Joseph Pronesti's Blog – June 2015 Archive (5)

You are called for a fire in the oldest area of your town or response area, as you hear the address you are instantly reminded that this is a rather large somewhat run down residence that was once considered a "mansion" 100 years ago when built, you have been there many times to assist the resident with his elderly invalid mother who resides in a bedroom facing the A side.

As you review the video simulation consider your thoughts:

1. At the front porch slide as you…

This week's fireground simulation focuses on an old nemesis of our great service, the bowstring truss. There are many types of the bowstring truss roofs and all bowstring trusses are not created equal and do not share the same characteristics when found in a building and occupancy.They may have the same shape, but shape alone does not define the bowstring truss. Based on the type, design, construction, materials, age, span, spacing, configuration, occupancy and application there are vast…

Its a hot July 4th mid-morning, you have finished the day's firehouse chores or maybe a volunteer firefighter at home planning your cookout with family when the house tones hit, or your pager goes off............ A resident of your town was working on his jet skis when a hot trouble light comes into contact with a flammable liquid puddle, there is a flash fire and he is burned was inside the garage with his wife and children.

That is this week's scenario involving a…

This week we will look at a fire that has originated on the rear deck of a multi-residential condominium complex constructed in the early 1980s. Access to the C or 3 side is difficult because it is built near a ravine and has a steep slope ladder access is going to be difficult or impossible. We all have some type of condo complexes and if this simulation is similar to something you have in your community great. The key take away this week is do you go for the fire knock on the C or 3 side…

This week's simulation involves a two story mixed use dwelling; the first floor houses a deli/small supermarket, the second floor is chopped up into several apartments. This building was built in the early 1930s. Based on this era, what type of construction would you assume? Go ahead and play out the scenario based on your departments response and apparatus. This building is similar to the one that burned in Buffalo New York in 2009 that claimed the lives of two firefighters. I have…