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FIRE OFFICER DEVELOPEMENT. INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER. NIOSH Fatality Investigations. Federal Mandate Reports found at: www.cdc.gov/niosh Reoccurring recommendation:
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FIRE OFFICER DEVELOPEMENT INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER
NIOSH Fatality Investigations • Federal Mandate • Reports found at: www.cdc.gov/niosh • Reoccurring recommendation: “…ensure that a separate Incident Safety Officer, independent from the IC, is appointed…responds automatically to pre-designated incidents.”
Applicable Standards • NFPA-1521 • EM-06 • EM-07 • EM-29 (references Increased Hazards)
Benefits of the Incident Safety Officer • Diminishes accident potential and enhances safety culture • Minimizes time lost due to injuries • Helps protect against liability • Maximizes Incident Commander focus • Instills safety-consciousness in the Firefighters themselves • Enhances efficiency and effectiveness
The Nature of Firefighters • Aggressive - want to get in • Action oriented • Results oriented • Risk-takers • Hot and cold influences on behavior • Fatigue (post incident) • Adrenaline burn – chemical imbalance? • What do we know about ourselves?
Duties of the ISO In it’s simplest form, the ISO evaluates: • Fire Behavior • Building Behavior - the environment • Firefighter Behavior This helps you READ the RISK!
Risk : A chance of damage, injury or loss Risk Management: process of minimizing the Chance, Degree, or Probability of damage, loss, or injury Risk Management
Classic Risk Management • Hazard identification • Hazard evaluation • Prioritize hazards • Control hazards • Monitor hazards
ISO identifies hazards Provides an assessment of hazards for IC Provides solutions to the IC Develops credibility Predicts injuries BEFORE they happen Makes a DIFFERENCE! The ISO as a Risk Manager
Why “Read” Smoke? To determine “HOW MUCH” fire
Why “Read” Smoke? To help find the LOCATION of the fire
Why “Read” Smoke? To help predict COLLAPSEpotential
Why “Read” Smoke? To help PRIORITIZE Strategies & Tactics
Why “Read” Smoke? To PROTECTFirefighters from a “HOSTILE FIRE EVENT”
The “ADVANCED” Basics Gases Concept #1: “Smoke” Is Fuel Aerosols Particulates
The “ADVANCED” Basics Concept #2: Fuels have changed - Mass and Make-up!
The “ADVANCED” Basics Concept 3: The Fuel has Triggers: • Flash Point • Fire Point • Ignition Temperature
The “ADVANCED” Basics How does “flammable range” factor in?
Flammable Range & the Three Fires Too Rich . . . Too Lean . . . Just Right . . .
“ HOSTILE ” Fire Events • Flashover • Backdraft • Smoke Explosion • Rapid Fire Spread
FLASHOVER WARNING SIGNS: • Turbulent Smoke • “Rollover” • Auto Ignition outside Smoke –Cloud Ignition is likely after flashover
BACKDRAFT Remember – Backdraft is triggered by O2 being introduced to a pressurized “box” • Yellowish-grey smoke • Whistling • Bowing windows • “Sealed” containers
SMOKE EXPLOSION Remember – A Smoke Explosion is a spark or flame applied to a mixture below its ignition temperature • Trapped gases in upper areas • Growing fire • Increasing smoke density • Air intake overtaking smoke exiting
RAPID FIRE SPREAD Usually “Container” Influenced SMOKE is the Fuel that is spreading the fire Look for fast moving smoke in high pressure zones May result from another “event”
“ Reading Smoke” • Observations are typically made from outside - inside observations hide the “real” picture.
“ Reading Smoke” • Nothing is absolute • Visible FIRE is easy to read - look past it for the real story • Compare vent openings
The ART of Reading Smoke A 4-STEP PROCESS to help predict fire behavior and hostile events
Step 1:Evaluate Key Factors • Volume • Velocity (Pressure) • Density • Color
VOLUME • Always relative to the “Box” • Tells “how much” fuel has off-gased • Sets the Stage
VELOCITY (Pressure) • How fast is the smoke leaving? • Can indicate volume or heat • Helps find the location of the actual fire
DENSITY • Most Important Factor • Quality of Burning • Continuity of Fuel • Likelihood of an event • “Degree” of the Event
COLOR • Rarely tells “material burning • Stage of Heating • Location of Fire • Amount of Flaming • “Brown” Smoke
Step 2: Weigh Factors • Container (most important factor) • Thermal Balance • Weather • Firefighting efforts
Step 3: Judge the Fire Status Are conditions getting better or worse?
Stable -predictable Classify the Fire: Rapidly changing -predictable Unstable/Unpredictable
Step 4: Predict the EVENT Consider that: • One hostile event can - and usually will - lead to another event. • Communicate your observations. • Warning Signs are not always visual – use your KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCE. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS…
Some other “Tricks” Watch open doorways - watch what the smoke does – and what the fresh air does!
THE ART OF READING SMOKE Some Examples
The Science of Predicting Collapse The “Science of Predicting Collapse” is actually A “ 5 STEP-APPROACH” to evaluating collapse potential.
Methods/Types of Construction • Fire Resistive • Non-Combustible: Steel, concrete, masonry, glass • Ordinary:Load-bearing masonry exterior wall, combustible interior construction • Heavy Timber (Mill) • Wood Frame:Platform, Balloon, Lightweight • Hybrids?
Relationship of Mass/Fire Resistance • The most prevalent reason the year 2002 fire is different than the 1980 fire! • Most interior Firefighting tactics are based on a 1950’s structure! • Mass = Fire Resistance
The 1950’s Building • Most Members are in COMPRESSION • Connections are “through” the materials • MASS not MATH • Fire Loading at 8000 BTUs per Pound
2000 & Beyond • Members in TENSION • Connections are surface attached • MATH not MASS • Fire Loading is 16,000+ BTUs #
Lightweight Construction • Trusses Throughout • Engineered Wood: Waste Wood Glued and Pressed Particles • Composites • Experimentation Methods
Step 1: Classify the Type • Generalize Type of Construction • FR, NC, O, HT, & WF • **Hybrid** • Strengths & Weaknesses • Fire behavior within type • Fire spread potential • Hazards vs. Tactics
Step 2: Determine Structural Involvement • Structural Fire or Contents Fire • Connections Involved • Protective Barriers Compromised • Lightweight components off-gassing
STEP 3:Visualize Load Imposition • Visually “Undress” the Building • Bring in your Knowledge of Materials – and how they react in fire • Weak Links?