Attacking Today

1
Attacking Todays Vehicle Fires
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Sec. 3

1. The set rules of vehicle fire fighting
2. The tools of good decision making

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The Golden Rule Of Vehicle Fires !

• If you see open flames upon arrival that vehicle
  is already
• A Total Loss

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What Defines A Total Loss ?

• In earlier cars a total loss was determined by
  the repair cost, as compared to the resale value
  of the vehicle.
• Today's vehicles are all together different.
• In an effort to meet NHTSAs crash safety
  standards, manufacturers have redesigned their
  frames and supports to bend in precise locations
  to absorb impact.

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Crash Sensitive Body Designs
Note Weak Spots In Sheet metal Frame And
Harden Metals In crash zones
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These Are Called Crumple Zones

• These weak spots make it possible for auto makers
  to predetermine where the car will bend in a
  crash.
• They place these so that the occupant space will
  open larger, as impact is absorbed.
• This allows for more survival space for an
  occupant.

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Why A Total Loss ?

• When metal is heated it warps, distorting its
  original shape.
• The metal used in cars is very thin, and needs
  very little heat to accomplish this distortion.
• This is a threat to the integrity of the frame,
  and the safety of the occupant therefore,
• A Total Loss

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1,000 or 175,000 It is still aTotal Loss
Do not risk your life for a Junk Car
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A Good Attack Begins At The Station

• With all the New Technology of todays vehicles,
  we can not attack a vehicle fire safely, if we do
  not know the Dangers we are facing.
• Training
• Its A Must !

10
You are dispatched to a vehicle fire.

• Just like any fire, a safe attack depends on a
• Good Size-up

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A Good Size-up Is A Four Part Process.

• 1. Dispatch Size-up
• 2. Approaching Size-up
• 3. Arrival Size-up
• 4. On scene Size-up

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Dispatch size-up begins, when you roll out of the
door.

• Always repeat the address back to dispatch.
• Ask for additional information. Is this vehicle
  on the road, in a driveway or in a garage ?
• Is this a vehicle fire or a fire resulting from a
  collision ?
• Know your area, if this is on the highway, is it
  a high traffic area ?

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Why ask for additional information?

• If this vehicle is on the highway, we need PD in
  route NOW, for traffic control.
• If it is in a driveway or garage we need engine
  companies in route NOW, for possible structure
  fire.
• If it is a result of a collision, we need ALS in
  route NOW, for possible injuries.

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Remember ! We can always disregard incoming
help.

• A lot of people do not realize that some
  departments, especially volunteer, may have a ten
  to twenty minute response time, and miles of area
  to cover.
• If we wait until we arrive on scene to call for
  help, that help has the same or more response
  time.
• We must have Good Dispatch Size-up skills

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Approaching Size-up (Down the road)

• Do I see any exposures in immediate danger
• What is the wind direction?
• Topography Is the vehicle on a hill?
• Dangers to crew, Is there oncoming traffic?
• What are the on lookers doing? (That is odd)

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Away Down The Road We Can Start To Refine Our
Dispatch Size-up.

• What does this area look like? Is there woods or
  high grass on the side of the road? ( Exposures
  we did not know about ?)
• What is the wind direction? ( I need my apparatus
  up wind from the fire.)
• Topography, ( Is the vehicle on a hill ?)
• Dangers to crew, Is there oncoming traffic?
• What are the on lookers doing? ( Rescue ? )

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Arrival Size-up (Still in the truck)

• Do I see open flames ?
• Is the vehicle occupied ?
• Is this a late model vehicle, or an older one ?
• What category is this fire ( front, rear,
  compartment ?)
• Do I need more help ?

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The Arrival Size-up Redefines The Approaching
Size-up

• How much fire is there ? ( Do I need An
  Extinguisher or an inch and three quarter line ?
  )
• Is the vehicle occupied ?
• Is this a late model vehicle, or an older one? (
  I have a late model Honda Civic )
• What category is this fire ( Front, Rear,
  Compartment ? )
• Do I need more help?

