So you’re performing a search, it’s dark, it’s hot, and you’re getting a little concerned… You ask yourself; how far away am I from finding another way out of this place… You sweep up with your hand, or scan over with the TIC and locate a window… you breath a slight sigh of relief knowing that at least you have that going for you…
John Occhipinti Village of Hempstead Fire sent in these pictures from his downtown area. This occupancy looked like the second picture for well over twenty years.
 
The second floor was more than likely converted (covered) like this and used for storage, and maybe some office space for the business. If you look close some of the windows do have plywood covering them from the inside. No harm, no foul, with the plywood in place we would have never even known the windows were there. However, some of the windows were still left “clear†so you could have certainly located them as described above. What if you were outside and you hear the crews inside saying that they need to find another way out and they are going back to a window… what do you do, what can you do?
The only way we would have ever known about this was to get out and know your area. So on those days when it’s too hot (cold, wet, or whatever) to train (what ever that means) get out and learn your area.
Everyday is a training day!
…and what do you know? It’s quite often these types of buildings (units available forEVER) that seem to catch on fire.
That’s worth a call to fire prevention. It does give a possible indication as to what other unsavoury conditions you may find present.
yea, but what if you didnt see this happening? then theres no call to fire prevention, no preplan. youd have to find it the hard way. and 90% of the time, thats how you find it. along with the jumped electrical services, extension cord service lines and the rest of the lot.
the solution? im sure a TIC would see the difference in heat from the outside. even under fire conditions. plus. the way those structures are attached produce great extension paths, so id consider opening them if there was fire involving the second division, thereby increasing the chance of discovery.
Here’s a older picture showing the second story layout.
You can imagine that Command (from the street) would have no idea of the variation in dept of the second floor structures. Good news? There appears to be access to the 1st floor roof from some of the 2nd floor rooms.
Now if we could only access satellites from our MDTs!
http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/funepics/?action=view¤t=hiddenwindows.jpg
That’s why WE have to get out in our responce zones and see these things taking place. The next time you are on your way to the supermarket to pick up grub for the shift, take a real close look around and see what kind of construction is going up around you. Stay safe…
I tell my guys to take the long way home after shift, look around notice what’s going on with out the focus of responding to calls. talk to the old timers who remember what it was like way back. Do business with the merchants in your first due and look around when you’re there. Take pictures of buildings, practice burning them down on the white board. Study building construction and know the practices in your area.
Usually I use ‘Google Earth’ and have recently shared it with the guys at work. Its free to download and it has a measuring feature on the top toolbar. Zoom in on any building in your response area and within seconds you’ll be able to measure out hose stretches. A few of us were quite surprised on the distances. And seeing the tops of structures is priceless too as one has already mentioned. The images are about only 2 years old.
Amazing…I live and I am a member of the FD in the village just south of where these photos were taken. I have passed by that building thousands of times over the years and never once realized there were windows up there. As long as I can remember that facade in the pictures has always been there. Even when I would go into the store when it was open, I never realized there were windows. It just goes to show you that you just never know what is up there behind the facades. We have a building on a main thoroughfare in our village where it looks like there is a full facade of brick from the top of the building going down. Much to my amazement, there is actually one area of the facade, near a corner of the building that actually has a sloped roof that goes from the 1st floor area up and meets the 2nd floor roof on an angle. From the facade to where there is actually a roof is approximately a 8′ long by 10′ wide by 8′ deep gap that you can fall down into. Not what you would like to do getting off the bucket/stick in near zero conditions!!!! I will see about getting some pictures to post here.