Firefighter Engulfed In Fireball

[jklam3 10]

Maryland - A fire Wednesday at the Maxum Yachts boatbuilding shop just north of Salisbury, sent three firefighters to a hospital with burns on their faces and hands. The firefighters were injured when flames shot out of the building on Naylor Mill Road as they were gaining access, Salisbury Fire Chief David See said. A fireball shot from the structure about 9:30 a.m., briefly engulfing a firefighter who was on a platform.

http://www.firefightingnews.com/article.cfm?articleID=4088

Edited December 23, 2005 by jklam3

[BIGRED1 71]

OUCH!!!!

[firecapt32 282]

A lot can be said about a pic!!! take a look.

I wish them a full and speedy recovery,

Were they forcing the door?

Was there a protective line on place??

Did they have the right tools?

Were they some sort of haz-mat stuff there to cause the fire?

were they too complacent?

We can monday morning quarterback this pic all day.

but the main thing is all are ok and are home with their love ones and for that I am greatfull.

but guys look and learn

have a safe holiday

firecapt32

Edited December 23, 2005 by firecapt32

[JBE 328]

I think one lesson can be learned. Always wear your gear, including hood, gloves, and mask. That and when opening the door, BDFU!!!!

[Guest alsfirefighter]

I'm hoping that the SCBA sitting on the landing to the right of the firefighter not in the flame isn't his.

These are reminders that your tactics and thought processes must match the structure, its location and the environment. My thoughts of looking at that picture is that being they are in a boat yard, my guess is that there is some wind from being a wide open space and on water. Those flames are getting a great and forceful supply of air. Remember when forcing a door or opening it, you must be able to control it and you should remain low. Again not monday morning quarterbacking, just using the picture as a tool for training and thought process. For all we know he thought he had control and a gust of wind coming through the building pulled the door from him. Another key element in the rest of the story was the fire started on the east side of the building in a hopper containing saw dust. If that building was loaded with saw dust, you have fine combustible particles with high surface to mass ratio that can cause a a severe flash fire. Not to mention, that it makes me think if they are sanding wood there, there probably is also flammable solvents and laquers to make things worse.

I hope the brother is ok.

[IzzyEng4 427]

He ALS, you sure it's a pack, almost looks like a can, but still I agree with you and hope that isn't someones pack.

Speedy recovery to the firefighter. Too many close calls man, too many.

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Looks like a shoulder strap, the low pressure hose to lead to a face mounted regulator and the belt strap assembly to me.

On another note, the firefighter standing to the side also doesn't have his waist strap connected. Again, this is an important piece to the puzzle. It can get hung up or tangled, and if you go down FAST/RIT will be looking for that strap.

[Guest]

Looks like a shoulder strap, the low pressure hose to lead to a face mounted regulator and the belt strap assembly to me.

On another note, the firefighter standing to the side also doesn't have his waist strap connected. Again, this is an important piece to the puzzle.  It can get hung up or tangled, and if you go down FAST/RIT will be looking for that strap.

←

That looks like a pack and judging from the type of fire comming from around him it looks fairly clean as in no smoke from the structure as i can tell but it is hard to tell what type of operation they are in but regardless he should be wearing that pack on the ground it would appear that maybe the fire is catching some of the solvents ALS was taking about and if they are achohol based it would be a clean fire as opposed to another type of solvent

[Guest]

i have worked on fiberglass cars and boats and i know that stuff is extremely flamable in it's raw state. if that was a manufacturing plant thats going to be loaded with extremely flamable products paints, thinners,fabrics,wood, wood dust particals, fiberglass and fiberglass particals and being next to the water you will get a good wind wich adds more fuel to an extemely dangerous fire good advice is to always, always, always wear full protective gear complete w/ hood, gloves, strapped on helmet & a mask thats properly fitted to the firefighter, even on the small jobs. 2nd remain in control of the door when you open it, you may have to close it. 3rd make sure the line is in place and charged. if you are an ov team make sure you stand out of the way when you open the door, window ect. to the firefighters injured i hope you have a full recovery! but we need to learn from this so we can prevent further injuries hope to see the trainning video. and to all who read this have a safe and hapy new year!

Edited December 30, 2005 by mrbolz

[Pudge3311 5]

From Firehouse.com:

December 21, 2005 - At 9:17 am, Salisbury Station 2 was alerted for a automatic fire alarm activation at a local boat building facility.

Engine 1-1 arrived on location with light smoke showing from a sawdust collection hopper.

The crew of Engine 1-1 advanced an attack line to catwalk where the access panel was located. The crew opened the access door releasing light smoke and called for the line to be charged. The line was opened to wet down some of the smoldering sawdust when what is believed to be a dust explosion occurred.

The officer of Engine 1-1 was caught in the explosion causing burns to the face, head, and neck area. The other firefighter on the catwalk was able to escape injury.

The engineer of Engine 1-1 called dispatch and advised to strike a first alarm assignment they had a officer down. The crew then provided medical care while workers used a scissor jack lift to lower the injured officer to the ground.

Engine 16-1 arrived on location established a water source for Engine 1-1 and started to make access to the catwalk. Unknown to the crew of Engine 16-1 the method in which the injuries to the officer of Engine 1-1 were sustained.

Engine 16-1 had three firefighters of the catwalk when they opened the line again to wet the sawdust down. Again, a dust explosion occurred, enveloping two of the three members completely within the fire blast.

The two firefighters fell to the deck where they laid waiting to be evacuated from the catwalk. The crew of Truck 16, with assistance from the remaining crews of Engine 1-1 and Engine 16-1, removed the injured acting officer and firefighter of Engine 16-1 from the catwalk.

A ladder pipe was set up on Truck 16 and opened on the sawdust. Again, an explosion occurred but no firefighters were in harms way. Truck 16 then proceeded to flood the entire hopper with water.

The additional weight of the water caused some of the dusting inside the building to fall from the ceiling. The hopper was opened at the bottom to release all contents.

Crews cautiously approached the catwalk to wet down the hot spots with no incident.

Two of the injured firefighters were treated and released from Peninsula Regional Medical Center's Emergency Room. The third firefighter was treated and transferred in stable condition to a burn center in Baltimore for overnight observation.

Units responding were: E1-1, E16-1, E210, E1, TRK16, TRK74, R16, R74, AL2, PM2, PM16, PM16-1, PM16-2, AC1, DC1, DC2, Chief 1, and U16; and Multiple Moveups.

[Guest]

Photo credit: Delmarva 47 News (Freddie Mitchell)

[Guest]

Photos: WBOC Chopper 16, Salisbury, MD

Edited December 31, 2005 by hoss49

[Guest]

wider view

[Guest]

pudge & hoss excellent pics + info! can anybody explain the explossions or reaction to water?

[Ladder44 73]

OUCH!!!!

←

You can say that again and again and again.

[ny10570 745]

can anybody explain the explossions or reaction to water?

←

The area immediately infront of and around the collum of water comming from a hose carries alot of very turnulent air. That air actually strikes the saw dust first and ejects it into the air. This creates the conditions requires for the explosive ignition of the saw dust. Its the same forces that make hydraulic ventilation work. The two way I was tough to extinguish these types of fire are either with a very wide fog at very low pressure (almost like a sprinkler head) or with a large volume at low pressure (take the nozzle off and drop the line in the hopper).

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Excellent explanation 10570. When that line was opened, it probably stirred up a ton of sawdust and with the addition of that forced air, whoof. He is extremely lucky he's not dead, that is some serious fire he is engulfed in. And with reading the article it does appear he didn't have his SCBA donned.

[Guest ScubaJones 11-2-5]

Wear all your P.P.E.