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On Scene Size-up

• Closer check for occupants ( Or escaped occupants
  injured ) ?
• Closer check of exposures
• Closer check of vehicle

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On Scene Size-up Redefines Your Arrival
Size-up.

• Closer check for occupants
• Closer check of exposures
• Closer check of vehicle ( I have a late model
  Honda Civic Hybrid, 300-500 Volts )
• Do I need more help ?

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Remember !

• Good Size-up
• Is A
• Practiced Skill
• Not A Spur Of The Moment Decision

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Is It Time For A Change In Training Yet ?

• Vehicle Fire Categories
• While putting this class together, I lined up
  about 100 pictures of burning cars. I noticed
  that there was a pattern I had never seen or
  heard anyone teach. These pictures all fit into
  four categories.

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Categories

• Front end fires bumper to inter dash board
• Rear end fires rear seat to rear bumper
• Compartment fires dash to rear seat
• Fully involved fires bumper to bumper, or a
  combination of any two categories.

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Some will say, common sense would tell you that,
by just looking.

• Though this may seem obvious, and silly to even
  think about.
• Lets look at the New Technology we are dealing
  with today.
• By categorizing the fire in our size-up we can
  initiate a safer, faster attack.

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For Instance,

• Rear End Fire
• Late model car
• Down hill topography
• Thought of attack
• In just a few minutes I am going to have a
  stream of burning gas running down the hill, from
  the plastic gas tank melting.

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Or

• Fully Involved Fire
• Late Model Car
• Thought of attack
• That car has about 12 compressed gas cylinders in
  it, and the heat is so intense that they are
  going to blow, keep my people back and cool it
  defensively.

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Another

• Front End Fire
• Late Model Car
• Thought of attack
• I can approach diagonally from the rear of the
  car, pushing the heat away from the compartment,
  where all the gas cylinders are.

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Or

• Rear End Fire
• Late model car
• Level ground
• Thought of attack
• In just a few minutes I am going to have a ring
  of burning gas right were my firefighters will be
  standing, from the plastic tank melting.

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• By categorizing the fire, we can train our
  minds to prioritize the dangers we face in that
  particular area of the car.

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Example

• Rear End Fire
• Gas tank
• Possible gas cylinders in both C post
• Pressurized fuel lines
• Two rear tires
• Rear bumper struts

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Or

• Front End Fire
• Front bumper struts
• Hood Struts
• Two front tires
• Possible gas cylinders in both A post
• Possible magnesium

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With Manufacturers Already Producing Cars Like
BMW ( With Optional 22 Air bags )

• Not many of us can remember ( in the time it
  takes to do a size-up ) That this car has
• 2 Front bumper struts
• 2 hood struts
• 2 front tires that can blow
• 2 A post gas canisters
• 2 Dash mounted gas canisters

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• A steering wheel air bag with 2 igniters
• A passenger air bag with 2 igniters
• A carpet air bag (igniter in the consol)
• 2 air bags in the front doors (with gas canisters
  )
• 2 pyrotechnic seat belts in the B posts
• Seat position air bag under driver seat
• 2 side curtain air bags
• Some have 2 roll over protectors (some gas, some
  pyrotechnic)

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• 2 rear occupant air bags in the back of the front
  seats
• 2 air bags in the rear doors
• 2 pyrotechnic seat belts in rear seats
• 2 gas canisters in the C posts
• 2 rear tires that can blow
• 2 gas struts on trunk led
• 2 gas struts on the rear bumper
• A plastic gas tank
• Plastic pressurized gas lines
• And a magnesium engine

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But Can We Remember ?

• Front End Fire
• 2 front bumper struts
• 2 front tires
• 2 hood struts
• Gas canisters in the area of the dash and A
  posts
• And magnesium motor

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Or

• Rear End Fire
• Plastic gas tank
• 2 rear bumper struts
• Gas canisters in C post
• 2 Tires

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But Can We Remember ?

• Front End Fire
• 2 front bumper struts
• 2 front tires
• 2 hood struts
• Gas canisters in the area of the dash and A
  posts
• And magnesium motor

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Can We Remember ?

