High Rise buildings have Standpipe connections for delivering water on the Fire Floor. Thanks to Rescue Air, we now have air on the fire floor. All HROC Attendees that take part in a demo will receive a signed copy of the Paul Combs calendar. Rescue Air will have the HR Air Supply system on display in the big room.

Click here for the Brochure: HROC_Program 2017

Name Tags and Certificates being printed this week. Only 72 Hours left to Register for HROC 2017.  Those registered can pick up name tag and wristband once they arrive

http://www.cvent.com/m-events/Info/Summary?e=acdee956-4b7d-4514-806d-5721b8c8ea27&fqp=true

Track 5 on Day 3 of HROC

INSTRUCTOR: Dennis Legear

“No Gear” Lecture

From the ULFRI stream studies impact on nozzle and stream selection to the Big Four of handline attack package design. What is possible in your SP systems?
Class description:

This will as handline focused class that will start with a update of the current on going Interior Stream Study at the ULFRSI, which is now in its final drafting stage. Followed by a discussion of the big four of handline attack package design:

Nozzle Design and implications: NP, Weight, Stream Type, Reaction Force, Stream Velocity, Selecting Target flow
Hose Construction and implication: Materials, Weaving, Construction Type, Inspection both annual and after every use.
Hose size and implication: Target flows and tube velocity the things you need to know before buying hose hydraulically.
Pump Panel Outlet implications: Design, errors, plumbing, pick up placement, foam loop complications and flow meters.
Finally a detailed look at SP and handline hose, what you can get away with, why and the need for a jurisdictional approach. For example when will 2-inch hose work on a 250@65psi PRV and why.

Below is a link to 2016 Agenda. Times and locations are the same. Will be real close to this for 2017.

Check in all day Monday December 11 at the Hilton

Lecture 8-5 in Big Room on Tuesday December 12

Lecture 8-5 in Big Room on Wednesday December 13.

Hands On Track Thursday 8-5 and you will select your Track once you arrive.

The 16 Hour Machinery Rescue Class will be totally separate and held next door to the Hilton on the 2nd Floor of the Holiday Inn on December 12 & 13. You will be able to take Heavy Rescue  /Extrication On Day 3 or select another track. We have two school buses and everything Extrication for this track. You will be provided bus transportation to a junkyard.

We will be in the lobby and on the 1st Floor of the Hilton Monday December 11 to answer any and all questions. We recommend you arrive early Monday to assist in getting the track selection you want. There will be FREE BEER at the Hilton Bar Monday and we have set up Monday Night Football at a Soorts Bar across the street to kickoff this years HROC.

LINK TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HROC AGENDA

Click to access hroc_program-2016.pdf

you can always comment below with any questions.

Lead Instructor Ray McCormack

Bob Morris “FDNY Retired Captain R1”

Mike Ciampo “FDNY LT Tower Ladder 45”

Jim Smith “Squad 41”

Matt Quin “FDNY Lt 69 Engine”

This HOT class will consist of tactics created and used by the largest fire department in the country. Join with FDNY members and other instructors to learn and refine your High Rise operations. Class segments include preforming a 14 story exterior hose stretch, using the floor below nozzle, stretching and flowing 2 1/2″ hoselines, battling building facade fires, constructing and deploying NY standpipe packs. You will be introduced to state of the art tools such as newly designed
hoselines, nozzle tips, pressure gauges, window curtains and more. Learn the stretching concerns of using different stairways on attack and evacuation decisions. Both search and forcible entry will be covered to complete the attack training package. This class sold out last year, don’t miss it this year.

THIS TRACK DOES NOT REQUIRE GEAR. This is for anyone that wants to expand their knowledge of High Rise Firefighting by listening/learning from someone that has been from the street to the Fire Floor of a working High Rise Fire. This class will send you home more prepared for a High Rise Fire.

