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Firefighter Intern: Day 67 and 68
Mar. 9th, 2019 09:19 am“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” ― B.B. King
There was not much of an on-shift meeting at all - just before the meeting was supposed to start, we were toned out in Engine 481 for a traffic accident, due to some snow that had just fallen. Fortunately, the driver self-extricated and was not injured. While we were on scene, we were toned out for another traffic accident, but we were recalled enroute. This meant that I was back at the station just in time to go in Utility 482 into Kelso for my Firefighter Physical. I passed my hearing test, my SCBA Fit Test, and my physical exam. I refueled and restocked U482 while I was out. Once I got back the rig checks had been done, so we got all of our house chores done.
After lunch, we were toned out for an elderly gentleman who was experiencing difficulty breathing and on a nasal cannula and oxygen due to COPD and CHF and significant body swelling, suggesting either cardiogenic shock or another cardiac issue. We transported him, and I was helpful with every aspect of the process, from collecting vitals and blood glucose levels and to transferring the patient. I transferred the oxygen from medical oxygen onboard Medic 483 and adjusted the regulator to the correct level and secured it for transport from the Medic to the hospital - unfortunately, I forgot to check that the oxygen bottle on the gurney was on. *sigh* I did everything right except for that critical bit. Lesson learned - I'll never do that again. The patient suffered no harm in the three to four minutes with the transfer, but he could have.
Just before dinner, we were toned out to a woman with a hip injury who had fallen. I was assigned to chase the Medic unit, and helped with the lift assist to get her on the gurney. I did everything right this time.
There were no more calls that night, all night, although I didn't sleep well. I got up in time for the morning meeting, and we had a New Guy (paid Firefighter/Paramedic), so we did a full monthly inventory on Engine 481, and we planned to inventory Medic 483 in the afternoon. Just as we were almost finished with Engine 481, we were toned out for one of our regulars, and our two regular Paramedics took the New Guy on a training run, leaving another volunteer and me at the station. The Chief and the Battalion Chief left for a driveway inspection. And then ... the perfect storm! At 10:45 we were toned out again for a residential fire on an unimproved road, an occupied shed that had "exploded" and was still having regular explosions. The volunteer and I took Engine 481 by ourselves and rolled Code 3. When we got close we could see that the road was up a steep hill, narrow and muddy and next to the edge of a ravine. We stopped at the base of the hill, and dropped our tail (our 5-inch supply line) for other apparatus to connect to and supplement our tank water on Engine 481. The other volunteer pulled Engine 481 up the hill, and I hopped out and flaked out the 5-inch line so other vehicles could follow us up the hill. We made almost all the way to the structure, and then the road gave way and the Engine slipped over to the edge. He stopped, set the air brake, and got out for his safety.
The Battalion Chief and the Chief had shown up by then, and we could see the shop that was 75% engulfed in flames and still exploding. There were multiple smaller explosions (likely ammunition) and then a 20-pound propane canister exploded. I was told to pull the 200-foot preconnect line (already hooked up the apparatus and connected to a nozzle) from the back of the Engine and start a defensive fire attack to protect the remaining wall on the delta side and keep it standing to protect a pickup truck.
By this time, Medic 483 had finished and come back to the station, Water Tender 486 had arrived and was staged, Engine 488 had been staffed by more volunteers and had arrived and staged, Knappa Fire had brought an Engine and was staged - but no one could get to the fire because Engine 481 was precariously parked on the edge of the ravine. We used the 1000 gallons in the Engine and we got a good knockdown on the fire.
The Chief cleared the other apparatus, and called the crew on Medic 483 to bring Heavy Brush 482, one of our Wildland Fire rigs. HB482 is a big formerly Army deuce-and-a-half with a 6-wheel drive that came over the hill on a sketchy logging access road, accessing the scene from another way. We used HB482 to eventually tow Engine 481 to a safe parking place. I used the 1000 gallons of water on HB482 to get more knockdown on the fire and suppress it. I also found a couple of burned firearms and destroyed propane canisters. However, The road that had given way was in pretty bad shape, and the Chief called in Columbia County Roads Department, who brought up a crew and heavy equipment and repaired the road with an Excavator and a truck of gravel, so we could get our apparatus out. By the time we cleared the scene, it was after 7 pm.
Once we got back to the station, the Medic crew had picked up and washed all of the 5-foot lines we had used - but we still had to put away and reload the hose on top of Engine 481. I learned how to reload the all 1000 feet of hose, as well as the 200-foot preconnect, and how to more effectively load hose on the apparatus. I also got to climb the ladder and hang hose in the hose in the hose tower. The Paramedic crew on HB482 reloaded water and tools and hose and went back to check on the fire to make sure it was out. HB482 will also go back tomorrow and check again.
