This from Eric Haak:
Here are some images of a working fire in Gary, Indiana on Saturday (7/25) afternoon. The still came in around 1:45 pm and was out in ten minutes. The image of Truck 1 was taken exactly 10 minutes after Engine 4 (marked 5) landed.
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
#1 by G-man on August 5, 2015 - 12:05 PM
Are you kidding me, “Great Action Shots!” The only Great Action Shots here are, what not to do!
#2 by ,Mike in Ca. on July 29, 2015 - 11:53 AM
Hi
Yes, very good sequence of photos.
Why is one firefighter kneeling in the doorway/ flow path without his helmet on?
Donning should be done,outside of that area.
Smoke exposure/ cancer
Yes, this Now being talked about almost daily now, but the IAFF conducted studies on this topic more than 30 years ago.
Back then a lot of firefighters suffering from cancer were those who worked on Fireboats. The reason being, burning creosote soaked piers.
The “extarpolaiton” is hydrocarbons used in making creosote are similar to current hose hold furnishings.
But….as I pointed out at a session at FDIC, 2015, we wear all our PPE and SCBA on a structure fire.
If you responded to vegetation/ brush/ grass/woods fires, everything changes.
We Don’t wear SCBA, but are still exposed to the same carcinogens .
#3 by Wendell Harris on July 27, 2015 - 10:10 PM
Eric, right now Fire Station 8 is scheduled to go down for repairs/rehab and the crew will move to Station 9, what has not been determined if Engine 9 will go back to it’s home. To the best of my knowlegde Engine 3 is assigned to Station 12 right now it’s down for repairs, now Engine 2 is going back to Ferrara for a complete refurb. Out of six Ferrara Inferno’s that were purchased in 2000 Engine Company 8 has been the only company to hold on to their rig. Tower 7 is at Ferrara for a complete rebuild (Due back in Dec.?) and a couple of engines (Infernos) are in the process of being worked in to the Ferrara Refurbishing Shop schedule for refurb. Right now our Fire Apparatus situation can be described as fluid always changing.
#4 by Roger Mason on July 27, 2015 - 9:31 PM
I think the real deal is we are all a large fraternity and we all care about the health of our fellow brothers and sisters. The fires we are fighting are hotter, faster, and far more dangerous than in years past. Lower cost construction increases the risk of collapse and we all of the cheap stuff manufactured overseas that people buy, the fuel loads are rich with hydrocarbons leading to hotter, faster fires.
Most importantly recent studies are showing the Hydrogen Cyanide gas is still present at alarm levels (50 ppm) up to 10 feet from the structure up to 24 hours after the fire has been put out. By far not a lethal dose but over time with repeated exposures (someone mentioned running more calls than anyone) this posses a risk.
Hopefully this provides some insight, I do not want to argue who is better and crap like that, But I want to give something to think about that may prevent something bad happening.
#5 by Erik H on July 27, 2015 - 9:10 PM
Wendell, thanks for that info. When station 9 re-opens will they get that Ferrara back? Are stations 4 and 12 still assigned the Ferrara ex-engines 2 and 3?
#6 by Wendell Harris on July 27, 2015 - 5:58 PM
Eric, your shots were good and it tells the story of this fire. Actually Gary Engine 5 that is pictured here is actually a Department Spare from the shops and was running out of Station 12. The Ferrara marked Engine 9 has been running as Engine 4 since Station 9 was closed. Gary Fire Station 9 is slated to be reopened sometime next month and Prompt Ambulance has moved out.
As the comments shows this is not the Fire Service we come to know over the last 30 years with building construction and materials changing we are faced with more hazards from the buildings that we have go into. The average firefighter who retires now if you make 5 years without being diagnosed with cancer you’re doing pretty good but not out of the woods yet.
#7 by Drew Smith on July 27, 2015 - 12:48 PM
Specific incidents aside, the fire service needs to do better as a whole when it comes to using SCBA and cleaning our self ASAP. Many firefighters I know who have survived cancer point to specific acts of theirs that they believe contributed to or caused their cancer: Breathing smoke at any time; Breathing particles in very light or intermittent smoke; Car fires and dumpster fires. Soot on your face; Soot on your hands that you then rub on your face. Hoods that hand around your neck covered with soot. And soot has bad things in it. Look, I’m far from perfect. I forget to meter spaces for CO and HCN before telling guys it’s ok to take off masks. But I keep trying.
Some guys will tell you it’s harder or a safety issue to wear a pack in certain situations. Ok, but there are plenty of other places around the country that don’t share that view and seem to operate with a mask on in those same situations. In the mid 80s exam gloves were mandated due to bloodborne pathogens. Guys said they couldn’t do their job with them on. Now no one dares not use them and the job gets done well. It’s about change.
Years ago a guy in Phoenix AZ went through a roof, it was captured on video. He had his mask on. What would the outcome have been otherwise, cancer aside.
Wash your PPE after every fire. At the least hose it down. Don’t carry it in the cab if it’s not washed. Carry some baby wipes and swab off your face ASAP then shower once back. Wash your hood too (easier to do than the whole set of gear). Most of all take care of yourself. Once the fire’s out we’ve got time to slow down and do it right and safer.
