Document the incident in the company journal. Notify the Borough Command through the chain of command weekdays hours to hours or the Command Chief at all other times, i. Ensure that all notifications required under section 5. Consult with Command Chief to designate an officer as the investigating officer. Conduct a roll call. All on-duty and off-duty members present in premises shall be part of the roll call. Advise all officers and firefighters whom the investigating officer reasonably believes may be subject to charges of their right to representation before being questioned.
Following notification, conduct an investigation to ascertain which member s may have engaged in any conduct prohibited under this policy. If the officer has reason to believe that any member s has violated this policy, the officer shall immediately order that such member s be tested for alcohol and illegal drugs.
If the officer orders testing, he or she shall document the reasons for the determination in a report to the Chief of Department via the Chain of Command. If the officer determines that there is no reason to believe that this policy has been violated, he or she shall not order testing and shall document the reasons for his or her determination in a report to the Chief of Department via the Chain of Command. All reasons for testing shall be properly documented by the person or unit ordering the testing.
The highest ranking officer who has responded to the accident shall ensure that the testing takes place in an expeditious manner and shall coordinate such testing with the Testing Unit. If any personnel required to be tested are immediately transported to a hospital, the Medical Officer on-duty shall ensure that the personnel transported are tested in an expeditious manner, and shall coordinate such testing with the Testing Unit, BIT or other required BHS personnel.
The highest ranking officer or where applicable, the Medical Officer , shall document the reasons for the failure to test a member via the chain of command in a written report to the Fire Commissioner and Chief of Department.
Any member who receives a supervisory referral and fails or refuses to comply with the treatment program recommended or approved by CSU will be deemed: A. To have disobeyed an order to comply with the treatment plan recommended; B. To have exhausted this treatment opportunity. Testing Unit personnel shall administer such testing.
Upon arrival of the Testing Unit, all personnel at the work location of the member to be tested shall comply with the instructions of the Testing Unit. The ranking Commanding Officer of the unit where member is on administrative assignment or light duty will order the member to report to the Testing Unit forthwith when so informed by the Testing Unit. Transportation will be provided if necessary.
Every member shall comply with such orders. Members must cooperate fully in providing urine or blood specimens and shall follow instructions given by a Department doctor, nurse, BITs or Testing Unit personnel.
The information must be as specific and exhaustive as possible. Such request shall be granted provided that: A. The laboratory selected by the member for re-test is certified by the New York State Department of Health and approved by the Department for such testing; B.
The member had provided a specimen sufficient for additional testing; C. The specimen is transported directly from laboratory to laboratory without handling by the member or any agent of the member, and F. The second laboratory provides test results directly to the Department as well as to the member.
Every member who is subject to testing and other Department personnel shall comply with random drug testing as defined in AUC , Addendum 1. The member is not to be notified until the tester arrives. These guidelines are designed to cover the most common infractions, but there may be cases that do not fit precisely within them. Moreover, settlement and testing agreements may contain additional conditions. The following are guidelines only and are not meant to abrogate in any way the due process rights provided under the N.
Civil Service Law, the N. Administrative Code or any applicable collective bargaining agreement. In addition, the Department's use of these guidelines will take into consideration any findings and recommendations made by an Administrative Law Judge after a N. Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings trial or by a Hearing Officer after a disciplinary proceeding. First Offense: Up to 90 days pay, 2 years testing, referral to CSU, final warning for substance-related misconduct. Refusal to cooperate in a required substance test; or B.
Positive drug test indicating conduct prohibited by this policy. This Policy is based on the New York City Social Media Policy published by the Office of the Mayor in April , which provides overall guidance for the use of social media by employees of City agencies. All employees are reminded that they are accountable for their conduct while on duty and are accountable for off duty conduct when it could reasonably be expected to be disruptive of the workplace or agency operations, or bring the agency into disrepute.
Social media include proprietary sites or applications such as Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube and Twitter, websites and other content- rich sites, instant messaging, video conferencing and collaboration services such as Wikipedia or any emergent social media platform or service.
OPI will be responsible for the registration of any social media pages, sites and outlets relating to the Department that are created in the future. Assigned managers of approved social media will be required to adhere to the New York City Social Media Policy and will be bound by the same rules and standards governing all New York City social media managers. All such social media usage will be clearly branded as official Department communication.