• Compartment Fire
• These kind of cars have about 45 dangers
  inside the compartment.
• Is the fire small enough to put out or am I going
  to fight it defensively ?

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Size-up, Is A Fast Skilled Decision

• Can
• Categorizing
• Help Us ?

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Another Important Part Of A Safe Attack

• Apparatus Placement

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If At All Possible !

• The apparatus should always be positioned up wind
  from the burning vehicle.
• Todays vehicles are about 40 hydrocarbon based
  plastics, which put off hundreds of different
  toxic gases.
• Most vehicle fires produce thick black smoke,
  impairing vision.

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Again, If At All Possible !

• The apparatus should always be placed up hill
  from the burning vehicle.
• This has always been a part of our training, but
  today this is no longer an option but a MUST,
  with the new plastic gas tanks and pressurized
  plastic gas lines running all the way to the
  front of the car. We are going to have gas
  running down the hill.

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Direction of the apparatus.

• The pump panel should always face the burning
  vehicle.
• This gives the engineer a clear view of the
  scene.
• And on the side of the road, this gives him
  protection from oncoming traffic.

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Positioning the apparatus

• If the burning vehicle is on the roadway or the
  shoulder of the road, the apparatus should be
  placed diagonally, blocking the lane the vehicle
  is in and at least the next adjacent lane.
• This forms about an 80,000 pound wall between you
  and the oncoming traffic.

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Another Important Part Of A Safe Attack

• Water Supply
• And
• Fire Streams

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Water supply

• For years some of us have used a one inch line or
  red line to attack a vehicle fires.
• With the New Technology we are facing today, we
  need a lot of water, real fast, from a long
  distance.
• With plastic gas tanks, and plastic fuel lines,
  and dozens of gas cylinders to explode, we need a
  fast knock down of the fire, from a long
  distance. Before approaching the fire.

47
New Training

• Always use at least an inch and three quarter
  line, and an adjustable fog nozzle to attack a
  vehicle fire.
• This gives us pressure to wash spillage out from
  under the vehicle, while cooling the tank from a
  safe distance.
• This gives us more water to cool the fire.
• And a fog stream to protect our crew when
  approaching the vehicle.

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Fire Streams
An Adjustable Fog Nozzle Would Be Our
Best Choice We Have Adjustable GPM Fog
Pressure
150 GPM at a pressure of 75-100 lb. Straight
Stream For Long distance wash down. Then
adjustable fog for approach And adjustable GPM
and pressure after knock down for Water
conservation and cooling.
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This is the pressure we used in all the
experiments you are about to see
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New Training

• Keep in mind that the training in this class may
  not be the only way of safely attacking the
  fire.
• But seeing the desperate need for change, this
  is some of the approaches that we have
  experimented with and believe will make an
  aggressive approach a lot safer, when facing the
  New Technology of todays vehicles.

51
There Are Some Rules In Vehicle Fire Fighting
That You Never Break

• 1. Never approach a burning vehicle without full
  bunker gear, and SCBA.
• The materials that today's cars are made of,
  put off deadly poison gases.
• They WILL KILL you !!

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• 2. Never risk injury to save a burning car, it
  was already junk when you arrived on scene.
• Remember the golden rule If you see open
  flames upon arrival that vehicle is already a
  total loss.
• Is your life worth 50.00 in scrap iron ?

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• 3. Never cross in front of the burning vehicle.
• Remember the film were the bumper blew off.
• Or the picture of the bumper strut still in
  the air.
• Or the hood strut in the mans leg.
• Always go around the non burning end.
• This Could Be You !

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• 4. Never enter the vehicle, with any part of your
  body, until every part of that car has been
  completely cooled.
• Remember the air bags blowing out through the
  roofs.
• The gas cylinders throwing shrapnel in all
  directions
• These are hand grenades with the pins already
  pulled !

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• 5. Never open the hood, trunk lid, or hatch back,
  without first bending the edges and cooling the
  struts.
• These are mounted on plastic sockets that are
  probably melted, and the hot cylinder has built
  up pressure inside.
• Remember the mans leg ?
• They Are For Real !

