It’s funny to hear that many people think that vertical ventilation is SO dangerous, yet the some of the same people believe PPV is the answer to everything. This video proves that there are dangers associated with PPV as well. It is unfortunate to point out that the reporter seems to know more about the hazards of PPV than some of the people who actually use it. Don’t get us wrong, we are not bashing the use of PPV, we are questioning the “use it on everything” approach practiced by some departments. We are not implying that the department shown in this video did that, we a simply using the video as the training tool they intended it to be. They should be commended for sharing this valuable lesson. Besides, listen to what was said at 3:48 in the video, because of what they experienced, this department changed the way they will use PPV in the future. Sometimes it’s more important to know when not to do something, then to know how to do something.
http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/ppvmakesitworse.flv
Video from KUTV Channel 2

Lieutenant Nate Quartier from Ormond Beach (FL) Engine 94 sent in these photos of something the crew was discussing around the firehouse. One of the brothers, Jim Peter was telling the crew about a new residential security door he saw at the local home improvement store. So after a short discussion, the crew loaded up and headed to the store for some impromptu in-service training. (Which is a great idea, an amazing amount of training opportunities await us there.) At first glance the door appears to look like any other residential door, but the price tag alone should let you know it has something a little extra. (Of course the price won’t be known when we come across it on a structure.) The door is an outward swinging door with an extra lip over the jamb to cover the traditional gap, and the hinges are more substantial, more like hinges found on some commercial doors. Upon closer inspection, it becomes obvious what sets this door apart from the others. It basically has six deadbolts (4 in the middle, and one top and one bottom) that are all controlled by a single lock mechanism.

Below is a video for the product. Don’t mind the fact that it is a promotional video, it still has some good information about the construction of the door. We certainly question their forcible entry demonstration, but it seems that through-the-lock would be the simplest way to go on this one. Speaking of their forcible entry techniques… That is why it is important to train, study different doors, and lock mechanisms, and to identify and visualize when forcing a door. No one who ever wears our uniform should look that ridiculous when faced with a challenging door.

We are not trying to be overly redundant here. We know this video is all over the internet already, but we wanted to get a copy of it up here for the archive purposes. We also wanted to thank the numerous people who emailed us the heads up on this video. Apparently, Allen Bell from Dover Fire captured this video on his HelmetCam of a Randolph (NJ) firefighter having to perform a headfirst ladder bailout. Fortunately, the firefighter who bailed only suffered minor injuries.
http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/randolphbail.flv
Head first ladder bailouts have always been a somewhat controversial topic in the fire service. It’s one of those things that you hope to never have to rely on, but nice to have in your bag of tricks if the time comes. It appears that this firefighter was attempting to perform the rotation or spin maneuver on the ladder in order to some down the ladder feet first. There are pros and cons to that. Hopefully someone can get us more details on the situation in the near future. Like everything else we have on the site, please use this video as a training opportunity for you and your crew.

…On a side note, there are a number of other things happening on the fireground that could also serve as learning opportunities also…

We hope the injured firefighter has a speedy recovery!

Captain Dale Pekel from Wauwatosa Fire (WI) and Elm Grove Fire (WI) sent in this informative video of a simple but effective training prop he has developed. The prop is simple to build, easy to set-up and break down, and doesn’t cost more than $200. The prop has a number of different configurations that allow it to be changed up to make some of the drills more challenging. Take a look at the video to see the various different techniques that can be practiced on this prop. This prop would be useful for performing quick drills around the firehouse that can be incorporated into more full scale drills at a later date. It would also be handy to have set-up at the firehouse during inclement weather that makes training outside a challenge.
http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/props/windowprop.flv

A friend from a Baltimore City Truck Company sent this video over to us from a Rapid Fire Event that happened in Baltimore on Friday. BCFD crews were operating on scene of a occupied row house where they had a well advanced fire upon arrival. We are simply calling this a Rapid Fire Event because we don’t want to cause any arguments over whether it was a Flashover, Backdraft, or something else. The terminology is not the important thing here. Watch the video, and wait for the detailed reports come out in the few months, LEARN FROM THEM. That’s what the post is about. (You may have to let the video load once, and click it again to actually view it, we are working on fixing that…)

From what we understand the first Truck Company on scene’s tillerman laddered & VES’d the second floor front while the roof man vented a few skylights, and reached over to pop the rear second floor windows. As the roofman began to come down the ladder, he described a sound of a “freight train coming through” when the Rapid Fire Event occurred. It caused venting out of every opening in the entire house including the second floor and skylights. It is important to point out that the first Truck Company on scene should have been the second due Truck Company under normal conditions. However, the regular first due Truck Company was closed as a result of rotating closures for manpower. It is tough to say whether or not this created enough of a delay in the performance of Truck Company functions to have contributed to the event from occurring. We only mention it here to highlight the significance of the need to perform Truck Functions early.

