Row Frames

Question 0

Collapse considerations at Row Frame building fires

Answer 0

• Rear walls can pull away and collapse in 1 section
• Heavy cockloft fire can cause roof to collapse onto top floor
• Corner buildings and stand alone buildings have an increased danger of collapse particularly if the fire bunted out the entire 1st floor
• Indiscriminate removal of structural members during overhauling can cause a partial or complete collapse of the building

Question 1

Construction features of Row Frame buildings

Answer 1

• Common cockloft form 1 foot high to height of a man
• Light & air shafts are found in some buildings of longer length
• Lack of fire stooping at cellar ceilings may permit fire travel to an attached exposure
• Wood cellar beams from adjoining buildings resting on a common wall may spread fire to an exposure
• Fire may spread from the roof of one building to the roof of an adjoining building
• In the old law tenement type layout with 2 apts per floor the partitions that separate the apartments are NOT fire stopped between the ceiling of one floor and the underside of the floor above

Question 2

Line placement at a fully involved occupied row frame with smoke showing in exp 2 and fire showing in exp 4. Both similar attached buildings

Answer 2

• 1st line - into the fire building
• 2nd line - top floor of most severe exposure
• 3rd line - top floor of opposite exposure

Question 3

Concerning Row frame buildings if a floor is fully involved from front to rear it is

Answer 3

Advisable to call for an additional engine and ladder above the full 1st alarm

Question 4

Concerning Row frame buildings if 2 buildings are fully involved we have a

Answer 4

2nd alarm situation

Question 5

Concerning Row frame buildings if a top floor fire has extended into the cockloft a

Answer 5

2nd alarm must be considered

Question 6

Concerning Row frame buildings when fire extends beyond 2 buildings

Answer 6

Promptly consider transmitting a 3rd alarm

Question 7

At a 3rd alarm cockloft fire involving 4 buildings the correct tactics are

Answer 7

• Set up a perimeter of lines consisting of heavy caliber streams in the front and rear and 1 3/4 lines flanking the sides of the fire and moving toward the center of the fire
• Pull ceilings on the top floor after charged hand lines are in position and IF POSSIBLE after the cockloft has been vented from above
• As the fire becomes more controlled 2 1/2 lines operating in the front and rear can be converted to 1 3/4 lines and advanced via the rear fire escape and the front entrance of the center fire buildings