![]() ![]() ![]() Ensure that you and your crew are geared up and ready for battle. The only reason not to be fully protected is pure laziness. So, approach each one as if they are dangerous.ĭon't take shortcuts with PPE. The problem is that we have no way of knowing what or when those circumstances are. They can be just as dangerous as a structural fire in certain circumstances. Not to be taken lightlyĭon't take dumpster and container fires lightly. In some instances, foam can be used to increase extinguishment in stubborn dumpster fires. If the container is threatening an exposure, a straight stream is recommended to avoid moving smoke and heat into the exposure. If you have a lot of smoke with a container that is not threatening an exposure a narrow fog can be used to push the smoke away from you as you approach the container and then put to a straight stream or very narrow fog pattern once at the container. If the container is not threatening anything else, a straight stream can be directed into the container to get penetration. When approaching and deciding what type of stream depends on personal preference, department guideline and location of the container. If the dumpster is threatening an exposure, then the booster is not an option. In the end, follow your department guidelines. But, I can flow more water and fill the container much faster with the larger line as opposed to a 1-inch booster line. It really depends on the size of the container. I recommend at least a 1¾-inch hand line for suppression. This is not always possible, but it helps with visibility and staying out of the "junk." Like any fire or incident, try to attack from the up-wind side. Protect your hands.Īs you can see, you need to be buttoned up for dumpster fires just like you would for a structural fire. Your work gloves on any fire are structural firefighting gloves. Use structural firefighting gloves, not extrication or work gloves. Don't forgo wearing your hood and buttoning up your collar. I can't tell you how incredibly important it is to wear your pack and mask.įlash fires and for small explosions from aerosol cans in these containers is common. Wear your air! It's free and can save your life. SCBA should be more than weight on your back. It is very likely they are also in the dumpster. On commercial buildings, look for the NFPA hazard diamond to identify any significant hazards kept on the property. Use extreme caution at industrial sites and try to secure the site's hazardous materials data book. Industrial locations can have just about anything and everything, including combustible metals, materials that are reactive to water or both. Use what you know and can identify to prepare accordingly.Īn abandoned house could have anything in it including remodeling materials, old carpets, synthetic flooring and even asbestos. An auto parts store could have brake cleaner, parts cleaners and other flammables. Locationīy knowing the occupancy that the dumpster is serving may assist in knowing what the contents might be. Here are some keys and considerations for operating at dumpster fires. Operating with that frame of mind will help you slow down and maybe survey the situation just a little more conservatively. They are not hazmat fires in the sense that we pull off the Level A suits and call in the team, but that we use a cautious approach that recognizes the fact that we never know what is in those containers. I like to tell firefighters that each of these fires needs to be considered a hazardous materials fire. Whether the fire is in a residential trash receptacle or a large commercial dumpster, we need to have a constant approach to these incidents. We need to occasionally brush up on our tactics and share information with our crews about fighting dumpster fires. ![]()
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