factors, Incident Commanders, incident safety officers, initial size-up, LODD, NIOSH, NIOSH ALERT, or unoccupied structures, Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters at Structure Fires, risk, Rsk Management, Safety, SOG, SOP, Strategy and tactics, vacant

Taking it to The Streets on FireFighter Netcast.com

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Taking it to the Streets

With Christopher Naum

A New Monthly Radio Talkshow on FireFighter Netcast.com Premiering on Wednesday July 21 at 9pm ET

A Buildingsonfire.com Series and FireFighter Netcast.com Production

Watch for More Taking it to the Streets Annoucements over the next seven days here on CommandSafety.com, TheCompanyOfficer.com and on Firefighter Netcast.com

Programming

Ten Minutes in the Street

Presenting an informational recap and discussion on leading topcs, events and issues from the past 30 days.

Feature Segments Program will have one (1) selected segment based upon topic and guest

Buildingsonfire

Addressing today’s topical issues within the areas of Firefighting, Building Construction, Dynamic Risk Assessment, and Command & Tactical Safety
- Open interative discussions and call-in
Street Stories
- Presenting first-hand accounts and insights on an event, response or operation with a featured guest
- Open interative discussions and call-in
Smoke Showin’
- Featured Guest Interviews and discussions focusing on the NFFF Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives and Everyone Goes Home Campaign
- Open interative discussions and call-in

HRE History Repeating Events

Discussion on recent History Repeating Events, LODD, NIOSH Reports or other
Open interative discussions and call-in

A View from the Street

Closing Commentary on timely and relevant issues affecting the Fire Service

Posted by Christopher Naum on July 13, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", Building Construction for the Fire Service, Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, History Repeating Event, Remembrance, Safety Culture, Taking it to the Streets, advocate, building construction, buildingsonfire.com, courage to be safe, decision-making, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, mentoring, professional development, research, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: "firefighter safety", Blog Talk Radio, Building Construction for the Fire Service, Building Knowledge=Firefighter Safety, buildingsonfire.com, Buildingsonfire.com engineered construction, Christopher Naum, Command Officer, command presence, commandsafety.com, company officer, compentencies, Doctrine of Combat Fire Engagement, Everyone Goes Home, Fire Service Tradition, firefighter, Firefighter Netcast.com, firefighting, firefighting tactics, Naum, NFFF, Sixteen Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives, Smoke Showing, Taking it to the Streets, training

Taking it to the Streets

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Coming July 2010

The Summer Tour is about to Begin..

Taking it to the Streets

With Christopher Naum

A New Monthly Radio Talkshow on FireFighter Netcast.com

A Buildingsonfire.com Series and FireFighter Netcast.com Production

Watch for the Latest Announcements here on CommandSafety.com, TheCompanyOfficer.com and on Firefighter Netcast.com

Programming

Ten Minutes in the Street

Presenting an informational recap and discussion on leading topcs, events and issues from the past 30 days.

Feature Segments Program will have one (1) selected segment based upon topic and guest

Buildingsonfire

Addressing today’s topical issues within the areas of Firefighting, Building Construction, Dynamic Risk Assessment, and Command & Tactical Safety
- Open interative discussions and call-in
Street Stories
- Presenting first-hand accounts and insights on an event, response or operation with a featured guest
- Open interative discussions and call-in
Smoke Showin’
- Featured Guest Interviews and discussions focusing on the NFFF Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives and Everyone Goes Home Campaign
- Open interative discussions and call-in

HRE History Repeating Events

Discussion on recent History Repeating Events, LODD, NIOSH Reports or other
Open interative discussions and call-in

A View from the Street

Closing Commentary on timely and relevant issues affecting the Fire Service

Posted by Christopher Naum on July 1, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, EGH, History Repeating Event, NFFF, Safety Culture, Taking it to the Streets, Ten Minutes in the Street, advocate, building construction, buildingsonfire.com, courage to be safe, culture, decision-making, education, fire service, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting, firefighting-operations, operations, professional development, tradition, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: "firefighter safety", A view from the street, Blogtalkradio, building construction, Buildingsonfire, buildingsonfire.com, Christopher Naum, Command Officer, commandsafety.com, company officer, Dynamic Risk Assessment, Everyone Goes Home, fire service, Fire Service Tradition, Firefighter Netcast.com, firefighting, History Repeating Events, Naum, NFFF, operations, professional development, Radio Talk Show, Tactical Safety, thecompanyofficer.com, tradition, training

In Search of Tactical Patience

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Today commemorates the anniversary of the Sofa Superstore fire in Charleston, South Carolina, in which nine firefighters lost their lives while engaged in aggressive interior operations at a commercial building occupied and operating as a furniture store and warehouse. On the evening of June 18, 2007, units from the Charleston Fire Department responded to a fire at the Sofa Super Store, a large retail furniture outlet in the West Ashley district of the city. Within less than 40 minutes, the fire claimed the lives of nine firefighters and changed the lives of countless others. The incident galvanized the nation’s fire service and to this day continues to generate commentary and observations within wide latitude of functional areas. What has changed since that day, three years ago?

The publication of the Routley Report was a wake-up call to the fire service, but did we hit the snooze button and roll back over? Are we catching those extra forty winks at the expense of what we should be jumping out of our bunks and engaging in? If you haven’t taken the time to read the authoritative reports, now is the time to do so. Make it one of your definitive activities for the weekend. Reflect upon its insights, recommendations and suggestions and think about your organization, department or agency.

Stop and think about where the fire service is today; where is your department today? Any measurable changes that reflect the front page news of past events or reports? Or is it business as usual? More importantly; where are YOU today? What have you done based upon the lessons learned or insights expressed to make you a better prepared and knowledgeable firefighter, officer or commander?

During the past twelve months of travels around the country presenting programs on building construction and command risk management and firefighter safety, there continues to be a common thread within the Fire Service that resonates loudly (at times and in some regions); “were’ just not getting it”. Dialog and discussion, ranting and challenges; sometimes on the verge of aggression and hostility at times continue to punctuate and permeate program conversation and debate. We argue about the merits of operational aggressiveness at the expense of looking (and understanding) the ways to increase our proficiency and knowledge that can translate into refined and intelligent tactical operations.

I continue to suggest that it’s no longer just brute force and sheer physical determination that define structural fire suppression operations, although any seasoned firefighter and company officer knows that at times; it is what gets the job done under the most arduous and demanding of circumstances. However, from a methodical and disciplined perspective, aggressive firefighting must be redefined and aligned to the built environment and associated with goal oriented tactical operations that are defined by risk assessed and analyzed tasks that are executed under battle plans that promote the best in safety practices and survivability within know hostile structural fire environments.

We can still meet the demands of the job, as firefighters; but do it with Tactical Patience and not at the expense of Command Compression and Tactical Entertainment or worst Operational Recklessness.

