Why do firefighters cut holes in roofs?

When a hole is made in the roof, and the building is “vented,” the smoke and gases escape because heat and smoke rise. It increases the victim's chance for survival and makes it much easier for the firefighters in the building to see.

Why do firefighters break windows instead of opening them?

The reduced heat and improved visibility allow firefighters to safely and quickly rescue trapped occupants and extinguish the fire. Heat and smoke rise, so cutting a hole in the roof and breaking out windows in strategic locations allows the smoke to vent upwards, allowing cool air to enter the structure from below.

What is the purpose of a trench cut?

Trench cuts are designed to let expanding gases vent vertically so that they cannot reach a chosen line within a structure. A properly positioned trench cut should have hose lines in place below the cut so as not to allow fire advancement.

How do firefighters ventilate a roof?

Make the Cut

Step-by-step: Open the roof; knock the decking or boards out of the hole; communicate with attack crews; push the ceiling down to vent the interior; tell command via radio that “the roof is opened”; and get off the roof.

What is a heat hole firefighting?

By opening a large hole in the roof heat and smoke can quickly be removed from the structure. This rapidly improves conditions inside the building, hastening fire suppression.

Firefighter Training - Why we cut holes in roofs

What happens if someone flees a fire and leaves the front door open?

Leaving doors open can create wind conditions that make fighting fires more dangerous and can quickly help small fires to grow into massive blazes. Be sure to close every door you open as you escape.

Does FDNY vent peaked roofs?

Except, one of the best-staffed departments in the world - FDNY - does not, and has not for decades, utilized vertical ventilation as a standard tactic on peaked roofs, having long ago determined that it is more efficient to dedicate personnel to extinguishment and horizontal ventilation.

How do firefighters ventilate a flat roof?

This month we are going to build upon that information and look at two different ways firefighters can ventilate a flat roof: the coffin cut and the square cut. The two types of cuts that firefighters can use can be made with either a rotary saw or a ventilation saw, depending upon the roofing material.

What are three reasons for performing ventilation at a structure fire?

What does venting a fire do?

The basic premise of ventilation at a fire is to remove the products of combustion from the structure. This tactic has one main benefit, which is to protect the firefighters and officers inside the building trying to extinguish the fire because we let the fire, heat and smoke out of the building.

What is a louver cut?

The most common type of vent hole is the louvered or hinged cut. This type of vent hole takes advantage of the nailed sheeting resting on the roof truss to act as a hinge point for our finished product.

What is the throat of a building?

Look for a pinch point or "throat" area of the building that will facilitate cutting the trench. Optimally, limiting the length of the cut from side to side will decrease the time needed to make the cut and it will get the crews off the roof faster.

Does a wet towel help in a fire?

If you don't have a pan lid nearby, you can use a wet rag or towel to smother the fire. If you choose this method, make sure your rag is damp, not soaking wet, and also make sure the cloth is thick enough so it won't catch on fire too. Turn off the burner and let the pan cool naturally.

Can you run through fire with a wet blanket?

MYTH: You should wet woollen blankets to wrap around yourself as protection when sheltering from a fire. FACT: Use a dry blanket to help protect yourself from radiant heat when sheltering from a fire.

Can wet clothes catch on fire?

Oxidation creates heat, and if the heat can't be removed (for example, by air flow) the temperature of the substance continues to increase until it reaches its ignition temperature and catches fire. Oxidation can occur naturally among warm or damp fabrics during the laundering process.

What happens if a fire crew opens the door on a fire without understanding ventilation?

All of these experiments were designed to examine the first ventilation actions by an arriving crew when there are no ventilation openings. It is possible that the fire will fail a window prior to fire department arrival or that a door or window was left open by the occupant while exiting.

How do you ventilate a backdraft?

Most of the time, this is accomplished by cutting an opening in the roof and refraining from opening any windows or doors on or below the fire floor until conditions have changed. This means that no search and rescue can occur and no water is being put on the fire until the vertical ventilation can be completed.

When should you vent a house fire?

Ventilation in two-story, single-family occupancies

Consider ventilating the second floor as soon as possible. When the fire is on the second floor, ventilate this floor first. If possible, start by ventilating the outside windows of the room of origin first and coordinate the movement of air within the structure.

How do you sound a roof firefighting?

The company officer should walk as close to over the seat of the fire as is safe, make a 90-degree turn and sound the area that's to be cut, which is usually near the peak as high up on the roof as possible.

How do you vent a flat roof?

To take care of flat roof ventilation, a thermal insulation layer is first positioned beneath the roof. This ensures that the hot air has a chance to move and finally escape through the air ducts. However, another layer called the vapor control layer needs to be installed.

What is the greatest risk to firefighters performing vertical ventilation?

What is the greatest danger to fire fighters performing vertical ventilation? Roof collapse? Where is water directed during hydraulic ventilation? Out a window or door.

Why do firefighters carry compressed air and not oxygen in their tanks?

Firefighters breathe from air tanks called SCBA's (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus). These air tanks don't explode when exposed to heat because they are filled with compressed air, not oxygen. The air tanks have a burst disk to prevent rupture from the increased pressure due to heat.

When should you not fight a fire?