FIREFIGHTING MYTHS
RANDOM THOUGHTS ON
FIREFIGHTING DEPENDS on training, experience, tradition, and innovation to get the job done. Sometimes we are strapped by half-truths and myths that cloud our thinking or, in some cases, inhibit tactics and some strategies. Let’s explore some of the common myths that can influence our fireground decisions and actions.
The first objective at any occupied structural fire is rescue. This statement is etched on the lips of most firefighters and emergency responders. When asked what is the first priority of a fire service charged with locating, confining, extinguishing, and rescue, almost all of us will answer, “Rescue.” A truth or a myth?
Well, how do you know which of the “screamers” that you see in the front windows of the fire building is the most serious life hazard? How do you know that the ones in the front are in any real danger? How do you know that all rescue efforts in front are not wasting precious time while unseen victims at the other three sides of the fire occupancy are dying unseen?
With today’s manpower and response restrictions, you must prioritize your efforts. You can only answer for your life problem at the fire scene if you are able to perform the necessary rescues and removals in order of their exposure severity. You can only do that if your first priority is to mentally locate the fire -first!
Hand-in-hand with the commitment to life safety is the search tactic. Firefighters often get disoriented and lost during primary search tactics due to lack of visibility, training, panic, or any number of other reasons. That brings us to another firefighting myth:
Tossing your helmet from a window to the ground below is a universal sign that a firefighter is trapped within the burning building. This statement is only true if someone sees that helmet and also sees which window it came from! If the helmet is not seen, then you only accomplished throwing away one of your best pieces of protection. If you want the command post to know you’re trapped by throwing your helmet out of a window, make your way to the front of the building and throw the object into the center of the command center, preferably at someone!
The steel is glowing-don’t hit it with the line! Another myth. This was probable carried over by the theory that if you hit hot cast-iron columns with cold nozzle streams, they will shatter and collapse. This is partially true if the column was poorly cast. However, it bears no relation to tactics as they pertain to heated steel columns and beams.
Steel is elastic. It begins to expand or twist at 800°F or more. It fails (like a piece of ribbon) at 1,800°F or more. However, between those extremes, a correctly applied stream can do a great deal of good. The moving steel will stop in its tracks as the temperature of the member falls below 800 degrees. In fact, some engineers tell us that the steel will, in some cases, return to its original shape. If you see glowing steel, hit it with the line.
A brick wall will fall out to only one-third of its original height. This myth has been around for decades. I_____ fact, it is still listed as a fact in some o our surviving strategy and tactics texts Let’s put it to rest: A brick wall can and will fall out from the structure at least a high as it stands. The mythical thinking has been responsible for the loss o_____ many dollars in crushed fire equipment If collapse indicators forecast that a was will fall on the fireground, move man power and equipment away at least thi distance of the height of the suspected wall. Remember, too, that bouncing bricks can also cause injury, death, and needless damage to logistics.
New turnout clothing is designee to survive flashover conditions
Some clothing may survive flashover but you won’t! A firefighter does no survive a flashover. You must be able to detect the impending phenomenon be fore it occurs. You must be able to assess the rapid heat buildup before happens. New fire clothing is designee to give you more time to exit, knowing that flashover is going to occur. Then are patches and alarm devices on the market today that are designed to indicate to you when temperatures ap proach 300 degrees or more and are rising.
I overheard a fire chief tell one of the suppliers of these warning devices that he would never purchase them for his department. He didn’t want his ffte fighters running out of the buildiing until it was a least 500 degrees or more What do you say to someone like that? just mumbled, “Hey, Chief, this pot has boiling water in it. Why don’t you sticlyour hand in for awhile-it’ll never ge to be more than a sissy old 212 de grees!”
