Normally we don’t see the public focusing on roof operations when they have cameras in hand during a fire. This neighbor, Lee Brenner (Twitter.com/deepdishpol), has a video that covers only the rooftop. That’s because it is shot from Brenner’s roof a block away. The house fire was yesterday near 13th Street and S Street, NW. Below is Part 1 of the video.
Also on STATter911 …
- Must see video: Close call during roof operations in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. – June 12, 2011
- Public information in your Nation’s Capital: Encryption of police communications, fire department Twitter feed goes dark, cameras seized by police. What does it all mean? A guest column by Gerald Baron. – September 22, 2011
- Video: Two-alarms in DC. Hook Restaurant in Georgetown burns at lunch hour. – June 29, 2011
- Pre-arrival video: Underground fire forces evacuation of two hotels near White House. – August 16, 2010
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“Anonymous says
For the 2 defending the practice, call the Durango, Colorado fire department and ask them about this.”
I called, they said they had no clue about venting a row house in D.C.
and to all the people that understand roofwork (and firefighting in general), just realize that the cowards in our profession now have a lifeline to grasp onto. The cowards now can throw out the “safety card” and try to justify their failure to operate effectively, efficiently, and without delay.
Let the criers cry, the cowards hide, and the firemen carry on. Once again,“You’re either a Fireman or your not” enough said
Never do I want to see any firefighter injured or god forbid killed LODD, but I see in DCFD some of the same things as Charleston SC. I hope not, but with the attitudes displayed here by purported DCFD members, the only way you’ll change your dinosaur attitudes is after an NFPA investigation in a LODD, many civil lawsuits, and a Union blaming the DCFD for poor supervision, inadequate training, failure to institute SCBA SOP’s, etc etc etc. Unfortunately, someone will still be a LODD before change is forced due to stubborness, heroics,machoness,tradition, peer pressure, and other blind reasons. I hope this never happens, instead intelligence takes over and join the modern fire service. God bless you all.(even if you don’t accept modern fire concepts, you can’t block the blessing of God)
First – Lets separate these into two groups. Group 1, every No-It-All whom has never opened up a roof on a real working fire. It just blows me away that most chiefs, safety officers, and company officers have never been a roof team. BUT u stand in the street, and run ur PIE HOLE like u know what ur talking about. Oh that’s right, you just took a ventilation class at the academy, read a chapter or two in a book, cut a hole in some plywood laying across some 4x4s on the ground, then took a test. Now you are the man. “What A Crock Of Sh##”
If you have never been a Truck Technician, if you have never opened up several roof’s on a WORKING FIRE to get some hands on experience to your craft, shut your pie u fu##### little flower. Let the roof teams do what they do – OPEN UP
Group Two – If u are a Truck Technician, or what ever you may be in your local, and you are a true believer in wearing your SCBA, hey that’s ok also. To each his own, but we in the DCFD, normally do not work in that mode. Standard, Box – Two trucks, 4 guys on the roof, opened up within two minutes. Back off the roof doing other tasks, now these guys were on the roof for several minutes, well… A lot of trapped smoke, smoldering fire in the walls, called for multiple holes for ventilation and to track down the “seat” of the fire. What’s the problem?
I am sure when I come into work tomorrow; all the chiefs are going to be up in arms “Oh My God” where’s that guy’s bottle? Get him off the roof and put him on charges, then get that guy leaning on that fire engine over their with his bottle on and send him to the roof.
Chief that Guy is a Paramedic on an engine company; he has never worked on a roof. That’s ok say the chief, he has his bottle on.
You little flowers are going to safety us out of a job you firkin pansies. Guess what? It is a Dangerous Job, and people are going to get hurt. Maybe you don’t want to work with me, or people with my attitude, that’s ok, I don’t want to work with a bunch of know it all, haven’t done shit on the fireground flowers.
Why don’t we just pull up, put our vests on, light up a smoke and watch this thing burn to the firkin ground. No one gets hurt, the fire goes out, and we don’t have to clean our tools.
Focus Guys! 2 story, old law, row house with a party wall. Fire in the 1st fl walls and ceilings, 2nd fl walls, ceilings and cockloft, extending to the delta exposure on the 2nd fl.
They were on the scene in less than 3 mins. 4 hand lines in operation in less than 5 minutes. Roof teams had the roof open in less than 10min. Not just one roof, but found there was a shed roof built over the original roof, so, 2 roofs open.
The roof teams were experienced, efficient, gave clear reports to the IC and managed their job professionally. I have great trust and confidence in these men and know that they will wear and use the appropriate level of protective equipment that each particular job requires.