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Expect The Unexpected In Every Vehicle Fire !!

• While putting this class together, we were
  dispatched to a fully involved early model van
  fire.
• This was a very routine type vehicle fire, none
  of the new technologies was involved.
• A simple knock down, and get in there and put it
  out.

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Just Like Old Times !!
No Bumper Or Hood Struts
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No dangers, Just Play Time.
No Air Bags No Gas Canisters
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Daaa ! Ya Better check
The Back
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Expect The Unexpected !!
Acid
Brake fluid
Gas
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New Training

• With Change, Come Resistance To Change.
• New Training Means going against everything we
  have been taught.
• So Please Bare With Us
• And
• Look At The Whole Picture.

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Rear End Fire
Rear Seat To Rear Bumper
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Rear End Fires

• Dangers Plastic Gas Tanks
  
• Rear Bumper Struts
• Nitrogen Gas Cylinders in C/D
  
• post.
• Rear Tires
• Trunk lid Struts
• Contents of trunk

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• Causes 1 Arson Stolen vehicles are
  usually
• started in the rear in
  attempt to blow
• the gas tank. Or destroy
  evidence (Such
• as a body in the trunk).
  
• 2 Contents of trunk
  Multiple chemicals
• being hauled, spill
  causing chemical
• reactions.
• 3 Tires Running on flat
  tires Rubber
• gets hot and ignites.

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• Suspicions Always suspect Haz-Mat or
• Criminal Mischief in the
  trunk
• of a straight rear end
  fire.
• From the C/D post to
  the rear
• bumper there is very
  little mechanical
• that can start a fire.
• Gas tanks are usually a
  result of a fire
• caused by collision.

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Approaching A Rear End Fire.

• We have always been taught to approach a rear end
  fire diagonally, come in on one of the corners.
• 1 Washing the spillage out from under the car.
  With a straight stream, from a safe distance.
• 2 Splashing water up to the gas tank area, to
  cool the tank.

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This Was Good, But You Will See In The Next Step
Our Reason For Change

• We are experimenting with the idea of approaching
  diagonally from the front corner of the fire
  area, rather than the corner of the car.
• Same as before, wash out under the car while
  cooling the tank, from a safe distance.
• This is doing the same job, and pushing the heat
  away from the unburned area of the car.

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Diagonal To The Front Of The Fire Area
Pushing The Heat Away From The Unburned Area
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Step 2

• We have always been taught to turn to a narrow
  fog stream, while approaching the car, doing a
  fast knock down of the fire.
• This is basic firefighting, the fog stream takes
  away the heat, while providing protection for our
  crew.

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Our Idea Step 2

• Same fog stream, same cooling, same protection.
• But now we are pushing the heat away from the
  unburned compartment area, where all the New
  Technology is located.

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Old Training Step 3

• When knock down was accomplished, our next
  priority was to cool the bumper struts.
• Making it safer for us to work on getting the
  trunk lid open.

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This Takes Time, And It Is A Must ! Before We
Even Try To Open The Trunk
Remember The Struts Blowing And At The Same
Time The Seat Of The Fire Is Getting Hotter
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Lets Look Back At Statistics

• With the number one and two causes of rear end
  fires, whether criminal or chemical, the seat of
  the fire is based inside the trunk.
• Basic firefighting. What is the first part of the
  car that is going to burn?
• The cloth and material in the back of the seat
  and the cardboard rear dash.
• Every thing else is metal, or unknown hazards of
  contents.

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New Training Step 3

• With the back seat burning, the heat is rising,
  the fastest thing to burn through is the
  cardboard dash, letting the fire spread into the
  compartment area.
• Lets go back to our New Technology and see what
  our priorities are now.

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C-Post
Both Sides
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Side Curtain Air Bags Have One.
Both Sides In C Post
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Rear Seat Air Bags
Both sides
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By Approaching The Car At This Angle.

• We can safely bust the rear door glass, and cool
  the C posts and air bag areas.

