Robbie Marsh from Montgomery County (MD) Takoma Park Station 2 sent in another interesting basement find. From the outside this part of the basement appears to have a typical basement style window. The window toward the A/B corner appears to have a common galvanized tub that surrounds the window since the ground is built up near that window. This situation is extremely common and not much of an issue.
However, the issue becomes apparent from the inside. The window is secured by a 2×4 frame, a welded metal frame, and a piece of scrap sheet metal. The 2×4 frame was secured directly into the block and the metal frame was secured to the 2×4’s. This assembly could more than likely be pried from the wall without too much of an issue. The sheet metal may be a bit more difficult, it was welded on top to a piece of pipe and secured directly into the sill at the bottom. This type of homebrew situation is certainly not impossible to defeat, but it may slow us down just enough to cause a problem. As we have seen through so many previous examples, some building owners go to great efforts to keep people out and never think of us during their “brainstorming” efforts. They get creative with their installations which just means we need to get even more creative with our methods to defeat them.
Good work young Marsh. Folks, this post is from one of the younger members at Takoma Park, and is a true reflection of the amount of preplanning and drilling the members of that company do. I have never been detailed into Eng2inE and not either gone to work or gotten on the street to stretch hose or walk buildings. Good Job Brother, way to represent.
Nice catch the kicker is that is an EGRESS WINDOW, LOL ya know to get out in case of fire!!! Unbelievable, is that area used for storage or is it a life safety area? Not that it matters, that has to be against some kind of code…
This room is used for a boiler room. Size is approx 15 x 10. The best part was that they went through all this trouble to “fortify” the window but the door was left unlocked. The room also had several breakers in it and the building had several other “home made” security devices on it but we could not gain access to those apartments to check it out.
I like the gas meter inside the building, thats uncommon in our area. Question about the window, could you tell it was like that fromt he outside or was it found during a walk thru.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3AMuA2A4nw
No you can not tell it is like that. Just like to open doors and see whats in them and thats what I found. The sheet metal blocks any view into the window and is not recognizable from the outside
It’s funny how we constantly run into new things. I am still a new guy in my crew(just under 8 yrs.) but never cease to be amazed at the weird stuff we find. On a routine inspection, we found a smallish solid masonry-constructed commercial occp. with the electric meter inside. The elecric meter was in a small closet with a locked door, separate from the main breaker. Now that should be easy to find in smoke charged situations. Maybe I can get back there and post a pic. Anyways, good find, keep up the good work.
DMAN72 – Before I opened that up I knew what that was going to be!!
It was a different one than before, but Im out! You can only find so many of those on youtube.
DMAN – This one is an instructional video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxlpxmxIeFg&feature=player_embedded
Lad,that is awesome! It should be noted that you must be careful with swinging your arms in that manner with a tool in your hand. It’s just unsafe. I hate to see people have to explain how they bludgeoned a fellow firefighter with a tool while donkey kicking a door to this mysterious “jury” that everyone always talks about.
ya but can she do it with both feet at the same time…..
Let me guess. 6801 Red top rd off of East West hgwy. Those people have always been creative with their basements. When i ran at 44 back in the 70’s we were always finding modifications like this. GOOD LOOKING OUT.