Structure Fire / Inside (Helmet Cam) Video 05/18/07

[nateyg00]

Great video guys and was the guy at the start trying to to pull the line the homeowner or off duty member?

[FFIrish23]

Who's the guy in the white shirt and hat at like 26 seconds that tried grabbing the line off the truck?

[WellstonFD]

The initial crew only had 3 members. We did not have a 2-in-2-out complement. The crew waited on the arrival of the 2nd engine to enter the structure.

[tractordude290]

what kind of truck is that?

[Emsworker68]

Nice video. Great knock down.

I know lots of people have commented about the Chief. I will not comment further but I was wondering if after he gave you back the hose if he ever did a 360 check.

Thanks. Keep em coming.

[WellstonFD]

Yes, a 360 degree size-up was conducted, but we were already inside. This was discussed in the post-incident critique and hopefully won't happen again! Thanks!

[ncfirefighter910]

haha i love the dude in yellow, he just wanted to get him a piece of the action too lol

[Skankpronger]

check out the guy in the yellow shirt wanting to pull hose before the FF got thare lol

[faststang48]

Does Yalls Masks Have Voice Amplifiers? Just Wondering Cause Your Voices Are Alot Clearer Than Some Of My Departments Masks Without an Amplifier.

[WellstonFD]

Some of our masks do, but the ones that are used in this video do not.

[cccspizza]

this was on my B-day lol

[ellisfd4821son]

god ou had some great visability in that house

[CCFRPUMPER111]

Is that an International Pumper/Engine??

[WellstonFD]

It's a Freightline FL-80. Actually, the first and second due engines are FL-80s.

[lhfdfirefighter]

great job guys yo kept your heads and did it right

[daveb1034]

Where was the initial walk around?

[smith1868]

Thanks for sharing your video and pointing out the good and bad of the fire...not too many dept's willing to do that (unfortunately). Having been in the fire service over 20yrs, I've operated several different ways. I definitely prefer the systematic approach with a transitional attack (especially since 2-in-2out). The fire seems to go out much faster. Anyway, good job keeping calm and just putting out the fire...like we are supposed to do.

[AJJ619]

GREAT VIDEO I wanna do what u do and what my dad dose be a firefighter looks like a fun job 100000000000000000000/5

[SMOKEYTINMAN]

they seriously needed a truck company there to ventilate. visibility was piss poor the whole video

[WellstonFD]

The truck company showed up, we just had the fire out before they got there.

[gcam831]

This is so sick

[SMOKEYTINMAN]

haha nice! those damn truckies, always a dollar short and a day late lol

[findngoodinallthings]

to the officer in charge wearing the helmet cam, excellent job.

[rexhickey]

I am a former volunteer firefighter. Even with our small group, our chief did a good job of staying to the side and letting us work. Seeing the helmet cam brings back a lot of memories, even if they are over 20 years old.

Even though the job was dangerous, I still miss it and my prayer is with every man or woman brave enough to do this stuff for a living.

[alphagrendal]

Our past chief was a combative commander too. We could never find the damn hose line when we looked for it, or would find him inside the building looking over our shoulder with just a helmet and radio...

I know you have to be P.C. when it comes to chiefs, but if he ever reads this, he should know he will eventually get one of his people seriously injured or KILLED if he keeps up those antics... There's no room for those kind of juvenile, thoughtless actions in todays fire service.

Just my 2c

[DRPLAS]

You are very right. All of us firefighters have passed the test and know what to do in a fire. Probably in some cases can suppress a fire better than the "old guys" due to the new training and new ways of fire suppression.

[ATLFD343]

e one engine?

[WellstonFD]

Yes. It's a 2005 E-One on an FL80 chassis. We also have a 2001 E-One FL80.

[rbliven]

Nice video. I think the Chief needs to do a better job of staying in the street. If he wanted to fight fire he should have stayed on the Engine and out of the Car...I've been thinking about getting one of those helmet cams myself, but I think I'll save my money. Thanks for sharing and stay safe out there.

[fftom94]

great job with the helmet cam

[rocketsbaseball24]

I remember this fire. I was walking through town when it happend. All you could see was a tower of smoke. My family and the the family who owned this house are good friends. It was a devistateing loss.

[FFk37]

I like the quick knock down from the helemt cam.

[intheheat0105]

why would anyone spray water through a window unless your an outstanding firefighter (a firefighter that stands outside) never doi that you will just push it around

[jibby44]

wearing full ppe and having your mask on when you get off the truck is a good way to put a faster stop to the fire without the chief steaming up the whole house. with your mask on already you don't have to mess with it in the front yard like a gomer

[WellstonFD]

We NEVER put our facepiece, hood or gloves on before we get on scene. There are too many hazards, especially at night, that are much harder to see with your facepiece on. There are several accounts of fireground injuries from slips, trips and falls caused from vision impairment on the fireground. Plus, it gives our guys time to slow down and size-up the situation.

