险象环生地下室火灾 消防员生命安全无保障

【慧聪消防网】

慧聪消防网编译转载请注明出处、作者

慧聪消防网4月28日编译自www.fireengineering.com：地下室火灾是最险恶的火灾之一，常常造成消防员重大伤亡。消防员NicholasMartin认为，现在的消防人员应具备在早期发现地下室火灾的能力，以及掌握多种扑灭地下室火灾的方法。

Martin是哥伦比亚特区消防处区消防队员。他指出，最近的三起消防员因救火而殉职的火灾均为地下室火灾。

“这个问题已经暴露了消防的要害，地下室火灾时时刻刻威胁着消防员的生命。”Martin说。

对于这些各种类型的火灾的思考可以包括以下几个方面：典型地下室的建筑结构、火灾带来的相应影响、结构稳定性、灭火战术的选择等。

Martin说，有时候消防员到达目的地后，火势可能不是很明显，但大火实际上是在地下室燃烧，而烟雾可能只在楼上看到。在一个实例中，最初的火灾侦查反馈起火点是在屋顶。Martin表示说，当地下室起火后，整个房子都会冒烟，阻碍救援。哥伦比亚特区消防处区对此有一个明确的操作规定，即另一家公司必须在火灾发生后排查地下室并立即将调查结果传达给现场指挥官。拖延报告此信息可能使火势蔓延，并危及到楼上的居民和正在救援的消防员。

在现场，检查是否是地下室火灾，一般采用360度结构排查，或者在必要的情况下进入地下室。如果进入地下室，应对可能发生的情况做好准备，地下室了可能有煤气罐或者汽油等危险品。

Martin说，随着木头制品和桁架建筑的广泛使用，“现在建立楼层的方式已经和以前大不相同。”此外，一个未完成的地下室会更容易燃烧，因为木结构可能会暴露在外。

在火灾事故发生之前重视地下室火灾的严重性，这一点怎么强调都不过分。“如果我们知道我们将面对什么，并有把握处理好它，这就不是什么大事。但更多时候，我们不知道将面对什么，不知道该怎么处理。”他说。“我们必须意识到，在火灾来临时，我们有很多选择，在建筑物的建造和布局、现有的资源都不同的情况下，应采取的做法也不同。

Martin希望，对地下室火灾的认识和重视应在消防员中普及。“我的目标是确保每一个消防队员都对地下室火灾真正的重视起来，以免为时过晚。早期识别和正确的战术也可以减少导致消防员受伤甚至死亡的地下室火灾发生。”（编译/慧聪消防网 羽卒）

此消息系编译自国外媒体，慧聪消防网登载此文出于传递更多信息之目的，并不意味着赞同其观点或证实其描述。文章内容仅供参考。

原文：

Recognition and Attack of Basement Fires

Basement fires are some of the most treacherous incidents to which firefighters respond,and a large majority of firefighter fatalities and significant injuries occur at what were ultimately basement fires,Firefighter Nicholas Martin told students at “Recognition and Attack of Basement Fires” on Friday. Today’s fire service needs to recognize these fires early and know the multiple options available for attacking them.

Martin,a firefighter in District of Columbia Fire Department,noted that the department’s last three operational line of duty deaths (LODDs) occurred in basement fires; he dedicated his presentation to their memory. Martin is also a volunteer in neighboring Prince George’s County,Maryland,where in the past few years there have been at least two severe firefighter injuries in basement fires,and the last operational firefighter fatality occurred at a basement fire.

“This issue has struck home for me personally throughout my career. It seems every time I turn around,this issue has taken,or come close to taking,another firefighter’s life,” Martin said.

The class reviewed several case studies involving firefighter injury and near-miss situations,some of which Martin was personally involved in as a firefighter. He said,“By looking at these incidents,some of the things firefighters need to be doing will explain themselves.”

Considerations in these type of fires include the construction and contents of typical basements and their corresponding effects on fire behavior,structural stability,and tactical options,basement checks vs. circle or 360° checks,placement of the initial attack line,attack scenarios for single and multiple handlines,coordinated. attack methods,alternatives for when the first floor is unstable,and rescuing civilians from upper floors.

On arrival,Martin said,it may not be obvious that the fire is actually in the basement. Smoke may be only visible on the upper floors; in one instance,the initial dispatch reported a roof fire. “Beware the house that has smoke coming from everywhere,” Martin warned. You may be seeing just the ultimate result of a fire that originated in the basement. The District of Columbia Fire Department has a specific operating guideline that the second-due company must check the basement for fire and immediately report its findings to the incident commander. Any delay in reporting this information may allow the fire to spread and quickly imperil the structure’s occupants and firefighters operating on the upper floors.

At the scene,check for a basement fire either by performing a 360° size -up of the structure,or entering the basement if necessary. If entering the basement,be prepared for possible clutter (the “packrat syndrome”),gas utilities,and the possible storage of hazmats such as gasoline.

Firefighters,especially those working on the first floor,should always check the floor for integrity,Martin said. With the use of wooden I-beams and truss construction,“Floors today aren’t built the way they used to be.” Moreover,an unfinished basement will burn more readily because the structural wood may be exposed. Check the interior stairs’ integrity before placing any weight on them. If the interior stairs to the upper stories are located above those to the basement; both may have been compromised by fire. Martin warned.

The importance of verifying the status of the basement early in the incident cannot be overemphasized. “If we know what we are faced with,we can deal with it,but too often,we have no idea,” he said. “We must also realize that there is more than one option when attacking these fires,and that a different approach may be indicated based on our size- up,the building’s construction and layout,and available resources.”

Martin hopes that as a result of this presentation,the message on basement fires will spread through the fire service. “My goal is to make sure that every firefighter knows when they are fighting a basement fire,before it is too late. But with early recognition and sound tactics,we can reduce the occurrence of injury and death that is attributed to these fires.”