Salvage and Overhaul

Question 1

Fireground priorities

Answer 1

1. Life safety
2. Incident stabilization
3. Property conservation

Question 2

Salvage definition

Answer 2

Those methods and operating procedures associated with firefighting that aid in reducing primary and secondary damage during firefighting operations.

Question 3

Why do we do salvage ops?

Answer 3

a. It’s our job!
i. Third strategic priority of firefighting is to protect and conserve property.
b. Huge PR bonus for department
(McKinney dislikes this point because it makes us seem like smucks looking for a PR handout.)
i. Makes us look good
ii. Shows we are professionals
iii. Emotional impact: If we can save personal belongings or business records, thing of the value to the public we serve!

Question 4

What do we protect during salvage?

Answer 4

a. Records – only a small percentage of businesses are able to reopen after critical records are lost.
b. Residential furnishings or personal belongings – pictures/personal stuff that cannot be replaced
c. Merchandise and other contents – merchandise lost = $$$ lost
d. Machinery – often very expensive

Question 5

Four stages/categories of salvage ops

Answer 5

Prefire
During fire
Fire under control
Post fire

Question 6

Pre-fire salvage

Answer 6

i. Training
1. Most significant thing to learn: accurate application of water!!!
2. Forcible entry: cause the least amount of damage possible
3. Ventilation: removes smoke and gases and allows for quicker extinguishment of fires
ii. Planning
1. Familiarization with buildings in your area allows you to have knowledge of the locations of important records, stock, etc., or peculiarities of particular buildings

Question 7

During fire salvage ops

Answer 7

i. Operations during a fire involves the use of sound firefighting techniques to limit unnecessary damage
1. Proper application of water
2. Proper forcible entry
3. Proper and timely ventilation

Question 8

Fire under control salvage ops

Answer 8

i. Stopping open sprinklers
1. Tong
2. Taper
3. Wedge
ii. Ventilating any remaining smoke and heat
iii. Removing debris and drying building
iv. Covering openings to protect from weather and theft
v. Protect valuables
vi. Restore sprinkler systems to service

Question 9

Post fire salvage ops

Answer 9

i. Critique of salvage operations
1. Makes us better for the next one.
2. Not so much “salvage” talk, but rather a whole incident debrief. What did you see? What did you do?

Question 10

Salvage officer

Answer 10

Primary objectives are:

a. To protect exposed contents on the fire floor
b. To protect exposed contents on the floor below the fire
c. To hold water to the fire floor or the floor below it
d. To divert water to the exterior of the building
e. FYI: not really likely except maybe on a large hotel size fire

Question 11

Salvage cover

Answer 11

a. Usually 12x18ft
b. Usually have grommets on the edges for hanging. They are spaced out 16in on center for ease of stud matching.
c. Regular canvas
i. Treated and woven canvas
ii. Lightweight and easily handled. Sufficiently wear proof.
d. Plastic runners
i. Nylon covered with vinyl or sheets of plastic
ii. Lightweight, waterproof

Question 12

Salvage cover do nots

Answer 12

Do not:

i. Drag or walk on covers unnecessarily.
ii. Pull over sharp projections or glass.
iii. Throw down elevator shafts or from windows.
iv. Drive nails through cover (it’s got grommets for a reason, ya dummkopf!)

Question 13

Salvage cover maintanace

Answer 13

i. Inspect cover after each use for holes or tears.
ii. Walk under cover and look for light indicating a hole. Mark with chalk and place out of service for repair.
iii. Washing
1. Spread out flat and spray clean with water
2. Scrub with deck brushes if needed

Question 14

Spreading and storing salvage covers

Answer 14

g. Spreading salvage covers
i. One person throw
ii. Two person counter payoff
iii. Two person balloon method
h. Salvage covers are stored in an accordion fold method that allows for easy deployment with the methods above.
i. Refer to E&P for specific procedures – bagging a room, stairwell drains, ladder chutes, etc.

Question 15

Removing excess water

Answer 15

a. A 250 GPM nozzle can add ~2000lbs per minute to a building
b. Water accumulates and flows downhill
c. Removal methods
i. Draining/pumping
ii. Catchments, drains, or diking
iii. Basements or shafts – use portable pumps but never TFD apparatus.
iv. Upper floors:
1. Collect in a way that damages things as little as possible
2. Ladder chutes, stairwell chutes, soil pipes, toilet sewer connections

Question 16

Overhaul official definition (IMPORTANT!!!)

Answer 16

• Those operations that consist of searching for and extinguishing hidden or remaining fires; placing the building and contents in a safe condition; determining the cause of the fire; recognizing and preserving evidence of fire cause.

Question 17

Overhaul McKinney defintion

Answer 17

The cruddy stuff you get to do when you are the second truck to arrive on a fire.

Question 18

What is overhaul? Isn’t it the same as salvage?

Answer 18

1. Overhaul is a distinctly separate function from salvage although it usually is conducted at the same time.
2. Most of the objectives of overhaul contribute to the accomplishment of the primary purpose of salvage
3. “There is no honor in fighting a fire that we should have put out the first time!”

Question 19

Objectives of overhaul

Answer 19

a. Establishing safe conditions
b. Extinguishing all remaining fires
c. Examining and overhauling debris
d. Property protection from theft and weather

Question 20

Great. The fire is done. Now I can take my gear off and go in and overhaul, right?

Answer 20

WRONG!
After the fire is brought under control, time is available to provide for a high level of safety for the overhaul operations
a. At this point, there is no reason to put firefighters at risk.
b. Wear your SCBA!!!
c. Inspect the premise for hazards
d. Eliminate those hazards
e. Use a sound organizational plan to things are not missed
f. Provide suitable equipment
g. WEAR YOUR SCBA!!!

Question 21

Overhauling tasks

Answer 21

a. Check concealed spaces
i. Attic spaces, between walls
ii. Look out for double ceilings
iii. Around windows and doors are notoriously missed for hidden embers.
b. Check all possible avenues for fire spread
i. Pipes, wire chases
ii. Any horizontal or vertical openings
c. Remove dangerous or severely damaged debris
d. Some materials must be spread out and soaked or submerged to stop smoking

Question 22

Protecting the scene part of overhaul…

Answer 22

i. This may include holding off on major overhaul operations until the fire investigators have cleared the scene and protected or removed any evidence found
ii. Remember to protect any evidence that you may find and make your Captain aware of it.
iii. Protecting the scene also includes protecting it from weather and theft (fencing, covering holes, broken doors, etc.)

Question 23

Securing utilities

Answer 23

• Considered a salvage function
o Usually done by the first arriving engine
• Electric
o Shut off main breakers or else TEPCO must be notified to cut off service
o Either way, you must let command know that you either could or could not turn off power
• Water
o Shut off street valve or water meter valve
• Gas
o Shut off at gas meter. SWG will lock out to prevent accidental reopening
• Ideally utilities should be locked out and tagged out to prevent turning them on prematurely. TFD carries tags on the trucks.