FAMILY NARROWLY ESCAPE WASHINGTON TWP. FIRE

By Bill Tompkins – www.BTFirephotos.com

  A Washington Township home was quickly consumed by flames, forcing the residents to flee the house with just the clothes on their backs.

 Shortly before midnight on July 4^th, the WTFD was dispatched to 713 Tulane Ct. and on arrival found a large 2 ½ story frame dwelling with the attached two car garage fully involved and fire possessing much of the first and second floors.  A second alarm was called for bringing Westwood and Hillsdale to the scene. With the family confirmed out of the structure, the volume of fire, and downed arcing electrical lines to contend with, operations quickly went defensive.

 A tower ladder and deck gun and several handlines were put into operation in front of the building. Westwood was directed to the TD Bank parking lot in the rear to stretch through the trees to the house and to monitor the ember condition heading towards the bank building and other structures on Pascack Road.

 It took about two hours to knock down the heavy fire and start to release companies. No serious injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation.

This video features firefighters training in vehicle fires. Firefighters are safely positioned away from the ends of the vehicles involved in the simulation. Watch till the end of the video when the explosion and missle like launch of the strut goes off. The slow motion captures it the best...watch carefully.

New Chapel Fire Department appears to be operating in a two story wood frame dwelling. A firefighter on the interior is equipped with a helmet camera. During operations conditions worsen, and at one moment there appears to be a partial roof collapse. Firefighters are requested to back out. Date unkown.

Video care of www.firevideo.net

“Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate.”

Tactical Safety – An Area of Refuge

By Ray McCormack

At a fire many years ago my forcible entry partner started to force the door on the opposite side of the hallway from the fire apartment. Both my Captain and I stared on in disbelief, and then the Captain with his Irish brough said what we were both thinking “What are you doing? The fires over here!” Doc’s reply was “I’m securing an area of refuge”. I didn’t know whether to laugh or just shake my head. The Captain just told him we don’t need that. We chalked it up to Doc studying too hard, it still makes me chuckle that we might seek refuge from a trash can fire. But the sentiment and reality of an area of refuge for firefighters is a concept that must be understood and implemented prior to need...READ ALL

Firefighter video that features a collapse during operations. Firefighters have staged accordingly to avoid the collapse zone. WELL DONE!

If you do not believe attacking from a distance in situations like this is the right thing to do check here

July 2, 2009 [Date of Story]

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