1. Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., MIFireE Municipal Fire Protection Consultant
Training Sessions Using
Acquired Structures
Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., MIFireE
Municipal Fire Protection Consultant
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

2. Seminar Objectives
Personnel qualifications for instructors and personnel being taught
Criteria governing buildings which are not part of an established fire service training facility
Preparing buildings for non-fire and live-fire evolutions
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

3. Instructor Qualifications
State of New Jersey Instructor II for Instructor-in-Charge
State of New Jersey Level I for non-live fire drill evolutions
Live-fire certification
S.C.B.A certification
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

4. Personnel Qualifications
Safety
Fire Behavior
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Personal Protective Equipment
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

5. Personnel Qualifications
Ladders
Fire Hose, Appliances, and Fire Streams
Overhaul
Water Supply
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

6. Steps in Preparing an Acquired Structure
Confirm property ownership, see proof of clear title
Secure all necessary environmental permits
Secure the necessary live-fire permits from state and local authorities
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

7. Steps in Preparing an Acquired Structure
Have the owner of the property provide a certificate of insurance
Conduct a complete inspection of the property
Remove all hazardous materials from the property
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

8. Inspect the Following: Correct Defects as Needed
Make floors, railings, and stairs safe
Make special note of chimney collapse potential
Patch all walls and ceilings
Remove debris and any weight which might be weighing down the floor or roof above the exercise area
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

9. Inspect the Following: Correct Defects as Needed
Remove all unconventional wall coverings which might accelerate fire burn
Remove low-density fiberboard wall coverings
Pre-vent roof to insure that there is no building of smoke and heat
Allow no one on floors above exercise area
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

10. Inspect the Following: Correct Defects as Needed
All utilities are to be disconnected
Always consider the potential for vermin and toxic chemicals in the materials of the building from extermination efforts
All forms of asbestos shall be removed by a qualified removal contractor
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

11. Random Thoughts On Training in Acquired Structures
If you cannot make it safe, do no use it
If there is a building next to your building, make plans to protect it
If the building next door cannot be protected, see if it can be razed
While the building which was donated to you came cheaply, burning the neighbor can be expensive
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

12. Random Thoughts On Training in Acquired Structures
Trees and brush which can spread the fire should be cut back or removed
See the utilities to the surrounding property are cut off
Be sure to let the people in the neighborhood know about your plans
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

13. Water Supply Considerations
You will need water for attacking the fire, backup lines and safety lines
Use more than one source for your water supply
Use separate mains if possible
Each hose line must supply a minimum of 95 gallons-per-minute
Consult NFPA 1231
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

14. Space Considerations
Sufficient space for operating, parking, and staging
Separate parking for non-drill vehicles
Areas for press and police
Ambulance parking and staging
Set up routes for entry and exit from area
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

15. Pre-Evolution Briefing
All facts of evolution will be discussed
Assignments for crew made
Discuss potential for simulated victims
NO HUMAN VICTIMS if exercise is Live Fire
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

16. Pre-Burn Plan
If the exercise is live fire, you must develop a plan as to how the operation will occur
All feature of structure and operation will be listed on the plan
Area for spectators will be designated
All participants will be briefed on the operational plan
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

17. Pre-Operational Visit
Participants will visit the facility
Features of construction will be shown
Access and egress will be shown
Area for spectators will be shown
Ropes and signs will show area for spectators
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

18. Fuel Considerations Must have known burn characteristics
No flammable liquids
No plastics or pressure-treated woods
No high flammability paneling
Use straw or hay which has not been treated with pesticides
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

19. Fuel Considerations Instructor-in-Charge will document fuel loading
Do not overload area with fuel, as this can lead to a backdraft or rollover
Exercise will be terminated if problems develop with fuel loading
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

20. Instructors
Sufficient to provide a ratio of one instructor per every five students
Must possess appropriate state certification
Do not conduct exercise if there are not enough instructors
One instructor must be designated the Instructor-in-Charge
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

21. Safety Considerations
A safety officer is to be appointed for all exercises
This officer will have authority, regardless of rank, to halt unsafe operations
This officer will prevent unsafe acts
This officer will eliminate unsafe acts as detected
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

22. Safety Considerations
This officer will have no other assignments
This officer will insure that sufficient backup hose lines exist to support the operation
All hose lines shall be capable of supplying 95 gallons-per-minute (GPM)
One instructor per hose line
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

23. Safety Considerations
One instructor per five students
Sufficient people to staff and move backup hose lines
One instructor per functional area
Assign extra safety people as conditions demand
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

24. Safety Considerations
Establish a system of drill ground communications and explain it to the troops
Develop a building evacuation plan and drill people in its use
Establish an evacuation signal and drill people in its use
EMS units in place and available
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

25. Safety Considerations
Thorough search of structure prior to drill
No human victims in live fire exercise
Only one fire at a time
Cancel session if weather conditions begin to deteriorate
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

26. Personal Protective Equipment
Full set of gear required, as issued by FD
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
All PPE to be checked for compliance with standards
Use station wear if provided. Check compliance
Personal alarm safety devices (PASS)
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

27. Personal Protective Equipment
All personnel will wear gear while operating in structure
SCBA air for all hazardous environments
Oxygen deficient
Contaminated
Below grade with potential for oxygen deficiency or contamination
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

28. Safety Inspection
All personnel will be receive a safety briefing prior to drill
All personnel will have their PPE instead by the safety officer
Briefing will discuss operations, evacuation plan, evacuation signal and general safety issues
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

29. Ignition Officer
One instructor will be designated as the Ignition Officer
Operates under Instructor-in-Charge
Will use full PPE and SCBA while working
Will use only materials with known burn characteristics
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

30. Ignition Officer
Will load fuel in such a manner that it will not be subject to backdraft or flashover
Will conduct the Instructor-in-Charge on a tour of structure prior to ignition
Will only ignite on orders of Instructor-in-Charge
No debris is to be used
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

31. Instructor-in-Charge
Serious responsibility
Must insecure that all precautions are taken
Document all fuel loading and structural conditions
Monitors all briefings
Calls for operations to commence when all aspects are ready
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.

32. Conclusion Training in acquired structures can be very valuable
Training in such places can be dangerous
You need to control as many of the uncontrolled variables as possible
Safety is your primary guiding light
If it doesn’t seem right, STOP!!
©2002 Harry R. Carter, Ph.D., L.L.C.