It is with deep regret to announce the death of the following member: Firefighter Brent A. Lovrien, 35, Station 95 of the Los Angeles Fire Department, as a result of injuries sustained while operating at an electrical explosion in a commercial building located at 8800 block of South Sepulveda Boulevard, in the Westchester section of Los Angeles, transmitted at 13:57 hours on March 26th, 2008.

Members of Station 95 arrived on the scene to investigate several electrical related problems in the area. At approximately 14:23, a fire condition was located in a locked utility room. As members prepared for force entry into the room a catastrophic explosion occurred seriously injuring Firefighter Lovrien and Fire Engineer Anthony Guzman and a civilian. Firefighter Lovrien was removed and succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center. Fire Engineer Guzman was admitted to UCLA Medical Center were he was admitted in serious but stable condition. He was released from the hospital on March 30th. The injured civilian was treated at the scene and released.

Firefighter Lovrien was a 10 year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department. He leaves behind his father, mother and brother.

Firefighter Lovrien is the 33rd firefighter to die in the line of duty in United States in 2008. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the entire Los Angeles Fire Department.

Firefighter Lovrien was laid to rest on April 4th.

AP Photo Courtesy of Damien Dovargenes

May He Rest In Peace

Most of the cribbing and wedges I have seen used in vehicle extrication and airbag/jack lifting evolutions are either stacked in a compartment and carried in the arms or in an old milkcrate. Often when responding to an incident already in progress, it is sometimes impossible to get close to the scene. If more tools are needed for the emergency you sometimes have to guess what to bring first in order to backup the units already operating. Duplicating the standard tools already on the scene and trying to be helpful in your tool choice can be time consuming if you have to go back and forth from the scene to the apparatus multiple times. I came up with this cribbing suitcase so both hands are free and you’re able to carry more without overdoing it.

Constructing the suitcase can be custom to your compartment space, or area’s needs, and by weight. A ground pad (any size plywood, the stronger the better) is used as the base of case and the right amount of 4X4 dimensional lumber to match up with the size of the ground pad. Two seatbelt straps, ratchet straps, or any other creative means are used to hold all the components together and finally a piece of webbing or utility rope looped and placed inside the straps to give yourself a handle or a shoulder strap.

If you have any other ideas related to storing and modifying tools or making what we do easier and smarter email me at fdny895@yahoo.com

The Air Cart is a tool used in many fire rescue functions. It can be utilized for confined space rescue, operating pneumatic air tools, or providing a continuous air supply at a prolonged firefighter removal operation. Various sized SCBA cylinders can be utilized, but a 60 or 45 minute bottle is preferred. The air cart is mounted on a 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum (corrected) body on two heavy duty wheels. A D-handle can be easily attached to allow for easy movement. The unit also has a substantial ring affixed to the top for lowering or raising. A built in alarm similar to a PASS device alerts the operator that the cylinder being used is getting low. A blue handle located towards the top front of the unit can be easily turned in the direction towards the unused cylinder. While this provides a continuous air supply for either running tools or supplying breathing air to an SCBA, the low cylinder can be replaced without interrupting the operation.

The unit has a TOOL SIDE and a MASK SIDE.

Located within the unit are Master Pressure Gauges for both sides as well. Each tool hookup has its own gauge for operating more than one tool at a time and some units can be customized to operate at set pressures. The unit above has two pre-set air hookups. One is for operating Paratech high pressure air bags at 135 psi and the other is pre-set for the Paratech Air Struts to be operated at 250 psi. As the operator of this unit, staging SCBA cylinders, a water extinguisher to prevent frost up, and another air cart to backup the operating unit are things to think about.

When using the MASK Side for supplying air to one or more rescuers, the operating pressures are between 60 and 120 psi. Anything at 125 psi and above will set off the rescuers vibra-alert on their face piece. Where radio communication or direct verbal contact is inhibited, this emergency feature can be utilized to warn rescuers in a confined space that their is a possible problem with the unit, the breathing hose, or their operating time has expired. While two operators are working in a confined space and breathing off of the air cart, it is also a good idea for the operator of the Air Cart to watch the air gauge flutter as the rescuers breath on air to predict whether they are actually breathing off the air cart or utilizing their escape bottle.

