Boarded Up: What Would You Do?

[WestTac1]

Here's a photo of a house that I took yesterday while in West Springfield, MA.

According to a bystander, this house has been like this for months, and there's possibly squatters in it who gain access through a small basement window opening.

Now, you recieve a report of light smoke coming from the eaves of this house, and it's midnight. How would you handle this?

[Bones42]

Fire doesn't start by itself. If there is smoke then at some point, someone had been in there and might possibly still be. Quick search to find the opening or chain saw to make one. Get in and do your "job".

[MalahatTwo7]

First reaction was "Surround and Drown", but Bones makes an all to accurate assessment regarding how the fire originated and potential "illegal" occupants.

[fireman4949]

Fire doesn't start by itself. If there is smoke then at some point, someone had been in there and might possibly still be. Quick search to find the opening or chain saw to make one. Get in and do your "job".

Ditto.

Make entry and search it!

[randsc]

Yep

Ya gotta go in. I find myself eagerly awaiting the imput of the brother from Louisiana, and the ensuing sh##storm. Does that make me a bad person?

[randsc]

Btw

How long do I have to remain a "Guest"? I have been here quite a while.

[tfpd109]

How long do I have to remain a "Guest"? I have been here quite a while.

It's hard telling. This problem has been going on for quite some time. My advise, PM the web team and ask them whats up.


Back to the question at hand, I'll have to agree, cut a hole and search.

[REVANANT]

Full sheets of plywood pull off easy once you get them started. pull lots and lots of them off.

Larry

[Rescue101]

That's what they make CE's and K12's with Warthogs for.Just be careful 'cause you never know what's inside. Under rehab or just cut up,a LOT of potential hazards.And we all know vagrants are good housekeepers. T.C.

[FlyingKiwi]

How long do I have to remain a "Guest"? I have been here quite a while.

So it is you inside the house then?

[MalahatTwo7]

So it is you inside the house then?

DANG IT Ian! Ya beat me to it. LOL

[ChicagoFF]

As everyone else has said - open it up, search it, and put out the fire. I don't understand the question, I guess.

[RivCo71]

Light smoke coming from the eaves and you want to cut already? woah woah woah. How about you make entry with you and your partner with your tools and your TIC and see where the smoke is coming from before you start going to town cutting holes.

[ccfdblehman]

I think I am going to agree with taking off sheets of the plywood. Then find an opening to expand to try to avoid the possibility of the electricity still being on somehow.

[Rescue101]

Read carefully.This house isn't in Beverly Hills.It IS boarded up to keep people OUT.Use a saw to make quick entry/search.If you wanna do it the hard way,have at it.In our area a house of that type/condition is going to get an application of a gas axe.Assuming we have history which we probably do. T.c.