Gerald A. Tracy​​Battalion Commander (ret) FDNY
Welcome to the Ivy League

​​
​Houston Texas 1950’s​​​​​Houston Texas 2014
If you were to view side by side photos of many cities throughout the US from 50 years ago to present you would be astounded. For many cities the cropping of what was considered high rise buildings was sparse. There were a handful of heavy weight structures, built with large steel columns, beams and thick cement floors. The floor areas were more compartmentalized into small areas less than 7500 square feet with windows that were capable of being open for the comfort of the inhabitants. The 1960’s and 70’s brought forth something entirely new for the fire service to experience fire and how it would behave in a high rise structure. We would now experience large areas of fire that would be more than the flows of 2½” hose lines could manage until the fuel loading lessened in time from burning. In that time smoke would become a major issue sometimes throughout the building. That fact necessitated searching areas of the building that smoke is expected to accumulate and become areas dangerous to sustaining life. You would not expect the entire building to be vacant with cleaning crews, computer rooms and the like to have people on duty late into the night. Well again welcome to the Ivy League, you’re not fighting fire in a private dwelling, apartment house or strip mall. Now we are challenged to access fires at times well above street level, beyond the reach of our tallest ladder trucks. We must rely solely on the features of the building itself to gain access and egress, water supply and trust that the structural elements of the building will maintain their integrity for the duration of our operations. The multitude of tasks to be undertaken requires staffing that only the largest departments in the US could marshal.
Today in this century many cities throughout the US have become meccas of high rise and fire departments have adapted with policies and procedures in response to fires and emergencies in these type structures. The staffing of response may be less than that of the largest cities, and that poses a risk should they encounter a fire of any significance. The departments will be compelled to have units from suburban areas of the city respond if not mutual aid from adjoining departments. Now we have units and members that are not certified in the Ivy League. These units will not be accustomed to a labyrinth of hallways, isles and short wall work stations. Most certainly they may not be familiar and proficient operating hose lines from standpipe water supplies. They may not have had the experience to search these type surroundings to understand the challenge, tools and equipment required and how much they could accomplish before they are low on air.
These issues are effecting departments throughout the US and the challenge is profound. Yes these outlying units can be brought into the downtown areas for training but that will be infrequent and difficult to have all shifts trained at optimal performance levels. Unless you have the opportunity to perform a task repetitively you will not become proficient. I am not suggesting perfection just competent. Another fact to ponder is that these units may not have experienced multi-unit operations on the same radio channel where radio discipline is mandatory for the overall efficiency of the operation and life safety of a firefighter in distress. The decree to this quandary is training and more training.
Where do we start and what are the priorities? The fire “service” of today is much more than structural firefighting. The majority of fire departments now provide basic life support as first responders, requiring proficiency in BLS. We are now called upon for every type of emergency imaginable, from accumulations of carbon monoxide (CO), natural gas leaks, spills and leaks of hazardous substances, building and trench collapse, high angle, swift water rescue and most commonly motor vehicle accidents (MVA).
The obvious conclusion would be that the department and members alike would concentrate their training to become proficient on those duties and tasks called upon most frequently. Training on other obligations would become subordinate. When you look at and read the statistics of firefighter death and injuries you will note that a great percentage of our firefighters (58% as per the stats of 2013) are killed on the fireground! My contention is not that the fire service is deficient to train but we have not attempted to amalgamate modules of training that are appropriate in many situations to make use of the limited time available for training.
I would like to focus on the training that the units residing in the suburbs need over that which is divergent to their most common responses. I will also take the opportunity to now mention a new phenomenon and fact that low and mid-rise office buildings are being developed and constructed throughout the US just outside the downtown areas of most cities. They do not have the height of a high rise, but they may have the same floor area and features that of a high rise. They will have elevators, HVAC either single zone or separate zone for each floor. Standpipes may be present if the building exceeds a specific height from street level at the front of the building to roof. Standpipes would be required in low rise if the square footage of the building was so large that it would be impracticable to stretch from an apparatus. (Rule of thumb) So now we can add these type buildings to those with infrequent response for structural fires and limited experience of operations. A department may have a policy of procedures for these type structures but what may happen come the day of an actual fire, these suburban units may fall back on the actions and procedures that are most comfortable with and that might be a mistake.
When I begin the process of building any type of program related to fire service training I begin the thought process as if the program launched with the receipt of an alarm and that begins with being prepared beforehand. My reasoning is that it is important for the student to instill the disciplines of thought needed to process throughout (ongoing) the alarm response. The thought process becomes second nature like riding a bicycle and eventually becomes a discipline.
So where would we begin with the focus for training our suburban field units for structural firefighting that would include low rise structures.
• District Familiarization.
I would emphasize the importance of becoming familiar with your immediate response district and those adjoining where you may be called upon to assist. Regarding your immediate district pre-planning is a must. If your response area is predominately private dwellings you would not pre-plan each individual building but you would have a plan of action. We would understand the life hazard associated with PD’s, fire behavior to expect and what compromise and collapse could be expected in the different types of construction.
• Water Supply.
