This installment of 'One Picture' gives us lots to talk about so let's toss out a few questions: Let's imagine we pull into the block on W. 163rd St. and find fire showing from side one (1) on the fifth floor. We must always consider where the fire is currently located and where it's going. What would we assume these two aerial ladders and the tower ladder were trying to accomplish with their placement? Did the first due roof firefighter(s) take the express to the roof (aerial ladder), or did they try the fire escape? Can we even get to the roof via a front fire escape? What can you tell us about the structure and its inherent hazards? Notice anything in the windows? Time for questions is over, now it's up to you to give us some answers...
Aerials for the roof men, Tower OVM
ReplyDeleteHard to see on the roof access from the fire escape but I am going to say no based on the distance between the top floor windows an roof edge.
Child guards in the windows. Probaly energy efficient windows. This building is not as "old" as they would like it to appear or has been renovated.
I am not employed by the FDNY, so my answers might not be “correct.” I use to “buff” at 84/34 “Where Harlem Meets the Heights” in the 80’s, so let me see how I will do with these questions. This building might be an “H” or “X” type building with some “throats”
ReplyDeleteWhat would we assume these two aerial ladders and the tower ladder were trying to accomplish with their placement?
One Ladder is to the fire-building roof as a primary means to gain access to the roof and the other Ladder is the second means of egress from the roof. That building might have a “throat” on side 1 (A) just pass the fire escape and the Ladder is located there or to the exposure building. The roof-man from each Ladder Co. meet on the roof and work together to accomplish assigned tasks. Walk the roofline and look for people showing from windows. Prepare for pickoffs if needed. Start vertical ventilation from pre-existing openings and gain access to the bulkhead door. If needed, start saw work to accomplish ventilation needs.
The Tower OVM could take the bucket to the fire escape/fire floor, or he could take the fire escape. Duties change for that position if it is a top floor fire versus a lower floor fire.
Did the first due roof firefighter(s) take the express to the roof (aerial ladder), or did they try the fire escape?
I would think it would be faster and safer to take the aerial ladder to the roof.
Can we even get to the roof via a front fire escape?
NO, the fire escapes do not go to the roof on the front of the building! It is not an absolute, but normally the front fire escape does not have a scuttle or gooseneck to the roof on the street side
What can you tell us about the structure and its inherent hazards? Notice anything in the windows?
The windows have child safety window guards. http://www.fdnyfirezone.org/download/apartment_fire_safety-en.pdf
They can block a firefighters means of egress, make it difficult to transition form the aerial to the window.
There are window mounted A/C units on some floors, again can block means of entry/egress and can fall on people below.
The fire escape can be a hazard if not maintained well. The drop down ladder might fall of the escape if rusted or vandalized, a good practice is to stand under the escape when engaging the ladder, when in doubt use a portable (ground, roof, flat) ladder to access.
I have a limited view of the building/street, but it is important to be disciplined in apparatus positioning. You are dealing with two rear mounted straight sticks and a mid-ship tower. Blocking out access with engines can increase the setback and cause the tip to be short of an ideal transfer to the roofline.
Pretty long winded for an Engine Guy.
A simple point to add and mostly because it has caused me grief more than once is that it appears to be a corner building. For anyone who have yet to experience this grief finding the correct entrance can be a real headache.
ReplyDeleteStretching into the wrong building is a real possibility if the correct entrance into the building isn't identified. If the first due roof man decided to gain access to the roof by going up the interior stairs of the building adjoining the fire building then crossing to the fire building found himself in the fire building it would be an issue.
In addition the outside vent man can end up a hero or a zero in the case of a corner building. Identifying the correct window to make entry into the fire apartment,( it sounds like it should be obvious but trust me it always isn't), can be a tough task. The fire escape that is showing might not be the fire escape that gets you into the fire apartment. In the case of an "H" style building you may end up in a portion of the building, (a wing) that is isolated from the wing where the fire apartment is located. If the OVM decides to use the tower ladder and the tower ladder is not located to gain access to the correct wing then it makes for a long day.
If you have any corner or attached buildings even if its new construction like a strip mall, townhouse, garden apts, etc take a second to figure the building out. Guess thats called size up.......
What would we assume these two aerial ladders and the tower ladder were trying to accomplish with their placement?
ReplyDeleteThe 2 aerials are the 2 required ways off for the roof crew (notice the foremost one just makes it). The tower could be opening adjoining apartments, making a pick/dropping off personnel on the fire escape?
Did the first due roof firefighter(s) take the express to the roof (aerial ladder), or did they try the fire escape?
Depends, probably the stick. But even if there was no roof ladder on the fire escape, you could force the apt windows and take the interior stairs to the roof if the hallway is tenable.
Can we even get to the roof via a front fire escape?
Maybe, see above.
What can you tell us about the structure and its inherent hazards?
Most likely balloon frame with common cockloft and voids throughtout the building (including trash/air shafts), windows look old single pane type, stairs are probably winders, defintely a cellar with the storefront on the first floor, no ac's in the windows, most likely plaster and lathe.
Notice anything in the windows?
Child bars, quick work for an ov man with a hook and halligan.
Do you really want to force entry in a window and take the interior stairs to gain access to the roof?
ReplyDeleteUnless you know the building has more than 2 roof staircase accesses then I wouldn't. Conditions could decline rapidly on the fire floor and those staircases are now chimneys and your at the top and can't get the door open. They are supposed to have a panic bar on them and should be easily opened from the inside. But sometimes you find a second lock on these doors and they may have to be forced. And if you cant force it you in for a world of hurting.
A well placed ladder is the safest and quickest way to the roof and have another truck, ladder the roof at a different spot than the position of the ladder you came up on as your second means of egress.