202.12B Overhaul

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of overhaul operations?

To solely preserve evidence and secure the fire scene

To increase firefighter safety only

To reduce the incidence of secondary fires, control loss, and stabilize the incident scene (correct)

To eliminate all risks of rekindle

What is a rekindle in the context of firefighting?

The initial stage of a fire

A type of fire alarm system

A subsequent fire in a building, structure, pile of debris, or other, where a recent fire was previously extinguished (correct)

A type of firefighting technique

What is the goal of overhaul operations in terms of rekindle?

To make reasonable efforts to reduce the possibility of rekindle (correct)

To completely eliminate the risks of rekindle

To increase the risks of rekindle

To ignore the risks of rekindle

What is the purpose of searching for hidden fires and other indicators of fire during overhaul?

To ensure the fire is fully extinguished Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of effective overhaul activities?

To reduce the potential for secondary fires Signup and view all the answers

What should be the primary focus of the Incident Commander (IC) during overhaul operations?

Ensuring overhaul is conducted safely and efficiently Signup and view all the answers

What is a common tool used to detect and extinguish hidden fires or 'hot spots' during overhaul?

Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) Signup and view all the answers

What should be thoroughly examined during overhaul in areas showing evidence of extensive decomposition due to fire?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Why should insulation be removed in attic fires?

To reduce the risk of secondary fires Signup and view all the answers

Who is responsible for ensuring that the fire area has been reasonably overhauled?

The Incident Commander (IC) Signup and view all the answers

What should be done to assist the property owner/occupant during overhaul operations?

Providing the opportunity to remove personal possessions/valuables Signup and view all the answers

What should be done when evidence needs to be preserved?

Compare the importance of preserving evidence to the danger of immediately removing debris and extinguishing all traces of fire Signup and view all the answers

Why should the IC assess the need for additional post-incident inspections?

To prevent secondary fires in buildings that contain cellulose insulation Signup and view all the answers

Who should the IC coordinate with to schedule post-incident inspections?

Dispatch & Deployment Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Overhaul Operations

The goal of overhaul is to reduce the incidence of secondary fires, control loss, and stabilize the incident scene while providing for firefighter safety, preserving evidence, and securing the fire scene.

Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose insulation is a type of insulation that can pose special problems for the fire service, businesses, and building owners/occupants.
When exposed to heat, sparks or flames, cellulose insulation can create hot spots that can get buried deep inside the insulation.
Fire companies at structure fires that have cellulose insulation should follow standard operating procedures for obtaining all clear and fire control, identify cellulose insulation as soon as possible, and evaluate the use of fans based on its presence.

Effective Overhaul Activities

Effective overhaul activities help reduce the potential for secondary fires.
Overhaul activities include searching the fire scene to detect and extinguish hidden fires or "hot spots."
Suppression crews should open as many construction voids as reasonably possible to detect and extinguish hidden fires.

Hidden Fires

Reasonable fire suppression operations might not detect and extinguish small pockets of fire concealed in construction voids or hidden under debris.
Floor, wall or ceiling areas showing evidence of extensive decomposition due to fire should be thoroughly examined during overhaul.
Additional areas to check include wooden door jambs, air conditioning vents and registers, baseboards, door and window casings, metal to wood connections, ties, straps, conduits, and areas around light fixtures and electrical outlets.

Customer Relations

In the absence of an occupant services sector, the Incident Commander (IC) or the company officer should meet with the property owner/occupant to explain the reasons for overhaul operations.
The IC or company officer may escort the property owner/occupant through the fire area to explain the need for overhaul operations.

Post-Incident Inspections

The IC is responsible for ensuring that the fire area has been reasonably overhauled.
The company officer last leaving the scene is responsible for fire extinguishment, when possible.
Post-incident inspections include a walkthrough of the building or areas when safe to enter, searching for evidence of smoke or remaining hot spots, and examining materials below salvage covers.

Defensive Fires

Overhaul activities will not be conducted on structures that have been declared Defensive Fires.
Firefighter safety prohibits standard overhaul activities in structurally compromised buildings.
Crews will continue to apply water to hidden fire/hot spots from exterior positions until all fire is completely extinguished.

Evidence Preservation

Companies performing overhaul should compare the importance of preserving evidence to the danger of immediately removing debris and extinguishing all traces of fire.
In some cases, it may be necessary to monitor spot fires until investigators arrive on the scene.
Evidence should be removed under the direction of a fire investigator when circumstances prohibit preserving it in its original location.

Securing the Fire Scene

Securing the fire scene is also a function of overhaul.
Securing refers to actions required to protect the structure and contents from further loss after fire suppression companies have left the scene.
Actions include covering roof ventilation holes and broken windows to reduce weather damage and deter vandalism, and removing remaining glass shards from the frames of broken windows prior to installing covers or leaving the scene.

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Description

This policy outlines the standard operating procedures for the Phoenix Regional department, specifically covering the overhaul process. It is for internal use only and does not create a higher duty of care under the law.