The roof teams and interior truck teams (remember the roof teams are only one part of a whole crew) did a great job of opening both those houses up and controlling the fire within 15min.
This fire could have easily run the entire row of 5 attached houses. There was minimal damage, no injuries and no drama. Focus on the job at hand and please don’t be so quick to judge others when you’re not there. Learn from these brave men, and hold your criticisms, unless you have no faults.
A personal thank you to the 6th, 1st and 4th battalions for a job well done.
“Anonymous says
For the 2 defending the practice, call the Durango, Colorado fire department and ask them about this.”
I called, they said they had no clue about venting a row house in D.C.
“and to all the people that understand roofwork (and firefighting in general), just realize that the cowards in our profession now have a lifeline to grasp onto. The cowards now can throw out the “safety card” and try to justify their failure to operate effectively, efficiently, and without delay.
Let the criers cry, the cowards hide, and the firemen carry on. Once again,“You’re either a Fireman or your not” enough said”
I rest my case. May all the sentimental “sudden” safety professionals be damned. If I recall the job announcement for this job stated that it was inherently dangerous. If this job is not for you please find another. Don’t speak through your bushy, non smoke filtering, mustache while wearing your neatly pressed “It came from the night” T shirt to me about making my job safe for you to participate in. If you make it so that everyone stays safe outside breathing air than you can gear up, stand tall next to us and render the Prefix “Firefighter”; below your name or before it over the phone. Stop impeding progress by claiming that I, or persons like me, are the ones doing so. Why in this day and age do buildings still burn to the ground? After all we have all this great technology and training you safety-dancers hail as the end all be all. “Don’t you know this” and “well any modern firefighter that”. is all I hear but what I see are people VIOLATING their oaths to protect live AND PROPERTY, not stand by safely and watch it get destroyed. Any John Q citizen can do that, and they cost the city nothing(most of the time).
Once again typos, but fingers are larger than my fangled keys.
In my opinion, this new culture of safety, at times, actually works opposite of what is intended and causes us to be more at risk. DCFD is an aggressive interior firefighting department. Because of the speed and depth in which we go interior, it is critical for our operations to have crews working to vent quickly and efficiently. This puts out fires. PUTTING OUT THE FIRE QUICKLY IS THE SAFEST THING WE CAN DO ON THE FIRE GROUND!!! When and how did we start forgetting this?!? Training, experience, and common sense still prevail on our firegrounds, regardless of what you interpret from this one view video.
Our INTERIOR crews are SAFER because our roof teams vent so quickly and efficiently!!! I think this is what is lost with those whose departments do not understand the concept of a rapidly deployed, organized, efficient, cooridinated, AGGRESSIVE INTERIOR suppression effort. A QUICK, AGGRESSIVE, COORDINATED FIRE ATTACK PROVIDES THE GREATEST BLANKET OF SAFETY TO FIREFIGHTERS, CITIZENS AND PROPERTY!!! PERIOD!!! I understand that this is not in the mind-set of those non-aggressive, non-interior firefighting departments and it is difficult to understand and comprehend. Our techniques, style, and operations have been developed by and for our members over years and years and years of service, and our members have honed them tried and true … It works. It’s safe. And it’s the way we do business.
Here at the DCFD we are all SAFER because of the way we operate, and I for one appreciate it….
In reference to the PGFD comment: It is far from DCFD that is taking over your FD, but more of PGFD that is evident in DCFD everyday. We wonder why we have an “all about me” department. Career vs Vollie fistfighting so that “me” can get that fire. That stuff is low class, keep in your underfunded craphole that poisons DC.
Pick your battles.. Cancer is a very serious issue with regards to all firefighting Ops… Most of us have seen the studies, videos, etc.. The topic, it comes around every so often but we never forget it.
As a DCFD FF, it’s on my mind.. Safety is on my mind.. The guys I work with from NW to SE.. it’s on our minds… It’s serious, it’s not play time. It’s deadly work… we know it.
We have a job to do.. it could kill you.. you signed up for this job.. I’ll say it again, you could die on this job! From falling from a roof to getting cancer.. It’s a risk!
I am all for being safe. I have a family, I have lot’s of FF friends that I don’t want to attend a funeral for. Don’t think for ONE MINUTE that a DCFD Member doesn’t think about this. I’ll say it over and over.. It’s a serious and deadly job.