The traditional attitudes and beliefs of equating aggressive firefighting operations in all occupancy types coupled with the correlating, established and pragmatic operational strategies and tactics must be adjusted and modified to include intelligent risk assessment, calculated risk analysis, safety and survivability profiling, and strategic operational and tactical value. The demands and requirements of modern firefighting will continue to require the placement of personnel within situations and buildings that carry risk, uncertainty and inherent danger. As a result, risk management must become fluid and integrated with intelligent tactical deployments and operations recognizing the risk problematically and not fatalistically, resulting in safety conscious strategies and tactics. We need to think about the Predicative Strategic Process, refined Tactical Deployment Models integrating intelligent Structural Anatomy and Predictive Occupancy Profiling. ( more on these in upcoming posts…)

Take the time today to remember and honor the Charleston Nine.

Comprehend the sacrifice and grasp the essence of our noble profession and the tradition of the Fire Service. Remember the past and learn from it and improve the future so that that the cycle of potential history repeating events is disrupted and eventually broken.

Work conscientiously and diligently to improve our profession and yourself; identifying gaps, correcting the deficiencies and improving the job, through a legacy of operational excellence and safety- for tomorrow’s firefighters.

Honor and Remembrance- The Charleston Nine

Bradford Rodney “Brad” Baity – Engineer 19
Theodore Michael Benke – Captain 16
Melvin Edward Champaign – Firefighter 16
James “Earl” Allen Drayton – Firefighter 19
Michael Jonathon Alan French – Engineer 5
William H. “Billy” Hutchinson, III – Captain 19
Mark Wesley Kelsey – Captain 5
Louis Mark Mulkey – Captain 15
Brandon Kenyon Thompson – Firefighter 5

Posted by Christopher Naum on June 18, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", Charleston, Generations, History Repeating Event, LODD, Remembrance, Safety, Uncategorized, building construction, decision-making, fire behavior, firefighting-operations, honor, lessons, line-of-duty, occupancies, operations, professional development, risk, tradition • Tagged: "firefighter safety", building construction, Charleston, Charleston Fire Department, Christopher Naum, Command Compression, Command operations, commandsafety.com, commercial fire, fire service, History Repeating Events, HRE, LODD, NIOSH, Predictive Risk, Remberence, Risk assessment, Routley Report, situational awareness, Sofa Super Store, Tactical Entertainment, Tactical Patience, The Charleston Nine, tradition

Reflecting on These Days of June

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Over the next few days, much will be written up reflecting on a number of past historical events that resonate with the rich heritage, honor and tradition that makes this Fire Service what it is. Anniversaries come and go; remembrance, sorrow, grief and respect; the good and the bad all seem to come streaming back-or these emotions and the lessons from these events seem to diminish and fade over even the shortest spans of time that may have passed. Or may have been all but forgotten as a new generation comes through the firehouse doors. Yes it does happen.

We need to learn, remember and implement the lessons from the past, especially when we refer to or are confronted with History Repeating Events (HRE) or similar situational profiles. We must develop an inherent understanding on the Predictability of Performance of our building and occupancies and truly understand and apply effective strategic and tactical plans under combat structural fire engagement. There are legacies for operational safety; do you know what they where, who was affected and what the outcomes where?

We must implement a process of Tactical Patience that correlates to the manner in which our building perform, the dynamics and behavior of fire that affects them and defines our firefighting methodologies when we engage in our missions of operations within the built environment. I’ll post more on Tactical Patience after I roll this emerging concept out at my lecture program presentation at the upcoming Southeastern Association of Fire Chief’s Conference (SEAFC) in Louisville later this month.

The built-environments that form and shape our response districts and communities pose unique challenges to the day-to-day responses of fire departments and their subsequent operations during combat structural fire engagement. With the variety of occupancies and building characteristics present, there are definable degrees of risk potential with recognizable strategic and tactical measures that must be taken. Although each occupancy type presents variables that dictate how a particular incident is handled, most company operations evolve from basic strategic and tactical principles rooted in past performance and operations at similar structures. This basis is based upon Predictability of Performance.

Modern building construction is no longer predicable
Command & company officer technical knowledge may be diminished or deficient
Technological Advancements in construction and materials have exceeded conventional fire suppression practices
Some fire suppression tactics are faulted or inappropriate, requiring innovative models and methods.
Fire Dynamics and Fire Behavior is not considered during fireground size-up and assessment
Risk Management is either not practiced or willfully ignored during most incident operations
Some departments or officers show and indifference to safety and risk management
Command & Company Officer dereliction
Nothing is going to happen to me (us)

STOP THE ENTERTAINMENT
There’s another factor contributing to unsafe practices, one that we rarely talk about. In short, we need to stop “entertaining” ourselves during fire suppression operations and instead focus on comprehending and reacting to evolving risks. Rather than practicing appropriate risk management, it is suggested that some individuals employ adverse behaviors that occur on a tactical level while Incident Commanders and Company Officers believe firefighters are completing their assigned tasks, thus compromising accountability.

These behaviors include;
• Tactical amusement: engaging in any practice or tactic during fire suppression, support tasks or operations that places personnel at risk for the sake of entertainment.

• Tactical diversion: diverting from an assignment while engaging in fire suppression, support tasks or operations in such a way that places personnel at risk.

• Tactical circumvention: deliberately “getting around” an assignment or disregarding risk assessment and incident action plans.

Here’s the expanded versions in case this is th first time you’ve seen them;

TACTICAL AMUSEMENT *tak-ti-kəl ə- *myüz-mənt
1: of or relating to structural fireground tactics: as a (1) a means of amusing or entertaining during fire suppression, support tasks or operations that places personnel at risk
2: the condition of being amused while engaging in fire suppression, support tasks or operations that places personnel at risk
3: pleasurable diversion while engaging in fire suppression, support tasks or operations: entertainment; that places personnel at risk

TACTICAL DIVERSION *tak-ti-kəl də- *vər-zhən
1: the reckless act or an instance of diverting from an assignment, task, operation or activity while engaging in fire suppression, support tasks or operation for the sake of amusing or entertainment; that places personnel at risk
2: the reckless act of self determined task operations that diverts or amuses from defined risk assessment and incident action plans; that places personnel at risk

TACTICAL CIRCUMVENTION *tak-ti-kəl sər-kəm- *ven(t)-shən
1: to deliberately manage to get around especially by ingenuity or approach that diverts for the purpose of amusing; assignment, operations or tasks that countermand or disregard defined risk assessment and incident action plans; that places personnel at risk

TACTICAL PATIENCE (NEW) This is a new one that’s called Tactical Patience…I’ll post more on Tactical Patience after I roll this out at the upcoming Southeast Association of Fire Chief’s Conference (SAFC) in Louisville later this month.

If we’re going to reduce firefighter injuries and deaths, we must be doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons, and in the right place. We must stop the entertainment.

