Evacuate or take the fire first

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Art Zern on May 19, 2008 at 10:52pm

Generally, keeping in mind that nothing is 100% the priority is to get water on the fire by getting the first line in service and on the fire.

Permalink Reply by Anthony Avillo on May 21, 2008 at 6:40am

Get water on the fire. Protection in place is a main priority. Many times, the door to the fire apat is left open and the hallway turns into a furnace. We have found that anyone out of ther apt in these conditions never makes it out of the hallway. We have had several major high rise fires where even the people on the fire floor in adjacent apts were protected in place. It depends on the conditions in the hallway and if the apt door is closed on whether they are evacuated, but the main priority in regard to this question is to get water on the fire. A line on th fire is between the main problem and the victims, right where it should be. Put the fire out and all the other problems go away

Permalink Reply by Eddie Henderson on May 21, 2008 at 7:53am

Thanks Chief Zern

Permalink Reply by Eddie Henderson on May 21, 2008 at 7:53am

Thanks Chief Avillo

Permalink Reply by Mike Walker on June 7, 2008 at 7:41am

Hey Eddie

Our department attempts to do both simultaneously. With that being said, the Fire-Attack Stairwell has to be clear of civilians above the fire floor before attack is comensed. To expidite fire-attack, we attempt to move evacuees from the Fire-Attack Stairwell over to the Evacuation Stairwell. Fire-attack is delayed until we clear out the chimney but the lines are established and on standby until the stairwell is cleared.

BUT if the smoke is exiting out a window and not infiltrating the building, we put the fire out ASAP.

In other words, we let the situation dictate our tactics.

Permalink Reply by Eddie Henderson on June 7, 2008 at 7:19pm

Thanks Chief Walker