1. Salvage&Overhaul

2. VALUE OF LOSS CONTROL (SALVAGE & OVERHAUL OPERATIONS) Adds value to the department’s services Adds value to the department’s services Promotes fire fighting as a craft Promotes fire fighting as a craft Builds goodwill within the community Builds goodwill within the community Receives praise and recognition in the media Receives praise and recognition in the media Gives firefighters a feeling of accomplishment Gives firefighters a feeling of accomplishment Leads to better morale and efficiency among firefighters Leads to better morale and efficiency among firefighters TS 16–1

3. PURPOSE OF SALVAGE To reduce damage from fire, smoke, water, heat, cold, or weather during and after a fire TS 16–2

4. PURPOSES OF OVERHAUL To search out and extinguish hidden fires To search out and extinguish hidden fires To protect the scene after the fire To protect the scene after the fire To preserve evidence of the fire’s origin and cause To preserve evidence of the fire’s origin and cause To restore premises to safe condition To restore premises to safe condition TS 16–3

5. SALVAGE PLANNING Salvage SOPs Salvage SOPs Special preplans for buildings with high-value contents Special preplans for buildings with high-value contents Awareness of contents vital to businesses in commercial occupancies Awareness of contents vital to businesses in commercial occupancies Working with loss control representatives of local businesses Working with loss control representatives of local businesses TS 16–4

6. SALVAGE PROCEDURES When to begin salvage operations When to begin salvage operations Coordinating salvage with fire attack Coordinating salvage with fire attack How to arrange and protect building contents How to arrange and protect building contents Commercial occupancy challenges Commercial occupancy challenges Removing large quantities of water Removing large quantities of water TS 16–5

8. HOW TO ARRANGE & PROTECT BUILDING CONTENTS Gathering in close piles in center of room Gathering in close piles in center of room Placing high objects at ends of piles and using rolled rugs as ridgepoles Placing high objects at ends of piles and using rolled rugs as ridgepoles Placing small objects (pictures, curtains, lamps) on larger objects such as couches or beds Placing small objects (pictures, curtains, lamps) on larger objects such as couches or beds Using water-resistant materials to raise furniture off wet floors Using water-resistant materials to raise furniture off wet floors TS 16–6

10. COMMERCIAL OCCUPANCY CHALLENGES Ceiling-to-floor Display Shelves Contents Stacked too Close to Ceiling Unpalleted Storage High-piled Stock TS 16–7

11. TYPICAL SALVAGE EQUIPMENT Automatic sprinkler kit Automatic sprinkler kit Carryall Carryall Floor runner Floor runner Dewatering device Dewatering device TS 16–11 Water vacuum Water vacuum Squeegee Squeegee Mop and wringer bucket Mop and wringer bucket

16. CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR REMOVING & ROUTING WATER Water Chute Spliced Chutes Catchall TS 16–13

19. GUIDELINES FOR COVERING OPENINGS Cover all exterior openings. Cover all exterior openings. Cover broken or missing doors or windows with plywood, heavy plastic, or similar materials. Cover broken or missing doors or windows with plywood, heavy plastic, or similar materials. Cover openings in roofs with plywood, roofing paper, heavy plastic sheeting, or tar paper. Cover openings in roofs with plywood, roofing paper, heavy plastic sheeting, or tar paper. Tack down edges of tar paper or plastic with lath and roofing nails. Tack down edges of tar paper or plastic with lath and roofing nails. TS 16–14

21. DEFINITION OF OVERHAUL The practice of searching a fire scene to detect hidden fires or sparks that may rekindle and to identify the possible point of origin and cause of fire TS 16–15

22. TOOLS & EQUIPMENT USED IN OVERHAUL Electronic sensors Electronic sensors Pike poles Pike poles Axes Axes TS 16–16 Battery-powered saws, drills, and screwdrivers Battery-powered saws, drills, and screwdrivers Carryalls, buckets, and tubs Carryalls, buckets, and tubs Shovels, bale hooks, and pitchforks Shovels, bale hooks, and pitchforks