The demands and requirements of modern firefighting will continue to require the placement of personnel within situations and buildings that carry risk, uncertainty and inherent danger. Fire suppression tactics must be adjusted for the rapidly changing methods and materials impacting all forms of building construction, occupancies and structures. The need to redefine the art and science of firefighting is nearly upon us. Some things do stand the test of time, others need to adjust, evolve and change. Not for the sake of change only, but for the emerging and evolving buildings, structures and occupancies being built, developed or renovated in our communities. It’s no longer just brute force and sheer physical determination that define structural fire suppression operations. Aggressive firefighting must be redefined and aligned to the built environment and associated with goal oriented tactical operations that are defined by risk assessed and analyzed tasks that are executed under battle plans that promote the best in safety practices and survivability within know hostile structural fire environments, while maintaining the values and tradition that defines the fire service.

Check out these links;

If you haven’t read Chief Mayers’s discerning reflections on Firehouse Zen, this is a MUST read. Where Were You That Night?

The Lessons Learned from the Past

From Waldbaum’s to Hackensack- Worcester to Charleston; Legacies for Operational Safety

Predictability of Occupancy Performance during Suppression Operations

Combat Fire Engagement

Situations, Size-Up, Actions and Entertainment

Changes in Building Construction and Fire Behavior

Posted by Christopher Naum on June 17, 2010 • Filed under: "Safety Week", "Situational Awareness" assessment, "firefighter safety", Charleston, Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, FDNY, History Repeating Event, LODD, NIOSH, Naum, Remembrance, Safety Culture, building construction, buildingsonfire.com, construction, courage to be safe, dynamics, fire behavior, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting, firefighting-operations, lessons, line-of-duty, major-incidents, occupancies, tradition, training • Tagged: "firefighter safety", building construction, Building Knowledge=Firefighter Safety, Charleston, Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, commandsafety.com, Doctrine of Combat Fire Engagement, FDNY, fire suppression, firefighting, Firehouse Zen, Hackensack, History Repeating Events, Hotel Vendome, HRE, IAP, Lessons Learned, LODD, Mick Mayers, NIOSH, occupancies, Risk assessment, SEAFC, Sofa Super Store Fire, strategies and tactics, Tactical Entertainment, Tactical Patience, tactics, The Charleston Nine, thecompanyofficer.com, Walbaum's

NIST Report on Residential Fireground Field Experiments ISSUED

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Report-on-Residential-Fireground-Field-Experiments

The NIST Firefighter Safety and Deployment Study; Titled- Report on Residential Fireground Field Experiements was issued this morning. A copy of the report is attached. The report is also available for download at the NIST, HERE

Report Abstract:

Service expectations placed on the fire service, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS), response to natural disasters, hazardous materials incidents, and acts of terrorism, have steadily increased. However, local decision-makers are challenged to balance these community service expectations with finite resources without a solid technical foundation for evaluating the impact of staffing and deployment decisions on the safety of the public and firefighters. For the first time, this study investigates the effect of varying crew size, first apparatus arrival time, and response time on firefighter safety, overall task completion, and interior residential tenability using realistic residential fires.

This study is also unique because of the array of stakeholders and the caliber of technical experts involved. Additionally, the structure used in the field experiments included customized instrumentation; all related industry standards were followed; and robust research methods were used. The results and conclusions will directly inform the NPFA 1710 Technical Committee, who is responsible for developing consensus industry deployment standards.

This report presents the results of more than 60 laboratory and residential fireground experiments designed to quantify the effects of various fire department deployment configurations on the most common type of fire—a low hazard residential structure fire. For the fireground experiments, a 2,000 sq ft (186 m2), two-story residential structure was designed and built at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy in Rockville, MD. Fire crews from Montgomery County, MD and Fairfax County.

A were deployed in response to live fires within this facility. In addition to systematically controlling for the arrival times of the first and subsequent fire apparatus, crew size was varied to consider two-, three-, four-, and five-person staffing. Each deployment performed a series of 22 tasks that were timed, while the thermal and toxic environment inside the structure was measured. Additional experiments with larger fuel loads as well as fire modeling produced additional insight. Report results quantify the effectiveness of crew size, first-due engine arrival time, and apparatus arrival stagger on the duration and time to completion of the key 22 fireground tasks and the effect on occupant and firefighter safety.

We will review the report findings and provide insights over the upcoming weekend.

Addition project information and insights, HERE

Posted by Christopher Naum on April 28, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", Christopher Naum, Company, Deployment, NIST, Reports, Safety, compentencies, fire service, fire suppression, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting, firefighting-operations, first-due, occupancies, research, residential, study • Tagged: "firefighter safety", CFAI, Christopher Naum, commandsafety.com, Deployment, Deployment Report, IAFC, IAFF, NIST, NIST Technical Note 1661, operations, research, residential, Residential Fireground Field Experiments Report, staffing, studies, WPI

NIST Firefighter Safety and Deployment Study to be issued Wednesday

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The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is scheduled to issue the results of a multi-institutional landmark national study on the effects of firefighter staffing levels and crew arrival times on residential firefighting operations. This landmark report will provide scientific data that will help inform fire chiefs and public officials in making decisions on firefighting budgets, crew sizes and placement of fire stations. The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and will be released Wednesday April 28, 2010 in Washington, D.C., before the start of the annual Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) meeting. Speakers will include principal investigators from NIST, the U.S. Fire Administrator, representatives from NFPA, IAFC, IAFF, Metropolitan Fire Chiefs, CFAI, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The Press Event will take place at the Washington Hilton, Jefferson East (Concourse Level) 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW. Washington, D.C. at 9:00 a.m. EDT

The significance of this much awaited study is certain to provide critical data and benchmarks that will influence operational deployment, firefighter safety and strategic and tactical considerations related to combat fire suppression. I recall a series of studies and evolutions that were last dome in the mid-1980’s that looked at cursory functional deployment considerations related to engine company efficiency for six, five, four and three personnel staffed units.

The NIST Firefighter Safety and Deployment Study is a multi-year project, being conducted jointly by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), whose purpose is to establish a technical basis for risk evaluation and deployment of resources by local fire departments and create tools the departments can use to better assess the risks and hazards in their communities; plan adequate resource deployment to respond to and mitigate emergency events; and measure their effectiveness in responding to and handling events.

The first two phases of the study were to establish a technical basis for risk evaluation and deployment of resources by local fire departments and to create tools fire departments can use to better assess the risks and hazards in their communities. This would allow the Fire Department to plan adequate resource deployment to respond to and mitigate emergency events. The final phase of the NIST study will assist departments to measure their effectiveness in responding to and handling events.

Study Details
Within the past fifteen years, studies have advanced in the sophistication of their methods but nonetheless have continued to support the finding that crew size per piece of apparatus clearly affects the effectiveness and safety of fire department personnel during emergency response and fire suppression. In an effort to supplement the scientific evidence available, the intent of this study was to determine how well the fire service decision makers match resources to risk and what factors are important in making better decisions about these matches in the future recognizing that decisions must be made in light of available funding in the community and the level of service the community expects.