Yes, tradition is in our department and with this roof operations, I agree the wearing an SCBA is a hazard. The limited peripheral view does not work for roof operations.. You need see all the trip hazards, obstructions, change in roof lines and so on.. The SCBA mask is unsafe to wear on a roof, period! You take a risk of falling off the roof or getting exposed to cancer causing gases.. NO one is trying to be “cool” here on this fire.. They are getting the roof open and move on.
YES!Wearing a mask does limit the exposure to cancer causing gases, etc. – NO ONE will argue that.. There is NO good answer.
Maybe better equipment? who knows..
Throwing the cancer word at this is kinda BS… Diesel exhaust, what you eat, do you smoke, and so on all causes cancer.. It’s terrible, I know.. My dad died of it.. He was not a fireman.
How many have died because they were disorientated on a roof wearing a SCBA mask? Was that even considered in a report. Do we even consider this limited view as a risk.. It’s not a perfect solution…
BUT.. I can tell you, that getting the roof vented is a vital operation in a working fire. The faster you get a fire vented, the faster you get water on the fire, it lowers the risk of killing fireman and civilians, period.
I don’t think the weight of the pack is an issue or the physical fitness angle some are complaining about.. Everyone has people that are not in shape for firefighting. Move on!
We are aggressive, it’s a known fact.. We take pride in this very much so. We do practice safety, we drill, we are always thinking or coming up with tactics that are safe, efficient but aggressive.
Aggressive = risk…. Not always wearing the mask or putting on that mask is a risk..
You also have to look at our operations.. We are very fortunate to have good manpower/equipement on the scene of a working fire with in minutes of dispatch.. 4 man Eng.Co. 5 Man Trucks, 5 man Rescues, Multiple BFC’s. Yes a Safety Offcr… Rit group in place immediately and so on.. Then add a very calculated attack with strong SOG’s plus AGGRESSIVE Fireman, it works very well.
DCFD not operating safe is truly unfounded.. Aggressive with some risk, yes… but that’s the job people.. This will never change no matter how many magazine articles are written or fireshow seminars you attend.
At your next fire, grab the crew and go over the job.. See what you missed or didn’t do.. There is no perfect fireground. If you want to go home each day, never think you “got this one”…
My point here is that everything about the fire service is debatable. Some good and not so good.
Characterizing DCFD as a bunch of renegade, unsafe Cowboys is well, only showing your ignorance to how we think, operate on a fireground. Fellow DC Members “slinging mud” back at the naysayers, please stop and don’t get suck in to their level..
It’s a great job but it is not risk free..
DCFD is like no other, apperently their are alot of followers hence some 60 post already. If we are operating in such a manner that lives are in jeopardy than that is a problem, but do not judge us especially if you are not one of us.I have witnessed first hand Fireman in action and all I can say is excellent. To all you outsiders,webpage anaylst,arm chair truck guys,and really wishing I rode the backstep of any DCFD apparatus. Stop “HATIN ON US” envy is something else.
from this comment:
Wearing an extra 30 lbs on your back when you will be bent over opening up the roof is just ridiculous…..We put out fires here and we have interior fire attacks, unlike your crappy departments. Once you realize that your small department is a joke you adopt this safety culture stuff to justify why you can be a coward.
You will never be a fireman in a big city to keep your posts where they belong, in small town America.
We didn’t have a fire department that was a joke until we received our fire chief from inside your beltway. And now we are getting a buddy of his – one of your retired chief officers from the very department on this video. Please take him/them back.
there’s more. Excellant truck placement. 8″ of room on both sides of the truck for ladder removal. Arial ladder up around lines and to the roof. A 25 year vet. Officer who climbs to the roof and vents on his way up.Oh yea, I didnt hear anybody on the inside complain about heat, I wonder why? I’ll tell you why, It was escaping from the roof.Good job T-9 and Truck 4. See you on the next one. Ill be on the roof venting, I’ll bring my bottle if I think I need it.
WOW! Whatever happened to just watching the video of the Brothers doing their job? Pick up what you like from the video and bring it home. Posting negative comments (with names) about these guys is like me telling you that you don’t know how to raise your kids the right way! This is how THEY DO IT! It WORKS FOR THEM! They know the roof construction and they know when to back up or get down if the smoke gets too heavy. Does everyone wear their SCBA on a surround and drown when the smoke hangs low several hundred feet from the building? I didn’t think so. Everyone else should Butch Up. You can do your roof ops they way you want to. I would rather kick ass fighting fires like DCFD and die earlier than sit around watching or doing nothing and live till i’m 80. Everyone knows what they signed up for and conducts themselves accordingly. I can only dream about getting the roof like these guys. South Florida is full of CBS and lightweight wood/metal trusses. Continue to make us proud DCFD and God Bless…MG