Truck Company 17 #4 Platoon

Transcription

1 Truck Company 17 #4 Platoon The Detailman s Guide 1st Edition DRAFT

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3 About This Document: The Detailman s Guide to Truck 17 #4 Platoon was created as a common courtesy and labor of love to our firefighting brethren detailed to ride Truck 17 on Number 4 Platoon. We understand that there exists 4 separate fire departments inside the District of Columbia, and many more within each separate battalion. This document is meant to provide a quick crash course in how our particular company, in our particular section of the city, on our particular shift is run. Our members take great pride in our company and have spent countless hours & personal dollars to create, train, and develop the techniques, skills & opinions that follow. We are proud of our house and our company, but unlike others you may encounter, we are happy to have you join us for the experience. Right, wrong or indifferent, the following is a very brief overview of what we feel you need to know to get the most out of your short time here. History: March 27, 1955, Engine Company 30 and Truck Company 17 were organized and placed in service at #50 49th Street N.E. Engine Company 30 went in service with a 1939 Buffalo 750 GPM hose wagon, and a 1936 Pirsch 750 GPM pumper. Truck 17 went in service with a 1938 Pirsch 100' aerial ladder. House Box #9253 Truck 17 has consistently been one of the busiest ladder companies in the country for the past 2 decades. Current Shift Members: Officer - Lt. Jeffery Patton Sgt. Shannon Welch Truck Driver - Tech. David Driggers Tillerman - Tech. Joe Brown Vice-Tech. - Rick Caruso Firefighter Steve Faulkner Firefighter Jason Lerch

4 Basic Interaction Guidelines: While ballbusting is a common occurrence on a tight knit shift, belittling, backstabbing & general negativity are not a tolerated practice on our shift. If you didn t personally see it and/or the person you are referencing is not actually in the room, we don t want to hear it. Also out of place are crybabies, woh is me s, wedgemakers and generally anyone with a defeatist attitude or demeanor. We get shit done and have fun while we do it. Basic Responsibilities for Assuming Duty: Ensure correct position radio and exchange with fresh batteries. Batteries are kept in the firehouse charging closet located next to the Engine between the watchdesk and the company offices. Check SCBA for function and air levels. Spare cylinders are kept on the apparatus, there are no longer spares kept in quarters. Please notify the technician should you need to replace a cylinder. Check in with the on-duty Truck technician for riding assignment overview & introduction.

5 Compartment Themes: 1. Scene Safety 2. Drivers Compartment 3. Heavy Duty a. Saw Box - Roof Box 4. Drivers Side Lighting 5. Electric Ventilation 6. Forcible Entry 7. Utility Control 8. Customer Service 9. Vehicle Stabilization 10. Hooks 11. Tillermans Compartment 12. Salvage & Overhaul 13. RIT 14. Saws 15. Gas Powered Ventilation 16. Officer Side Lighting 17. EMS 18. Forcible Entry Handtools Riding Assignments & Position Responsibilities: Truck Driver: Primary responsibility is putting the truck in the correct location per SOG s and utilizing the aerial or a ground ladder to gain roof access. Heads to roof with primary saw per roof type and takes roof bag, ventilates as needed. Tools - Lincoln Bar, Primary Saw, Roof Bag Officer: Primary responsibility is crew oversight & command communication. Secondary is to accompany the barman to the seat of the fire and search. Should multiple balcony rescues be observed upon arrival, OIC will work with Tillerman & Hook to ladder & effect rescues. Tools - Haligan Bar & Thermal Imager Barman: Primary responsibility is to gain entry and access for the engine company from the street to the fire origin, and conduct a primary search from the fire room (or rooms) back. Tools - Irons (Haligan Bar & 8# Flathead Axe), Hydraram (limited usage)

