By Carl Nix

Firefighters are often thrown into situations that require them to make decisions based on what they see or think they see.

I was speaking with a fellow firefighter who shared a story with me about a recent call his crew responded to. It was a call to a local business whose fire alarm had activated. On arrival, the firefighters used the thermal imaging camera (TIC) to scan the interior walls of the business and noticed a hot spot on one wall. The crew decided to open up the wall; instead of finding what they thought would be a smoldering fire, they found a hot water heater on the other side of the wall.

When using a TIC to locate hidden fires, firefighters should look for anomalies in the thermal signature of surfaces that cannot be explained by ordinary heat sources. The shape of the thermal anomaly is important to understand. If the image shows straight sides, it most likely suggests a heat source between studs of some other structural component. A change in the shape, particularly vertical growth, suggests the fire may be intensifying. When using a TIC, it is very helpful to look for thermal comparisons when investigating an area. Firefighters can compare the area being investigated with other areas and make determinations.

1 Thermal imaging cameras can help firefighters detect hidden fires by scanning the exterior of a structure. (Photos courtesy of Bullard.)

Concealed fires can be obvious, manifesting in such ways as blistering paint, smoke emitting from a wall, or cracking sounds from combustion. A smaller fire, however, may not offer obvious clues to its exact location within the structure. Sometimes the fire is out of plain sight, complicating the process of detection, containment, and suppression. To distinguish abnormal from normal, firefighters should consider what ordinary heat sources could be and how they may be impacting thermal signatures. Some examples include a working appliance on the other side of the wall, active heat ducts inside the wall, and outside sunlight affecting the area and warming it.

The crew who busted through the wall only to find a water heater could have prevented unnecessary damage to the business if members had just looked behind the adjacent door. The use of thermal imaging technology in firefighting is second to none, but firefighters must always use their judgment and experience first before relying solely on thermal imaging technology.

2 Thermal imaging cameras can help firefighters detect hidden fires by scanning the exterior of a structure. (Photos courtesy of Bullard.)

A TIC, without a doubt, can simplify and expedite the task at hand when searching interiors of a structure looking for hidden fire conditions. A firefighter can scan the interior wall and ceiling surfaces of a structure for signs of abnormal heat from a distance of at least 10 to 15 feet away, providing a broad perspective of possible hidden heat conditions. Concealed or void space fires frequently involve electrical circuits or equipment. Use your TIC to perform a thermal scan on an electric

By Alan M. Petrillo

When DP3 Architects Ltd. of Greenville, South Carolina, sat down with its new client at the other end of the state, the town of Surfside Beach, it faced working out a master plan for renovating or building a new fire station, police station, town hall, and civic center on a single site.

Once it completed the master plan for the town, planners decided to focus on a new fire station as the building that would define the vision for the future of the entire campus.

1 DP3 Architects Ltd. of Greenville, South Carolina, built a new fire station for the Surfside Beach (SC) Fire Department whose design allowed them to place three floors into the station that looks like a two-story building. [Photos courtesy of Surfside Beach (SC) Fire Department.]

Space Constraints

Michael T. Pry, AIA, LEED AP, senior associate at DP3 Architects, says his firm was provided with single-line plans drawn up by a firefighter showing a building of about 25,000 square feet that included a lot of town functions beyond firefighting. “We did an assessment of the town’s space needs and drew up a preliminary site master plan for the campus to include the town hall, police station, municipal court, citizen wellness center, and fire station,” Pry says. “After looking at the budget, we suggested focusing on the fire station only.”

Pry notes that DP3 Architects considered a one-story fire station option but discarded that idea because of the land needs for the other buildings on the campus. “We decided to go vertical instead of horizontal with the fire station,” he says. “The final design came in at 14,275 feet, encompassing two full levels and two half mezzanines that create a third floor in the building.”

2 The Surfside Beach Fire Department apparatus bays hold a 2010 HME pumper, a rear-mount 2010 HME ladder tower, a KME pumper, a Sterling light rescue, an inflatable rescue boat, a jet ski, and a Horry County (SC) medic unit.

