LCS sounds
Splattering
Drumming
Distant rumble
LCS strikes a brick wall
LCS strikes side wall of wood building
LCS steam enters a window
Concerning LCS and water accumulation in a building. What are some facts
- An average TL stream of 500 gpm can deliver 4000 pounds per minute of water
- Most water will flow out of the building into the street
- An undetermined amount of water will be absorbed by the building materials and contents
- In an effort to limit the amount of water, a LCS should only be directed at flame, never at smoke
If a TL is used for final extinguishment, the IC must prepare for the
- Total building collapse and withdraw all members from inside the building
- Use of an LCS prior to an interior attack must be coordinated and approved by the IC
If a LCS is used for a TEMPORARY KNOCKDOWN of a large body of flame the IC needs to
- Firefighters inside the building must withdraw to a safe position on a floor below or outside the building
- IC must confirm that all firefighters are in a SAFE position before the LCS is used
- Firefighters will later re-enter to conduct interior firefighting
If an exterior master stream is used for FINAL EXTINGUISHMENT the IC needs to
- No firefighter shall remain inside the building during the master stream attack
- The structure may be weakened
- IC must prepare for total collapse of the building
- All firefighter outside the collapse zone
- The collapse zone is the distance away from the wall equal to one, one and a half or two times the height of the unstable wall
The aerial master stream is most effective by placing the nozzle
Close to the window of the building
The collapse zone for an aerial master stream will vary slightly because of the
Height of the nozzle above ground level
The tip of the aerial or bucket should be kept away from a weakened wall for a distance
Greater than the height of the wall above the bucket floor
When a wall is in danger of collapse the fire apparatus and the tip of the tower ladder must
Remain out of the collapse zone
The priorities of apparatus positioning are
First life safety which includes firefighters
Second is fire containment
This rule never changes
When using a master steam for a TEMPORARY knockdown of a large body of flame what procedures need to be followed
- Firefighters inside the building must withdraw to a safe position
- Interior firefighters must withdraw to a floor below or out of the building before the LCS is used
- The IC must confirm that all firefighters have withdrawn to a safe positions BEFORE the stream is used
When an exterior stream is used for FINAL extinguishment what are the procedures that need to be followed
- No firefighter shall remain inside the building
- The IC must prepare for collapse of the building
- All members outside the building move beyond the collapse zone
What is the area of the collapse zone
Distance away from the wall equal to one, one and half or two times the height of the unstable wall
The best way to gain control of a collapse rescue effort is for the officer in command to
- Issue specific assignments to officers who should assemble their company members and carry out the assignment
- Expand the ICS, assign officers areas and functions of responsibility
- Consider dividing operations into 2 branches, one for firefighting, one for collapse search and rescue when there is a collapse AND fire spreading at the same time
- Designate a victim tracking officer
- Use a collapse rescue plan
Regarding tunneling and trenching, according to Dunn which operation is safer
- Trenching
- Most often is performed
- Slower but safer
- Less chance of a secondary collapse
After establishing command at the scene of a collapse, one of the IC’s 1st actions must be
- RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE SCENE
- Have PD secure the collapse area ASAP
- Access points should be guarded by PD
- Only emergency vehicles, personnel, government officials and construction workers should be allowed to enter
During Dunn’s 2nd step of the collapse rescue plan what are the 4 important items to look for
- Secondary collapse danger
- Fire spread in the structure incl potential spread to sides/rear
- Access to the interior of the collapse that can be used by rescuers
- Trapped victims out of sight in the rear/side of the collapse area