The overall goal is to reduce firefighter injury and death by making better decisions about resource deployment in a risk filled environment. The study is delineated into three phases.

Phase I – Develop a scientifically-based community risk assessment and resource deployment model;
Phase II – Conduct field experiments to assess resource deployment including crew size and time to task analysis;
Phase III – Develop performance evaluation tools to be used by departments to assess how well they match their community risk level to resources deployed.

Based on analysis of data collected in phase I, investigators will address three outcomes; 1) firefighter injury and death, 2) civilian injury and death; and 3) economic impact. They will work to identify the most important factors in determining appropriate deployment to varied levels of adverse risk events occurring in a community. It is their hope to use those data to program a predictive model to be converted into software.

We’ll issue and update this post with the latest information as it’s released Wednesday.

Progress Reports Issued

A series of program progress reports were issued and are available from the following links;

Project Year One, Progress Report, HERE
In September, 2008, the Two-Year Progress Report was issued; The Multi-Phased Study on Firefighter Safety and the Deployment of Resource, HERE
DHL, Phase II Report, HERE

Other related links for further insights;

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), HERE
Firereportingsystem.org, HERE
Field Experiment Photos, HERE
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, HERE
Live Fire Experiments Provide Data on the Effects of Fire Resources, HERE
Fire Service Leaders to Conduct Study to Improve Fire Fighter Safety and Deployment, FFN 2009; HERE
STATter911 and WUSA9 Postings,HERE and HERE
Commandsafety.com, HERE

Posted by Christopher Naum on April 27, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", Deployment, NIST, fire service, fire suppression, research, residential, response, staffing • Tagged: "firefighter safety", "time on task", Christopher Naum, commandsafety.com, crew size, Deployment, Deployment study, DHS, efficiency, FEMA, Firefighter Safety and Deployment Study, IAFC, NIST, NIST Firefighter Safety and Deployment Study, operations, research, resources, risk, staffing levels, stffing, WPI

Buildingsonfire reaches Milestone

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Buildingsonfire on Face Book reaches 3,000 fan milestone, are you one? Sign up and follow Buildingsonfire on Facebook today

Remember, Building Knowledge=Firefighter Safety

Follow Commandsafety on Twitter, HERE and Buildingsonfire on Twitter, HERE

Posted by Christopher Naum on March 26, 2010 • Filed under: "firefighter safety", "health and safety", Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, Naum, Safety Culture, advocate, building construction, buildingsonfire.com, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations • Tagged: "firefighter safety", building construction, Building Knowledge=Firefighter Safety, buildingsonfire.com, Christopher Naum, commandsafety.com, Safety, Safety Culture

Putting the wet stuff on the red stuff

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The essence of fire service suppression operations is predicated upon the deployment and application of water as an extinguishing agent, in sufficient quantities, location and duration to extinguish a fire within an enclosed structural compartment. The universal engine company correlation of: “putting the wet stuff on the red stuff” is fundamental to structural fire suppression operations but is ambiguous at best in the context of today’s modern building construction, occupancies, structural systems and building features.

We used to discern with a measured degree of predictability, how buildings would perform, react and fail under most fire conditions. Implementing fundamentals of firefighting and engine company operations built upon eight decades of time tested and experience proven strategies and tactics continues to be the model of suppression operations. These same fundamental strategies continue to drive methodologies and curriculums in our current training programs and academies of instructions.

The lack of appreciation and the understanding of correlating principles involving fire behavior, fuel and rate of heat release and the growth stages of compartment fires within a structural occupancy are the defining paths from which the fire service must reexamine engine company operations in order to identify with the predictability of occupancy performance during fire suppression operations thus increasing suppression effectiveness and firefighter safety.

Our buildings have changed; the structural systems of support, the degree of compartmentation, the characteristics of materials and the magnitude of fire loading. The structural anatomy, predictability of building performance under fire conditions, structural integrity and the extreme fire behavior; accelerated growth rate and intensively levels typically encountered in buildings of modern construction during initial and sustained fire suppression have given new meaning to the term combat fire engagement.

Posted by Christopher Naum on February 4, 2010 • Filed under: Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, building construction, dynamics, fire behavior, fire suppression, firefighting, firefighting-operations, first-due, hydraulics, occupancies, strategies • Tagged: "firefighter safety", building construction, Christopher Naum, Combat Fire Engagement, commandsafety.com, compartmentation, engine company, fire behavior, fire dynamics, fire suppression, initial attack, structural anatomy, suppression

Truss and Engineered Systems Placards

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The Aldridge-Benge Firefighter Safety Act of 2008 became law on December 13, 2009 after unanimously passing the Florida House and Senate in 2008. The new law is named in honor of two Orange County, Florida Firefighters, Todd Aldridge and Mark Benge, who died in 1989 after the roof of a gift shop collapsed; the bill is called the Aldridge-Benge Firefighter Safety Act. For a copy of the Act, HERE

The Aldridge-Benge Firefighter Safety Act will require owners of any commercial, industrial, or any multi-unit residential structure, to mark these buildings in a manner that identifies them as light-frame truss-type construction. A sign or symbol will alert firefighters of the construction material and allow them to modify their tactics for fighting fires in buildings.

Aldridge-Benge Florida Placards

633.027 Buildings with light-frame truss-type construction; notice requirements; enforcement.

(1) The owner of any commercial or industrial structure, or any multiunit residential structure of three units or more, that uses light-frame truss-type construction shall mark the structure with a sign or symbol approved by the State Fire Marshal in a manner sufficient to warn persons conducting fire control and other emergency operations of the existence of light-frame truss-type construction in the structure.

(2) The State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to:
(a) The dimensions and color of such sign or symbol.
(b) The time within which commercial, industrial, and multiunit residential structures that use light-frame truss-type construction shall be marked as required by this section.
(c) The location on each commercial, industrial, and multiunit residential structure that uses light-frame truss-type construction where such sign or symbol must be posted.

(3) The State Fire Marshal, and local fire officials in accordance with s. 633.121, shall enforce the provisions of this section. Any owner who fails to comply with the requirements of this section is subject to penalties as provided in s. 633.161

Truss Systems Placards For Firefighter Safety from across the United States. This was originally posted HERE . Check out the link for examples of various types of placards from various locations around the US. Additional Links HERE and HERE

- The Valley Independent Sentinel covers the proposed law in Derby, Can You Spare Five Dollars (To Save A Life)?.
- NFPA Journal: It’s not lightweight construction. It’s what happens when lightweight construction meets fire.
- Firehouse.com: Understanding the Dangers of Lightweight Truss Construction

-FireRescue1.com: Enhancing Firefigher SAfety, One Step at a time:

New York State: PDF HERE

The following represent various state or local level efforts that have been instituted to provide the fire service with identification placards for attachment to buildings constructed with truss support systems. What we don’t have is a unified national standard, nor do we have these systems in all states. The political strife and lobbying backed by special interest groups and mfg. associations that DO NOT Support these types of placard systems is appalling and inexcusable. This post is to make many of you aware of the various enhacements that exist to support firefighter safety.