This includes pages and sites dedicated to individual companies, EMS stations, civilian bureaus, affiliated organizations, photo sharing groups, etc. Activities and statements made on social media sites are done in an online domain where users have no reasonable expectation of privacy.
Even if an FDNY member has created ''private'' or "limited access" accounts or has customized ''privacy settings", any statements, photographs, video clips or information that are sent over the internet may still be viewed and disseminated by third parties, even after the content has been edited or deleted by the user.
Whether intended to be private or not, postings will be available on the web for a long time and may spread to large audiences by re-posting, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of the original poster. Before posting, consideration should be given to whether the post will disrupt operations or bring the Department or any of its members into disrepute if viewed by supervisors, co-workers, or members of the public.
Engaging in such behavior on-line, even in a personal capacity, may subject an employee to disciplinary action. In addition, all postings on social media must comply with all laws and FDNY policies regarding the confidentiality of information. Accordingly, FDNY members will comply with the following:. FDNY personnel are prohibited from posting a photograph of themselves if, at the time, the wearing of a uniform is prohibited. These prohibitions will not apply to photographs taken at official Department ceremonies e.
Employees must ensure that any photographs posted on social media sites pursuant to this exception must comply with the regulations set forth in Section 5. Members of the Department are prohibited from taking photographs, videotaping or recording audio while working unless authorized to do so by OPI. Such communications may be deemed inappropriate, a breach of confidentiality or an invasion of privacy.
Such unauthorized communications may be deemed inappropriate and create an appearance of impropriety. Employees should make a clear disclaimer that the statements and views expressed are theirs and do not reflect the views of the FDNY. Return completed forms to the Office of Public Information. Essentials of Firefighting 4th ed. P eople first learn about fire as children. They know that fire consumes fuel, needs air, and gives off heat and light.
Normally, that degree of understanding is all that one needs. Firefighters, however, have to take their understanding of this process a step or two further. In particular, they have to know more about the chemical process that goes on, the methods of heat transfer a fire can use, the makeup and nature of the fuels, and the environment the fire needs.
It is this knowledge that arms the firefighter to fight fire and win. Fire is actually a by-product of a larger process called combustion.
Fire and combustion are two words used interchangeably by most people; however, firefighters should understand the difference. Combustion is the self-sustaining process of rapid oxidation of a fuel, which produces heat and light. Fire is the result of a rapid combustion reaction. Flammable or explosive limits — The percentage of a substance vapor in air that will burn once it is ignited. Most substances have an upper too rich and a lower too lean flammable limit. Flash Point — The minimum temperature at which a liquid fuel gives off sufficient vapors to form an ignitable mixture with the air near the surface.
At this temperature, the ignited vapors will flash but will not continue to burn. Heat — The form of energy that raises temperature. Heat can be measured by the amount of work it does; for example, the amount of heat needed to make a column of mercury expand inside a glass thermometer.
Ignition temperature — The minimum temperature to which a fuel in air must be heated to start self-sustained combustion without a separate ignition source. A number of natural laws of physics are involved in the transmission of heat. One is called the Law of Heat Flow; it specifies that heat tends to flow from a hot substance to a cold substance.
The colder of two bodies in contact will absorb heat until both objects are at the same temperature. Heat can travel throughout a burning building by on or more of three methods: conduction, convection, and radiation. The following sections describe how this transfer takes place. Heat may be conducted from one body to another by direct contact of the two bodies or by an intervening heat-conducting minimum.
An example of this type of heat transfer is a basement fire that heats pipes enough to ignite the wood inside walls several rooms away See Figure The amount of heat that will be transferred and its rate of travel depend upon the conductivity of the material through which the heat is passing.
Not all materials have the same heat conductivity. Aluminum, copper, and iron are good conductors; however, fibrous materials, such as felt, cloth, and paper, are poor conductors.
Liquids and gas are poor conductors of heat because of the movement of their molecules, and air is a relatively poor conductor. This factor is why double building walls and storm windows that contain an airspace provide additional insulation from outside air temperatures. Certain solid materials, such as fiberglass, shredded into fibers and packed into batts make good insulation because the material itself is a poor conductor and there are air pockets within the batting.
Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of air or liquid. When water is heated in a glass container, the movement within the vessel can be observed through the glass. If sawdust is added to the water, the movement is more apparent. As the water is heated, it expands and grows lighter, hence, the upward movement. In the same manner, as air near a steam radiator becomes heated by conduction, it expands, becomes lighter, and moves upward.