6 Hook & Can: Primary responsibility is to assist the Truck Driver should a larger ground ladder be needed to gain access to the roof. Secondary is laddering of the SOG specific sides of the building utilizing the 30 extension ladder & additional ground ladders as needed. Will work to remove bars should any be present. Upon entering building should bring 2 additionals metal hooks for the Officer & Barman to open up. Tools - Vulcan Hook or 6ft Metal Hook & Water Can (Metal Saw as Needed) *Responsible for Meters On CO & Gas Leaks* Tillerman: Primary responsibility is to ladder the SOG assigned sides of the building utilizing the 24 & additional ground ladders as needed. Operate with the hookman as needed to VES & effect obvious rescues. Secondary responsibility to accompany Truck Driver to roof ops with additional saw. Tools - Lincoln Bar & Secondary Saw Axe: The Axe position is only present when the truck is running heavy with 6 members. It is the responsibility of the Axeman to assist with laddering & bars as needed in assistance of the Tillerman, Hookman & Truck Driver. Tools - Personal Preference Seat Assignments Front 1. Truck Driver 2. Officer 5. Axe 3. Hook & Can 4. Barman 5. Tillerman Rear

7 Truck 17 Customization: Vulcan Hook A Vulcan Hook is positioned against the rear of the cab outside the door on the hookmans side. This tool is a metal 6ft New York Roof Hook with the forked end of a Haligan bar attached to the bottom, its uses are too many to list, so experiment. It is the option of the hookman whether or not to carry this hook. Lincoln Bar There are 2 Lincoln Bars currently mounted on the truck, one for the Tillerman & the other for the Truck Driver. The bar is essentially a 54 Haligan bar which brings the benefit of both added weight and leverage for tasks including but not limited to window sash removal, opening roof hatches & skylights, venting top floor windows and forcing bulkhead doors.

8 Clime Ladder The affectionately named Clime Ladder is a modified 7 roof ladder with a primary purpose to reach elevated first floor window bars that can not be reached with the saw by a standing fireman. Other uses include parapet walls on the roof, ladder from the turntable to the ground for victim removal & a short span roof ladder. Ladder Mounted Hooks The 24 & 30 side mounted ground ladders have 6ft hooks affixed to the tip section. The hooks are meant to be used for window ventilation after the ladders are thrown. Balance Point Markers All ground ladders on Truck 17 have reflective markings at the associated balance points for said ladder. The balance point is the point at which the ladder will balance on the shoulder of a fireman using a one person carry technique. It is intended to assist in the expedient visualization and shouldering of the ladder at its balance point.

9 Additional Ground Ladders The majority of the Truck 17 local alarm district consists of 2 and 3 story ordinary & wood frame constructed occupancies. As such the company has taken steps to add additional one section ground ladders to the apparatus. Seated beneath the 24 extension ladder is one 16 and one 14 roof ladders. Seats beneath the 30 extension ladder are two 16 roof ladders. Tip In - Tip Out Ladders stowed on the side of the truck are done so in a Tip In or tip forward position, while the ground ladders in the rear of the truck are positioned Tip Out. This is done to assist in rapid ladder deployment for various laddering scenarios including alleys, rear access, and wire obstructions. For more information ask the technician for a copy of the Ground Ladder Tip & Heel article. Pelican Lights Truck 17 requested, tested & is now equipped with 2 battery powered Pelican brand box lights. This lights are often used inplace of the older J-Box lights. Blowhard Fan A self contained, battery operated positive pressure fan, this fan is the primary ventilation fan for the majority of Truck 17 uses.

10 Ladder Selection & Placement: Rescue Position: At Truck 17 #4 Platoon, ALL GROUND LADDERS to windows are placed in the position for rescue, meaning at or below the window sill. Ladders are placed in a position of rescue first and foremost to facilitate the safe exit of firefighters operating inside should the need arise. Windows into Doors The window is cleared out completely of the sash and glass prior to placing the next ladder. Ladder Movement: Ladders are NEVER moved from a window once they are placed. This prevents conditions observed & sized up by firefighters entering the building from changing while they are on the interior, should they need to bail out.

11 Laddering Order: Laddering of the building is prioritized based on: Obvious Rescues Fire Floor Floor Above Top Floor Roof Ladder Selection: In general, 10ft is the average height per building floor in the Truck 17 local alarm district. Considering climbing angles and the following is a basic rule of thumb: The 35 will reach the roof of a 3 story building and at times the window ledge of the 4th. The 30 will ladder the 3rd floor The 24 will ladder the 2nd floor The 16 & 14 roof ladders will ladder porch roofs & often ladder 2nd floor windows While we expect the 30 ladder to be a 1 person ladder, on our typical 2 story residential building it is often more expedient to place the 30 on the ground next to the truck and lead off laddering with the 2 roof ladders stored underneath.

