FC022-Attic Fires

Core Competency Drill

FC022—Attic Fires Length: 2 HOURS REFERENCE: BVFD S.O.G.s Fire Tactics for DESCRIPTION AND EXPECTED PERFORMANCE: The purpose of this drill is Attic Fires. Review current NFPA standards, for personnel to understand the dynamics of working Attic fires. Fire tactics UL research and NIOSH studies for Attic fires are different when working in roof divisions, and fire behavior/smoke condi- and best practices. tions may provide unique challenges to firefighters due to the location of fire being directly overhead. Firefighters will simulate and practice fire attack.

Equipment, Props, Information or Other Resources Needed: Your personally assigned bunker gear to include SCBA, mask, hel- met, gloves, Nomex hood, bunker coat, bunker pants, suspenders, and boots. You will need an attic ladder and a ceiling access to your building. The Captain will lead the drill and provide adlib information to this drill as needed.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS DRILL

Attic Fires: If you’re going inside to get at the fire, you’re likely going to have to attack it from below. The good news: You won’t be trying to go down into a blast furnace, like at a basement fire. The bad news: The attic contents can fall down on top of you.

In the case of the self-venting fire, vertical ventilation is already done for you, and if the heat and smoke are venting upward and out of the building, visibility below might be quite good. Tip: On your way up to the attic, close doors throughout the house to minimize the spread of smoke. As operations continue, you might consider using positive pressure ventilation (PPV), if vent open- ings are already in place in the attic.

Remember, however, that the fresh air will feed an oxygen-starved fire, which may result in a flashover. This is why it’s crucial to coordinate ventilation and fire attack, and ensure that the attack is made with a hoseline capable of flowing the volume of water necessary to match or exceed the energy from the fire.

Select a hoseline, the tools you will need in full gear, and simulate entry and where and when you would pull ceiling.

Venting the attic is key to accessing the Attic:

If you can’t open the roof safely, open gable ends if they’re present. A chainsaw can widen the gable end opening if necessary, creating a “window” to the attic.

Remember that in many attics, there’s no actual floor, just beams, insulation and drywall on the underside of the beams. One misstep up in the attic, and you’ll quickly find yourself on the floor below.

Practice laddering the building and show where and how big you would make an access for fire attack to the attic of a common residential structure. Do not cause any damage and do not cut any holes unless on a prop.