Questions and Answers
What is a crucial factor in understanding fire behavior and building construction for firefighters and Incident Commanders?
What is a common difficulty in attic fires that firefighters must consider?
What is a key characteristic of attic fires, according to Underwriters Laboratories (UL) research?
What can happen to the plastic ridge vent in an attic fire?
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What can be a challenge for firefighters executing searches in the cool and clear space below the attic?
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What may not necessarily indicate the absence of a fire in an attic?
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What is a key characteristic of a vent-limited fire?
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What is the primary focus when dealing with a vent-limited fire and life safety is the priority?
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What happens when a vent-limited fire is attacked from the right location?
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What is the main fire spread mechanism in an attic fire?
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Why is it important to wet the entire section of sheathing between structural members?
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What did UL's tests reveal about light weight construction vs legacy wood construction?
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What did UL's tests reveal about sounding as an indicator of stability?
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What is essential before committing resources to a fire?
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What is the benefit of putting water on the fire as soon as possible?
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What is a key consideration when deciding on tactics in a building with light weight trusses?
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Study Notes
Understanding Attic Fires
- Firefighters and Incident Commanders need to understand the science behind fire behavior and building construction to effectively and safely extinguish an attic fire.
- Attic fires create difficulties for the fire service, including deciding whether to fight the fire from the inside, outside, or a combination of both.
Attic Fires are Vent Limited
- Underwriters Laboratories (UL) research shows that attic fires are commonly vent-limited, meaning the fire's growth is limited by available oxygen.
- The air entering the eaves and escaping through the vents does not supply the fire with enough oxygen in the growth stage.
- A vent-limited fire is in a state of stability, allowing firefighters to attack the fire when and where they want.
Sheathing is the Main Fire Spread Mechanism
- Exposed sheathing of the roof is the main source of off-gassing, so applying water to the sheathing as soon as possible is crucial to gain the upper hand.
- Wetting the sheathing eliminates the major flame spread mechanism.
Light Weight Construction vs Legacy
- UL tests showed that structural collapse times of light weight joist and truss systems vs legacy wood construction were within the operational timeframe of the fire service (4-20 min).
- The strength of the roof system can only be gauged by inspecting from underneath.
- Lightweight trusses can span large open spaces, increasing the chance of collapse.
Tactical Considerations
- Conducting a 360 size-up before committing resources is essential.
- Information gathered during the size-up helps determine: victims and tenability, location and extent of the fire, stage in the fire life cycle, vent limited or vented, building construction features, accessibility of roof/soffits, and salvage of property.
- Put water on the fire as soon as possible to improve conditions throughout the structure, reducing the chance of flashover. "Quick Hit".
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