12 Ventilation Practices & Considerations: Flat Roof Ventilation Order of Operation Natural Openings Rear Report Top Floor Vent Cut as Needed (7-9-8 Technique) For Rescue For Fire Attack For Building Preservation Long Response for First Engine Based on the nature of the Old 8th Battalion, Truck 17 often finds itself first arriving on fires with Engines coming from a large distance. In these cases the crew works together to read fire conditions & ventilation is done only when absolutely necessary for life safety. Ladders should be thrown as normal but windows should not be broken without permission or a charged line inside. Peaked Roof Ventilation Work from Roof Ladders Vent at Highest Point AT LEAST 4 x4 Opening Louver as needed Wind Driven Fires An important ventilation concern is the direction and velocity of the wind. During these conditions our crew utilizes a coordinated ventilation effort and DOES NOT vent windows on the windward side of the building until fire attack permits.

13 RIT Responsibilities: Upon arrival, the crew will gather the RIT basket and at a minimum the metal saw, the vent chainsaw & the rotary carbide tooth saw and report to side A or otherwise noted RIT staging area. While maintaining the ability to quickly deploy, The Truck Driver & Tillerman will place ladders, clear windows, remove bars and any other observed egress hazards. The OIC conducts a 360 and reports to crew the observed access & egress points should an activation take place. Team A = Officer, Barman & Hookman The initial entry team, the barman is first - sounding the floor, the officer behind with the search bag and thermal imager, the hookman is last with the air bag. During deployment maintain contact with each crewmember, travel short intervals and stop to listen (while holding breath) for signs of downed firemen. Officer should periodically check status of crews air, crew reports based on number and color of lights in the headsup display. Officer Tools - Haligan Bar, Thermal Imager, Search Bag Barman Tools - Irons Hookman Tools - Hook & Air Bag Team B = Truck Driver & Tillerman The secondary team stays back based on their intimate knowledge of additional tools that may be needed from the apparatus & monitors the progress of the initial entry team via radio. OIC will deploy team B as needed for additional manpower, tool resources or as air supply forces an exit. Truck Driver Tools - Preference & As Requested Tillerman Tools - Preference & As Requested House Responsibilities: Checkout & Clean up by position Truck Driver & Tillerman Works together to check apparatus, tools, saws & appliances, and works with the Wagon Driver for bay floor cleanup.

14 Barman - Responsible for the EMS checkout & assigned handtools, secondarily responsible for the forcible entry saw & K-tool. Works with the Lineman to clean the Engine side of the firehouse including trash removal, sweep and mop. Hookman - Responsible for checking assigned hand tools, water can & meters. Works with Layout to clean the Truck side of the firehouse including trash removal, sweep and mop. All Company Members - Work together to clean kitchen after meals & sitting room after breakfast and dinner. As a sign of respect neither the Ambulance members nor the tours cook is responsible for any cleanup. Watches Based on the unfortunate amount of runs our sister company, Engine 30, handles in a single shift, the members of Truck 17 #4 Platoon do our best to lighten the load on the watch schedule, passing time (staying longer than the normal watch time frame) and spreading watches only across the truck members. On Truck 17 #4 Platoon, the detailman will never have a pole watch. That being said it is understood in the finest tradition of the fire service that you will receive middle watch, which based on our history of passing time for the Engine is usually the 2315 watch block. Occasionally an Engine member will decide to stay up for an extended period of time prior to initiating the watch schedule. Because of the strain this can place on the Truck Pole Watchman, the last person up from the Engine before watches start for the night will wake the first watch listed AFTER the Polewatch member. Summary: The officers & members of Truck 17 Number 4 platoon hope that this document has assisted you in understanding & adapting to your current detail assignment with us. This document is only meant to serve as a foundation for additional learning & interaction with the crew, not to replace that need. During your time with us please remember that there are no stupid questions, a positive attitude makes for a productive shift, and success is as simple as effort matched to execution. "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt