Brennan Firepics Comments 17

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TOM BRENNAN has more than 35 years of fire service experience having responded to 33,000 fire alarms. His career spans more than 20 years with the Fire Department of New York as well as four years as chief of the Waterbury (Conn.) Fire Department. He has a bachelor of science degree, summa cum laude, John Jay College; Alumnus of the Year Award, John Jay College; chairman of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association and a charter member of the National Fire Protection Association, Fire Service Section. He has delivered courses and seminars throughout the United States and has instructed at the National Fire Academy. He was the editor of Fire Engineering Magazine for eight years, is currently a technical editor, and his column “Random Thoughts,” is a regular monthly feature. He is co-editor of The Fire Chief’s Handbook, Fifth Edition. He is the recipient of the 1998 Fire Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award.

MAN, O MANHOLE!

Here we have a collection of photographs of an emergency that most of us never think of as too dangerous or “non-fire related.” But is it either? Chief Corporandy’s team in San Francisco “caught” one of the rarest emergencies found in the non-snowbelt and caught it on tape too. The pictures of the explosion, sending covers high into the air, and then down onto exposures — some material (the store windows, cars, etc.). And some could have been human beings (firefighters too) standing complacently and idly gawking at the strange phenomena.

I remember a question in Nuggets a couple of years ago that asked for random ideas on just this sort of an emergency response. I think a little review may be in order. The question directed itself to removal of manhole covers that are under pressure from fire or gaseous elements escaping to the outer air. The answer at that time and the answer now is: You try to remove the cover one week after you retire from the department! That attempt at humor can be translated into a training statement, “Never remove a manhole cover!” They are only to be removed by responding utility personnel after their assessment. “Assessment of what?” you ask?

Let’s discuss what can happen at these emergencies and what the fire department’s role can be. The gas (smoke or other) under pressure beneath the street in the conduit or vault is caused usually by fire fueled by wire insulation. This is already toxic and flammable or explosive. The extremely highly heated wires and cables are spreading in condition to their service areas — the buildings.

The pressure is building to such an extent that these covers may “blow” as is the case in SFFD’s pictures here. My father-in-law told of one exploding in lower Manhattan in the “old days” and never being found.

So what then are urgent fire department operations?

Notify the utility through the dispatcher. In cooperation and communication with such agencies, perhaps an Urgency Color Code could be developed to relate the need for speed in Utility Expert response. Things like number of manholes involved, pressure releasing, fire issuance from the utility enclosure, communication probability to structure, flame communication to exposures, etc., will be taken into account. For example, code RED would indicate an emergency of such a magnitude that the utility must drop all outside operations and respond. (Yeah, and snow in July too.)
If you know what can happen, you can form an action plan. Engines prepare to stretch protective or precautionary handlines. Flame exposure control is one problem, and building interior extension is another. NEVER DIRECT A HOSE STREAM INTO A MANHOLE OR VAULT, unless ordered to do so by the utility supervisor after consulting with the incident commander.
Trucks are going to be very busy!
Set up a perimeter of safety beyond the furthest affected area or manhole. No one should enter.
All eyes should be on the exposures constantly. Monitor the enclosures issuing product for any movement, rattling, or lifting. You can see what it can do to the automobile.
Enter the nearest structures in order of proximity to the most severely exposed manhole or vault. Force entry, if necessary, and get to the front wall to check the incoming services. This location is usually at the ground level and found in basements and cellars. Evidence of heat, glowing wires or even active flaming can be found. At that point recommend to command (they don’t like to be told) that a handline be stretched to the location. YOUR HAND CONTACT IS NOT AN OPTION TO CHECK CONDITIONS!
Continue this check in buildings on both sides of the street in which an effected utility enclosure is located.
Services disrupted? How does that effect our operations, tactics, objectives, services and mission statement?

Electricity out? Elevators: where are they and where are the people that may be trapped? At night, what about assistance to any evacuation operations — lighting and ventilation and alternate means. HVAC systems will be shut down; hospitals may need emergency lighting to continue services and more.

Gas supply interrupted or effected? Shut down the meters. The problem here is masked over, and that is the pilot lights in every gas service appliance. All must be restarted by utility company personnel and remain a leak source until then.

I think that we will quit here and let you continue to create a training bulletin and an action guide and operation procedure for your company or department.

Simple manhole emergencies can often require mutual aid and second alarms to provide sufficient personnel and logistics to handle the probabilities and exposures that can rapidly develop during these “simple emergencies.”

Question for review: “Why did I say that this is one of the rarest emergencies found in the non-snow belts?”

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