Residential

Flashover research could change the future of firefighting tactics

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:29:00 +0000

Shane Ray

NIST researchers recently conducted a series of tests to study the effects of various firefighting techniques to prevent flashover -- and the results could alter the future of fireground tactics.

NIST's Spartanburg flashover tests

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:52:00 +0000

Firefighters in Spartanburg, S.C., battle a test burn of an abandoned house in an experiment to demonstrate new techniques for combating flashover. Researchers from NIST, the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, and state and local fire and safety officials participated in the tests.

Landmark study changes NFPA 1710, high-rise tactics

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:27:00 +0000

A consortium of public-safety organizations unveiled a study that uses field and computer-modeling data to determine the minimum high-rise fire crew size.

Many Americans clueless about residential fire safety (with related video)

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:09:00 +0000

My father consistently emphasized the fire dangers of little things, like not changing out the dryer’s lint trap or leaving an electric blanket on all night. It seemed like nagging at the time, but I’ve kept these lessons and passed them on.

Mutual Aid

Residential and nonresidential building fire estimates

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:49:00 +0000

USFA

Fire Estimate Summaries present basic data on the size and status of the fire problem in the U.S., as depicted through data collected by NFIRS. Each Fire Estimate Summary addresses the size of the specific fire or fire-related issue and highlights important trends in the data.

Shelby dwelling fire

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:34:00 +0000

Mike Ferdinande, Photographer

Late Thursday night Shelby Township (Mich.) firefighters responded to reports of a fire in a occupied dwelling. The first-arriving company found heavy fire going throughout a single story dwelling. The family was home at the time of the fire, but all escaped without injury. The house suffered severe damage from the fire.

Determining fire behavior with modern construction, furnishings (with related video)

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:09:00 +0000

By Vicki Schmidt -- Firefighters must understand at all times where they are located relative to alpha, bravo, charlie and delta. Knowing the sides of the box — especially when that box is a residential home — is paramount to situational awareness.

Mutual Aid

Changes needed in roof-ops thinking

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Compare going up on the roof of a burning building to a police officer confronting an armed bank robber. Police officers are trained to do everything they possibly can to avoid a gun fight — but they also are trained to survive a gun fight. We need to start shaping that mentality among the fire service as quickly as we possibly can.

Detroit box alarm response

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:17:00 +0000

Mike Ferdinande, Photographer

Early Wednesday morning Central Dispatch got a call for a possible fire in the area of Pilgrim and Shafer. When the first engine arrived on the still alarm they found a dwelling going throughout at the corner of Pilgrim and Snowden and would be stretching. They called for the box alarm and requested an extra engine for a possible second dwelling on fire. An offensive attack was taken to try and knock down the fire, but it was quickly spreading and the chief ordered an immediate evacuation. The fire was soon after brought under control with the exposure dwelling saved. No injuries were reported.

Van Buren Township apartment fire

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Mike Ferdinande, Photographer

The Van Buren Township (Mich.) Fire Department responded to a fire in a multiple-family dwelling. The first-arriving companies found heavy fire going through the roof of the apartment building. The fire spread to the adjacent units, forcing several families out of their homes.