A “pony bottle” or an SCBA with a 30 minute cylinder and the correct Schrader air fittings can be connected to the 100-foot breathing air hose. The maximum number lengths to be used for a single rescuer is 3 (300 feet). 600 feet of breathing air hose is carried with the setup above along with 4 escape 30 minute Scott SCBA’s with the Schrader air hose fittings.

Items Stored With The Cart: An On-Air Breathing Time Chart with grease pen, duct tape for taping the female fittings when connecting more than one length of hose, colored electrical tape for labeling the hose(s), a lockout tagout kit for shutting off utilities, SCBA O-rings with an allen wrench, a long piece of rope for hazmat air monitoring instruments. These items can be carried in a bag or a pelican type box and kept with the Air Cart.

This unit is also ready to attach to Scott’s RIT/FAST Pak. The device can be used to supply fresh air to a downed or trapped firefighter or fill some air in his existing bottle. If a prolonged rescue to remove the trapped firefighter is due to collapse, the extrication process can be supported by the continuous air supply and the adaptable Schrader air fittings found on the Air Cart.

Email me if you have any questions about the Air Cart

It is with deep regret to announce the death of the following member: Firefighter Andre Manseau, 18 of the Val-Des-Monts Fire Department as a result of injuries sustained while operating at a house fire located on Ste Anne Street in Val-Des-Monts, QC, transmitted at approximately 13:45 hours on March 9th, 2008.Firefighter Manseau was exiting the building during the overhaul stage of a house fire when an attached garage and wall collapsed trapping him. Members of his team were alerted to the collapse by Firefighter Manseau and were able to escape. Firefighter Manseau was unable to escape and was buried. He was found in the rubble at approximately 16:30 and was removed from the building.

He was a member of the Val-Des-Monts Fire Department for less than 1 year.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends and the Val-Des-Monts Fire Department.

May He Rest In Peace.

Here is a great example of a disciplined engine and ladder company. Again, the video is set to music. Turn the volume down and zone in on the training aspects of the video.

You can skip to 01:30, everything prior to that is a response video. The video is a little dark in some spots but it gives insight in a near perfect aggressive interior attack in a very common private dwelling found in most of our communities.

01:30 - 02:30: The first due engine company arrives on the scene with heavy fire showing from two windows on the 1-4 (a-d) corner. They immediately go to work forcing the front door and stretching and flaking the first line. It appears that line is ready to go at approximately the 2:30 minute mark, less than a minute after the rig has stopped.

02:30: - It appears that the forcible entry firefighter is delayed in getting the door. He sticks with it using various 1-firefighter techniques by prying down with what appears to be the adz end and then followed it up with a baseball swing at the 03:00 mark. He uses various techniques of the Halligan to effect entry.

03:00 - Resisting Several Urges: This is probably one of the best videos on the online training circuit showing tremendous professionalism and discipline in both engine and ladder company operations. This video shows us that there are still departments out there that know and operate with the basic firefighting fundamentals in mind.

The engine company resisted all urges to hit the fire from the exterior, even when the forcible entry operation was not going as smoothly as we like. Hitting this fire from the exterior would have driven the fire into uninvolved areas of the building, and would have killed any occupants that certainly could be alive in any other part of the house aside from the fire room. This would have also driven fire to a member performing VES opposite the fire searching for those victims, if VES is in the departments SOPs.

The engine company also did a great job in avoiding becoming “side-tracked” by the small rubbish fires (fence, bushes, rubbish on the side) and kept to the mission of getting a line through the front door and to the seat of the fire quickly. Operating on those small fires, which are typically inconsequential to the outcome of the fire, often lead to a tendency to “hit the window” to “give the fire a whack”. By staying near the front door and covering the member forcing entry, the line was able to quickly move in after the door was forced.