The next most important fact of information in the equation of preparedness is the water supply availability around the district and the oddities. The oddities would be anything other than a water main on a grid capable of supplying >1000-2000 gpm, which may include dead end mains, looped mains, and limited supply because of size, condition or lack thereof. I would suggest a training program that not only addresses alternatives of setting up a primary and secondary water supply for short distance as well as long distance. You have to include scenarios of addressing and correcting water problems, loss of water, pumper malfunction, low pressures, burst lines, etc. it’s difficult to garner creative thought in the midst of chaos.
This program should also include not only supply but what you will be supplying; hose lines, foam lines, FDC’s for sprinkler and standpipe systems and finally master streams. Every one of these scenarios would have a water supply problem to overcome and what actions or operations need to be readjusted during that period of interruption. Standpipe operations are not common for units located in the suburbs so they must have an understanding of the systems. If a building is equipped with a standpipe the reason is obvious and units should be prepared to launch a strategy utilizing these systems ASAP.
Every firefighter regardless of assignment, engine, truck or special unit should have this training, because it is imperative to understand the concept of water supply, delivery and resolution to problems so that anyone can be called upon to perform the tasks required. Quick water on the fire is Key in controlling fires, as they say “as the first line goes, so goes the fire.” Beyond PD’s pre-plans are appropriate for other types of buildings, high rise, low rise, large shopping malls, big box retail or distribution structures, apartment complexes and the list goes on. The plans of operation (SOP’s/SOG’s) are not the same for all building and occupancy types. A hand stretch from the apparatus is appropriate for PD’s but not for buildings with standpipes. There are exceptions, even the FDNY will acknowledge for below level and lower floor fires, e.g. first or second floors, a hand stretch may be acceptable. The hand line of choice would still be the 2½” hose. The FDNY would stretch from a static hose bed and not from a pre-connected bed with limited lengths of hose.
• Communications and radio discipline.
Communications on the fireground is vital for the overall efficiency and coordination of operations, and firefighter safety. There will be those instances where numerous units and individual members equipped with radio communications are operating and the channel becomes overwhelmed with talk. Other than establishing multi-unit drills it’s difficult to stage this type a training exercise. The focus of training in communications and radio disciple needs to begin with the integration and the use of common terminology, to describe conditions, places and things occurring on the fireground. Plain language can become misinterpreted in vital situations wasting time in deployment to immediate emergency situations. Taking a moment to think and compose your message will expedite the transmission. In that moment listen for announcements currently being broadcast, so as not to step on others transmitting. This is vital during crisis situations, e.g. loss of water, firefighter missing, disoriented or trapped, flashover and catastrophic collapse. Practice changing channels when the need calls for a separate channel to be created either to continue ongoing fire operations or the establishment of a special branch of operations. Have a policy in place that will expedite accountability of personnel when a Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) is requested.
• Ladder company duties.
Not everyone wants to be a Truckee nor do they fully understand the purpose and function of Truck duties and responsibilities. The duties are more than search and rescue and can be expounded upon aside of acronyms e.g. LOVERS U – L- Ladders O- Overhaul V- Ventilation E-Forcible Entry R- Rescue and Search S- Salvage U- Utilities. This acronym does not emphasize the most profound function of assisting the Engine in its attack and extinguishment of the fire. Granted the Truck will perform all the duties of LOVERS U, but the facts are that if a Truck arrives simultaneously with the Engine they may provide the 360° size up, force entry and while searching for life they will determine the location of the fire and attempt to confine it (closing a door) awaiting the hose line. This information will be transmitted to all and most specifically to the Incident Commander (IC) and Engine officer leading the attack. Because of limited staffing Truckies may also assist with the advancement of the line or by removing kinks. Coordinating ventilation on the fireground has been recognized by the fire service for many years now and with the most recent research conducted by NIST and UL there is greater comprehension. When encountering fires in high rise and low rise ventilation and smoke control is different from other structures. Horizontal ventilation is not initiated until the fire is controlled and conditions are in your favor. You would not vent windows subject to wind on that face of the building. Those decisions should be made by the officer in charge on the fire floor and with comprehensive intelligence both interior and exterior of the space. The venting of stairwells should also be delayed until an assessment is made to determine if the vertical draft created will impact the advance leading out of the attack stairwell. This is why these decisions are to be made by the IC. Many departments today are pressurizing stairwells with portable fans in an attempt to keep them smoke free during fire operations. There are high rise and low rise structures designed with interior atriums that have skylights above. Some codes allow these skylights to vent upon the activation of alarms and also require the atrium to be sprinkler protected. In the case of non-automatic venting of the skylight a halyard should be available at roof level to manually open the skylight. If that does not work, Truckies do have tools and they like to use them. Just give everyone else a heads up before you take out the glass, Lexan or whatever is being used for the passage of light.
These are but a few of the most profound subjects of training needed outside the urban areas of our cities. It is inevitable that they will be called upon for major fires in downtown high rise and alarms to low rise in their own districts. Our training should always incorporate a factor of worst case scenario to be ready for those situations.
Not everyone will agree with the priorities I have set and that’s ok we can debate the issues. Debate is good and it shows that you are a “Student of the Game” as declared by a great mentor and friend in this profession Bob Pressler.
Gerald Tracy retired as a battalion commander with the FDNY after more than 30 years of service. He developed numerous training programs for the FDNY, including programs for firefighters, company and chief officers. Tracy was the catalyst to research conducted by NIST, UL and NYU Polytechnic Institute on fire behavior and wind-driven fires. He served on the NFPA Project Technical Panel reviewing “Firefighting Tactics under Wind-Driven Conditions” and has authored numerous articles for trade publications. He was recently awarded the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award.