We were all exhausted and sore and went to bed early. We got no calls all night, and I got some good uninterrupted sleep. *smile* I left after getting my TB test from my Firefighter Physical read, and I will study all weekend for my EMT Final on Monday.
A portable oxygen cylinder contains medical grade oxygen (99% or better), which is compressed into a cylinder to 2,000 p.s.i. There are special composite cylinders that can hold as much as 3,000 p.s.i. Attached to the top of the cylinder is the regulator which reduces that 2,000 p.s.i. to a much more workable 50 p.s.i. The regulator also indicates the pressure that is remaining in the cylinder as well as controls the flow rate of the oxygen output. The flow rate is set to the prescription as ordered by the physician. The prescribed flowrate is set by turning the control knob. Slowly open the cylinder valve (turning counterclockwise) using the oxygen wrench or toggle bar if in place. You should see the contents (pressure) gauge slowly increase. A full cylinder will be around 2,000 p.s.i. If you opened the valve and the contents needle did not move, you have an empty cylinder and need to try another one. Turn the flow rate to your prescribed liter flow or setting.
Defensive mode
The defensive fire attack mode is chosen to isolate or stabilize an incident to ensure it does not get any worse. This may mean sacrificing the building on fire to save others that are not involved. A defensive operation should be initiated when fire conditions prevent an interior attack such as when the structure is unsafe for firefighters to enter and no civilian lives can be saved and when the fire is beyond the control of hand lines. To ensure firefighter safety near or around structures that may collapse, collapse zones should be established based on the vertical collapse danger zone that is minimally the full height of the wall and a horizontal collapse danger zone that is minimally the full length of the wall.
Offensive mode
An offensive mode fire attack involves taking direct action to mitigate the problem. This means an aggressive interior attack will be used because initial crews believe there is a chance that occupants may be inside the structure and conditions may be such that they could still be alive. In addition, ensure that initial risk assessment has confirmed that the structure is not so involved that collapse is imminent, fire dynamics are understood, truss impingement times can be estimated with some accuracy, OSHA's two-in-two-out policy is adhered to and that sufficient resources are present to deal with both fire attack and rescue tactics. More lives are saved by putting the fire out as swiftly as possible.
There was not much of an on-shift meeting at all - just before the meeting was supposed to start, we were toned out in Engine 481 for a traffic accident, due to some snow that had just fallen. Fortunately, the driver self-extricated and was not injured. While we were on scene, we were toned out for another traffic accident, but we were recalled enroute. This meant that I was back at the station just in time to go in Utility 482 into Kelso for my Firefighter Physical. I passed my hearing test, my SCBA Fit Test, and my physical exam. I refueled and restocked U482 while I was out. Once I got back the rig checks had been done, so we got all of our house chores done.
After lunch, we were toned out for an elderly gentleman who was experiencing difficulty breathing and on a nasal cannula and oxygen due to COPD and CHF and significant body swelling, suggesting either cardiogenic shock or another cardiac issue. We transported him, and I was helpful with every aspect of the process, from collecting vitals and blood glucose levels and to transferring the patient. I transferred the oxygen from medical oxygen onboard Medic 483 and adjusted the regulator to the correct level and secured it for transport from the Medic to the hospital - unfortunately, I forgot to check that the oxygen bottle on the gurney was on. *sigh* I did everything right except for that critical bit. Lesson learned - I'll never do that again. The patient suffered no harm in the three to four minutes with the transfer, but he could have.
Just before dinner, we were toned out to a woman with a hip injury who had fallen. I was assigned to chase the Medic unit, and helped with the lift assist to get her on the gurney. I did everything right this time.
There were no more calls that night, all night, although I didn't sleep well. I got up in time for the morning meeting, and we had a New Guy (paid Firefighter/Paramedic), so we did a full monthly inventory on Engine 481, and we planned to inventory Medic 483 in the afternoon. Just as we were almost finished with Engine 481, we were toned out for one of our regulars, and our two regular Paramedics took the New Guy on a training run, leaving another volunteer and me at the station. The Chief and the Battalion Chief left for a driveway inspection. And then ... the perfect storm! At 10:45 we were toned out again for a residential fire on an unimproved road, an occupied shed that had "exploded" and was still having regular explosions. The volunteer and I took Engine 481 by ourselves and rolled Code 3. When we got close we could see that the road was up a steep hill, narrow and muddy and next to the edge of a ravine. We stopped at the base of the hill, and dropped our tail (our 5-inch supply line) for other apparatus to connect to and supplement our tank water on Engine 481. The other volunteer pulled Engine 481 up the hill, and I hopped out and flaked out the 5-inch line so other vehicles could follow us up the hill. We made almost all the way to the structure, and then the road gave way and the Engine slipped over to the edge. He stopped, set the air brake, and got out for his safety.