In addition, the ladder company (or ladder company operating firefighters) resisted a tremendous urge to ventilate the two front windows directly adjacent to the front door. I started to become a little concerned at 03:15 when a member with a hook, set up to the right of the window as if he was preparing to ventilate. Just as I started to cringe, he decided not to ventilate the window. Whether he decided on his own, or a boss or senior firefighter told him not to, it was the correct decision to delay ventilating those windows. Ventilating those window(s) would have certainly pulled the fire from the room of origin and to the new ventilation opening and probably allowed it to spread throughout the rest of first floor since access had not yet been gained.

03:53: - After a tough forcible entry operation, entry is gained. A second member assists the forcible entry firefighter by providing a couple of much needed “taps” to the properly positioned Halligan and the door is forced almost immediately. In a very coordinated and swift motion, the front windows are ventilated and the line aggressively advances to the seat of the fire. All members appear to assist in the advance of the hose line. It appears that water was applied to the main body of fire about 30 seconds after the line entered the front door and the main body of fire knocked down about 15 seconds after that. A great job by the engine company in any way that you approach it.

Other comments:
There were several YouTube comments that express displeasure with the operation, mainly centering around the speed of the forcible entry operation. I emailed the videographer and he explained that the owner of this house was in prison and had “fortified” this door prior to him vacating the house for his absence. The door had a high deadbolt and a standard deadbolt, both with extra-long bolts as well as the regular locks. The firefighter forcing the door did an excellent job getting the door. Perhaps, asking for assistance (a few hits to set the forks, which was done eventually) a little earlier could have slightly sped up the operation, but I think it went well. This was not your typical easy private dwelling forcible entry job that much of the country sees on a day to day basis.

Additionally, there were comments regarding making entry through the window with the hose line and to search while other members worked on the door. As I wrote above, ventilating the windows next to the door would have drawn the fire to that location and negated entry to the building. Anyone who would have entered, would probably be leaving just as fast. There are very limited circumstances where the first hose line should be stretched through a window instead of through a door opening. The only instance that I can think of stretching a hose line through a window is in the case of a vacant building where the stairs are burned out, unstable or otherwise compromised. Short of that, the hose line should enter the fire building through a doorway and not a window.

I invite everyone to add to the discussion, comment further or post questions regarding the video or my thoughts. The only two things that we ask on our forum is that all posts be signed (first and last name) and all posts remain professional with an intent to learn or teach. Posts that do not meet that criteria will not be published!

It is with deep regret to announce the deaths of the following members: Firefighter Victor Isler, 40 and Firefighter Justin Monroe, 19 of the Salisbury Fire Department, Quint 4 as a result of injuries sustained while operating at a commercial building fire located at 1905 S Railroad Street in Salisbury, NC, transmitted at approximately 07:00 hours on March 7th, 2008.

The members of Quint 4 arrived on the scene of a commercial building fire and stretched a hose line into the building to locate and extinguish the fire. While operating inside the building, a loss of water pressure was reported and conditions began to rapidly deteriorate, trapping Captain Barley, and Firefighters Isler and Monroe. As “Maydays” were transmitted, rescue attempts resulted in the rescue of Captain Barkley. A second rescue attempt resulted in the removal of Firefighter Isler who was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Further valiant and courageous attempts to locate and remove Firefighter Monroe resulted in members being driven from the fire building due to fire conditions. Several members of the rescue teams sustained injuries of various degrees all of which are non life-threatening. Captain Barkley was hospitalized with second and third degree burns but has since been released. Firefighter Monroe was pronounced dead at the scene.

Firefighter Isler was a member of the Salisbury Fire Department for 1 year. He had previously served as an FDNY Paramedic as well as a firefighter in Deer Park, NY. He leaves behind his wife and two teenage children.

Firefighter Monroe was a member of the Salisbury Fire Department for 1 year. He was also a member of the Millers Ferry Volunteer Fire Department and Spencer Fire Department.

Firefighter Isler and Firefighter Monroe are the 27th and 28th firefighters to die in the line of duty in United States in 2008. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family, friends and the entire Salisbury Fire Department.

May They Rest In Peace.

Photos courtesy of IBS/WSOC-TV, Michael Porowski, the Salisbury Post’s
Jon C. Lakey and the Salisbury Fire Department

Funeral Information:

The services will be held on March 13th at 2 p.m. at the Omwake-Dearborn Chapel at Catawba College, 2300 West Innes Street, Salisbury, N.C.