NON-STANDPIPE OPTIONS FOR EXTERIOR HALLWAY HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

Apartment buildings, condominiums and hotels in Southern Atlantic and Gulf Coast states commonly have exterior hallways, aka. “catwalks”. This gives firefighters the option of not using standpipes; which may be the best option, when a fire is on a lower floor and apparatus can get near the building. Consider that there are times when hoisting or lowering a hose line can be faster and more reliable than stretching from a standpipe. Also consider that standpipe components in exterior hallway buildings in coastal areas may be unreliable due to corrosion from exposure to salt air. This class was developed for firefighters in Southern states where exterior hallway residential buildings are common. It will examine conditions when not using a standpipe is indicated. It will also examine methods of lowering hose lines from upper floors to an apparatus or gated wye, hoisting hose with a rope and stretching through an adjoining apartment or hotel room. It is intended for firefighters and company officers.
BIO: Bill Gustin is a 40-year veteran of the Fire Service and a captain with the Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue Department. He began his fire service career in the Chicago area and conducts firefighting training programs in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. He is a contributing editor and an editorial advisory board member for Fire Engineering and an advisory board member for FDIC.
HIGH RISE FIRE OPERATIONS FOR FLORIDA, GULF COAST AND SOUTHERN ATLANTIC STATES
This class will the examine problems, strategic considerations and tactics for fighting fires in coastal “sunbelt” hotels, apartment buildings and condominiums including:
*How a large population of elderly residents make a protect in place strategy almost a necessity.
*How to implement a protect in place strategy.
*Why every priority is secondary to getting the first-attack hose line into operation.
*Problems presented and methods and techniques to penetrate laminated impact-resistant “hurricane” glass.
* How sprinklers and air conditioning in warm climates cause reverse stack effect and smoke stratification
*How to use the Florida “region “key for elevator firefighter’s service
The class will also examine the following topics:
*Hose line selection; conditions when a 1 3/4in. hose is appropriate and effective and conditions when there is no substitute for a 2 1/2in. hose
* A fool-proof method of determining the length of hose necessary to reach and penetrate the fire area.
*Determining the amount of firefighters necessary to advance a charged hose line and where to position them
* Methods for extending hose lines at the standpipe and at the nozzle

