Main Hazards For Fire Firefighters With Gable Roofs

From the top down fires ignite under wood roofs by means common to any structure fire.

Main hazards for fire firefighters with gable roofs.

The larger problem with wood roofs is that fire can ignite due to embers or brands. Mansard roofs wrap around exterior division walls allowing fire to spread in the cockloft. Also the hole size depth and location can also lead to premature collapse. Firefighters operating on the roof will add to the live load of the roof.

A common roof style is the saltbox or catslide depending on your region which poses a significant upper floor fire spread potential via the roof soffit. If you enter a building like this with heavy fire then it is as important to get water above you on the roof members from the inside as it is to get water at the seat of the fire. The roof team can report rapid fire smoke changes victims at windows side c property hazards and changes in elevation between side a and c the members operating on the roof should read. In addition some lesser known hazards are pocket doors window transoms laundry chutes tin ceilings metal roofs and combustible varnished wall coverings.

A very dangerous style of roof for firefighters responding to fires is the mansard style roof. A firefighters own worst enemy. Due to the fire hazards these roofs present some municipalities have banned wood shingle roofs while others have gone so far as to require the complete removal of the roofs. Pitched roof ventilation can be one of the most hazards operations on the fireground yet it is one of the most important assignments.

The void space created by a bowstring truss can allow heat smoke and fire conditions to go undetected causing a false sense of security for firefighters operating beneath it.