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Busting The Door Glass
As In Forcible Entry Always Stand To The Side To
Bust The Glass
80
Punch Out The Speaker Hole In The Back Dash.

• Using a pike pole we can tear out the rear dash,
  leaving a hole into the trunk, without ever
  entering the vehicle.

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Tearing Out The Dash
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Old Training Step 4

• After thoroughly cooling the bumper struts, we
  proceeded to open the trunk.
• Unaware Of the status of the fire inside.
• Unaware of the content hazards.
• Unaware of the status of the gas struts on the
  trunk lid.

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Back To The Hole Into The Trunk.

• By putting water through this hole, we cool the
  Base of the fire, in the first few minutes of the
  attack. As compared to the time it takes to cool
  the bumper struts, and open the trunk.
• At the same time the steam conversion forms a
  blanketing affect, smothering the fire. (We are
  using two parts of the tetrahedron)

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The Safest Part.

• We have never opened the trunk lid.
• We have never been in danger of the bumper
  struts.
• We have never been in the path of an exploding
  trunk lid strut.
• And we are not going to open the trunk to an
  unexpected flash of fire.

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Old Training Step 5

• Open the trunk lid.
• Not knowing the status of the fire.
• Not knowing if the lid struts are going to shoot
  out like arrows or not.
• Not knowing the status of the contents.

86
What Are We Facing ?
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New Training Step 5

• While the steam is blanketing the fire.
• Cool the tire and bumper strut, on that side of
  the car.
• Never cross in front of the burning end, go
  around the non-burning end of the car to the
  other side and cool the tire and bumper strut on
  that side.

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New Training Step 6

• With a halogen bar pushed into the edge of the
  trunk lid, bend the edges of the trunk lid up,
  and cool the struts on both sides.

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New Training Step 7

• Open Trunk Lid. Safely

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Notes from the experiment

• Using this method, to our surprise !
• Each time we opened the trunk, the fire was
  totally out.

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Steam Conversion
It Worked Every Time
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Even more to our surprise !

• We had put a foam rubber rear seat, and some
  cardboard in the trunk, and about 1 gallon of gas
  to make a very hot fire. We allowed it to burn
  awhile before attacking.
• After washout, knock down, extinguishment, and
  total cooling of the vehicle.
• We had used less than ¼ of a 300 gal tank of
  water. ( Steam Conversion )

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Two Parts Of The Tetrahedron
The Water Takes Away The Heat The
Steam Smothers The Oxygen
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We Later Found One Problem With This Method.

• Some after market speakers are bolted in, where
  the factory speakers just knock out.
• So we found another way to do the same attack.
• We tried to hook the center of the seat back and
  pull it out, very unsuccessful .
• But, we hooked the seat back about 6 inches from
  the corner, and one small pull it was loose.

95
You Must Hook The Corner.
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Now We Have Access To The Trunk
97
Using This Opening We Done The Same As Before

• But each time we opened the trunk, we found a
  very good knock down, but still some small amount
  of flame.

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We Tried Pushing The Seat Back Into position

• This would close the opening after we applied the
  water.
• We opened the trunk and there was no fire.
• The smaller hole retains our steam, putting out
  the fire.
• This method is easier than the speaker hole But,
  pushing the seat back is a must.

99
We Have Extinguished The Fire.

• We faced 2 gas canisters
• 2 Air bags
• 2 gas struts
• 2 Bumper Struts
• 2 Tires
• A plastic gas tank
• Unknown Contents

And Not Once Did We Put Our Crew In Danger !
100

• Many have ask why not use a piercing nozzle to
  get the same effect ?
• We can, but in looking at this we found a few
  draw backs

101
Piercing Nozzle Do You Have One?

• Time It takes extra time to hook-up the nozzle.
• Dangerous obstructions inside the trunk some
  cars have batteries mounted in the trunk.
• Some like the VW we seen have gas canisters
  mounted in the trunk.
• And as bad as it sounds we could be pushing it
  into a body, stopping the flow of water.
• Also we would have to put two men in front of a
  gas canister to insert the nozzle.