[jibby44]

i've not had my vision impaired that badly that i worry about tripping, and i don't need to be forced to size it up it should be apart of your routine.  to me i would just feel rushed trying to get my mask on in a yard, and rushed creates tunnel vision on the mask. we have 41 stations and the first on engine at every fire is completely ready to go when we pull up to the curb. true size up begines when the station lights come on and the tone drops

[WellstonFD]

I understand your view. That's just not the way we operate. It's interesting that Fire Engineering just ran a poll on this topic.

While responding on the call: 214 votes (19%); Prior to performing firefighting duties in an IDLH: 902 votes (81%)

[jibby44]

i guess we both have our reasons and they are both valid. i think a lot of it boils down to the "culture" of the individual departments and how they approach certain aspects of the job.

[Akfiremun]

in alaska its a hazard to get off an engine with your mask on, they fog up extremely fast in the winter and create higher risk for tripping or slipping on ice. not to mention that people in AK like to collect yard art. basically junk which is hard enough to strech a line through without decreased visibility. you can sometimes feel rushed to get your mask on and get tunnel vision but thats what realistic training is for. train the way you work and your crew will be ready when they need to be. EGH

[bigmlt3]

Well, not only that.. but when you hop off the engine without a mask on it kinda gives you a sec to slow down and take a look around while you put it on... helps to kinda prevent tunnel vision so to speak.. whereas jumpin off, pullin a line and running is can be fatal.. if you dont have a mask on you cant go in and it kinda helps a bit to calm you and gives you a sec to collect your senses =D

[pilot4life15]

i think it is good to put it on when you get of the truck. it slows you down a bit. it is never a good thing to go into a fire excited. i think theses guys did a great job. wellstonfd knows what it is like when you get to a fire.

[thefirefighter]

only way u get the nozzel from me is to pry it from my dead hands

[recondo886]

what is that 'chief' doing? 1st, he doesn't have on all his gear. 2nd, how damn stupid is he? he pushed fire back into the house...someone please tell me he is an EMS chief and not a fire chief.

3rd, you'll be hard pressed to get my nozzle from me.

[fdny4088]

truck work is hard to come by in a vol. organization but someone has to do it.glass bein taken way too late which means searches aren't being done quick enough. remember even if the home owner says everyone is out u still have to do a primary could be a cop inside a kid who came home undetected or a wanna be hero nieghbor tryin to put the fire out. overall nice job by hank and the boys fire went out and everyone went home safe.

[firemanjohn628]

Nice video but pushing that fire on me in the hall would require a beatin.

[MstrSftwr]

Thanks for the video, it's a good learning tool for all of us. I think the helmetcam would a good tool to help educate the people as to the dangers firefighters face when they don't have the tools, training or personell to safely do their jobs.

Way to put it out there Wellston.

[michiganfireman]

Good stop guys. I think your Chief needs to settle down a bit and let the interior crew work without all of the steam he created. We use CAFS and it works like a champ!

[JACKCOURT]

whats with the chief hitting it from the outside??? wtf?

[Hanoverfirefighter]

that fire was a pussycat... nice stop though

[FireFeed]

The critical item in this video is the lack of flaking out the hoseline. Witness how weak the stream being operated in the window. Unless someone was flaking out those lines behind them, the FFs got sent inside with a line seriously compromised. That is the big lesson to take away from this video.

[WellstonFD]

With all due respect, the hoseline was flaked. You can see it in the video from 0:44 to 1:05. The reason the pressure was low was because the pump operator had not yet increased the pressure. This problem was alleviated before entry was made.

[FireFeed]

So far we've had comments about:

1) Exterior Attack

2) Fog Nozzles

3) Lack of full PPE.

None of those where the critical mistake that would get a FF killed. (cont.)

[Flapjack484]

Lack of full PPE isn't a life threatening mistake?

[fdny4088]

hope ur kidding lack of full ppe will get you killed i have scene it. fog nozzles should never be used inside a building i have scene major burns from that mistake and exterior attack with guys in the building will burn guys and possibly kill them

[EngineGoes]

The only thing besides the obvious exterior attack whats with the fog stream through the window?

[truckie4life20]

Well, I thought it was going to be a great video until I saw an attack being performed through a window. C'mon guys, if it's venting out of a window, let it vent!!!

Hitting it from the outside like that only makes conditions on the inside worse!!! This video started at an "A", but quickly went to a "C-" .....

