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I was there that day, honoring yet another of my colleagues and friends who was taken from us. As became the norm, the brotherhood stepped up to the plate and did for us what we were unable to do for ourselves during that tragic time. As the anniversary rapidly approaches, let me say once again, THANK YOU to the Eastchester FD and to the countless others who showed our families and all of us in the FDNY that we were not forgotten, and that our sacrifice was not in vain. May the Lord protect all of you as you tend to the need of others. Stay Safe.

PPV is another tool in the toolbox for the IC. There are many advantages of using this tactic but you must know WHEN and you must know How to implement PPV. Departments in Europe and in other parts of the United States use PPV in the attack, or precontrol stage of the fire. Most of their SOPs are different from those we use in the northeast, their construction methods are different, and some are currently reviewing these procedures because of incidents similar to the one on the tape. The use of PPV in a precontrol stage should be extremely limited. As the video shows, if the fire is not completely knocked down, the introduction of air will simply accelerate the combustion process. The FDNY program limits the use of PPV in a precontrol stage exclusively to Fireproof Multiple Dwellings. The fans are set remote from the fire floor and the only objective they have is pressurization of the attack stairwell, replicating the automatic systems found in High Rise Commercial buildings. These units create a static pressure with little air flow. The intent is to gain control of the attack stair, create a clear operating platform, provide egress for occupants, and stop the flow of heat and gasses on the fire floor. The closest an FDNY fan will get to the fire floor is three floors below, and it is usually lower. The department in the video SOPs obviously put the fans a lot closer. As EFDCapt said, standard ventilation practices should not be ignored. We should never forsake the Bread and Butter operations for some fancy new gizmo. On the other hand, once the fire is under control, the use of PPV can be extremely advantageous. The old fashion way of taking a window and letting it lift should go the way of the back step. The toxins and carcinogens in today’s smoke are so nasty, we should work in clean environments as often as possible. We take bad enough feeds as it is. Taking unnecessary ones don’t make sense. The advantages of PPV over negative pressure are several. When using PPV, firefighters do not have to be in the contaminated area. Because you are not pulling smoke through the fan, the blades stay cleaner and the efficiency of the fan remains high. Also, you can use PPV from outside the building, thereby allowing you to use a gasoline powered fan which will move significantly more cubic feet per minute, increasing the overall efficiency of the operation. It is essential that the fire is under control prior to using the fans; the exhaust opening is large enough to vent the structure; and the wind speed and direction is evaluated and addressed. If you asked me ten years ago if I thought that PPV was worth looking into I would have laughed and said “Not in my lifetime” without thinking. The reality is however, over the years the dynamics of fire has changed, the methods of construction have changed, the toxicity of smoke has changed. If we in the fire service are unwilling to change, we are destined for failure. This is not to say that every innovation that comes along should be embraced, but it should be investigated, analyzed, evaluated, and if applicable, implemented in a way that your department gets the best advantage from the tool or procedure, and your members operate in a safer atmosphere. After all, that should be our ultimate goal, that everyone goes home. I apologize for the rambling but it is late. Just my opinion.

Stay Safe and Thank You!