What does the Fire Department do at a House Fire?

Response to the Fire
When a house fire occurs, the Washington Township Fire Department sends 4 Engine Companies (2 from the Morin Point Fire Department in Monroe County, Michigan under an Automatic Mutual Aid agreement ), 1 Squad, 1 Command Unit, and 1 Rescue Unit (Ambulance) to the call. Firefighters carry voice pagers that tell them about the emergency. They respond to the station to crew the apparatus, and respond to the fire. Each seat, except the driver's, has an air pack, or SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) built in. Firefighters put on their fire-resistant gear and don the mask and air pack while sitting down on the way. This allows firefighters to get off the fire truck quickly to begin their duties.

Arriving at the Fire
Fire engines only carry about 750 gallons of water. This is used for small fires such as cars or trash. However, a lot more water is needed to put out major home fires. Because a single 1 ¾" diameter fire hose can deliver up to 120 gallons of water per minute (about 12 times that of a garden hose), the first crew can be out of water in less than 5 minutes. This would place them at great risk. Consequently, fire engines usually will stop at the nearest fire hydrant, and connect a large 5" diameter supply hose to it. We call this "catching the plug." The engine is then driven to the fire location where firefighters disembark and take an 1 & 3/4" or 2 & 1/2" diameter hose to attack the fire.

Making Entry
Sometimes it is difficult to get into a fire. Burglar bars can be especially troublesome. A heavy crowbar-like tool called a "Halligan Bar" and other tools are often used to gain entry through a locked door. Large circular saws can cut through metal and may be used to cut security bars or garage doors.

Search and Rescue
The first priority when arriving at a home fire is not putting it out. The most important thing is to make sure that no one is still trapped in the home or business. We save lives first, then we protect property. 

Primary Search
We call this hunt for victims a "primary search." In many fires, the smoke makes it very difficult to see, even with a powerful flashlight. WTFD uses an Argus 3 Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) to assist us during searches. A TIC reads infrared (IR) energy which passes through smoke much easier than visible light does. Sensors in the camera convert the IR to a picture which enable firefighters to see through smoke, making searches much faster, more thorough and safer for firefighters. During a search, we crawl on our knees feeling out along the floor, under beds, on sofas, and in closets searching for anyone trapped. We search with the vigor as if one of our own family members were trapped or lost. We must do this quickly as the fire is raging and becoming more dangerous.

Fire Attack
As soon as a crew is completed with the primary search, or another crew has arrived, the attack on the fire begins.  WTFD prides itself on being an "aggressive interior attack" fire department. This means we will go inside the fire building to search for the fire and put it out as long as it is safe to do so. Firefighters stretch a hoseline into the building and make a direct attack on the fire. A direct attack on the fire itself will usually result in less water damage to the building. It also does not "push" the fire to unburned areas of the structure the way spraying into a window could.

Search and Rescue Again
If there is sufficient crews to fight the fire, any extra crew is given the order to perform a "secondary search." Since the primary search is very fast and conducted in smoky environment limiting the ability to see, a victim
might be missed. As a result, the secondary search is done when firefighters can see and can be more thorough in their efforts.

Ventilation
When a fire has consumed all of the fuel in it's area of origin it looks for something new to burn. The fire begins to move rapidly to unburned areas of the home or business, searching for fuel and oxygen. Without ventilation, the smoke and heat that was at the ceiling begins to fall to the floor as new heat is rapidly added. This makes it difficult for firefighters to work and can become extremely dangerous, risking an explosive phenomenon called "flashover." Firefighters then may make a cut in the roof or break out windows to release the trapped heat and smoke. While this may make the flames get larger, the fire slows in its lateral movement, because it has enough oxygen where it is, and the heat has been released into the air. To remove more heat and smoke, firefighters may even set up large fans blowing into a door or window to push it out.

Salvage
When firefighters try to save property, it means more than your brick and wood. It means your home. We believe that the contents of a room should be salvaged as well. When you see firefighters carrying large tarps or heavy canvas, it is because they are going to try to save your belongings. This is done once the searches have been completed, and there are sufficient firefighters controlling the blaze. We move all of the furniture of a room into the center, then stack clothes, pictures, and other amenities on top. We then cover this with the thick tarp or canvass "salvage cover", to protect it from falling debris and water. We will attempt to bring Photo albums out almost immediately since these are often priceless in the eyes of the homeowner.

Overhaul
Fire has a tendency to spread where no one can see it. It goes whether it can find enough fuel and oxygen to survive. As a result, we become hunters searching for any remnants of the fire, even small fires. We use special tools to tear open walls and ceilings looking for any remaining smoldering embers. If these are missed, a small fire extinguished early in the day can become a raging inferno later. During this phase we take outside any smoldering furniture, without moving things important to the fire cause investigation. This is the most exhausting work for firefighters. This is at a time when the adrenaline from the fire has worn off, and the physical demands of firefighting take its toll. This is often where crews begin to rotate near the rehab area to rest, drink water, and eat snacks, in order to restore their energy for the remaining tasks to be done and to prepare for the next alarm.