As the heated air moves upward, cooler air takes its place at the lower levels. When liquids and gases are heated, they begin to move within themselves. This movement is different from the molecular motion discussed in conduction of heat and is responsible for heat transfer by convection. Heated air in a building will expand and rise See Figure For this reason, fire spread by convection is mostly in an upward direction; however, air currents can carry heat in any direction.
Convection currents are generally the cause of heat movement from floor to floor, from room to room, and from area to area. The spread of fire through corridors, up stairwells and elevator shafts; between walls, and through attics is caused mostly by the convection of heat currents. If the convecting heat encounters a ceiling or other barrier that keeps it from rising, it will spread out laterally sideways along the ceiling.
If it runs out of ceiling space, it will travel down the wall toward the floor, being pushed by more heated air hat is rising behind it. Convected heat encountering a ceiling is commonly referred to as mushrooming. Convection has more influence upon the positions for fire attack and ventilation than either radiation or conduction.
Although often mistakenly thought to be a separate form of heat transfer, direct flame contact is actually a form of convective heat transfer.
When a substance is heated to the point where flammable vapors are given off, these vapors may be ignited, creating a flame. As other flammable materials come in contact with the burning vapors, or flame, they may be heated to a temperature where they, too, will ignite and burn. Although air is a poor conductor, it is obvious that heat can travel where matter does not exist.
The warmth of the sun reaches us even though it is not in direct contact with us conduction , nor is it heating up gases that travel to us convection. This method of heat transmission is known as radiation of heat waves.
Heat and light waves are similar in nature, but they differ in length per cycle. Heat waves are longer than light waves, and they are sometimes called infra-red waves. Radiated heat will travel through space until it reaches as opaque object See Figure As the object is exposed to heat radiation, it will in return radiate heat from its surface. Radiated heat is one of the major sources of fire spread to exposures, and its importance as a source of fire spread demands immediate attention at location where radiation exposure is severe.
For many years, the fire triangle oxygen, fuel, and heat was used to teach the components of fire Figure While this simple example is useful, it is not technically correct.
For combustion to occur, four components are necessary:. These components can be graphically described as the fire tetrahedron Figure Each component of the tetrahedron must be in place for combustion to occur. This concept is extremely important to students of fire suppression, prevention, and investigation.
Remove any one of the four components and combustion will not occur. If ignition has already occurred, the fire is extinguished when one of the components is removed from the reaction. Fuel may be found in any of three states of matter; solid, liquid, or gas. Only gases burn. The initiation of combustion of a liquid or solid fuel require their conversion into a gaseous state by heating.
Fuel gases are evolved from solid fuels by pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is the chemical decomposition of a substance through the action of heat Figure Fuel gases are evolved from liquids by vaporization. This process is the same for water evaporating by boiling or water in a container evaporating in sunlight. In both cases, heat causes the liquid to vaporize. Generally, the vaporization process of liquid fuels requires less heat input than does the pyrolysis process for solid fuels.
This places considerable restraints on the control and extinguishment of liquid fuel fires because their reignition is much more likely. Gaseous fuels can be the most dangerous, because they are already in the natural state required for ignition. No pyroplysis or vaporization will be needed to ready the fuel.
These fuels are also the most difficult to contain. Fires may start at any time of the day or night if a hazard exists. If the fire occurs when the building is closed, deserted, and without fixed protection systems, the fire may go undetected until it has gained major headway. The phase of a fire in a closed building is of chief importance when determining ventilation requirements. Fire in a confined room or building has two particularly important characteristics. The first characteristic is that there is a limited amount of oxygen.
This differs from an outside fire, where the oxygen supply is unlimited. The second characteristic is that the fire gases that are given off are trapped inside the structure and build up, unlike outdoors where they can dissipate. When fire is confined in a building or room, the situation requires carefully thought-out and executed ventilation procedures if further damage is to be prevented and danger reduced.
Fire confined to a building or room can be best understood by an investigation of its three main progressive phases: incipient, steady-state burning, and hot smoldering. A firefighter may be confronted by one or all of the phases of fire at any time, therefore, a working knowledge of these phases is important for understanding ventilation procedures.
