Posted: 11/27/2004 4:33:10 AM EDT
| Does anyone know if the 3/4 fire boots are still NFPA cert. ? |
| As a matter of fact, Chicago is the only major department in this country that is still doing things the old way. Several years ago FDNY replaced its old PPE with Morning Pride turnouts and watched their incidence of lower extremity burns drop almost off the charts. The danger of wearing only a long coat and 3/4 boots is overwhelming. Being steam burned is one thing, but the family jewels!!!!! Don't do it. They might be a nice collector's item, but not for actual use. |
The whole "family jewels" being burned uses modern FF techniques with old-school gear. Most of the stories are anectdotal and  .In the old days, we were taught to hit it from the door, then move in for mop-up. Nowdays, with everybody bundles up like the kid in a snowsuit, you can;t feel anything, so more often than not, you're on top of the fire before you find it. We also used more smooth bore / straight stream attack. When I first got in the biz, we were being taught to enter the room and fog it, in the interest of "property conservation". Talk about lobster! BTW, NFPA still regulates the construction and performance standards for firefighting boots (National Fire Protection Association 1971 Standard on Protective Ensemble for Structural Firefighting), no matter what the size, but I don't think that the standards include "day boots" (pull-ups, 3/4's) as part of the complete ensemble anymore. Edited to add: Check this out Boston Turnout Gear Study |
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I agree that most stories concerning the family jewels are just that: stories. I also agree that smooth bore vs. fog is the way to go for interior attack. I'm still waiting for my ears to heal from the last time I got lobstered. However, interior attack tactics have changed and modern PPE must be utilized to prevent injury. Fire loads are heavier due to synthetic material found in residential structures that produces a greater threat to our safety. I have a friend that used the old method of utilizing his ears to determine temperature and his proximity to the fire. Meaning: he typically didn't wear his hood. A few years back, his company made entry to an apartment just as the room flashed. Cosmetic surgery has done wonders but he still has only a stub for his left ear and heavy scarring around his neck at the hairline. Another friend that I went to fire school with would no doubt have received significant burns when the upstairs flashed on his company just as they reached the top landing. Thanks to his PPE, his only injury was to his back when he was thrown down the stairs and slammed into the wall at the bottom. Thanks for posting the turnout gear study. I look forward to reading it this weekend. Stay safe my brothers! E-95 |
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I guess in any number of training evolutions it's not really necessary to wear your standard PPE. I've just always been a follower of the "train as you fight, fight as you train" philosophy. However, remember that NFPA standards apply to the training ground as well as the fire scene. If injury occurs due to inappropriate PPE, insurance companies may refuse to pay not to mention it opens the door for civil liability. I'm not saying that may happen but anything is possible. Good luck and stay safe! E-95 |