The Battalion Chief and the Chief had shown up by then, and we could see the shop that was 75% engulfed in flames and still exploding. There were multiple smaller explosions (likely ammunition) and then a 20-pound propane canister exploded. I was told to pull the 200-foot preconnect line (already hooked up the apparatus and connected to a nozzle) from the back of the Engine and start a defensive fire attack to protect the remaining wall on the delta side and keep it standing to protect a pickup truck.
By this time, Medic 483 had finished and come back to the station, Water Tender 486 had arrived and was staged, Engine 488 had been staffed by more volunteers and had arrived and staged, Knappa Fire had brought an Engine and was staged - but no one could get to the fire because Engine 481 was precariously parked on the edge of the ravine. We used the 1000 gallons in the Engine and we got a good knockdown on the fire.
The Chief cleared the other apparatus, and called the crew on Medic 483 to bring Heavy Brush 482, one of our Wildland Fire rigs. HB482 is a big formerly Army deuce-and-a-half with a 6-wheel drive that came over the hill on a sketchy logging access road, accessing the scene from another way. We used HB482 to eventually tow Engine 481 to a safe parking place. I used the 1000 gallons of water on HB482 to get more knockdown on the fire and suppress it. I also found a couple of burned firearms and destroyed propane canisters. However, The road that had given way was in pretty bad shape, and the Chief called in Columbia County Roads Department, who brought up a crew and heavy equipment and repaired the road with an Excavator and a truck of gravel, so we could get our apparatus out. By the time we cleared the scene, it was after 7 pm.
Once we got back to the station, the Medic crew had picked up and washed all of the 5-foot lines we had used - but we still had to put away and reload the hose on top of Engine 481. I learned how to reload the all 1000 feet of hose, as well as the 200-foot preconnect, and how to more effectively load hose on the apparatus. I also got to climb the ladder and hang hose in the hose in the hose tower. The Paramedic crew on HB482 reloaded water and tools and hose and went back to check on the fire to make sure it was out. HB482 will also go back tomorrow and check again.
We were all exhausted and sore and went to bed early. We got no calls all night, and I got some good uninterrupted sleep. *smile* I left after getting my TB test from my Firefighter Physical read, and I will study all weekend for my EMT Final on Monday.
A portable oxygen cylinder contains medical grade oxygen (99% or better), which is compressed into a cylinder to 2,000 p.s.i. There are special composite cylinders that can hold as much as 3,000 p.s.i. Attached to the top of the cylinder is the regulator which reduces that 2,000 p.s.i. to a much more workable 50 p.s.i. The regulator also indicates the pressure that is remaining in the cylinder as well as controls the flow rate of the oxygen output. The flow rate is set to the prescription as ordered by the physician. The prescribed flowrate is set by turning the control knob. Slowly open the cylinder valve (turning counterclockwise) using the oxygen wrench or toggle bar if in place. You should see the contents (pressure) gauge slowly increase. A full cylinder will be around 2,000 p.s.i. If you opened the valve and the contents needle did not move, you have an empty cylinder and need to try another one. Turn the flow rate to your prescribed liter flow or setting.
Defensive mode
The defensive fire attack mode is chosen to isolate or stabilize an incident to ensure it does not get any worse. This may mean sacrificing the building on fire to save others that are not involved. A defensive operation should be initiated when fire conditions prevent an interior attack such as when the structure is unsafe for firefighters to enter and no civilian lives can be saved and when the fire is beyond the control of hand lines. To ensure firefighter safety near or around structures that may collapse, collapse zones should be established based on the vertical collapse danger zone that is minimally the full height of the wall and a horizontal collapse danger zone that is minimally the full length of the wall.
Offensive mode
An offensive mode fire attack involves taking direct action to mitigate the problem. This means an aggressive interior attack will be used because initial crews believe there is a chance that occupants may be inside the structure and conditions may be such that they could still be alive. In addition, ensure that initial risk assessment has confirmed that the structure is not so involved that collapse is imminent, fire dynamics are understood, truss impingement times can be estimated with some accuracy, OSHA's two-in-two-out policy is adhered to and that sufficient resources are present to deal with both fire attack and rescue tactics. More lives are saved by putting the fire out as swiftly as possible.
