Would you?

[Kearley]

Say you were trapped in a burning appt. building, 19th floor. All three stair cases were collapsed or somehow comprimised. You have a harness, rope, ATC, and 60 m of rope. What would you do? Would you repelle down?
I ask this because it came up when firefighters came to talk in our building. It's kinda funny how it came up... involves a man asking how high the aerials extend. The firefighter asked what floor that man was on...

[Roadwarrior]

That would be an easy decision...just ask yourself what your options are...
BTW, whenever I stay in a hotel, I aways ask for a room on the lower floors. Anyon else do this?

[kirk_fredericks]

I never stay above the third floor. The first thing I do is throw by stuff on the bed, then go back out in the hall and 'learn by feel' how many doors to the stairwell. Next priority of course is ice...

[mutts252]

hell if i'm stuck up there and nobody's comin' to get me... yeah i'd bust out a window and rappel down a ways. maybe try and take a tool of some kind with me to smash a lower window and get inside there... i'd rather die tryin' than die doin' nothin'.

[Michael13]

Stay on a low and I always look for a hotel that is fully sprinklered.

[Kearley]

Yeah... staying on a low floor is good advise... 'cept that I live on the 19th floor of a building. Besides, I have the gear and the training. Why am I even discussing this? I think I'm just looking for an excuse to repelle down the side of my building... That would be SO much fun!

[JGallagher]

Well, alot of place that are high up have a part that has a lower roof. I would try and go down on sheets and all that nice stuff. I always check out my fire safety options before I go to sleep. Alot of places now days have arrows that light up on the floor.

[FFWannabe]

Yeah... staying on a low floor is good advise... 'cept that I live on the 19th floor of a building. Besides, I have the gear and the training. Why am I even discussing this? I think I'm just looking for an excuse to repelle down the side of my building... That would be SO much fun!

You crack me up! And yes, if I had the training I would most certainly do it.. especially if my only other option was staying put and getting crispy! ;)

Sue :)

[kriand]

Stay on a low and I always look for a hotel that is fully sprinklered.

Personally I don't care if they have sprinklersfor the grass.
And if I'm in a hotel I ain't on a low, I usually several beers into me.

[Red_Devil]

JG you are gonna need a lot of sheets to go 19 floors dude!! lol, wait you gonna try and make a parachute out of those sheets too?

[Scuba]

no RD.....He'll use'em like wings.....tie them to his wrists and ankles and try and fly.

[firefighter26]

Once again, better to do something than nothing at all. However, if I was on the 19th floor doing an attack and my exit routes where cut off, I would certainly be the radio with command, see what they have planned.

If there is no possibility of immediate collapse, the course of action could be as simple as continuing to search (assuming that if the stairs are out your hose line is lost as well, if you had one to begin with), to make sure no one else is trapped, close all doors to slow the spread of fire. Meet on the roof and wait for someone to pick you up. Not many fire departments have helicopters in this neck of the woods, but I know a Med-evac flight is 10 minutes away, and given the circumstance, any ride is better than no ride at all.

One thing to consider, if the stairs are impassible due to fire load, the chances of repelling passed the involved floors are not that great because the fire is probably already self venting out the windows. Not something I would like to repel into!



If you are above the fire and your hose line is cut/damaged, maybe you can get it connected to an interior stand pipe and fight your way down? Or maybe you have your high-rise pack with you to do the same.



Unfortunately, my high-rise fire experience is lacking because we don’t have much over three stories in our district, but I would hazard to guess that there are any multitude of things that can be done, but getting in contact with command would be my first priority. As soon as they know firefighters are trapped above the fire floor I am sure that a fire more alarms will be struck, which will bring more resources, which, if everything goes well, will help save me and my crew.

[Fireknight]

My question is,who carries 60m of rope and a repelling harness around with them? At high-rise fires, I am already laiden down like a pack mule, just with the crap I am sure that I am going to need on the upper floors.

Hell, if the stairwells are comprised do what I would do......TAKE THE ELEVATOR!!!!!!

[firefighter26]

My question is,who carries 60m of rope and a repelling harness around with them? At high-rise fires, I am already laiden down like a pack mule, just with the crap I am sure that I am going to need on the upper floors.

Sounds like you need some more probies... I mean, probationary firefighters. :)

I agree, sometimes you need more equipment than you can carry. The question is, what is essential. I have heard of some departments that make it an SOP to take repelling/rescue ropes with them in high-rise situations, but the questions is, how effective are firefighters going to be with an extra 150-200 points worth of equipment. For some people, hoof'n it to the 19th floor is a chore with just an airpack, let alone a high-rise pack, tools, search equipment, repelling ropes, etc, etc.