New York State TRUSS TYPE CONSTRUCTION PlacardsNYS 19 NYCRR Part 1264 – IDENTIFICATION OF BUILDINGS UTILIZING TRUSS TYPE CONSTRUCTION
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/code/trussID.htm

More from New York State…..
http://www.trussid.org/index.html

City of San Francisco, CA
5.05 Signage of Buildings with Wood or Lightweight Steel Truss, or Composite Wood Joist (TJI) or Roof Construction
Reference: 2007 San Francisco Fire Code Section 507.3.2
http://www.sfgov.org/site/sffd_page.asp?id=80083

State of New Jersey TRUSS SIGNS (Truss Roof and Truss Floor Assembly Signs)
Exterior Placard NJAC 5:70 – 2.20(a)1 and 2 This attachment was provided by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety and is referenced as Exterior Placard NJAC 5:70 – 2.20(a)1 and 2.
Truss roof signs are required by the New Jersey State Uniform Fire Code for buildings, which utilize either a floor or roof assembly consisting of truss construction. A truss sign gives early warning to fire and emergency service members that the roof and/or floor may be subject to early collapse in the event of a fire condition.

ISOSCELES TRIANGLE SIGNS
N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.20(a)1.
“The emblem shall be of a bright and reflective color, or made of reflective material. The shape of the emblem shall be an isosceles triangle and the size shall be 12 inches horizontally by 6 inches vertically. With letters of a size and color to make them conspicuous, shall be printed on the emblem, as shown in images below.”

N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.20(a)2
“The emblem shall be permanently affixed to the left of the main entrance door at the height of between 4 feet and 6 feet above the ground, and shall be installed and maintained by the owner of the building”.

New Jersey Truss Placards

NIOSH Suggested Truss Placard Type
EXAMPLE LANGUAGE FOR A LAW REQUIRING LABELING OF BUILDINGS FOR THE FIRE SERVICE
This sample language is based on recommendations in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) report entitled “NIOSH Alert: Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Firefighters due to Truss System Failures.”
The report states: “Consider placing building construction information outside the building. Include
information about roof and floor type.

The NIOSH report also recommends as part of pre-fire planning to: Record data regarding roof and floor construction (e.g., wooden joist, wood truss, steel joist, steel truss, beam and girder, etc.) [NFPA 2003]. The sample language below provides building labeling that identifies the building’s construction type, is simple yet logical, and should allow firefighters to quickly know the building’s floor and roof construction materials, promoting better and more complete information on the fireground and increased firefighter safety.

xxx Identification of structural construction. Structural construction types shall be identified by a sign or signs, in accordance with the provisions of this section.

xxx.1 Signs. Signs shall be affixed where a building or a portion thereof is classified as Group A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R-1, R-2, R-4 or S occupancy. The owner of the building shall be responsible for the installation of the sign.
xxx.2 New buildings and buildings being added to. Signs shall be provided in newly constructed buildings and in existing buildings where an addition that extends or increases the floor area of the building. Signs shall be affixed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy or a certificate of compliance.

xxx.3 Existing buildings. Signs shall be provided in existing buildings. Signs shall be affixed within ninety days of being notified in writing by the Code Enforcement Official.

xxx.4 Contents of signs. Signs shall consist of a diagram 6 inches (152.4 mm)in height and width, with a stroke width of ¼ inch (6.4 mm). The sign background shall be reflective white in color. The diagram and contents shall be reflective red in color, conforming to Pantone matching system (PMS) #187. Where a sign is directly applied to a door or sidelight, it may be a permanent non-fading sticker or decal. Signs not directly applied to doors or sidelights shall be of sturdy, non-fading, weather resistant material.

xxx.5 Identification of construction classification. Signs shall contain the roman alphanumeric designation of the construction classification of the building, in accordance with the provisions for the classification of types of construction (types I through V) of the building code. The roman numeral designating construction classification shall be 1 inch (25.4 mm) minimum in height and have a stroke width of ¼ inch (6.4 mm) minimum, and it shall be reflective white in color on a background of reflective red.

xxx.6 Identification of year of construction. Signs shall indicate the building’s year of construction or major reconstruction. The arabic numeral indicating year of construction shall be 1 inch (25.4 mm) minimum in height and have a stroke width of ¼ inch (6.4 mm) minimum, and it shall be reflective white in color on a background of reflective red.

xxx.7 Identification of structural construction types. Signs shall contain the alphabetic designations identifying the structural construction types used in the building, as follows:

“W” shall mean sawn joist/rafter construction, wood members
“I” shall mean engineered I-joist construction, wood members
“S” shall mean steel construction
“T” shall mean truss type construction
“C” shall mean concrete construction

NIOSH Suggested Truss Placard

State of Florida, Truss Placard System 2008;
The Aldridge-Benge Firefighter Safety Act. The law was named in honor of Orange County firefighters Todd Aldridge and Mark Benge, who died in 1989 after the truss roof of a gift shop collapsed. Under the new law, owners of any commercial, industrial or multi unit residential structure, have to clearly mark if their buildings have lightweight roof or floor trusses, allowing firefighters to change their tactics when working in these types of structures

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2008/7/2/new_firefighter_protect….

633.027 Buildings with light-frame truss-type construction; notice requirements; enforcement
(1) The owner of any commercial or industrial structure, or any multiunit residential structure of three units or more, that uses light-frame truss-type construction shall mark the structure with a sign or symbol approved by the State Fire Marshal in a manner sufficient to warn persons conducting fire control and other emergency operations of the existence of light-frame truss-type construction in the structure.
(2) The State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to:
(a) The dimensions and color of such sign or symbol.
(b) The time within which commercial, industrial, and multiunit residential structures that use light-frame truss-type construction shall be marked as required by this section.
(c) The location on each commercial, industrial, and multiunit residential structure that uses light-frame truss-type construction where such sign or symbol must be posted.
(3) The State Fire Marshal, and local fire officials in accordance with s. 633.121, shall enforce the provisions of this section. Any owner who fails to comply with the requirements of this section is subject to penalties as provided in s. 633.161.

Florida Placard

Wheeling, Illinois Wood Truss Warning Signs
Attached is information from Wheeling, Illinois, who enacted thier own local code requriement. April 18, 1994 adopted Ordinance 2948 amending Title 14, Fire, of the Wheeling Municipal Code by adding Chapter 14.08 “Wood Truss Warning Signs”

State of Vermont
F or additional Info HERE

CITY OF CHESAPEAKE, VA TRUSS ID PROGRAM; A designated sticker is used for quick recognition of potential Collapse Dangers associated with TRUSS constructed buildings. The sticker is placed on every entry door of all commercial buildings with Truss construction. The use of trusses in building construction presents a great danger to firefighting personnel when those structures are involved in fire conditions. By design, the truss members in floor and roof assemblies will collapse, without warning, after being exposed to heat or flame contact for a very short period of time. Because of the inherent danger firefighters must face while operating within these buildings, a Truss Identification Program (TIP) has been instituted to alert personnel of the danger prior to beginning fire suppression operations. The Truss Identification Program is intended to alert the members of the Chesapeake Fire Department with pertinent pre-plan information before firefighting forces are committed to an interior attack.