[WellstonFD]

As I've said, this is a training point for us. That is not our normal mode of attack, but this video allows us to improve.

[Juiceboxboss]

From the helmet cam, it looked like your SCBA masks were put on while you were standing next to the smoking door...at least, it did to me.

[WellstonFD]

We put our masks on in the front yard. You can not see this, but it is when I took my helmet off.

[lee5537]

Showing fighting the fire on the inside was really good, but couldn't see much because of the smoke..

[Emergencia911]

It's bery cool!!

[331gt]

Why do I see so many videos on here of depts. hitting the fire from the outside thru a window or something, before they make entry??? I cant quite understand it, it only makes things worse. Other then that, awesome job and nice vid.

[323pd]

i really REALLY liked your size up report to dispatch....THAT WAS GREAT...nice level headed attack..totally get props on your communication...this is a VERY WELL run vol. f.d......this video can teach my dept. as well as many others ALOT...keep it safe yall

[whitewolfoftctown]

Amazing footage. GOD BESS FIRE FIGHTERS

[mutualaidsupplies]

Other then that great job on communication on your part, wish all firefighters did that well on the radio. What are you using for a helmet cam? I just bought mine the other day so hopefully I will get some good videos to post soon.

[WellstonFD]

It is an ATC-2K. They have multiple vidoes posted on their website. Just Google Fire Helmet Cam.

[TheRealShotty]

am i seeing things or did a guy just go on interior attack without full turnout?

[WellstonFD]

No, someone did not go interior without full turnout gear. The only FF without full turnout gear stayed outside.

[mutualaidsupplies]

Although he is still in the hot zone & needs to have full gear if he is on a hoseline

[WellstonFD]

I agree. It is against our SOGs for him to be on the line. But that's why we use videos in our training. I feel confident that it won't happen again!

[bugguy905]

full turn out on the fire ground might just save that persons ass when the shit hit the fan. way to close for not being in full turn outs what if somethign happens and the fire vents out that window???? I know I love my family jewls unburnt.

[WellstonFD]

You're absolutely correct. We all agree that should not have happened. We have discussed it in training and it should not happen again!

[kpfani]

good video, good level headed response. how do you keep the radio clear? we contend with all the outside depts and dispatch while trying to communicate w/ command. makes for chaos.

[WellstonFD]

Thanks! Training and use of incident command. It's not always this clear, believe me, but we strive for it to be. Our M/A depts usually respond on a different frequency. We use our channel for fireground operations only.

[jwalsh6453]

what?

[cubsfiredbaker]

AWESOME video! i want more!!!!

[disgustip8ed]

That is a cool angle. Its rare to see from a helmet cam. Nice job.

I'll reiterate what others have stated: what's with the dope trying to pull the line? I know there are good people who wish to help, but you gotta push 'em out of the way.

Nice knock down. I watched both videos associated with this fire, and you guys did a good job. Blitz attack from outside, good interior push. Nice truck setup (even with the repositioning).

Nice job brother.

[WellstonFD]

Thanks for your comments! More videos are to come! Hopefully, our truck operator will notice those powerlines a little sooner next time...

[WellstonFD]

We're 8 blocks away. We NEVER put our facepiece, hood or gloves on before we get on scene. There are too many hazards, especially at night, that are much harder to see with your facepiece on. There are several accounts of fireground injuries from slips, trips and falls caused from vision impairment on the fireground. Plus, it gives our guys time to slow down and size-up the situation.

[WellstonFD]

The fire was knocked down, and the primary complete, in 8 minutes. No injuries and the fire was held to the room of origin with some extension up the walls.

[WellstonFD]

For some reason, your comment was deleted when I posted my response... Please, repost your comment.

[andy404ns]

I think in the outside video you said you guys were mostly volunteer. "Plus, it gives our guys time to slow down and size-up the situation" So true. In volly departments that don't see much action a structure fire is rare. All that adrenaline is pumping and you just want to jump off the rig and run in. That's how mistakes happen. I'd rather have my guys slow down and just take a good mental picture from the outside before charging in. Plus, it gives you time to check your equipment.

[jme2stx]

VERY well put. Only goats mask up before they get there! Nice Job!

Jamie (IAFF - 312)

[Firfighter80]

nice vid but whats up with that civillian trying to pull hose what a dumbass

[firex001]

YEah good video...

what mike said who was that idiot ... and second CMON is that really hwo you pull a hose off.  lol

[WellstonFD]

First, it was someone who wanted to help. I will refrain from further comment. Second, the crosslay was loaded wrong and we had to make it work. It should have been fixed before the call, but it wasn't. It did work perfectly well though. Thanks for watching!