The fire appears to have started in the basement, which was also where the rapid fire event appears to have begun. Apparently the engine crew was delayed in making it into the basement and truly getting to the seat of the fire due to a large amount of contents in the basement.

Preliminary reports were that seven members were injured as a result of this event with mostly minor burns and a dislocated shoulder. We understand that the officer of the Engine Company is still hospitalized, but in stable condition. We wish all of the members a speedy recovery!

Here’s another video we shot a while back that we recently came across. This video shows the framing square forcible entry technique. We originally featured this technique a few years ago, click here to see the original write-up. The technique involves using the rotary saw and a framing square to manipulate panic hardware. The benefit to this technique is that this allows the door to be secured afterward. A simple strip of duct tape over the kurf you made in the door and you are good to go. The building will be able to be secured until the building owner can get the door repaired (weld or bondo?) This technique is certainly not something that could, or would be used often but you may find a situation when you could utilize it. This technique WOULD NOT be necessary on a door like the one shown here, this was the only door available at the time.
http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/framingsquare.flv

http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/portlandroof.flv
Gotta love this. This is an Associated Press video from Portland (OR.) Check out how quick conditions improve, when it’s coming out like that it’s no longer beating up the crews inside. Unfortunately the video starts a little later than we would have liked to have shown, but you get the point. It appears that they are just finishing punching through the ceiling below as the video starts. While we understand that many departments do not support vertical ventilation, it’s hard not to agree with its effectiveness (that is not an invitation to argue it here either.) Some people get startled when it lights off like that, remember, that’s what’s supposed to happen. This allows the crews inside to press-on to the seat of the fire and take care of business. A vent like this DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES the conditions on the inside. Get the vent and get off the roof, job well done.

http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/campertraining.flv
We’re not even sure what to say about this one. A camper, live fire and a leaf blower… Really?
This video was sent to us by our friends over at thebravestonline.com

Dan Dejkunchorn (D-Chorn) from Orlando (FL) Firehouse 9 showed us this great method to assist in throwing ladders. This method works great in a number of different instances. The first is when throwing a stick where an overhang is present and there is nothing available to butt it against. Another use is when on a hard surface where the stick may tend to slide like wet concrete. While this method works well in a number of different circumstances, the real reason it was developed was for the “not as tall” firefighter. This method works well on any length of ladder but was intentionally developed for the longer ones (14+). Just another example that proves that it’s better to work smarter not harder.

This ladder tick simply has the firefighter dropping their hook on the ground, stepping on the hook, and using the hook to butt the ladder. With a little practice, this method can be extremely effective. It’s one of those things that everyone should try a few times to see if works for them. You never know when you may be in a situation that requires its use. The video shows the firefighter using the ladder to push the hook into the desired position. That was done intentionally for demonstration in the video. With some practice, it’s easier to drop the hook closer to the actual point of deployment. Keep in mind, it’s better to drop the hook early and push it in to place since it would take too much time to move or pull the hook back into position.

When a shorter firefighter throws a ladder greater than the 14, its more difficult to “get under” the ladder to get it rotated into position. The hook gives the advantage since leverage is not on their side. Throwing a ladder is a classic example of a class 3 lever. The butt of the ladder is the fulcrum, the firefighter is the effort, and the weight of the length of ladder is the load. Shorter firefighters have to work harder to throw a ladder because their height limits the location where the force is applied. Longer ladders have more weight beyond the point of effort (the firefighter). While throwing the ladder, this makes the ladder seem much heavier for the shorter person. Remember, anytime you change the location of any of the three points of a lever (fulcrum, force or effort, weight or load) you change the mechanical advantage. So again, it pays to work smarter not harder. A simple trick like this solves the problem and gets the ladder into position without extra effort.

A special thanks goes out to Dan for sharing and Rob Petroff from Orlando (FL) Firehouse 11 for demonstrating this ladder trick for us. Dan has a few more ideas that we will be featuring in the near future.

We recently found some videos we shot over a year and a half ago, and we decided to knock the dust off of them and finally start to post them. The first video is a simple demonstration of cutting hinges for making entry. Obviously for this particular door, the window would be the easier option, but the skill was performed simply for demonstration purposes. When discussing cutting hinges a few questions come to mind: What order do you cut the hinges? Do you have a standard order? Why or why not? Does it even matter? Well, as shown in this video, our method is to start with the top hinge, then attacking the bottom hinge, and finishing with the middle hinge. This order allows you to make the most difficult cut (top hinge) first. Then the bottom hinge, while the door is still retained by the middle hinge. Finally, finishing off with the middle hinge allows you to be standing up in a neutral position when the door if finally released from the jamb. Another simple tip is to stand on the building side of the door, instead of right in front of the door itself. Again just in case to door lets loose before it’s expected to. It may be totally insignificant, but this technique works quite well.
http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/hinges.flv