On another note, I usually try to stay in the bottom few floors of a hotel as well. It is actually pretty funny because usually one of the first things I do is make note of where the exits are, the alarms, the fire extinguishers and the standpipe connections..... once a firefighter, always a firefighter!

I stayed at a hotel about a year ago in the states that had a fire alarm from a burnt meal a few doors down. I made sure the floor I was on was cleared out (light smoke in the top 1/4 of the hallway.. rather than open a window they opened their door and let the smoke out into the hallway, which set off the alarms....), then met the first due engine outside and reported to the officer as to what was going on, where, and what I had done. He sent a crew up to double check (which I don't blame him for because I would have done the same), then once the all clear was given I offered to help carry their portable fans and other equipment upstairs to clear the smoke out.

After, they invited me back to the station for a tour and dinner, but sadly, I had other plans already in place for the evening (I would have much rather spent it at their station, but I am sure that was the last thing the g/f wanted, specially since we were going out for a "nice dinner" that night).

[Kearley]

I don't carry the 60 m of rope EVERYWHERE... but I do live here and it's in my closet. I even have many harnesses (harni?) because I take many people rock climbing. I wish I had my rope everywhere....

[NinetySeven]

My question is,who carries 60m of rope and a repelling harness around with them? At high-rise fires, I am already laiden down like a pack mule, just with the crap I am sure that I am going to need on the upper floors.

I think Fireknight has found the answer for us all....
Pack Mules!!!
Theyr'e cheap, can carry all the gear in Kearly's closet plus a cooler, and you should see the little bastards climb stairs!
Ahh...innovation.
We can put trailer hitches on the Ladder trucks and pull the mules with all the highrise gear......sweeeeet.

Pure Gonzo Firefighting...97

[Kearley]

I don't know... I got a LOT of stuff in my closet... my father, jokingly, offered to get me a hose I could drag around for practice...

[iamvff]

I think Fireknight has found the answer for us all....
Pack Mules!!!
Theyr'e cheap, can carry all the gear in Kearly's closet plus a cooler, and you should see the little bastards climb stairs!
Ahh...innovation.
We can put trailer hitches on the Ladder trucks and pull the mules with all the highrise gear......sweeeeet.

Pure Gonzo Firefighting...97

And the nicest part is that you don't even have to know how to work one....they come with a "manuel" :rolleyes: :D

be safe
iamvff

[NinetySeven]

I don't know... I got a LOT of stuff in my closet... my father

You keep your father in your closet? that's ok i'm sure the mule can handle him...97

[Kearley]

what are you in? PR? That is a HUGE misquote!

[NinetySeven]

Well...It's 12:something am and thats just about the best I can do. What do you think of my mule idea...I call them FireBurro's


What you do with your father is your business...97

[mutts252]

What do you think of my mule idea...I call them FireBurro's

hmm in my dept, we called them...... well...... me.

hehe. :)

[Scuba]

You wanna come and allieviate the position from my shoulders?
I think we're taking applications.
heh

:)

[mutts252]

You wanna come and allieviate the position from my shoulders?
I think we're taking applications.
heh

:)

don't tempt me, i'd love to... lol... if it meant a job as a FF, i'd so do it, too... :D

[Scuba]

$18.95 a call, aprox 60 calls ayear..... Think you can survive off $1591.80 a year?

I'm sure the cheif would let you sleep in the hall

[mutts252]

$18.95 a call, aprox 60 calls ayear..... Think you can survive off $1591.80 a year?

I'm sure the cheif would let you sleep in the hall
hehe
i was kinda meaning a full-time spot... but hey what can ya do :)
in just under 3 months last summer i got about $600 for points... best surprise of my life, i didn't realise at the time the compensation was that high :D (hell i'd do it for free... ahh who am i kidding i'd pay to be part of it...)

[Scuba]

Technicalities......quit being so pickey.

ps if you can be here by tomorrow night we have a pile of hose that needs washing.... :eek:

[mutts252]

ps if you can be here by tomorrow night we have a pile of hose that needs washing.... :eek:
heh... yeah... i had the joyous task of rolling and repacking a good 900' of forestry hose this summer... stupidly, i actually had fun doing it...

hmm but reverting back to the topic ... ;) ... yeah after some more thought (and assuming i had no other way out of the building) i would much rather try and rappel down the building (or something similar) than just sit there and wait to be cooked...

[Scuba]

I think Fireknight has found the answer for us all....
Pack Mules!!!
Theyr'e cheap, can carry all the gear in Kearly's closet plus a cooler, and you should see the little bastards climb stairs!


I can't believe I didn't see this before today (sad thing is I even posted below it lol) - Why not just start importing sherpa's?

[JGallagher]

I think I would pray if that was me!!