DP3 Architects also faced trying to fit a three-story building into the small beach community because the site sits eight blocks away from the Atlantic Ocean. “We tucked the third floor, where the dormitories are located, under the building’s roof,” Pry points out. “The apparatus bays are on the ground floor, and with the two-story volume of those bays we created two mezzanines, one on each side of the apparatus bay space.”

Station Features

Kevin Otte, Surfside Beach Fire Department chief, says the department outgrew the old station, which was built in 1964, in terms of space and training facilities with its four single-deep apparatus bays. “We wanted double-deep drive-through bays on the new station; a separation of male and female dormitory quarters; and a large training room, which would double as the town’s emergency operations center,” Otte says.

The new station has admin

By Alan M. Petrillo

When DP3 Architects Ltd. of Greenville, South Carolina, sat down with its new client at the other end of the state, the town of Surfside Beach, it faced working out a master plan for renovating or building a new fire station, police station, town hall, and civic center on a single site.

Once it completed the master plan for the town, planners decided to focus on a new fire station as the building that would define the vision for the future of the entire campus.

1 DP3 Architects Ltd. of Greenville, South Carolina, built a new fire station for the Surfside Beach (SC) Fire Department whose design allowed them to place three floors into the station that looks like a two-story building. [Photos courtesy of Surfside Beach (SC) Fire Department.]

Space Constraints

Michael T. Pry, AIA, LEED AP, senior associate at DP3 Architects, says his firm was provided with single-line plans drawn up by a firefighter showing a building of about 25,000 square feet that included a lot of town functions beyond firefighting. “We did an assessment of the town’s space needs and drew up a preliminary site master plan for the campus to include the town hall, police station, municipal court, citizen wellness center, and fire station,” Pry says. “After looking at the budget, we suggested focusing on the fire station only.”

Pry notes that DP3 Architects considered a one-story fire station option but discarded that idea because of the land needs for the other buildings on the campus. “We decided to go vertical instead of horizontal with the fire station,” he says. “The final design came in at 14,275 feet, encompassing two full levels and two half mezzanines that create a third floor in the building.”

2 The Surfside Beach Fire Department apparatus bays hold a 2010 HME pumper, a rear-mount 2010 HME ladder tower, a KME pumper, a Sterling light rescue, an inflatable rescue boat, a jet ski, and a Horry County (SC) medic unit.

DP3 Architects also faced trying to fit a three-story building into the small beach community because the site sits eight blocks away from the Atlantic Ocean. “We tucked the third floor, where the dormitories are located, under the building’s roof,” Pry points out. “The apparatus bays are on the ground floor, and with the two-story volume of those bays we created two mezzanines, one on each side of the apparatus bay space.”

Station Features

Kevin Otte, Surfside Beach Fire Department chief, says the department outgrew the old station, which was built in 1964, in terms of space and training facilities with its four single-deep apparatus bays. “We wanted double-deep drive-through bays on the new station; a separation of male and female dormitory quarters; and a large training room, which would double as the town’s emergency operations center,” Otte says.

The new station has admin

By Alan M. Petrillo

When DP3 Architects Ltd. of Greenville, South Carolina, sat down with its new client at the other end of the state, the town of Surfside Beach, it faced working out a master plan for renovating or building a new fire station, police station, town hall, and civic center on a single site.

Once it completed the master plan for the town, planners decided to focus on a new fire station as the building that would define the vision for the future of the entire campus.

1 DP3 Architects Ltd. of Greenville, South Carolina, built a new fire station for the Surfside Beach (SC) Fire Department whose design allowed them to place three floors into the station that looks like a two-story building. [Photos courtesy of Surfside Beach (SC) Fire Department.]