We should also do all we can to reduce our exposure to carcinogens. Guys get upset if the vehicle exhaust system isn’t used or doesn’t work but guys don’t have the same emotions to the byproducts of a fire (which is combustion just like a diesel engine)? Also, we have cancer presumption laws. Others fought hard for us to have this protection yet indifference to carcinogens will give our foes the ammunition they need to take away these benefits. We can do better. We just need to make the commitment.
#8 by Eric Haak on July 27, 2015 - 8:15 AM
0.03 I agree with you as well. I just don’t like it when we call out one guy in a photograph where you can’t tell the whole story. If you want to call out an entire department for their lack of policy, feel free, however, when it is one guy and you don’t know the whole situation, keep it to yourself. Sharing fire scene images is something that is useful to the entire fire service in my opinion. Of coarse there are many who would disagree and wish the camera’s would just go away. But when we begin to criticize everything we “think” we understand in an image, that puts everyone on edge when a camera comes out. As a photographer, I certainly don’t want anyone cringing when I show up. I believe it is good for most to enjoy seeing other departments at work and individuals to see themselves at work as well. The photography is not meant to be a “gotcha” moment.
#9 by 0.03 on July 27, 2015 - 1:59 PM
Eric I never called anyone out and the guy that said something so be it. Respect his opinion as he respects yours and let’s move on. We can all Monday morning quarterback stuff all day. They should have used a 2 1/2 instead of 1 3/4, blah blah. Like you said we were not there and if you we’re unless you’re that person we have no idea what is going through the mind at that time.
#10 by Eric Haak on July 27, 2015 - 6:26 AM
0.03 – By those standards, then everyone on fireground should be masked up at all times. I can recall countless incidents where an engineer was over a block from the fire building and the wind shifts. Now he is surrounded by smoke with no choice but to breath it. RIT teams need to be standing around breathing tank air too because those fires where there is nothing but low hanging smoke surrounding the incident. And don’t forget stand-by EMS. They need packs too. We need to have an air mask rig respond to every incident so we can continuously change out bottles. My point is that there has to be a line. The firefighter in question was at the door the entire time and was not interior. All three images show him at the door tossing out overhauled portions of the kitchen. One image showing him removing siding. Did he breath residual smoke? Probably, but tough not to if you are anywhere on fireground.
#11 by 0.03 on July 27, 2015 - 6:52 AM
I understand your perspective and I am not trying to argue with you or Monday morning quarterback. I never said anything negative about the guys in the picture. I was just saying the studies are out there and we should listen to them so that our guys will have a better quality of life later. Guys know how bad the environment is and if they choose to not wear air then that is their choice. They are the ones running the higher chance of COPD and cancer later on in life. You do bring up a valid point about what exactly is the hot zone regarding outside operations and how sometimes you’re there no matter where you are. As for the CFD comment if I didn’t have to wear a pack on the roof I wouldn’t either. It’s useless unless you’re breathing on it and it is restrictive when trying to open a roof. Josh get some real time on the job. Your dads time and the time you’re fanning doesn’t count.
#12 by Josh on July 26, 2015 - 10:51 PM
I love how everyone jumps right on and starts criticizing fires….keep your thoughts to your self. I’m sick of “the armchair quarterbacks” complaining of why, “Chicago guys don’t wear packs on roofs,” and why “guys don’t wear their packs during over haul.” These guys go to more fires than you guys can even think of.
#13 by Eric Haak on July 26, 2015 - 8:51 PM
I see one ff working outside of the structure without a pack and after the fire was out. Everyone else other than the engineer is masked up. Don’t know what the armchair safety officers are talking about here. In 200+ fires I have photographed, I have yet to see any ff doing overhaul masked up after the fire was out.
#14 by 0.03 on July 26, 2015 - 9:55 PM
That is the point I think the guy is getting at. We all know that the overhaul stage is the worst part of the fire because it’s not burning anymore so it doesn’t burn off a lot of the carcinogens. Meaning you’re breathing all that crap and if the equipment it there to make it so the guys have less of a risk of getting cancer why not use it. I think that’s all that is being said. Enjoy life, you only get one of them.
#15 by bob parry on July 26, 2015 - 8:42 PM
Was your name Jim ” Sidewalk FF” Goode?
#16 by Roger Mason on July 26, 2015 - 8:06 PM
You guys should revisit your safety plan. Cancer is a terrible thing. Why are your members and officers allowing this type of behavior? It isn’t the 1980’s anymore. Please be safe and work at putting an effective safety plan together. As an officer, I do not want to lose anyone in a fire, I would not be able to live with myself. I would feel the same knowing that 30 years later, that I did
#17 by jim Goode on July 26, 2015 - 4:38 PM
Whats the deal with not wearing airpacks. I survived twenty five years in the fire service and have been able to enjoy retirement for fifteen years. As far as I know I am still petty healthy.
#18 by Erik H on July 26, 2015 - 4:18 PM
Great action shots Eric. There aren’t too many 25 year old rigs left running in Gary. That Pierce Arrow must be one of the last. That Ferrera marked as Engine 9 is running for another company too. That station closed/ was reassigned to Prompt ambulance.