Loss Control

FIRE SERVICE MOTTO We are committed to saving lives and property. Therefore, the public’s perception of us should be that we are at their devastating, life-changing incident to help preserve whatever valuables we can help salvage.

INCIDENT TACTICAL PRIORITIES 1) LIFE SAFETY 2) INCIDENT STABILIZATION 3) PROPERTY CONSERVATION

TERMINAL OBJECTIVE The firefighter l candidate shall correctly identify in writing the purpose of salvage and its value to the public and the fire department. Given salvage equipment, the candidate shall demonstrate various folds, rolls, deployment of salvage covers, construction and use of water chutes and catchalls.

MOTIVATION Loss control is an essential component of fire fighting. Implementation of appropriate salvage and overhaul techniques can dramatically reduce fire, water, and smoke damage during and after fires. Improved techniques in extinguishing fires plus prompt and effective use of good salvage procedures results in a more systematic approach to minimize property losses. Good salvage and good loss control management not only reduces fire loss but also builds a favorable rapport with the community.

SALVAGE Salvage work in the fire service consists of those methods and standard operating procedures that further reduce fire, water, and smoke damage during and after fires. May be done simultaneously with fire attack.

SALVAGE OPERATIONS Salvage operations are the methods and SOG’s that aid in reducing primary and secondary fire damage.

LOSS CONTROL Performing proper SALVAGE and OVERHAUL are of significant importance to both firefighters and property owners/occupants because they are the most effective means of loss control. Properly applied suppression techniques plus prompt and effective use of good salvage and overhaul procedures will minimize the total losses.

LOSS CONTROL Primary damage is caused by the fire. Secondary damage is caused by the suppression activities. Both can be minimized through salvage efforts.

PHILOSOPHY OF LOSS CONTORL Minimize damage Builds strong community support May contribute to a shorter reconstruction / restoration period The philosophy of loss control is to minimize damage and provide customer service through effective mitigation and recovery efforts before, during, and after an incident. Loss control is a major part of customer service, which builds goodwill within the community.

Preplanning salvage operations Use good salvage practices. Develop operational techniques. Provides for easier operations. Identifies special needs for special responses. Enhances public relations.

Implementing salvage procedures Cover contents before fire floor. Cover contents in rooms not threatened by fire. Catch debris. Gather furnishings in the center of a room and cover. Raise furnishings off wet surfaces.

Special concerns at commercial sites Insufficient equipment. Stock not resting on pallets susceptible to water damage. Products stacked too high can create significant fall hazards (especially paper products). Water left on wooden furniture will ruin it in a few hours.

Salvage equipment Hand tools. Automatic sprinkler kits. Carryall (debris bags). Floor runners. De-watering device. Water vacuum.

Salvage Equipment Salvage Covers can range in various sizes from: 12 X 14 feet to 14 X 18 feet. Salvage covers are made of different materials including cotton duck (closely woven canvas) or synthetic materials such as nylon-vinyl or polyethylene.

Salvage Equipment Canvas tarps Tend to stain Absorb moisture Mold Mildew But, they will not melt

Salvage Equipment Synthetic tarps Are not penetrated by alkalis, oils, acids caustics, or solvents Relatively unaffected by temperature Will not mold, mildew, or absorb moisture

Salvage Equipment Plastic covers should not be utilized in areas where sparks or hot embers may be present because the covers are easily penetrated. They also have a tendency to slip from highly piled items.

Types of spreads and rolls Preparing a salvage cover roll for a one firefighter spread. One firefighter spread using a rolled cover. One firefighter spread using a folded cover. Preparing a folded salvage cover for a two firefighter spread. Two firefighter spread using a folded cover (balloon) throw.

WATER CHUTES Water chutes are devices used to route water short distances through doors, windows, or other openings. One of the most practical means of removing water coming through ceilings from upper floors is by chutes.

Techniques for collecting and re-routing water Water chute without pike poles. Water chute with pike poles. Catch-all.

CATCH-ALLS A catch-all is constructed from a salvage cover that has been placed on the floor to contain relatively small amounts of water. Properly constructed catch-alls will hold over a hundred gallons of water and save valuable time during salvage work by catching water and limiting its spread into other areas.

Salvage cover maintenance Regular cleaning prolongs the duty span of a cover. Heavy stains may require scrubbing with a detergent. Synthetic covers require less care than canvas covers. Allow cover to dry thoroughly. Inspect covers for holes. Inspect covers for excessive wear.