The TIP shall be an ongoing program applied to all commercial buildings inspected by the Chesapeake Fire Department.
http://www.chesapeake.va.us/services/depart/fire/truss.shtml

City of Greencastle, Indiana

The City of Greencastle, Indiana and the Greencastle Fire Department recently enacted and approved an Engineered Lumber ID Program consisting of a sticker that is used for quick recognization of potential Collapse Dangers associated with Engineered Lumber constructed buildings. The sticker is placed on every electrical meter of all residential & commercial buildings with Engineered Lumber construction built after May 13th 2008. The news release states that; the use of this type of lumber in building construction presents a great danger to firefighting personnel when those structures are involved in fire conditions. By design, the Engineered Lumber in floor and roof assemblies will collapse, without warning, after being exposed to heat or flame contact for a very short period of time. Because of the inherent danger firefighters must face while operating within these buildings, an Engineered Lumber Identification Program (ELIP) has been instituted to alert personnel of the danger prior to beginning fire suppression operations.

The Engineered Lumber Identification Program is intended to alert the members of the Greencastle Fire Department with pertinent pre-plan information before firefighting forces are committed to an interior attack. The sticker is unobtrusive and is placed directly on a meter box, for example, and alerts the FD if either the floor joists and/or the trusses are made of and Engineered Lumber System and materials. The fire officers are already checking the utility boxes on all fires as part of their initial size-up. The ELIP shall be an ongoing program applied to all residential & commercial buildings inspected by the Greencastle Fire Department.

ORDINANCE 2008 – 4 states; AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING A REFLECTIVE SYMBOL ON STRUCTURES USING ENGINEERED LUMBER
WHEREAS, many new building structures currently use engineered lumber in their construction;
WHEREAS, some types of engineered lumber burn at a rate faster that other types of lumber; and
WHEREAS, in fighting fires, it would be helpful to know the types of materials used in the construction of a structure.

NOW THEREFORE be it ordained by the Common Council of the City of Greencastle as follows:
1. Definitions:
a. Engineered Lumber shall mean prefabricated I-joists, truss joists, and truss rafters, and laminated beams and studs.
b. Structure shall mean primary, secondary and accessory structures as defined in the Greencastle Zoning Code that have electrical meters that serve the structure.

2. All structures constructed with engineered lumber after the effective date of this ordinance must have a reflective symbol affixed to each electrical meter serving the structure.

3. The reflective symbol shall be in the form of a sticker, issued by the City of Greencastle that states that the structure is constructed with engineered lumber

4. Any person violating this ordinance by refusing to use the reflective symbol or by removing the reflective symbol shall be subject to a fine in an amount of $25.00 per violation. Each day that a violation occurs shall constitute a separate violation, subject to a separate fine.

5. The owner of any structure that was constructed with engineered lumber prior to the effective date of this ordinance is requested to place the reflective symbol on the electrical meter serving the structure on a voluntary basis.

This is another great example how local level insights, actions and legislation can go a long way in supporting fire service operational challanges as they relate to building construction systems, methodologies and materials. Remember, We can certainly work diligently AND cooperativley with local government officials to enhance incident operations and make our jobs safety, one step at a time….

For additional information on the Fire Department’s efforts in Greencastle, IN contact Lt. John Shafer, Lieutenant/Training Officer HERE.

An invaluable free on-line training program on Structural Stability of Engineered Lumber in Fire Conditions – is available from UL, check HERE for further information.

The 2006 NIOSH LODD Report, HERE

Posted by Christopher Naum on December 18, 2009 • Filed under: "Situational Awareness" assessment, "firefighter safety", "pre-fire planning", Christopher Naum, Codes, Collapse, Lumber, Protection, buildings, construction, engineered systems, inspections, line-of-duty, occupancies, placard, pre-planning • Tagged: "firefighter safety", aldridge-Benge, Buildingsonfire.com engineered construction, Christopher Naum, Collapse, command, construction, emblem, engineered systems, floors, Florida, legislation, LODD, orange county, placards, pre-fire plan, pre-planing, risk, Risk assessment, roof, signs, situational awareness, Systems, truss construction, UL, warning

Ten Minutes in the Street Scenarios on Firefighter Nation

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Ten Minutes in the Street: On-scene, with Engine 13…..

http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/ten-minutes-in-the-street-12

Ten Minutes in the Street: On-scene, with Engine 21, Second Alarm…

http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/ten-minutes-in-the-street-13

Ten Minutes in the Street: “Dispatch to Chief..You’ve got Two Working Fires…”

http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/ten-minutes-in-the-street-14

Posted by Christopher Naum on November 11, 2009 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: "firefighter safety", building construction, buildingsonfire.com, Christopher Naum, Firefighter Nation, operations, Ten Minutes in the Street

Buildingsonfire.com Launching Soon

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Buildingsonfire.com
Launching January 2010

An Informational, Reference and Training web site Dedicated to the Art & Science of Building Construction, Firefighting and Command Risk Management to promote Firefighter Safety

Advancing Training, Knowledge, Skill Development and Safety Focus for the Fire Service, and Supporting the NFFF Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives & EGH program

Check out Buildingsonfire now on Facebook, HERE
Buildingsonfire (Bldgsonfire) on Twitter, HERE
Don’t forget about Commandsafety on Twitter, HERE

Buildingsonfire.com planned features will include:

Editorials
Multi-media Resource Center
Articles & News
Podcasts & Webcasts
Training Support Media via the Virtual Training Officer and Training Division
Ten Minutes in the Street Scenarios
Lesson Plans and Aides
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Research, Development and Reference Hub and Links
Comprehensive Documents & Files
Structural Engineering References
Architectural Reference Information
Fire Protection Engineering Information
Fire Behavior and Fire Dynamics
Structural Collapse Reference Information
Combat Fire Engagement, Command Safety
Case Studies & Reports
Forums & interactive Simulations
Seminars and Lecture Series
Training Aides and Drills
On-Line Training
Downloads
And Much more…setting the standard for Firefighter Safey in 2010 and beyond..

Watch for upcoming annoucements
Building Knowledge = Firefighter Safety

Posted by Christopher Naum on November 7, 2009 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: "firefighter safety", building construction, buildingsonfire.com, Christopher Naum, education, fire behavior, research, training

Solar Shingles and Conventional Asphalt Shingles

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With continued emphasis on alternative energy systems and applications, the newest feature to hit the American market place is thin film amorphous solar products. These products are individual solar panels that look like standard shingles, but are actually solar cell panels that can produce electricity. A recent posting from Firegeezer brought these units to the fire service attention.

