Unique structure fire today (pics included)...

[Halligan]

Those are some cool pictures!!!!!:congrats: :congrats: :congrats:

Ken, I see a lot of people are mentioning the guy without the turnout gear. It's sad to say, but if you go to the infamous youtube, and watch some videos of big name fire departments you'll see very similar things in the footage. For instance, a boston fire video out there where guys are cutting some holes without breathing air. There is thick black smoke gushing out of these holes, and you cant even see the guys working near it. You see when they exit the roof that they never even breathed air from their SCBA. These are not volunteer departments, these are BIG NAMES!!! Boston Fire, LAFD, etc. It may not be full gear, but it's still not what it should be.

I'm not trying to throw any particular department under the bus - hell we make our share of mistakes too. I'm just pointing out, that firefighters everywhere fight fire without being 'safe' sometimes.

 

[NBT]

Those are some cool pictures!!!!!:congrats: :congrats: :congrats:

Ken, I see a lot of people are mentioning the guy without the turnout gear. It's sad to say, but if you go to the infamous youtube, and watch some videos of big name fire departments you'll see very similar things in the footage. For instance, a boston fire video out there where guys are cutting some holes without breathing air. There is thick black smoke gushing out of these holes, and you cant even see the guys working near it. You see when they exit the roof that they never even breathed air from their SCBA. These are not volunteer departments, these are BIG NAMES!!! Boston Fire, LAFD, etc. It may not be full gear, but it's still not what it should be.

I'm not trying to throw any particular department under the bus - hell we make our share of mistakes too. I'm just pointing out, that firefighters everywhere fight fire without being 'safe' sometimes.

Yep, thats for sure... it's our nature to want to help, without due regard for our own safety. Face it...were all kind of nuts...:rock: Still a lot of "old" school" out there.
Take it a step further...
A few years ago we purchased a gas powered fan vs. electric for vent... for the obvious reasons...portability, electric cords & water don't mix, better CFM, ect. A few month's after using the fan, we started doing atmospheric monotoring inside the structure during overhaul. (Most of the time, we would not wear SCBA during overhaul...usually a particle mask to protect from insulation, dust...ect.
What we found out was... the exhaust given off by the fan was poisoning our guy's (carbon monoxide) inside during overhaul. Even though the fan was located on/in the exterior of the opening/doorway.
Needless to say...don your SCBA...during and even after the fire is out, and your doing overhaul, debris removal, foam ops, ect.:rock:

 

[EMT/SRT]

Yeah, Kenny. Our fire chief was out of town when the fire happened and came back that afternoon and was online looking at the photos and called me and asked how many were "packed-out". I told him and he wasn't too happy. The thing that didn't go through my mind was we were called to a funeral home and didn't even think of the chemicals they use. Luckily they didn't keep any in that garage. Needless to say, I was glad I packed-out from the get go. Photos are excellent learning tools.

 

[Halligan]

Yep, I agree. I've done overhaul a few times (since I'm a probie), and have been packed out until our FIT (field incident technician and/or safety officer) say the atmosphere is ok. There's one guy in your photo that has his nomex over his mouth and nose!!!! lol ....the SCBA is so much more comfortable!!!

I really want to enjoy retirement one day and not have to worry about all of the carcinogens that I was exposed to, etc. They really imposed the risk-benefit analysis. Only risk a lot, if you're going to save a lot. I don't think I could risk my health by not wearing an SCBA and/or turnouts to save an empty structure or one full of dead bodies . We'd get our asses chewed out for not being packed out. lol