Salvage

Question 1

List the potential causes of damage at a fire.

Answer 1

• Heat, smoke fumes and condensation.
• Water and other extinguishing agents.
• Debris, dirt and other breakages.
• Adverse weather conditions on exposed interiors.
• Deterioration of stock, plant, machinery, furniture etc not attended to after the fire.
• Vandalism and pilfering at insecure premises.

Question 2

State the sequence that salvage work should ideally follow.

Answer 2

1. Preliminary Inspections, 7(2)d’s, site visits.
2. Considerations during firefighting operations and early salvage considerations.
3. Active measures to prevent avoidable damage e.g. removal of property, covering with sheets etc.
4. Mitigating the effects of firefighting e.g amount of water being used, smaller jets, fog or spray.
5. Subsequent rehabilitation and protection of property. E.g moving property to a safe location, sheeting up roofs.

Question 3

State why we carry out salvage work.

Answer 3

• Legal obligation.
• Moral obligation.
• Financial implications.

Question 4

What practical considerations are there during salvage work?

Answer 4

• keeping amount of water used to a minimum.
• Can smaller jets, hose reels, fog and spray be used.
• Damaged or leaning hose must be replaced quickly.
• Use lines to haul hose up to the outside of buildings.
• Dry risers should be drained to the outside of the building.

Question 5

A financial saving will depend on what factors?

Answer 5

• The nature of the premises involved.
• The state of the fire when damage control operations began.
• The amount of damage control work carried out.

Question 6

Under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 Fire Authorities are required to do what?

Answer 6

‘To secure efficient arrangements for ensuring that reasonable steps are taken to prevent or limit damage to property resulting from the measures taken in dealing with fires in the area of the Fire Authority’.