Northbrook house fire, 4-30-14 (more)

Images and a video from Larry Shapiro of the Northbrook house fire at 1434 Lori-Lyn Lane last night (4-30-14).

Wheeling firefighters stretching a supply line. Larry Shapiro photo

smoke and flames through the roof of a house

Fire venting through the roof just after interior companies are withdrawn. Larry Shapiro photo

The supply line for the tower ladder. Larry Shapiro photo

Heavy fire through the roof as they prepare to put the tower ladder to work. Larry Shapiro photo

A handline at work in the B Sector. Larry Shapiro photo

Horton Type I ambulance on a Freightliner chassis

Northbrook’s new Ambulance 10, a Freightliner/Horton. Larry Shapiro photo

Northbrook Tower 12 after nocking down the bulk of the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

fire trucks with hose off at fire scene at dusk

Wheeling Engine 42 dropped LDH to supply the tower ladder. Larry Shapiro photo

More images can be viewed at shapirophotography.net

Tags: ambulance on Freightliner M2 chassis, elevated master stream used to fight fire, fire scene photos, fire scene video, fire service video, fire through the roof of a house, Horton Type I ambulance, hour fire at 1434 Lori-Lyn Lane in Northbrook, house fire in Northbrook, Larry Shapiro, Northbrook Fire Department, Pierce fire trucks at fire scene

This entry was posted on May 1, 2014, 9:11 AM and is filed under Ambulance photos, Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Scene photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

5 Comments

#1 by T. B. on May 1, 2014 - 7:07 PM

Drew I’m sorry to use the old terms. Hahaha!!! I was taught back in the day, that interior was offensive and exterior was defensive. This did look like it could have been; advance an attack line to the second floor and have crews pulling the ceiling to get to the fire and put it out. No need to vent the roof since it had already vented itself. Like I said, just an observation from the pictures and video.
#2 by Drew Smith on May 1, 2014 - 2:49 PM

Jim, I have no idea what they may have tried. I do agree that the UL research indicates eave attack is an option to be considered
#3 by Jim on May 1, 2014 - 1:54 PM

Drew,

Do you know if they tried the eave attack on this fire? From watching the videos and listening to Steve Kerber talk about the research, it seems like they had the most luck with this type of attack on attic fires rather than attacking it through the vent hole. I think your article was spot on. Thanks.
#4 by Drew Smith on May 1, 2014 - 1:44 PM

I did not read anywhere that the exterior attack was defensive nor was I at the fire. It appears they decided the best point of vantage to put out the fire was from the exterior. I have written in Fire Engineering http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2014/03/are-you-listening-to-the-research.html and I have been preaching to our members that what makes an attack offensive or defensive is not the location from which the attack originates but rather whether or not your intention is to put out the fire or simply keep it from getting worse. I can tell you that from personal communication I have had with the Northbrook fire chief, deputy fire chief, and division chief of training that they embrace and are actively promoting a philosophy that their fireground tactics be adjusted to better react to the modern fire environment as presented in the UL and NIST research of the past few years.
#5 by T. B. on May 1, 2014 - 12:40 PM

I was not at this fire and I am basing my question solely on the pictures and video provided. Why was the fire attack changed from an offensive to defensive mode? It appeared to be an attic and roof fire. It had already vented itself and seemed pretty well contained to the central portion of the structure.