UniSolarUnited Solar Ovonic LLC is the world’s largest manufacturer of thin film amorphous solar products. In plain English, Uni-Solar makes roofing shingles that look like standard shingles, but that are actually individual solar panels. When installed, you can network these shingles together to generate electricity to power a house or other occupancy setting. These shingles do not require support structures and are installed like conventional asphalt shingles to blend with existing shingles when installed.

The Dow Chemical Company announced on October 5, 2009 its line of DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle, revolutionary photovoltaic solar panels in the form of solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials. The solar shingle systems are expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and projected to be more widely available in 2011, putting the power of solar electricity generation directly and conveniently in the hands of homeowners.

Groundbreaking technology from Dow Solar Solutions (DSS) integrates low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into a proprietary roofing shingle design, which represents a multi-functional solar energy generating roofing product. The innovative product design reduces installation costs because the conventional roofing shingles and solar generating shingles are installed simultaneously by roofing contractors. DSS expects an enthusiastic response from roofing contractors since no specialized skills or knowledge of solar array installations are required.

A little research reveals a number of similar products making their way into the market place and in a variety of applications. As with any building and occupancy, stay alert to building and architectural features that “look” different or don’t appear to be conventional in what you may have experienced prior. Although there is little fire service experience to draw from in these particular applications, operational issues related to roof area footing, ladder placement and integrity, penetration and cutting factors related to tactical assignments on roof decks all present additional situational awareness and hazard assessment when confronted with these or similar features during incident operations.

Stay alert and make sure you get out in the street and examine construction sites for potential installations as well as individual residential or commercial renovations that may have retrofitting installations on roof systems by adding these solar shingle systems in these challenging economic times.

Here’s a few additional sites to check into:

Posted by Christopher Naum on October 24, 2009 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: "firefighter safety", building construction, Christopher Naum, roof, solar, tactics, ventilation

Two Common Calls: Different Outcomes

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http://www.blogger.com/img/videoplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fvp.video.google.com%2Fvideodownload%3Fversion%3D0%26secureurl%3DqAAAAPEbdexZYqODP9Nt5kZfcH34HcrE1NkMlRf1z9L5802W6MRijrAOIqO4Khc8a-iyiU21BLipII46M6bwZzj2TMNlHvVIWradMjQfMmmqAZEv905jcQfEl1E7fymwM_S3dI8kqJRYY3rQzZNp616CfDzDEq39EvRHJ6nhTvmOnyAvD-mC9i0e1oEoGH04l_f2CuEbEAiYgiCGcvLHq5_UZBhAOvCiwATEG0tBpQxqlBQj%26sigh%3DbXt_-I5jjPPpFwQVenZawE7KhzY%26begin%3D0%26len%3D86400000%26docid%3D0&nogvlm=1&thumbnailUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2FThumbnailServer2%3Fapp%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D5b9468a8794109e2%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw320%26sigh%3DES-m6qqvkxWeZue7lJt8TvhsWXk&messagesUrl=video.google.com%2FFlashUiStrings.xlb%3Fframe%3Dflashstrings%26hl%3DenTwo common Structure Fires; one in Syracuse, New York, the other in Yonkers, New York. Both involving residential occupancies of legacy construction, both requiring tactical deployment assignments for search and rescue under heavy fire conditions; but each incident having profoundly different outcomes. One a close-call and near-miss, the other a LODD.

The Syracuse fire evolved into a firefighter mayday, when a firefighter’s air supply apparently became inoperable or depleted during primary search and rescue operations resulting in a maycall and subsequent rapid exit through a narrow upper window in the attic. The video clearly depicts the tense minutes during which time the mayday was transmitted and firefighter Ray Duncanson bailed through the attic window.

The Yonkers fire (HERE) also involved an early morning response to report of a structure fire in a multiple occupancy residential dwelling. Firefighter Patrick Joyce, a 39-year-old city firefighter and a 16-year veteran of the department, either jumped or fell from the top floor of the burning 2-story multi-family home and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Two other firefighters were seriously injured as they also searched for tenants in an early morning house fire. The cause for the bailout has yet to be determined.

Both bread and butter and common fires, that many of us have experienced in our years on the job; yet the unique circumstances of each building, of each occupancy, the fire behavior and incident parameters resulted in vastly different outcomes.

It continues to be all about doing the right thing, at the right time for the right reasons. Unfortunately, that also involves calculate risk, measured determination and circumstance that are reflected by who and what we do on every alarm, at every call, on every shift. Just as Buffalo, New York FD Lt. Chip McCarthy and Firefighter Jonathan Croom were doing the right thing, when deployed on the primary search and rescue assignment on the first-due, and the subsequent search and rescue on the RIT/mayday assignment at the August 24th fire in the City of Buffalo, NY. Their sacrifice in the line-of-duty, reflected the honor, courage, protection, fortitude and duty of the fire service, just as Yonkers (NY) firefighter Patrick Joyce displayed in the course of his assignment on October 2, 2009.

On any given day, at any give alarm, the dynamics around us at times may be in or out of our direct control. We may not be able to see what the cards have in store for us, BUT we must ensure we use every fragment of training, fortitude, knowledge, skills, courage, bravery, insights, luck and sometimes (other divine) intervention to get us through. We must have the fortitude and courage to be both safety conscious and measured in the performance of our sworn duties while maintaining the appropriate balance of risk and bravery.

· The demands and requirements of modern firefighting will continue to require the placement of personnel within situations and buildings that carry risk, uncertainty and inherent danger.

· As a result, risk management must become fluid and integrate all personnel.

· We must manage dynamic risks with a balanced approach of effective assessment, analysis and probability within command decision making that results in safety conscious strategies and tactics.

We don’t know what’s in the cards on any given day, but the citizens we protect can rest assured, we will do our job, as firefighters to the best of our abilities, because of who we are.

Firefighter Spot videos: Syracuse Fire HERE, Yonkers Fire, HERE

Posted by Christopher Naum on October 2, 2009 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: "firefighter safety", Christopher Naum, close-call, LODD, near-miss, operations, training, Trapped

Honor & Remembrance

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The 28th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend takes place this weekend at the NFA. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Fire Administration are conducting the 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend this weekend, October 2-4, 2009. A plaque with the names of 103 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2008 will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, located at the National Fire Academy campus. The names of 19 firefighters who died in previous years will also be added. The plaques surrounding the Memorial, which was established in 1981, will contain the names of more than 3,300 firefighters.
Every October, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation sponsors the official national tribute to all firefighters who died in the line-of-duty during the previous year. Thousands attend the Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The weekend features special programs for survivors and co-workers along with public ceremonies. New survivors will have the opportunity to meet fire service survivors from across the country so that you can share experiences, make lasting friendships, and begin to look ahead. The Memorial Weekend is a time for sharing and healing for the families of our fallen firefighters. Representatives from Honor Guard and Pipe Band Units participate as part of this solemn tribute and commemoration of your loved ones.

