Basement Firefighting

12 Questions

What is the potential hazard of installing solar panels on a roof?

They create a potential ignition source and electrical shock hazard

What is the effect of green roofs on roof ventilation?

They make roof ventilation difficult

What is the risk associated with lightweight building materials?

They accelerate structural failure

What is the difficulty in fighting basement fires?

The risk of injury or death to firefighters

What is the recommended tactic for softening the target in a basement fire?

Applying water through a window or from the exterior through a grade-level basement entrance

What is the worst-case scenario in a basement fire?

Falling through the first floor into a well-involved fire in the basement

What is the effect of ventilation on ventilation-limited fires?

It intensifies the fire rapidly

What is the importance of checking for heat and controlling doors in a basement fire?

To prevent the spread of heat, smoke, and toxic gases

What is the concern when firefighters work on the floor above a basement fire?

The risk of falling through the floor into the fire below

What is the result of venting in the absence of effective suppression during UL test fires?

It has a negative effect on structural stability

What is the concern with standard measures used to test floor stability?

They are late indicators and not entirely reliable

What is the result of NIST's research using fire models after a fatal fire?

It showed a distinct flow path from the basement up the stairway and out the front door

Study Notes

Green construction is becoming more prevalent with the installation of green roofs and solar panels.
Green roofs make roof ventilation difficult and add substantial weight to the roof.
Solar panels create a potential ignition source and electrical shock hazard.
Lightweight building materials generally accelerate structural failure.
Changes in the density and dimensions of newer lumber have compounded the problem of structural failure.
Basement fires have always presented a difficult and dangerous problem.
Advancing a hose line down the interior stairway from the first floor to the basement is a difficult and dangerous tactic.
Softening the target by applying water through a window or from the exterior through a grade-level basement entrance may provide the cooling effect needed to allow firefighters to enter the basement.
Firefighters are at significant risk of injury or death when fighting fires in basements or floors below grade level.
Fire departments should conduct a complete 360 size-up to locate possible exterior attack positions and reassess fire conditions prior to conducting interior operations.

The text discusses the dangers of fighting fires in basements.
Response to a basement fire in Ohio was delayed due to difficulty locating the building.
Upon arrival, moderate smoke was visible and all occupants were out of the house.
Two firefighters entered the basement with a hose line and encountered heat and a glow to their left.
Collapse times for various floor support systems were studied in a UL report in 2012.
Collapse of all floor systems tested would occur either before or during fire unit response time.
Basement fires range from small fires to large industrial fires with extra-hazard fuel loads.
Venting in the absence of effective suppression had a negative effect on structural stability during UL test fires.
Standard measures used to test floor stability are late indicators and not entirely reliable.
Falling through the first floor into a well-involved fire in the basement is the worst-case scenario.
Heat and gases from a fire travel upward and then horizontally.
Ventilation-limited fires intensify rapidly when air is introduced.
Opening doors in a basement fire allows heat, smoke, and toxic gases to travel upward and out.
Checking for heat and controlling doors is crucial when opening doors to basements.
After a fatal fire, NIST conducted research using fire models to determine heat conditions.
The model showed a distinct flow path from the basement up the stairway and out the front door.
Temperatures on the basement stairway were as high as 1508°F (820°C).
Ceiling temperatures on the first floor were in the same range as in the stairway.
Floor collapse is a major concern when combating a basement fire.
Firefighters working on the floor above could fall through the floor into the fire below.