*Why door control is critical and how police or security personnel can ruin your day.
*Methods for improvising a “portable standpipe”
*Examining various hose bundles and how to deploy them.
* The purpose and function of pressure-reducing valves and why they may be a disaster waiting to happen.
*Why static pressure is meaningless when judging the effectiveness of a hose lines stream
*Differences in commercial and residential high rise buildings
*”Forcible exit” from elevators
*Sprinkler, standpipe and smoke control systems
*Case histories of high rise fires that resulted in civilian and firefighters line of duty deaths.

BIO: Bill Gustin is a 44-year veteran of the Fire Service and a captain with the Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue Department. He began his fire service career in the Chicago area and conducts firefighting training programs in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. He is a contributing editor and an editorial advisory board member for Fire Engineering and an advisory board member for FDIC.

Chief Dave McGrail with cover Leadership & Tactics to include some HR Operations.

Engine Company
Standpipe Operations
Hands on Training
HROC-2017

Presented by
Dave McGrail and Associates
McGrail Fire Ops

The engine company standpipe operation is arguably one of the most important functions the engine company will perform. There must be a pre-established standard operating procedure for this low frequency operation, and there must be an ongoing and continuous program of hands on training.

This hands on training program will give attendees a comprehensive understanding of the essential appliances, equipment, and tools necessary for successful standpipe operations. Coupled with the appropriate equipment, attendees will be given a solid foundation of operational procedures that can be utilized for their most frequently encountered fire attack situations in high-rise and other standpipe equipped buildings.

This hands on training program will include:

1. Standpipe Appliances / Equipment: All of the essential standpipe appliances and equipment and its application will be addressed, from the recommended nozzle to the standpipe inline pressure gauge.

2. Standpipe Hose Packs: The recommended size (2 1/2-inch) hose will be addressed, including the most efficient and effective methods, for assembling, storing, transporting, and deploying (stretching) the hose packs. Specifically, the “Denver Hose Pack / Denver Fold” will be taught, utilizing light weight, velcro hose pack straps.
3. Operating and Advancing 2 1/2-inch Hose: Attendees will learn the most efficient methods for handling and operating 2 1/2-inch hose. This will include proper nozzle operation, nozzle mechanics, backup man placement, dealing with friction points, and the use of “hit and move” tactics.

4. The “Apartment Stretch”: Attendees will learn the correct method to quickly and efficiently complete an “Apartment Stretch”, with minimal manpower. This stretch is designed for, and can be utilized for situations where we have control of the door to the fire area, and that door is closed, such as an apartment door in a multiple family dwelling building. This stretch involves stretching the hoseline dry, as far as it is safely possible, typically up to the point of entry to the fire area (closed and controlled door).

5. The “Stairwell Stretch”: Attendees will learn the correct method to quickly and efficiently complete a “Stairwell Stretch”, with minimal manpower. This stretch is designed for, and can be utilized for situations where we have heavy smoke / fire / heat (an IDLH atmosphere) immediately upon exiting the stairwell onto the fire floor; such as a well involved fire area in a commercial building, or heavy smoke / fire / heat in the public hallway of a multiple family dwelling.
Chief McGrail will also deliver a high energy Keynote on Day 1

“Yes, I’m into the job, and proud of it!”

He will cover what got him into HR Operations, where we’ve been and where we’re going.

Chief McGrail and Team will also cover in the big room on Day 2

“Anatomy of a High-Rise Fire Operation”
Strategic, Tactical, and Task Level