Porches provide a great tactical advantage. It allows the outside truck team to VentEnterSearch (VES) two rooms from one ladder and a stable platform. In addition if you do find a victim, it’s much easier to pull them onto the roof and wait for other assistance then to possibly take them down the ladder on your own. Porches however need to be “sized up” before operating on. How many people have built, or help build someone else’s porch? Amazing how many building construction experts we have when it’s someone else’s project. Ever heard the term “can’t see it from my house” when working on a brothers home? Exactly how many cold ones were consumed before the project was completed? All I’m saying is, if your entire operation is based on this “stable” platform, just give it a good once over before you operate on it. Personally I would love to have the staffing that is displayed in this picture. Looks like a six man outside truck team, with their own chief! Personally If I were to throw two ladders to the same porch I would place them on opposite ends. That way everyone isn’t piling up on each other if the time comes to un-ass that porch. Two ladders side by side may have been placed to facilitate carrying a victim down, but by the look of this picture, I doubt it. -Jimm-
Picture from www.firefighterclosecalls.com  
Is there a naked lady inside that window?? That should be the only reason so many are on that tiny roof!! A chief too. Seems like someone should be doing a little more supervising and a little less doing. On the plus side, there is a hoseline and it appears everyone has a tool (even the chief). Now, get to work and get the hell off that roof. Six FF’s and a chief, that constitutes a full first alarm for some small departments!
The Porch roofman. Notice I stated roof man not roofmen. The porch roof is best utilized as Jimm stated as stable platform for which we can place a ladder for Vent Enter and search of the bedrooms located off the porch. It’s no surprise to most that a majority of saves occur during Ves operations standing on the porch looking at naked ladies as Dave stated (he’s probably correct) is hardly VES. When operating as a porch roof man remember to always sound the floor prior to entry as many times you may find a stairwell waiting on the other side. Also remember our interior teams may not be able to locate interior access into these upper regions as experienced by me on a fire which the interior doorway had been dry-walled over and heavy smoke conditions (need for appropriate Ventilation). This can come as a big surprise as well as deadly situation if fire conditions deteriorate rapidly. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy we have ten guys when we need two or two when we need ten. Jeff Ponds
This shows again that we can all get tunnel vision. We have all done something foolish…and been lucky. This just proves the need for a safety officer…a real battle worn safety officer not a white shirt pencil equipped checklist type of guy.
WOW!!!!