TERMINAL OBJECTIVE The Firefighter I candidate shall correctly demonstrate the use of salvage covers to close structural openings, remove debris, and divert water from an interior portion of the structure.

MOTIVATION When buildings have been opened up to permit firefighter access they become vulnerable both to vandalism and weather. Therefore, it is imperative that firefighters take the necessary actions to adequately secure all openings in the building before leaving the premises. During fire attack, buildings are often subjected to extensive water damage. However, this damage can be reduced through proper salvage operations. Firefighters should possess a good understanding of how to use salvage covers and other salvage techniques to accomplish this task. Salvage equipment can be used to reduce the damage from most fire ground operations. Like most emergency equipment, salvage equipment must be well maintained to achieve optimum use during fire ground operations.

DOORS AND WINDOWS LOSS CONTROL We cover openings such as doors and windows to prevent illegal entrance and provide security.

LOSS CONTROL Materials to cover door and window openings: A good grade of roofing paper. Strips of wood Masonry / Wood nails Salvage covers Plywood sheeting Boards

LOSS CONTROL Checking the structural condition of the building should be done to prevent injuries to occupants who take possession of the premises after the fire department leaves.

Danger signs of unstable floors Sagging floors. Holes in floor. Deep charring of floor. Water load. Firefighter load.

FLOORS Holes in floors and stairways should be marked and barricaded to prevent accidental access. A need may arise to cover holes in floor, use caution, check stability after putting down plywood and/or wood planks.

FLOORS Check for stability in and around bathrooms and kitchens, especially: Tubs Stove Sinks Refrigerator Toilet Dishwasher May need to barricade area.

ROOFS Extreme care must be taken while working on a roof. Since the roof may have been weakened by fire below, it should be checked for structural stability before covering work begins.

ROOFS Check roof stability Weather conditions Ice Rain Snow

LOSS CONTROL Materials to cover roof openings: A good grade of roofing paper. Strips of wood Masonry / Wood nails Salvage covers Plywood sheeting Boards

ROOFS To cover a small hole on a pitched roof: Pry up roofing materials around the top of the hole, away from the underlying support material. Material used to cover the hole should be placed under the uplifted roofing (prevents water from running underneath). The sides and bottom edges should overlap side and bottom edges of the hole so that rain water is shed down the roof.

ROOFS Material covering a hole near the peak of the roof should be placed over the hole and on both sides of the ridge.

ROOFS Covering a hole in a flat roof: Pry up roof covering approx. 6 inches around the hole (block up with wood blocks or bricks). Secure a frame made of boards over the hole. Place the cover over the frame and secure around the edges.

ROOFS Skylights, roof hatches, and air shafts are probably the easiest of all roof openings to cover and make water tight because their frameworks are elevated to shed water.

Why do we remove water and debris form buildings? LOSS CONTROL Why do we remove water and debris form buildings?

LOSS CONTROL After the protection of building contents, the removal of excess water is normally the most important salvage function. Not only is water a concern because of its weight and its natural tendency to travel downward in a building, but because it accumulates or is absorbed in areas that may lack drainage. A basic fact of fire fighting is that water places additional weight in a building and can significantly contribute to the collapse of structural members.

Ways of routing water Floor drains. Soil pipe openings. Removing clean-out plugs and lifting toilets from floor connections. Stairways. Cut holes in the floor (scuppers). Elevator / ventilation shafts. Use of chutes and dikes.

Equipment used for removing water Electric submersible pumps. Portable pumps. Vacuum cleaner / water vacuum. Brooms and squeegees. Buckets, mops and pails.

WATER REMOVAL When water is discharged outside the building, it should be directed so it does not run back into the fire building or into an adjacent building creating additional water damage.

LOSS CONTROL Regular fire department pumpers are not recommended for pumping water from buildings for several reasons: Keep apparatus available for another call. Cost of portable pump vs. pumper

LOSS CONTROL Continued: Portable pumps are designed for water removal. Debris-laden water may cause damage to fire department pumps if sufficient screening is not provided.

MEANS OF MOVING WATER Diaphragm pumps Electric submersible pumps Portable pumps Vacuum cleaner or water vacuum Backpack water vacuum

MEANS OF MOVING WATER (Cont’d) Brooms, squeegees, buckets, mops and pails Removing water from basements using drains and sumps Portable pumps or submersible pumps Siphons or eductors

QUESTIONS?