Firefighters must also be aware of the variety of potentially hazardous conditions that may be intertwined within the three main phases. These hazards include rollover, flashover, and backdraft. The incipient phase is the earliest phase of a fire beginning with the actual ignition.
The fire is limited to the original materials of ignition Figure In the incipient phase, the oxygen content in the air has not been significantly reduced, and the fire is producing water vapor H2O , carbon dioxide CO2 , perhaps a small quantity of sulfur dioxide SO2 , carbon monoxide CO , and other gases. Some heat is being generated, and the amount will increase as the fire progresses.
Rollover, sometimes referred to as flameover, takes place when unburned combustible gases released during the incipient or early steady-state phase accumulate at the ceiling level Figure 1- 7. These superheated gases are pushed, under pressure, away from the fire area and into uninvolved areas where they mix with oxygen. When their flammable range is reached, they ignite and a fire front develops, expanding very rapidly and rolling over the ceiling Figure This is one of the reasons firefighters must stay low when advancing hoselines.
Rollover differs from flashover in that only the gases are burning and not the contents of the room. The rollover will continue until its fuel is eliminated.
This is done by extinguishing the main body of fire. The rollover will cease when the fire itself stops producing the flammable gases that are feeding the rollover.
For purposes of simplicity, the steady-state burning phase sometimes referred to as the free- burning phase can generally be considered the phase of the fire where sufficient oxygen and fuel are available for fire growth and open burning to a point where total involvement is possible. During the early portions of this phase, oxygen rich air is drawn into the flame, as convection the rise of heated gases carries the heat to the uppermost regions of the confined area Figure The heated gases spread out laterally from the top downward, forcing the cooler air to seek lower levels, and eventually igniting all the combustible material in the upper levels of the room.
This early portion of the steady-state burning phase is often called the flame-spread phase. The presence of this heated air is one of the reasons firefighters are taught to keep low and use protective breathing equipment. One breath of this superheated air can sear the lungs. Little or no smoke is given off.
This fire is usually seen only when very clean fuels, such as methanol-based race car fuels, burn. Thermal columns will normally occur with rapid air movements upward from the base of the fire.
As the fire progresses in a confined space through the latter portions of the steady-state burning phase, the fire continues to consume the free oxygen until it reaches the point where there is insufficient oxygen to react with the fuel.
The fire is then reduced to the smoldering phase, but this fire needs only a fresh supply of oxygen to burn rapidly. Flashover occurs when flames flash over the entire surface of a room or area Figure The actual cause of flashover is attributed to the buildup of heat from the fire itself.
As the fire continues to burn, all the contents of the fire area are gradually heated to their ignition temperatures. When they reach their ignition point, simultaneous ignition occurs, and the area becomes fully involved in fire. This actual ignition is almost instantaneous and can Figure be quite dramatic.
A flashover can usually be avoided by directing water toward the ceiling level and the room contents to cool materials below their ignition temperatures. Hot Smoldering Phase After the steady-state burning phase, flames may cease to exist if the area of confinement is sufficiently airtight. In this instance, burning is reduced to glowing embers Figure As the flames die down, the room becomes completely filled with dense smoke and gases. Air pressure from gases being given off may build to the extent that smoke and gases are forced through small cracks.
The intense heat will have liberated the lighter fuel fractions, such as methane, from the Figure combustible material in the room. These fuel gases will be added produced by the fire and will further increase the hazard to the firefighter and create the possibility of a backdraft if air is improperly introduced into the room.
If air is not introduced into the room, the fire will eventually burn out, leaving totally incinerated contents. Backdraft Firefighters responding to a confined fire that is late in the steady-state burning phase or in the hot smoldering phase risk causing a backdraft also known as a smoke explosion if the science of fire is not considered in opening the structure.
In the hot-smoldering phase of a fire, burning is incomplete because of insufficient oxygen to sustain the fire. However, the heat from the steady state burning phase remains, and the carbon particles and other flammable products of combustion are available for instantaneous combustion when more oxygen is supplied Figure Improper ventilation, such as opening a door or breaking a window, supplies the dangerous missing link — oxygen. As soon as the needed oxygen rushes in, the stalled combustion resumes; it can be devastating in its speed, truly qualifying as an explosion Figure Backdraft can be the most hazardous condition a firefighter will ever face.
Combustion is oxidation, and oxidation is a chemical reaction in which oxygen combines with other elements. Carbon is a naturally abundant element present in wood and most plastics, among other things.