Visitation for Firefighter Isler will be held Wednesday, March 12 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Lyerly Funeral Home, 515 S. Main Street, Salisbury, N.C. His body will then be transported to his home state of New York for burial.

Visitation for Firefighter Monroe will be held Wednesday, March 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Miller’s Ferry Volunteer Fire Department, 2650 Long Ferry Road, Salisbury, N.C. Burial will follow at Rowan Memorial Park, 4125 Franklin Center Community Drive, Salisbury, N.C.

May Our Brothers Rest In Peace

It is with deep regret to announce the death of the following member: Lieutenant Nick Picozzi Jr., 35 of the Lower Chichester Fire Company, Station 39 as a result of injuries sustained while operating at a house fire located at 100 Moser Street in Upper Chichester Township, PA, transmitted at approximately 08:30 hours on March 5th, 2008.

Lieutenant Picozzi and two other firefighters arrived to find a heavy smoke condition showing from an unoccupied two-story single family house. As they searched for the seat of the fire under heavy smoke conditions, fire conditions rapidly deteriorated trapping the three firefighters in the basement. A Rapid Intervention Team was immediately activated and was successful in rescuing two of the three firefighters from the basement, however Lieutenant Picozzi was unable to escape. Approximately 30 minutes later, Lieutenant Picozzi was located, extricated and transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. In addition, three other firefighters were transported with burns and smoke inhalation and were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

Lieutenant Picozzi was a member of the Lower Chichester Fire Company for seven years. He leaves behind his wife and two sons. Lieutenant Picozzi is the 26th firefighter to die in the line of duty in 2008.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends and the Lower Chichester Fire Company.

May He Rest In Peace.

(Photos by Steve Skipton http://phillyfirenews.com)

Funeral Information:

Visitation for Firefighter Picozzi will be held Monday, March 10 from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Holy Saviour Catholic Church, 108 E. Ridge Road, Linwood, Penn.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 11 at noon at the same church.

It is with deep regret to announce the death of the following member: Firefighter Bradley P. Holmes, 21 of the Pine Township Engine Company as a result of injuries sustained while operating at a house fire located 132 Garden Way in Grove City, PA, transmitted at approximately 06:00 hours on February 29th, 2008.

Firefighter Holmes and Lieutenant Scott King were attempting to rescue a 44 year old female reported trapped on the second floor of a duplex when rapidly deteriorating fire conditions trapped the firefighters. A Rapid Intervention Team was able to rescue the both firefighters and remove them. Both firefighters were transported to Mercy Hospital’s Burn Unit in Pittsburgh. Firefighter Holmes was burned over 75% of his body. He fought for his life for six days, but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries on 03/05/2008. Lieutenant King has since been released from the hospital. The female civilian was also killed in the fire.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Brad’s brother, Chris who is the Chief and their father Joe, the Assistant Chief of the Pine Township Engine Company. Our thoughts and prayers are also extended to his entire family, friends and the Pine Township Engine Company. Firefighter Holmes is the 24th firefighter to die in the line of duty in 2008.

May He Rest In Peace.

Funeral Information

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Cunningham Funeral Home, 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City, with a firefighter tribute at 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the gymnasium at Grove City College.

It is with deep regret to announce the death of the following member: Firefighter Mathieu E’mond, 26 of the Varennes Fire Department as a result of injuries sustained while operating at a house fire located on Ste Anne Street in Varennes, QC, transmitted at approximately 23:00 hours on March 3rd, 2008.

Firefighter E’mond was investigating a heavy smoke condition in the basement of the house with two other firefighters when conditions rapidly deteriorated forcing the team to retreat. Two of the three firefighters were able to escape, however Firefighter E’mond was unable to escape or be rescued due to the intensity of the fire. He was found in the rubble at approximately 08:30, pronounced dead at the scene and removed from the building.

He was a member of the Varennes Fire Department for two years, and also had just started a career department at the Longeuil Fire Department. He leaves behind his wife and infant daughter.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends and the Varennes Fire Department.

May He Rest In Peace.

(photos courtesy of: Pierre Obendrauf, The Gazette)

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