23. OVERHAUL SAFETY GUIDELINES & PROCEDURES Make sure that your very first overhaul step is determining the condition of the building. Make sure that your very first overhaul step is determining the condition of the building. Wear proper protective clothing, including positive-pressure SCBA. Wear proper protective clothing, including positive-pressure SCBA. Wear eye protection when it is safe to remove breathing apparatus. Wear eye protection when it is safe to remove breathing apparatus. Use 1½-inch (38 mm) or 1¾-inch (45 mm) charged attack lines for extinguishing hidden fires. Use 1½-inch (38 mm) or 1¾-inch (45 mm) charged attack lines for extinguishing hidden fires. TS 16–17a

24. OVERHAUL SAFETY GUIDELINES & PROCEDURES (cont.) Extinguish small hidden fires during minor overhaul operations with air-pressurized water extinguishers or booster lines, backed up by at least one attack line. Extinguish small hidden fires during minor overhaul operations with air-pressurized water extinguishers or booster lines, backed up by at least one attack line. Avoid additional water damage. Avoid additional water damage. TS 16–17b

25. AVOIDING ADDITIONAL WATER DAMAGE Place nozzle in such a way that if it is accidentally opened it will cause no additional water damage. Place nozzle in such a way that if it is accidentally opened it will cause no additional water damage. Tighten or repair leaking couplings. Tighten or repair leaking couplings. Use a 100-foot (30 m) length of hose as the first section on attack lines. Use a 100-foot (30 m) length of hose as the first section on attack lines. TS 16–18

26. PRIMARY FACTORS AFFECTING BUILDING CONDITION Fire Intensity Amount of Water Used TS 16–19

27. SIGNS OF DANGEROUS BUILDING CONDITIONS Weakened floors due to floor joists being burned away Weakened floors due to floor joists being burned away Concrete that has spalled due to heat Concrete that has spalled due to heat Weakened steel roof members Weakened steel roof members Walls offset because of elongation of steel roof supports Walls offset because of elongation of steel roof supports TS 16–20 Weakened roof trusses due to burn-through of key members Weakened roof trusses due to burn-through of key members Mortar in wall joints opened because of excessive heat Mortar in wall joints opened because of excessive heat Wall ties holding veneer walls melted from heat Wall ties holding veneer walls melted from heat

28. INDICATORS OF HIDDEN FIRES Sight Sight  Discoloration of materials  Peeling paint  Smoke emissions from cracks  Cracked plaster  Rippled wallpaper  Burned areas TS 16–21 Touch — Touch — Feel walls and floors for heat with the back of the hand Sound Sound  Popping or cracking of fire burning  Hissing of steam

30. CHECKING FOR & EXTINGUISHING FIRE EXTENSION If floor beams are burned at their ends where they enter a party wall— If floor beams are burned at their ends where they enter a party wall—  Flush with water.  Check far side of wall and extinguish as necessary.  Remove, check, and extinguish insulation materials. If fire has burned around doors and windows, open door and window casings and extinguish fires. If fire has burned around doors and windows, open door and window casings and extinguish fires. TS 16–22a

31. CHECKING FOR & EXTINGUISHING FIRE EXTENSION (cont.) If fire has burned around a combustible roof or cornice, open the cornice and inspect for hidden fires. If fire has burned around a combustible roof or cornice, open the cornice and inspect for hidden fires. If sensory or electronic sensor indicates, remove materials and extinguish hidden fires in concealed spaces below floors, above ceilings, or within walls. If sensory or electronic sensor indicates, remove materials and extinguish hidden fires in concealed spaces below floors, above ceilings, or within walls. TS 16–22b

34. REMOVING DEBRIS & WATER Use carryalls (debris bags) to remove debris. Use carryalls (debris bags) to remove debris.  To catch falling debris  To provide a water basin for immersing small burning objects Use water vacuums, scoops, shovels, mop wringers and buckets, submersible pumps to remove water. Use water vacuums, scoops, shovels, mop wringers and buckets, submersible pumps to remove water. TS 16–23

36. FIREFIGHTER’S RESPONSIBILITY IN PROTECTING EVIDENCE The fire chief has the legal responsibility within most jurisdictions for determining the cause of a fire. The fire chief has the legal responsibility within most jurisdictions for determining the cause of a fire. Questions first-arriving firefighters should ask: Questions first-arriving firefighters should ask:  Are room contents as they normally would be? Are rooms either ransacked or unusually bare?  Are doors and windows locked or open? Is there evidence of forced entry prior to arrival of firefighters?  Are there indications of unusual fire behavior or more than one area of origin?  Are vehicles or people present in the area? TS 16–24

