FIRES 7--INCINERATOR /COMPACTOR FIRES

Question 1

NEW INCINERATORS can be installed in ?

Answer 1

HOSPITALS and MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS

Question 2

IN existing buildings , an incinerator must be ?

Answer 2

CONVERTED TO COMPACTOR or be updated by adding a scrubber , an auxiliary gas or fuel burning mechanism and oversized fans.

Question 3

NEW Buildings…?

Answer 3

ONLY COMPACTORS (not hospital/municipal)

Question 4

Typical problems:

Answer 4

• heavy smoke

- extension unlikely , much more probable in COMPACTORS (INCINERATOR is designed for burning )

Question 5

Operational priorities ?

Answer 5

COMPACTOR- put FIRE OUT

INCINERATOR - clear the blockage

Question 6

A compactor fire is a ______while an incinerator fire which does not extend or communicate from the shaft is an _______…if fire extends from the INCINERATOR SHAFT it is a _______?

Answer 6

STRUCTURAL FIRE

EMERGENCY

STRUCTURAL FIRE

Question 7

What indicates a COMPACTOR?

Answer 7

LARGE NUMBER OF PLASTIC BAGS on the sidewalk

housing projects: GRAY CHUTE DOOR

Question 8

What indicates an INCINERATOR?

Answer 8

-steel cans filled with ashes

housing projects : RED DOOR

Question 9

During Incinerator who operates with INSIDE TEAM?

Answer 9

OV and INSIDE TEAM
-vent, search LOCATE BLOCKAGE

Roof: can vent stairways by opening bulkhead door

Question 10

If you open a chute door on a floor and smoke comes out, ?

Answer 10

blockage is generally ABOVE that floor

Question 11

If you open a chute door and a draft goes inward or there is little smoke, blockage is?

Answer 11

BELOW that floor or the blockage has freed itself

Question 12

If smoke is present on the UPPERMOST FLOOR?

Answer 12

may be clogged or blocked SPARK ARRESTER OF FLY ASH COLLECTOR

Question 13

Ways to FREE BLOCKAGE?

Answer 13

A. push down with BENT REINFORCING ROD
B. push down with HOOK
C. tie heavy weight to rope and drop it–do not drop anything not tied off
D. CONSIDER BURNING IT OFF(incinerator only)
E. HOSELINE from above, when all else fails (auxiliary gas or fuel burner MUST be shut down….if POSSIBLE, before flooding takes place)

_some hopper doors can be removed for better chute access

Question 14

Roof FF:

Answer 14

• proceed to roof
• ventilate stairways (chock door open at GROUND LEVEL STAIRWAY )
• check spark arrestor and clear if blocked
• be cautious of fly ash collector: small(4’x4’) or as large as small room (may be hole in floor enough to fall into) be aware of hot ash (may have steel door for cleaning access)

Question 15

Chauffeur:

Answer 15

• locate and check out incinerator room
• may operate fans for vent
• if blocakage is between incinerator and 1st floor–use hook to PULL DOWN (SHUT OFF AUXILIARY BURNER BEFORE COMMENCING THIS OPErATION)
• may need to assist in search and vent of building

Question 16

Incinerator Safety :

Answer 16

When Opening Chute door:

• full PPE/eye shields
• stand to side of hopper /door is hinged…hinged side
• eyes should be below opening , face turned away
• stay clear of opening
• shine flashlight up chute to aid in locating blockage

**members attempting to clear blockage from the base of the incinerator , should shut off auxiliary burner before commencing operations …gas explosions of some consequence involving the auxiliary gs burner, have occurred *

Question 17

Engine Ops:

Answer 17

• Stand Fast in Lobby
• some members used to assist ladder in search /vent , however OFFICER , AND AT LEAST 2 MEN REMAIN IN LOBBY
• FLOOD CHUTE: FLOOR ABOVE and operate into chute

-if it is determined that fire is in the basement incinerator room, entry may have to be made via an outside entrance…use SOP for basement fire

Question 18

Fire Protection in Compactor Room:

Answer 18

Fire Resistive

• Fire Door and supplied with Automatic sprinkler
• WATER OUTLET and HOSE REQUIRED

Sprinkler head IN COMPACTOR UNIT–operate at 135degrees F and will flow until temperature is lowered below 135 F…this is an OPEN sprinkler head..designed NOT to replaced after activation…many times head will not operate because it is clogged with refuse

SMALL OS&Y Valve, controlling both the automatic head within the compactor and any heads within the compactor room is usually found on the water line in or near room

new construction –sprinkler shall be provided spaced not more than 2 stories apart for the height of the chute

FDNY does NOT replace sprinkler heads

Question 19

Chute Fire (compactor)…

possibility of extension is greater in the unit than in chute

Answer 19

First Engine- one level above burning material and operate into Chute —OV WILL OPERATE WITH ENGINE TO PROVIDE CHUTE ACCESS AND CHECK FOR EXTENSION

-OFFICER and INSIDE TEAM operate in compactor room
1. SHUT POWER TO UNIT BEFORE OPERATIONS COMMENCE
Note: shut off generally on wall in compactor room…compactor unit CAN BE OPERATED To help clear unit, extreme caution
2. after engine has extinguished, ladder may begin overhauling …BEFORE OPENING compactor unit access door,be sure hoseline is shut and OS& Y is closed….if this is not the case, glass and other debris may be driven out
3. open door to unit and pull garbage to reach fire
4. use garden hose to wet down debris
5. check for extension

ROOF FF- proceed to roof to vent…then search stairways and floors
LCC- provide tools in the compactor room or assist in search and vent

Question 20

Fire in COMPACTOR UNIT (no extension to the chute: all procedures same as CHUTE FIRE, exception is ENGINE GOES TO FIRST FLOOR and operates into chute (technically floor above compactor room)

Answer 20

A. NOT EXTENDED TO ROOM….ENGINE WILL STRETCH LINE TO FIRST FLOOR and operate into chute extinguishing fire

B. OV operates with Engine to provide access to the chute and to check for extension (same as chute fire)

C. Roof FF - roof to vent…then search and vent floors and stairways

D. LCC- tools in compactor room…search or vent

INSIDE TEAM: SHUT POWER/REMOVE DEBRIS/garden hose/extension (same as CHUTE FIRE )

Question 21

fire EXTENDED FROM COMPACTOR TO ROOM:

Answer 21

CELLAR FIRE TACTICS

Question 22

Compactor Safety Precautions:

Answer 22

• working near unit–goggles, gloves, eye shields …keep ARMS /HANDS out of unit
• units are high voltage electrical (210 volts)..disconnect power
• packing force of 50,000 pounds, depending on size of the unit…

when electric is OFF, RAM IS ALOS DEACTIVATED (MECHANICAL )..ELIMINATING DANGER OF INJURY FROM THE RAM

Hydraulica line ruptures, flammable fluid could escape , adding to fire potential and slippery condition