When the wood burns, carbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide CO2 or carbon monoxide CO , depending on the availability of oxygen. When enough oxygen is no longer available, large quantities of free carbon are released in the smoke.
Thus a warning sign of possible backdraft is dense, black carbon-filed smoke. This situation can be made less dangerous by proper ventilation. If the room or building is opened at the highest point involved, the heated gases and smoke will be released, reducing the possibility of an explosion.
The thermal layering of gases is the tendency of gases to form into layers, according to temperature. Other terms sometimes used to describe this layering of gases by heat are heat stratification and thermal balance. The hottest gases tend to be in the top layer, while the cooler ones form the bottom layer. Smoke is a heated mixture of air, gases, and particles, and it rises.
If a hole is made in the roof, the smoke will rise from the building or room to the outside. Thermal layering is critical to fire fighting activities. As long as the hottest air and gases are allowed to rise the lower levels will be safer for firefighters Figure This normal layering of the hottest gases to the top and out the ventilation opening can be disrupted if water is improperly applied.
If water is improperly applied to the fire area and the area is not ventilated, the water will cool and condense, the steam generated by the initial fire attack. This reaction causes the smoke and steam to circulate within all levels of the fire area. This swirling of smoke and steam is the result of disrupted normal thermal layering Figure This process is sometimes referred to as disrupting the thermal balance or creating a thermal imbalance.
Many firefighters have been needlessly burned when thermal layering was disrupted. Once the normal layering is disrupted, forced ventilation procedures must be used to clear the area.
Incomplete combustion, of course, also leaves behind some unburned or charred school. When a material fuel burns, it undergoes a chemical change.
None of the elements making up the material are destroyed in the process, but all of the material is transformed into another form or state. For example, when a piece of paper burns, the gases and moisture contained within the paper are liberated.
The remaining solids take on the appearance of carbonized, charred flakes. Although it was once thought that the weight of various byproducts was the same as the original weight of the fuel, it is now known that a tiny amount of fuel is indeed converted into energy, so the by-products weigh slightly less than the fuel did.
When a fuel burns, there are four products of combustion: heat, light, smoke, and fire gases Figure Heat is a form of energy that is measured in degrees of temperature to signify its intensity. Heat is the product of combustion that is responsible for the spread of fire.
It is also the direct cause of burns, dehydration, heat exhaustion, and injury to the respiratory tract. Flame is the visible, luminous body of a burning gas. When a burning gas is mixed with the proper amounts of oxygen, the flame becomes hotter and less luminous. The loss of luminosity is caused by a more complete combustion of the carbon.
For these reasons, flame is considered to be a product of combustion. Of course, it is not present in those types of combustion, such as smoldering fires, that does not produce flame. The smoke encountered at most fires consists of a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, finely divided carbon particles soot , and a miscellaneous assortment of products that have been released from the material involved.
The contents of the smoke will vary depending on the exact material that is burning; some materials give off more smoke than others. Liquid fuels generally give off dense, black smoke. Oil, tar, paint, varnish, rubber, sulfur, and many plastics also give off dense smoke. Figure The extinguishment of fire is carried out by limiting or interrupting one or more of the essential elements in the combustion process. With flaming combustion, the fire may be extinguished by reducing temperature, eliminating fuel or oxygen, or by stopping the uninhibited chemical chain reaction.
If a fire is in the smoldering mode of combustion, only three extinguishment options exist: reduction of temperature, elimination of fuel, or elimination of oxygen. One of the most common methods of extinguishment is by cooling with water Figure This process of extinguishment is dependent on reducing the temperature of the fuel to a point where it does not produce sufficient vapor to burn. Solid fuels and liquid fuels with high flash points can be extinguished by cooling.
Fires involving low flash point liquids and flammable gases cannot be extinguished by cooling with water, because vapor production cannot be sufficiently reduced.
Reduction of temperature is dependent on the application of an adequate flow in proper form to establish a negative heat balance.
In some cases, a fire is effectively extinguished by removing the fuel source Figure Removal of the fuel sources may be accomplished by stopping the flow of liquid or gaseous fuel or by removing solid fuel in the path of the fire. Another method of fuel removal is to allow the fire to burn until all fuel is consumed.
Reducing the oxygen content in an area also puts out the fire Figure Reduction of the oxygen content can be done by flooding an area with an inert gas, such as carbon dioxide, which displaces the oxygen; or the oxygen can be reduced by separating the fuel from the air such as by blanketing it with foam. Of course, neither of these methods work on those rare fuels that are self-oxidizing. Some extinguishing agents, such as dry chemical and halogenated hydrocarbons Halons , interrupt the flame-producing chemical reaction and stop flaming Figure This method of extinguishment is effective on gas and liquid fuels, because they must flame to burn.
Smoldering fires are not easily extinguished by this method because the moment the Halon is shut off, air once again has access to the smoldering fuel and it continues to burn.
Cooling is the only practical way to extinguish a smoldering fire. Class A fires are fires involving ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics. Water is used in a cooling or quenching effect to reduce the temperature of the burning material below its ignition temperature. Class B fires involve flammable and combustible liquids and gases such as gasoline, oil, lacquers, paints, mineral spirits, and alcohol.
The smothering or blanketing effect on oxygen exclusion is most effective for extinguishment. Other extinguishing methods include removal of fuel and temperature reduction when possible. Fires involving energized electrical equipment are Class C fires. Household appliances, computers, transformers, and overhead transmission lines are examples of these.
These fires can sometimes be controlled by a nonconducting extinguishing agent such as Halon, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide. The safest extinguishment procedure is to first deenergize high voltage circuits and then to treat the fire as Class A or Class B fire depending upon the fuel involved. Class D fires involve combustible metals such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, and potassium. These materials are particularly hazardous in their powdered form. Proper airborne concentrations of metal dusts can cause powerful explosions given a suitable ignition source.
The extremely high temperature of some burning metals makes water and other common extinguishing agents ineffective. There is no single agent available that will effectively control fires in all combustible metals. Special extinguishing agents are available for control of fire in each of the metals and are marked specifically for that metal. These agents are used to cover up the burning material and smother the fire.
I N carrying out its mission of fire protection and response to countless types of emergencies, the FDNY utilizes several types of apparatus. The following chapter will introduce the primary apparatus of these units. The first section will focus on Engine company apparatus. Additionally, this rig is to be positioned to utilize the various available sources of water and pump the water needed in operations. FDNY engines carry an onboard supply of water- but this supply is only enough to start operations at an involved incident.
To ensure adequate flow, a predetermined pressure must be delivered to the point of operation. To do so the pump must provide a pressure which will compensate for the effects of gravity and friction in flow reaching that operating point.
This means that there are two impellers, and the operator has the ability to operate these impellers in series or parallel, depending on the needs of the operation. Photo Properly completing the above procedure effectively switches the driveshaft from powering the drive train to driving the pump impellers.
NOTE: If the pump is not engaged properly, the only pressure that can be discharged is that of the supply coming into the pump. With no water flowing this is static pressure. As more water is pumped i. When residual pressure drops below 15psi augmentation to the water supply is required.
Equals supply pressure plus the pressure imparted by the impellers. As the throttle, this control brings up pump RPM to deliver the desired pressure. As the governor, this control over RPM maintains pump pressure so that hand lines do not receive pressure surges when nozzles on other lines are opened and closed. On older engines which do not have this governor, these engines instead have a manual throttle, which is used to set pump pressure.
Additionally, these older engines have a Ross Relief valve, which, when set prevents pressure surges. Doing this expels air from the pump chamber, thus enabling the pump to generate the necessary suction to operate. Priming the pump must be done at any hose line operation before increasing pump pressure and opening any discharge outlets.
When the transfer valve is in the PRESSURE position all water flow is directed across one impeller, with the discharge directed toward the second impeller. In the VOLUME position the incoming flow is split- some incoming is directed to one impeller and the rest is directed to the other impeller.
The discharges of both impellers are joined to create the overall pump discharge. Effectively, in this configuration the pump discharge has had only one bump in pressure from either of the impellers. It therefore takes longer to develop discharge pressure. However, because the discharge is from two impellers, higher flows are possible.
Only in an operation where head pressures are to be overcome i. Gated inlets are those which have a valve between the inlet connection and the pump chamber. When one of these inlets is used the valve must be fully opened in order to ensure adequate supply to the pump. Flow-through-inlets are those which have no valve between the pump chamber and the inlet connection.
