Pa. Chief hailed as hero
I was reading and watching an article on firehouse.com and I had some serious concerns about this "Heroic" Move the chief made!
Anyway I do not want to form opinions but I ask that you go to this link and read and watch the footage and give your feedback!
Here is the skinny A major working fire in a bowstring constructed bowling alley and the chief jump in a ladder tower and moved it ......outriggers out......ladder up with firefighters in the bucket......
Watch the raw footage and read the article
Also you can leave the anonymous comments!
related Link
Anyway I do not want to form opinions but I ask that you go to this link and read and watch the footage and give your feedback!
Here is the skinny A major working fire in a bowstring constructed bowling alley and the chief jump in a ladder tower and moved it ......outriggers out......ladder up with firefighters in the bucket......
Watch the raw footage and read the article
Also you can leave the anonymous comments!
related Link
posted by Roark at Thursday, April 12, 2007
9 Comments:
Wow !!!
Here's Mine, if the men that were in danger are okay with it! I am. If not, then it doesn't need to happen again. I know there are alot of danger associated with the move, but they were there, I wasn't so as long as all involved can live with it, I can too!
Just glad everybody is alive to tell the tale!
My point is why in the world did they placed the truck so close to the building? Just questions I was thinking about
How about that fire behavior!
That building really took off. I guess you never know what can happen, probably thought upon arriving that the fire would not react that way. I would say a good move if it prevented injury, and probably saved the truck.
I agree that if it prevented injury I am cool with it! But with a litte training in truck placement I believe that this whole situation could have been prevented.
Now I am not a truck company kind of guy! so you folks that love truck work tell me what do you think of putting the truck that close to the building. At least they put it a the corner of the building.
I would also like to see how much damage was done to the ladder truck. The info that I gathered was that the Chief moved the truck with the outriggers down!
Thanks for the comments; "Monday" morning quaterbacking can teach us all!
Roark
After watching the video a few times and looking at some pictures from the scene, I guess the Chief did what he thought was best.
Reading the different posts on a few different forums, the fire was not that big at the beginning, but the FDs went Defensive...Really good decision IMHO..Bowstring Construction - no since taking a chance there. The tower that was moved was on the back side and the fire just rapidly moved in that direction. In a couple of pictures it looks like they were working in the eaves at the unburned side...Could have acted like a chimney
The Aerial, (E-One) should not have moved with the Aerial out of the cradle. While moving it backwards a discharge was damaged. The unit is currently Out of Service while that repair is made, E-One checks to see why it moved when they say it shouldn't have and then it will be recertified.
They appear to just be the recipients of fast changing and very fast moving fire.
Here are some links to pictures and a forum from central PA.
http://www.fire-ground.com/Rb_3.jpg
http://www.fire-ground.com/RB_4.jpg
http://www.fire-ground.com/RB_5.jpg
http://www.centralpafire.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17633
Stay Safe!
Tim
Thanks Tim,
Tim is a Sgt. with Bristol Tn. Fire. Tim also serves as an aerial ops instructor.
Thanks again Tim for the info
Tim just to play both sides in your opinion do you thank that if the tower was placed a little futher from the building could this have been prevented?
and once again should the Chief be anywhere other than at a command post?
Roark
Here is a pic of Tower 50 early in the fire. http://www.centralpafire.com/forum/gallery2.php?g2_itemId=1724
My best guess is that they thought they could position here and stop the fire. I think that they underestimated the fire and its possible potential.
Here are to youtube links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ebiZeORgE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISAJz_i2kZk
After looking at the early pictures of this call and the overal locations of the units I believe theythought they could stop this fire. I believe opening the eaves/roof/wall on the side is a big factor in why the fire came at them the way it did. Think about basic FF1, Do we open the roof above the fire OR on the other side of the building.
As far as the chief moving the truck, I think that this was a mutual aide company and he was with this piece of equipment.
As far as placement in my opinion, I am a strong advocate of parking at the corner and being at Least 1.5x of the height away from the building. The tower in question I think is a 95 E-One with 92' vertical reach and 82.5' horizontal reach. So they could have parked further away. I have been unable to find any info as to what their initial assignment.
I'm not one for arm chair comments or to point fingers. But when you think of a bowling alley, what comes to mind first? Multiple types of petroleum lubricants!!! What are thes lubricants in constant contact with? Polyurethane "seasoned" wood floors, not to mention drop ceilings with massive void spaces. And bowstring construction in this matter... this fire had disaster written all over it from the start.
All initial units showed have been positioned outside the collapse zone. The building could have been cleared upon the initial companies arrivals leaving no possibility of a rescue. I know we all hate to "surrond and drown", but that's why a bussiness of this size has replacement insurance coverage. PTB!!! EGH!!!
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