14 Ventilation Skill Drills

2 Objectives (1 of 2) Break glass with a hand tool. Break a window with a ladder. Break windows on upper floors using the Halligan toss. Establish negative-pressure ventilation. Establish positive-pressure ventilation. 14

3 Objectives (2 of 2) Sound a roof. Operate a power saw. Perform a rectangular cut. Perform a louver cut. Perform a triangular cut. Perform a peak cut. Perform a trench cut. 14

4 Skill Drill 14-1 Breaking Glass with a Hand Tool Step 1: Position yourself to the side of the window. Step 2: With back against the wall, swing backward forcefully with the tip of the tool striking the top 1/3 of the glass. 14

5 Skill Drill 14-1 Breaking Glass with a Hand Tool Step 3: Clear remaining glass from the opening with the hand tool. 14

6 Skill Drill 14-2 Break a Window with a Ladder 1.Wear full personal protective equipment, including eye protection. 2.Select the proper size ladder for the job. 3.Check for overhead lines. Use standard procedures for a ladder raise utilizing one, two, or three fire fighters, depending on the size of the ladder. 14

7 Skill Drill 14-2 Break a Window with a Ladder 4.If a roof ladder is used, extend the hooks toward the window. 5.Raise the ladder next to the window. Extend the tip so it is even with the top third of the window. 6.Position the ladder in front of the window. 14

8 Skill Drill 14-2 Break a Window with a Ladder 7.The ladder is forcibly dropped into the window. 8.Exercise caution; falling glass can cause serious injury. Glass may slide down the beams of the ladder. 9.Raise the ladder from the window and move it to the next window to be ventilated. Either carry the ladder vertically or pivot the ladder on its feet. 14

9 Skill Drill 14-3 Breaking Windows on Upper Floors— Halligan Toss Step 1: Lower the Halligan tool over the edge of the roof to measure the distance. Step 2: Toss the Halligan tool over the roofline so that it swings back to break the glass

10 Skill Drill 14-4 Negative-Pressure Ventilation Step 1: Hang the fan in the upper part of the opening. 14

11 Skill Drill 14-4 Negative-Pressure Ventilation Step 2: Use salvage covers to prevent churning. Provide openings on the windward side for cross ventilation. 14

12 Skill Drill 14-5 Positive-Pressure Ventilation Step 1: Place the fan in front of the opening to be used for attack. Step 2: Provide an exhaust opening at or near the fire. 14

13 Skill Drill 14-5 Positive-Pressure Ventilation Step 3: Start fan and allow smoke to clear. 14

Skill Drill 14-6 Sounding a Roof Step 1: Use a hand tool to check the roof before stepping onto it. 14

15 Skill Drill 14-6 Sounding a Roof Step 2: Use the tool to sound ahead and to both sides as you walk. Locate support members by sound and rebound. Check conditions around your work area periodically. 14

16 Skill Drill 14-6 Sounding a Roof Step 3: Sound the roof along your exit path. 14

17 Skill Drill 14-7 Operating a Power Saw 1.The saw should always be checked during daily apparatus inspection. 2.Be sure the cutting device or blade is appropriate for the material anticipated. If it is not, put the correct blade on before going to the roof. 3.Briefly inspect the blade or chain for obvious damage. 14

18 Skill Drill 14-7 Operating a Power Saw 4.Ensure that your proper protective gear is in place, including eye protection, SCBA, and full personal protective equipment. 5.The saw should be started to ensure that it runs properly before going to the roof. Set the choke to halfway position, or as recommended by the manufacturer. 14

19 Skill Drill 14-7 Operating a Power Saw 6.Stay clear of any moving parts of the saw, use a foot or knee to anchor the saw to the ground, and pull the starter cord as recommended to start the saw. 7.Run the saw briefly at full throttle to verify power operation. 8.Shut the saw down, wait for the blade to stop completely, then carry the saw to the roof. 14

20 Skill Drill 14-7 Operating a Power Saw 9.If possible, always work off of a roof ladder or aerial platform for added safety. 10.Start the saw in an area slightly away from where you intend to cut. 11.Always run a saw at maximum throttle when cutting. The saw should be running at full speed before the blade touches the roof decking. Keep the throttle fully open while cutting and removing the blade from the cut to reduce the tendency for the blade to bind. 14

21 Skill Drill 14-8 Rectangular or Square Cut Step 1: Locate the roof supports by sounding. Make the first cut parallel to the roof support. Step 2: Make a triangle cut at the first corner. 14

22 Skill Drill 14-8 Rectangular or Square Cut Step 3: Make two cuts perpendicular to the roof supports (3 and 4). Then make the final cut parallel to another roof support (5). Step 4: Pull out or push in the triangle cut. 14

23 Skill Drill 14-8 Rectangular or Square Cut Step 5: Punch out the ceiling below. Be careful for a sudden updraft of hot gases or flames. 14

24 Skill Drill 14-9 Louver Cut Step 1: Locate the roof supports by sounding. Step 2: Make two parallel cuts perpendicular to the roof supports. 14

25 Skill Drill 14-9 Louver Cut Step 3: Cut parallel to the supports and between pairs of supports in a rectangular pattern. Step 4: Tilt the panel to a vertical position. 14

26 Skill Drill Triangular Cut Step 1: Locate the roof supports. 14

27 Skill Drill Triangular Cut Step 2: The first cut is made from just inside a support member in a diagonal direction toward the next support member. 14

28 Skill Drill Triangular Cut Step 3: The second cut begins at the same location as the first, and is made in the opposite diagonal direction, forming a “V” shape. 14

29 Skill Drill Triangular Cut Step 4: The final cut is made along the support member and connects the first two cuts. Cutting from this location allows fire fighters the full support of the member directly below them while performing ventilation. 14

30 Skill Drill Peak Cut 1.Sound the roof with a tool to locate the roof supports. 2.Clear the roofing materials away from the roof cap. 3.Make the first cut vertically, at the furthest point away. Start at the roof peak in the area between the support members and cut down to the bottom of the first plywood panel 14

31 Skill Drill Peak Cut 4.Make parallel downward cuts between supports, moving horizontally along the roofline to make additional ventilation openings. 5.Strike the nearest side of the roofing material with an axe or maul, pushing it in, using the support located at the center as a fulcrum. 14

32 Skill Drill Peak Cut 6.This causes one end of the roofing material to go downward into the opening and the other to rise up. 7.This process can be repeated on both sides of the peak, horizontally across the peak, or vertically toward the roof edge. 8.Open the interior ceiling area below the opening by using the butt end of a pike pole. This hole should be the same size as the vent opening made in the roof decking. 14

33 Skill Drill Trench Cut Step 1. Make two parallel cuts, 2' to 4' apart, across the entire roof, starting at the ridge pole (for peaked roofs) or a bearing wall (for flat roofs). Cut between the two long cuts to make a row of rectangular sections. Remove the rectangular panels to open the trench. 14