These inlets must be capped when not in use. The discharges are numbered 1 to 6 starting with the front discharge and proceeding counter clockwise around the rig. These discharges are also color coded. Flowmeters will register a reading only when water is flowing. Tachometer gauge. Basic Pump Operation The 8 basic steps to hand line operation using booster tank water:.
Put transmission in drive Note the speedometer. A reading on the speedometer will indicate that the pump is engaged. This will allow water to enter the pump from the booster tank. Operate the primer pump until: The Master Pressure gauge reading steadies and levels off and only water is heard escaping the pump.
No longer than 30 second intervals. Monitor line pressure and adjust to correct pressure with water flowing using friction loss rules. Use the yellow increase button on the Pro- Pressure governor if more than the preset pressure is required for the hand line. Be sure the discharge valve is fully open before increasing the pressure using the governor. All members must realize that this does not preclude the rest of the ranks from having basic knowledge in pumping operations.
In this case another available member would have to step in and either initiate or continue the pumping operation- because regardless of the situation in the street, the operations in the fire area must continue.
It also placed full reliance on metal aerials for developing elevated large caliber streams when water towers were phased out. The difference is that the tiller is a tractor trailer rig with maneuverable rear wheels- this allows for easier maneuvering around tight turns.
The Tower Ladder TL was introduced to the fire service several years ago. Its full potential is still being developed. The effectiveness of this apparatus in ladder company operations on the exterior of buildings for access to the interior, and for rescue purposes is without question.
In addition, it also provides a superior elevated large caliber stream capability. When lowered and locked each becomes a rigid member, to provide a rigid operating base bypassing the apparatus suspension. Controls are on pedestal. Bed ladder is the base section, which is fixed does not extend or retract. Upper 3 sections are moving sliding sections. Each section has a handrail, which tapers to beam at top.
On aerial ladders this platform is used to mount and dismount the aerial. On both aerial and tower ladders the turntable contains the pedestal controls, from which the operator can operate the aerial or tower ladder. When their need is evident upon arrival, they should be raised immediately.
When their need is anticipated for later use, the ladders shall be positioned and set up. Positions above a fire that have not been controlled are very hazardous, particularly in vacant building fires where the spread of fire can be unusually rapid. Units operating above any fire must be continuously aware of conditions below them.
Units on floors below must inform those working above of any developing conditions that will affect their positions. While this will be time consuming and does not completely preclude injuries, it will reduce the number of personnel exposed at any one time. Limited application of interior streams is advisable when penetration of outside streams is restricted to the front two rooms of a building.
Of course, complete control from the exterior might be possible if open areas are available at exposure 2, 3 and 4 sides, as needed.
Use of the Satellite monitor at high pressure is an option, but this might destroy the main structural components of the building. In large area vacant buildings, e. This procedure will limit extension, minimize damage to occupied exposures, and increase the availability of units. The alternative is stretching lines up fire escapes and into exposures to operate across courts and shafts. This might require a second alarm assignment.
The primary guide should be to expose as few men as possible, using as few lines as possible within the fire building. Members must psychologically adjust to a "no rush" approach. In these buildings, the life hazard is to the firefighter.
A slower, more cautious operation is definitely indicated. More time than usual must be devoted to physical size-up of the building.
Vacant building markings: Members are so used to looking at these markings, they often do not react to them. They provide important tips pertaining to interior conditions. If a roof has been previously opened or burned away, to the degree that the need for future vertical ventilation appears minimal, the letters "R.
Indications of previous fire s : burned out window frames and overhauling debris from previous operations 3. Mattresses piled around first floor landing area may indicate that landings on upper floors have been removed.
Heavy salvageable items are often dropped from upper floors by building strippers. Bathroom floors and beams are often removed to facilitate dropping toilet bowls and tubs to lower floors. Doors are often missing from apartments allowing rapid spread of fire and smoke up interior halls.
Ceiling and floor beams have often been weakened or burned through during previous fires 7. Exterior openings may be sealed with cement blocks or covered with tin. Fire can burn for considerable time and be extensive before being detected.
Access and ventilation will be very difficult. Since the strategy of vacant building fire fighting is based on timely and safe control of the situation, the initial tactics of implementation are chiefly engine company operations. In this regard, supply to, and placement of, apparatus is of critical importance.