37. WHO MAY INVESTIGATE? TS 16–25 Fire Department Personnel (Chief – Deputy – FPO) Office of the Fire Marshall OPP Private Company Insurance Agency

38. ROLE OF THE INVESTIGATOR IN FIRE CAUSE DETERMINATION TS 16–26 Carrying fire cause investigations beyond the level of the fire company Carrying fire cause investigations beyond the level of the fire company Questioning firefighters, if necessary Questioning firefighters, if necessary

39. OBSERVATIONS EN ROUTE Time of day Time of day Weather and natural hazards Weather and natural hazards Man-made barriers Man-made barriers People leaving the scene People leaving the scene TS 16–27

40. OBSERVATIONS UPON ARRIVAL Time of arrival and extent of fire Time of arrival and extent of fire Wind direction and velocity Wind direction and velocity Doors or windows locked or unlocked Doors or windows locked or unlocked Location of the fire Location of the fire Containers or cans Containers or cans Burglary tools Burglary tools Familiar faces Familiar faces TS 16–28

41. OBSERVATIONS DURING FIRE FIGHTING Location of fire Location of fire Unusual odors Unusual odors Abnormal fire behavior Abnormal fire behavior Obstacles hindering fire fighting Obstacles hindering fire fighting Incendiary devices Incendiary devices Trailers Trailers Structural alterations Structural alterations Fire patterns Fire patterns Heat intensity Heat intensity TS 16–29 Availability of documents Availability of documents Fire detection and protection systems Fire detection and protection systems Intrusion alarms Intrusion alarms Personal possessions Personal possessions Household items Household items Equipment or inventory Equipment or inventory Business records Business records

42. FIREFIGHTER RESPONSIBILITIES AFTER THE FIRE Report observations to officer in charge. Report observations to officer in charge. Write chronological account of circumstances personally observed if fire is of suspicious origin. Write chronological account of circumstances personally observed if fire is of suspicious origin. Do not complete salvage and overhaul until the area of origin and cause have been determined. Do not complete salvage and overhaul until the area of origin and cause have been determined.  Do not move debris  Do not throw debris outside in piles Remain watchful for further evidence. Remain watchful for further evidence. TS 16–30

43. FIREFIGHTER CONDUCT & STATEMENTS AT THE SCENE Never make statements of accusation, personal opinion, or probable cause to anyone. Never make statements of accusation, personal opinion, or probable cause to anyone. Make statements only to the fire investigator. Make statements only to the fire investigator. TS 16–31

44. GUIDELINES FOR PROTECTING & PRESERVING EVIDENCE Do not gather or handle evidence unless absolutely necessary in order to preserve it. Do not gather or handle evidence unless absolutely necessary in order to preserve it. Do not change evidence in any way other than those absolutely necessary in the extinguishment of the fire. Do not change evidence in any way other than those absolutely necessary in the extinguishment of the fire. Avoid trampling over possible evidence; preserve footprints and tire marks under cardboard boxes. Avoid trampling over possible evidence; preserve footprints and tire marks under cardboard boxes. Close dampers and other openings to preserve partially or completely burned papers found in a stove, furnace, or fireplace. Close dampers and other openings to preserve partially or completely burned papers found in a stove, furnace, or fireplace. TS 16–32a

45. GUIDELINES FOR PROTECTING & PRESERVING EVIDENCE (cont.) Leave charred documents found in containers such as wastebaskets, small file cabinets, and binders that can be moved easily; keep these items away from drafts. Leave charred documents found in containers such as wastebaskets, small file cabinets, and binders that can be moved easily; keep these items away from drafts. Do not permit changes in the evidence of any kind unless absolutely necessary in the extinguishment of the fire. Do not permit changes in the evidence of any kind unless absolutely necessary in the extinguishment of the fire. Remove debris only after all evidence has been properly collected by an investigator. Remove debris only after all evidence has been properly collected by an investigator. TS 16–32b