Boston, 6 Alarm Fire Roxbury

[DWC295 70]

Boston responded to a 6 alarm fire early this morning. Multiple rescues, child dropped from window to FF. Fire was started as a possible suicide attempt. Article and video links.

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[efdcapt115 1,511]

Youtube credit: Blastmagazine

The first video gives a great view of the C or D side of the fire building, where it's apparent many of the ground ladder rescues took place, as the ladders are still placed. Also, check out the dimension of the building. It is immense in width/depth. Further observations; the building appears to be ordinary construction, that is masonry bearing walls with wood floor joists, interior structural members, and roof. BUT, check out how this side of the structure is four stories tall. For the benefit of some of our younger members with less experience who are eager to learn these things, notice this building is built on a grade where the A side is only three stories. The danger is this hypothetical; you enter the building through the A side (front door or window) and conduct a search through a smoke condition which worsens and forces you and your partner to evacuate through the C side (rear) windows. You assume you are on the ground level since you went in on that level and you didn't climb any stairs, so through dense smoke, you pop open a window in back and hoist yourself out expecting the ground to be beneath the window, but you drop from two stories up.......surprise. This is why it is always stressed so pointedly that commanders must get that 360 degree view walk-around or a firefighter describes it to the IC from the roof. Situations like this must be communicated asap by the IC to the members conducting interior searches/ or pushing in with the hand-line.

One last thing: Great job Boston!

Youtube credit: JesusRamos1687 View from the A side or front where the building is three stories tall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4NyiLGd798

[wraftery 1,275]

Youtube credit: Blastmagazine

The first video gives a great view of the C or D side of the fire building, where it's apparent many of the ground ladder rescues took place, as the ladders are still placed. Also, check out the dimension of the building. It is immense in width/depth. Further observations; the building appears to be ordinary construction, that is masonry bearing walls with wood floor joists, interior structural members, and roof. BUT, check out how this side of the structure is four stories tall. For the benefit of some of our younger members with less experience who are eager to learn these things, notice this building is built on a grade where the A side is only three stories. The danger is this hypothetical; you enter the building through the A side (front door or window) and conduct a search through a smoke condition which worsens and forces you and your partner to evacuate through the C side (rear) windows. You assume you are on the ground level since you went in on that level and you didn't climb any stairs, so through dense smoke, you pop open a window in back and hoist yourself out expecting the ground to be beneath the window, but you drop from two stories up.......surprise. This is why it is always stressed so pointedly that commanders must get that 360 degree view walk-around or a firefighter describes it to the IC from the roof. Situations like this must be communicated asap by the IC to the members conducting interior searches/ or pushing in with the hand-line.

One last thing: Great job Boston!

Youtube credit: JesusRamos1687 View from the A side or front where the building is three stories tall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4NyiLGd798

This row of apartments appears to be ordinary as reported above,, but New England is chock full of similar buildings that are of balloon frame construction. They are known as "Triple Deckers," (pronounced deck-aaahs) and usually don't abut eachother but are only separated by an alley that a tall guy can extend his arms and touch both buildings. The are often sided with asphalt shingles that we refer to as gasoline siding, and even when the building is upgraded to vinyl siding, the asphalt is underneath. They usually have a rear deck on all three floors, sometimes with wood stairs.

The buildings at this 6-alarmer probably had firewalls every so often. This era building usually has brick for firewalls, but the top of the wall doesn't go higher than the roof, and one can expect to find brick nogging which can often allow the fire th get through the wall.

Thanks for the post, Cap. I would guess you climbed a tall tree there in the Florida Keys, thus getting an unobstructed view of Boston.

Thanks for the inof, DWC295

Edited October 18, 2011 by wraftery