Why Do Firefighters Open The Roofs

Fire conditions inside a building usually involve high temperatures and poor to zero visibility.

Why do firefighters open the roofs.

One of the fastest avenues through which fires spread is the attic. Firefighters have needlessly died or suffered career ending injuries after falling through the roofs of totaled out structures simply because of a lack of situational awareness or the failure to follow sops for roof ladder or aerial platform use. You are often working over the fire load on an elevated surface that is in some cases pitched. Firefighters have no problem risking their lives when another person s life is at stake.

Firefighters may go ahead of the fire on a roof cut holes to access the attic and stop the fire from spreading through the attic. Why do firefighters cut holes in the roof of a building. Heat and smoke rise into the attic where the fire can move quickly. Before he goes in they put a hole in the roof so that once air comes in the fire and smoke and heat goi es out the roof.

In addition to slowing the attack of the fire this heat and smoke is damaging all of the. One of the fastest avenues through which fires spread is the attic. Fire and heat rise so if there is no hole in the roof or place for the fire and heat to escape it spreads horizontally within the building causing the full building to be. Roof operations are dangerous by nature.

Why do firefighters cut a hole in the roof. Ventilation of a building is one of the most important yet least understood firefighting tactics. Fire conditions inside a building usually involve high temperatures and poor to zero visibility. Firefighters may get ahead of the fire on a roof and cut holes to access the attic to stop the fire from spreading through the attic.

Please follow and like us. Once on the roof crews should make note of the type of roof covering any smoke or fire showing through and cut an inspection hole to open the roof to determine the design and direction of the. In many instances firefighters must remove this heat and smoke before they can get close enough to extinguish the fire when a hole is made in the roof dark smoke and dangerous superheated gases are able to escape because heat and smoke rise. If they didnt once the fire ate up all the oxygen it would lie in wait until fresh air came in when the firefighter entered and it would almost literally explode with new flames and heat so to speak aka backdraft.

Heat and smoke rise into the attic where the fire can move quickly. Why do firefighters cut holes in the roof of a building. Another reason for venting the roof is to see how far the fire has progressed. Another reason for venting the roof is to see how far the fire has progressed.

Ventilation of a building is one of the most important yet least understood firefighting tactics.