Thirty-six states experienced line-of-duty deaths in 2008. Deaths resulted from many causes, including vehicle accidents while enroute to or returning from emergency calls, training incidents, building collapses, diving incidents, natural disaster response, being struck by objects (vehicles, trees, waterway from aerial devices, and gunshot wounds) at the incident scene, falls, heart attacks, helicopter/air tanker crashes, and burns.
Five multiple fatality incidents accounted for 17 deaths.
Two multiple fatality incidents occurred at structural fires, one in an apparatus crash after a bridge collapse during heavy smoke conditions at a wildland fire, one helicopter crash during a wildland fire, and one air tanker that crashed on take-off.
Wildland fires, controlled burns and training/certification for wildland protection resulted in 15 fatalities.
Oregon and North Carolina suffered the Nation’s greatest number of line-of-duty firefighter deaths in 2008 with 9 in each state, while Pennsylvania and New York had 8, Missouri had 7, and California had 6.
The names of those fallen firefighters being honored at the memorial are posted HERE.

Chief Dennis Compton, Chairman of the NFFF Board of Directors, stated: “Our country’s firefighters make a commitment day in and day out to protect others from the ravages of fire and many other life threatening hazards. Each year we gather at the site of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland, to pay tribute to those firefighters who paid the ultimate price in the performance of their duties. The fire service is honored and humbled to memorialize these fallen heroes and show our sincere appreciation for the sacrifices made by those they left behind.”

For the third year in a row, STATter911.com has joined forces with Firehouse.com to bring you live coverage on the web of the events from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Weekend, October 3 to October 5. 103 firefighters who died in 2008, along with 19 who died in previous years, will be honored in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

There are a series of special live web streaming available for this weekend’s memorial services from: Firehouse.com and Statter911 as well as WeekendFireHero.com and FireEngineering.com.
Take a moment out of your schedule and participate in this solemn memorial honoring our brother and sister firefighters who died in the Line of Duty. Watching the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Weekend service will leave an indelible impression upon you going forward. Its’ all about trying to do our jobs better, being a bit safer, understanding the risks and implementing the appropriate measures to address the incident demands we most often are confronted with.

Remember, We may love the job of firefighting, BUT there are those that love- US.

Remember who they are and what it takes to ensure that we do go home after those calls and shifts. This weekend, honor those who did not have the opportunity to make it back home, for their sacrifice and for the honor they have bestowed upon this great profession of the Fire Service and for the legacy that they have left behind to their survivors.

You can tune here to STATter911.com or to Firehouse.com to watch the Candlelight Service on Saturday evening and Sunday’s Memorial Service.

Live Video Broadcast of the Services:
» Candlelight: Oct. 3, 2009 – 6:15 – 7:30 pm
» Memorial: Oct. 4, 2009 – 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Photos from the 2009 Memorial Weekend, HERE

Ways to Observe the Memorial:

Here are some other important links.

Posted by Christopher Naum on October 2, 2009 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: "firefighter safety", Christopher Naum, Firefighter Memorial Weekend, LODD, NFA, NFFF

Understanding the New Building-Occupancy Relationships

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How much knowledge and formal training have you had as a Commanding Officer or Company Officer on Building Construction?

Have any clue on the performance of Engineered Structural Systems….? Are your strategic plans and tactics aligned with Occupancy Risk and Building Performance Profiles AND the projected fire load/heat release rate?

If you think these factors are not important OR you dismiss them as being non-material-think again; They are Mission Critical for firefighter safety and incident mitigation.

Posted by Christopher Naum on September 27, 2009 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: "firefighter safety", building construction, Christopher Naum, command presence, compentencies, occupancies, risk, training

It’s Not Always Business as Usual

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How much thought and efforts do you place on looking beyond the routiness of our response operations? You know, the redundancy, routiness and frequency of typical calls you run, the types of fire you engage in and the manner in which your company interfaces with the balance of the alarm response when working a good job or multiple alarm operations.

When things go wrong, they can go wrong at an escalating rate that may at times not be apparent.Think about the issues that affect Errors, Omissions, Unknown or Unrecognized Building Profile or Construction, Wrong Tactics, Lack of Resources, Dysfunctional Command, Inadequate skills, High Risk-No Value, Situational Awareness, Tactical Entertainment…From a company level, what are your concerns related to the routiness of your operations?

How would you relate to the fact that: “It’s NOT always business as usual”.

Look HERE for a NIOSH LODD report that was recently published

Posted by Christopher Naum on September 27, 2009 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: "firefighter safety", building construction, Christopher Naum, LODD, operations, risk

Take a Good Look Around

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Have you stopped for a minute today and taken a good look around? Whether you’re sitting in the front seat at the stop light of an intersection or as you’re peering out the side cab window coming back from an alarm or while running errands in your POV; have you taken a good look around? As the Springsteen song goes; “this is your town”.

There’s a lot that can be gleaned from your surroundings on any given day. We sometimes take for granted the subtle changes that are happening all around us as we take care of business on our rounds, runs and calls. We tend to focus in on the immediacy of the events that are happening in front of us that demand our attention but fail to take a look around to pick up on information, data and insights that can help us on that next run or down the road in the future.

Take a look at the construction that might be going up in your areas. I’m certain you’re paying close attention to what’s happening in your first-due, but what about that third-due area, that neighboring jurisdiction or the mutual-aid area that you occasionally run in to? When you’re on that next EMS run or an investigation of an odor or alarm bells service call, take a few extra minutes to walk through the occupancy. Conduct your own mini company level pre-plan.

Look at the layout, features, access and construction features. If you have a chance, verify the structural support systems employed by the building for the floor and roof systems. If you have time, take the company on a quick site visit to that building that’s under construction or the renovations that are again underway in that commercial or business occupancy around the corner from quarters.

These continuing challenging economic times places a great deal of influence on what’s being built, how it might be constructed, the manner in which a building may be operational one day, vacant the other and under renovation the next. Sometimes these transformations occur literally overnight.

Take a good look around, this is your town…your district, your response area. Know your buildings, understand their performance profiles, and assess the predictability of performance. Remember; Building Knowledge = Firefighter Safety.

Posted by Christopher Naum on September 25, 2009 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: "firefighter safety", building construction, Christopher Naum, occupancies, pre-planning, risk, size-up

Without understanding the building-occupancy relationships and integrating; construction, occupancies, fire dynamics and fire behavior, risk, analysis, the art and science of firefighting, safety conscious work environment concepts and effective and well-informed incident command management, company level supervision and task level competencies…You are derelict and negligent and "not "everyone may be going home". Our current generation of buildings, construction and occupancies are not as predictable as past conventional construction; risk assessment, strategies and tactics must change to address these new rules of structural fire engagement. There is a need to gain the building construction knowledge and insights and to change and adjust operating profiles in order to safe guard companies, personnel and team compositions. It's all about understanding the building-occupancy relationships and the art and science of firefighting, Building Knowledge = Firefighter Safety (Bk=F2S)

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