For attainment of this objective, deployment of the first engine company to arrive is most important. The decision to utilize the New Yorker Multiversal Nozzle exterior or to initiate an interior attack is based on officer's size-up of the situation.
The engine company officer using ILP must transmit the signal via department radio for the information of other arriving engine companies. This is to alert them to the fact that they should be prepared to augment the water supply of the initial company. Advantages of In-Line Pumping 1. Fast water on the fire. Pumper in position for exterior stream operation.
Equipment on a pumper closer to the fire. Shorter and faster hand line stretches. Lower engine pressures required. Engine company chauffeur ECC in better position to observe operations and assist if necessary.
Disadvantages of In-Line Pumping 1. Water supply limited to supply line layout and hydrant supply potential. It may not be possible to attain full pumper capacity 3. Possibility of pumper blocking out aerial and tower ladder apparatus. If hydrant selected is OOS the pumper may not be able to proceed to next available hydrant, having been blocked out by later arriving apparatus 5.
Possible damage to apparatus by falling debris. This line will be stretched and operated by the second arriving engine company. Control of the water shall be at the pumper s supplying the unit.
Advancement of lines should be deliberate and with due attention to safety. Units must avoid the passing of any fire that may burn members or become a later threat. All members must be constantly aware of conditions in surrounding areas. Be aware of conditions in surrounding areas, especially in the area below. Officers shall monitor radios for messages and conditions being reported throughout the building.
Other members should remain outside, readily available for relief or any immediate assistance required. Also check for kinking after the line has been stretched or is being advanced. Kinking will cause a loss in available water at the nozzle. While the stream may appear to be adequate, the actual available gpm for fire fighting purposes may prove to be insufficient.
The additional gpm and available reach of the larger line may prove to be a considerable overall advantage. They should listen to Handie-Talkie instructions for the deployment of their apparatus or to assist other operations.
The second arriving engine company should also be apprised of this fact so that appropriate measures can be taken to insure sufficient water supply at the fire.
Other water supply appliances that are available in some areas are the Maverick Hydrant and the Mini-manifold. If an interior operation is absolutely necessary due to the fire location, it follows standard operational procedures within the bounds of safety determined by the condition of the building. He should be prepared to position apparatus and operate elevated streams on command. The main objective in the placement of exterior streams is to obtain the greatest coverage, while bearing in mind the safety of members involved.
Tower Ladders should be positioned to cover two sides of a building. Placement of TL in a vacant lot at times may be both possible and necessary for utmost coverage. The lot must be surveyed by the officer and chauffeur to determine the condition of the rubble and whether it will support the weight of the apparatus.
Previous knowledge of the condition of the lot will be an aid in this determination. Shoring will be necessary under the jacks and tormentors for greater stability of the apparatus. The boom should not be operated at right angles to the chassis at low elevations. It should be operated at narrow angles, over the front or rear of the apparatus. At times, only a portion of the TL may have to be placed in the lot to obtain the desired coverage.
He must also communicate any conditions that are dangerous or potentially hazardous. One member with a radio must be listening for any messages or conditions that may affect roof operations. He should be monitoring conditions on the roof, in the building, and in the exposures. If power saws are being used, this member must be in a quiet area for effective monitoring of and transmission of messages.
When operating with masks, it must be remembered that ambient temperatures may not be evident, visibility and communications will be hindered. All floors below the fire area must be examined for incendiary devices. See Section 1. One of these members shall be equipped with a Handie-Talkie radio. Position it so as to limit fire extension into upper areas, limiting build-up of smoke, heat, etc. This technique should get priority consideration in the "partial vacant" where the integrity of the public hall is necessary for removal of occupants.
Use masks, vent windows as you go, move slowly feeling for holes in the floor, etc. If you cannot see the floor, you should be feeling your way, utilizing a tool, or else you should be moving on your hands and knees.
Previous fire or overhauling may have loosened supports, etc. If member does make such an entry, be careful of holes in the floor immediately under the window. Communicate with your officer any time such entry is made. If there is any question as to the stability of the roof, do not go out on it. We don't all face the same challenges as the men and women who serve in New York. We may not have access to all the same tools, training, or manpower. For these reasons, some of us conclude that lessons learned from the FDNY can't apply to us- and that couldn't be further from the truth.
Here's why: The FDNY and other busy departments have tried dozens of techniques and new tools during thousands of hours of training and hundreds of thousands of fires.
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