LIGHTWEIGHT BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

February 14, 2000 two career Fire Fighters die from building collapse in Houston.

We can no longer be on automatic pilot when we respond to fires. Many of the building being built today are disposable buildings. A track hoe is brought in the day after the investigation is complete and the building is hauled away to be replaced by another disposable building.

We must be thinking.
We can no longer automatically go inside, or to the roof.
Recognize and know the hazards and limitations of lightweight construction.
Crewmembers must have a clear understanding of fire fighting tactics and strategy in lightweight constructed buildings.
Visualize the build from all four sides. Building facades can hide heavily loaded roofs.
What time of day is it? Is anyone is in the building?
How long has the fire been burning?
Is the fire a room and contents fire, or is the fire into the structure?
If you won't put people on the roof, don't put people under the roof.
Big streams for big fires.
Consider attack on the seat of the fire from a window or door from the exterior of the building.
Attic fire with lightweight trusses / put water through the vents at the end of the building if the fire can be reached. Don't get under or on the roof of the involved area.
If fire is in a strip or multiple occupancy lightweight construction building, pull ceiling ahead of the fire and attempt to extinguish from the uninvolved area.
Sudden catastrophic collapse is the rule not the exception. The old indicators of collapse ( softening, strange noises, crackling ) may or may not be available.


THINK: RISK / BENEFIT
Risk a lot to save a life
Risk a little to save a little.
Risk nothing to save nothing.

The construction practices and materials used today demand major changes in our fire fighting tactics.

Remember:" BEWARE OF THE TRUSS"! ( Francis Brannigan )