Space Constraints

Michael T. Pry, AIA, LEED AP, senior associate at DP3 Architects, says his firm was provided with single-line plans drawn up by a firefighter showing a building of about 25,000 square feet that included a lot of town functions beyond firefighting. “We did an assessment of the town’s space needs and drew up a preliminary site master plan for the campus to include the town hall, police station, municipal court, citizen wellness center, and fire station,” Pry says. “After looking at the budget, we suggested focusing on the fire station only.”

Pry notes that DP3 Architects considered a one-story fire station option but discarded that idea because of the land needs for the other buildings on the campus. “We decided to go vertical instead of horizontal with the fire station,” he says. “The final design came in at 14,275 feet, encompassing two full levels and two half mezzanines that create a third floor in the building.”

2 The Surfside Beach Fire Department apparatus bays hold a 2010 HME pumper, a rear-mount 2010 HME ladder tower, a KME pumper, a Sterling light rescue, an inflatable rescue boat, a jet ski, and a Horry County (SC) medic unit.

DP3 Architects also faced trying to fit a three-story building into the small beach community because the site sits eight blocks away from the Atlantic Ocean. “We tucked the third floor, where the dormitories are located, under the building’s roof,” Pry points out. “The apparatus bays are on the ground floor, and with the two-story volume of those bays we created two mezzanines, one on each side of the apparatus bay space.”

Station Features

Kevin Otte, Surfside Beach Fire Department chief, says the department outgrew the old station, which was built in 1964, in terms of space and training facilities with its four single-deep apparatus bays. “We wanted double-deep drive-through bays on the new station; a separation of male and female dormitory quarters; and a large training room, which would double as the town’s emergency operations center,” Otte says.

The new station has admin

Richard Marinucci

The fire engine is the most essential and versatile apparatus for a vast majority of fire departments.

It is also a great source of pride, as it should be. Sometimes this appears to take precedence in organizations, as there is much debate about look and appearance. For years, there has been a debate on the color (red vs. green for safety reasons), color schemes, reflective striping and marking, and even the proper shade of red. There is little standardization, and changes in department administration can mean a significant change in how the apparatus looks. Obviously, this is very important and, while some of these observations are presented with tongue in cheek, it is not meant to diminish anything that a department views as important to its operation. But in the end, an engine has the basic responsibility to deliver water to the fire.

Getting Water on the Fire

Every fire department, from largest to smallest, must figure out the best way to get water on the fire. In addition to the scrutiny that some place on color schemes and markings, there must be an understanding of the capabilities of water delivery as required by individual departments. This would include how much water is needed, how quickly you would like to establish a supply, needed devices and appliances, and whether delivery is sustainable until crews extinguish the fire. In addition to the engine’s mechanical capabilities, staffing, equipment, and training will determine water delivery competence. And, departments must maintain the engines so they operate at their intended efficiency and effectiveness. An honest appraisal of this proficiency will help establish the best strategy and tactics to use.

Equipment to Carry

What is needed on an engine? That would depend on what you want it to do. Sometimes there is a tendency to overstock and overspec the vehicles with the thought that you have to be ready for any potential event. This makes sense only if all the other aspects of water delivery and other intended services match. Personnel must train and maintain their skill levels through repetition. All the components of the vehicle and carried equipment, including hose, appliances, nozzles, special rescue devices, ladders, forcible entry tools, and anything else that someone determines is essential, must be maintained so that they perform as intended when needed on an emergency. Obviously, this takes time, and organizations need to know that they will be able to perform these important functions. Equipment failures are more than embarrassing to departments - they negatively affect outcomes during emergency actions. This can contribute to injuries or worse.

Know First Dues

Departments should know the hazards in their communities and the potential fire load for any given event. A fire engine provides the basic service, but staffing must match the capabilities. Many communities lack staffing according to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments, and rely on mutual aid to address large incidents. Yet, their vehicles are sometimes equipped as if they have a full complement of firefighters on board. If an organization is responding with one or two people on an engine, the personnel are limited in what they will be able to do until help arrives. They should consider deck-mounted deluge guns that require minimal staffing. They should consider larger tank capacities for water, as