Nick Bailey sent in this photo taken by Will Price quite some time ago. Prince Georges County Squad 1 found this children’s bedroom hidden in a knee wall during a working fire in Montgomery County. This makeshift bedroom was concealed by curtains and a book shelf. The photo reminds us of the importance of good primary search, and an even more through secondary. Effective search techniques are not something that can be learned on a book, or even a website. Crews must train regularly on search techniques and always be ready for the un-expected. Would you and your crew have found this? Photos like this serve as a great conversation piece with the crew over a cup of coffee. Searching is one of the primary functions of the truck company, and need to be completed on every fire whether a truck company is present or not.
Damn, houses with these “hidden rooms” do catch fire, even in affluent Montgomery County. Thanks for the picture Nick. Keep looking, this stuff is in your first due.
Is that Greg Brady’s room?
Nope…Johnny Bravo’s
This was on msn.com today http://realestate.msn.com/whats-the-big-secret?GT1=35006
All kinds of hidden rooms
I just saw that, TG.
Lets hope the mansion from “Clue” never catches on fire
Hopefully mommy and daddy sleep there. No kido deserves that “pint sized” torture chamber.
On the topic of primary searches, today I heard a company announce over the radio at a WORKING FIRE, “PRIMARY ALL CLEAR, PER THE RESIDENT.” I am interested to hear your feelings about this. I believe it is the duty of our members to ensure an all clear. I also want to know, does an all clear provided by the resident mean that you don’t make an aggressive attack. According to the risk nothing to save nothing belief we should be in the front yard if the resident provides an all clear. What is your take?
Spencer Bashinski
FF/PM
Rescue Company 2
Orlando Fire Dept.
In our department if the resident states there is no one inside, on the radio we will say we have an “All clear per the resident” which means that a primary still needs to be completed. At that point the IC will determine our mode of operation per the current fire conditions. We save the term “Primary all clear” for when a member of the fire dept. actually does a search, which then requires a secondory search. Clear as mud?
Always wondered where Batman hid Robin. “The Bat Cave’s Cave”
Spencer – Our dept. feels that only a member can determine an all clear and that noone is inside. It’s been said on here before but a resident may not know if their child was supposed to be at a friends house but snuck back in and went to sleep. Or (this from personal experience) your daughter is upstairs and boyfriend snuck in and is asleep and the daughter wakes up and he doesn’t, boom, unknown victim except to the daughter but she may be too distraught to realize there’s still a damn boy in her bed.
That’s why in my area we still perform a primary as long as conditions warrant. If not we try to gain a quick knockdown and then do a primary search. Same as bmidd, conditions determine how fast a search can be done but it ALWAYS is done. Just my 2 cents.
Yup, that’s the Montgomery County I know.
Regardless, just to second Scuba Steve and bmidd43’s comments, primary searches should never be considered clear until crews have checked every room. Not only does a primary accomplish the vital task of searching for victims, but it also gives the potential to aid in size-up beyond the information given by the homeowner/first arriving units.
During the primary search more information can be ascertained as to the contents of the structure, possible unforeseen hazards, and obviously fire conditions inside the structure. Failure to perform a primary just because of the homeowner’s claim that no one else is inside forfeits all of the above. Crews inside the structure are the eyes and ears for command. Without a good initial size-up, a good primary, and good communication of findings, command is blind, and the potential for injury obviously increases exponentially.
A good primary can not only find things like the picture above, but yield vital information to get everyone home in one piece at the end of the shift.
WTF? This can’t be happening. Taking pictures at the fire scene? You’re all suspended, better yet, make the trash line 50 feet now.
“Hey Chief the second floor is all clear.”
“What? Can’t be, you guys did that too fast, I don’t believe you.”
“It’s done Chief, see here are the pictures to prove it. We even had a coffee break up there.”
“………”
The all clear for a primary should come from a member of the dept. What if the resident just killed someone and the fire is arson to cover the tracks. The potential for a missed person is too great.