Best way to attack an attic fire

[L-Webb]

So lets trade some ideas.

Lets say you get a fire that starts in the attic, You arrive on location and the fire is still confined to the attic. I know that there are countless ways it can go... but in general..

Do you like to vent then attack or Attack from the outside to knock down the main body of fire. I have found that if the fire has been vented, Fog works really well.

So have at it.

Thanks

[NY911Bowhunter]

I am a proponent of going inside and fighting the fire...like firemen do.

[FyredUp]

Go inside, open the ceiling under the fire and put out the fire.

You can completely open up for a direct attack on the fire, or open a smaller hole and inject a fog pattern into the atmosphere and let the steam knock down the fire.

[ChiefKN]

Yea, go in and put out the fire. Maybe cut a vertical hole, maybe not. (I prefer not in most cases).

[SPFDRum]

A) Fog it from below if accessible, give it a few, then vent above and inspect what you have. Open up the hot spots and overhaul.
B) If not accessible, cut a smaller vent hole in the roof at 1 end, a larger at the other, and fog through the smaller. (note seat of fire and wind) Letting the conversion do the work. Open it up for hot spots and overhaul.
C) Pick up and go home.
D) Watch truck guys clean and service their tools and equipment.
E) Listen to engina guys brag on slaying the beast for the rest of the shift.

[slackjawedyokel]

almost always best to hit from below - Punch a small hole and whip a full fog in it. in this instance , steam is your friend. just remember - try to kill the juice asap . and have plan B if it has a floor. I usually dont (cut a)vent in the roof because it opens it up to the weather. When its in check, I try and clear the room under the seat, get some salvage covers and drags and pull some ceiling and access that way, plan B is to acess from the gable , unless it is a full hip - then we go to plan C

[Bones42]

Attack from below. Most likely going to hit with a straight stream up the pull down stair access...(more common way to access in my area). Attic ladder in place and get up there. Good chance we will open the roof above.

Floors in the attics are very common in my area so pulling ceiling below will not give great access. As example, in my attic I have 1/2" plywood glued and screwed in place. There is about a foot on each side that is not floored, at the bottom of the roof.

[YFDLt08]

Good number of our attics are walk up type. Make entry to attic steps and open up. Advance up as conditions allow. If it gets too hot, back down steps and wait. Ladder guys are good at either vertical or horizontal via gable vents.

Non walk up attics: Either find attic scuttle hole, or make your own. Direct stream through opening to knock it down. Make hole larger and after some form of vent get a guy on an attic ladder to get in there and finish it off.

Not a very difficult fire in general, as you can typically stay well below the heat.

[NY911Bowhunter]

Attack from below. Most likely going to hit with a straight stream up the pull down stair access...(more common way to access in my area). Attic ladder in place and get up there. Good chance we will open the roof above.

Floors in the attics are very common in my area so pulling ceiling below will not give great access. As example, in my attic I have 1/2" plywood glued and screwed in place. There is about a foot on each side that is not floored, at the bottom of the roof.

My attic is the same - with access only via pull down stairs in the hallway. I also have a window on each gable end, accessable from front porch roof and rear kitchen roof. BUT - I need a new roof - so please - cut away!

[FiremanLyman]

In Central Texas we do not have many basements (no freezing water lines and the ground is rock a few feet under), so people use their attic space as storage. Not uncommon to find two dozen boxes and plastic storage bins. This makes attic fires really fun (sarcasm) with the added fire load and stacked boxes in the way of your fire stream.

[CGITCH]

It depends on your definition of "attic." Here, when you say attic, you could get a variety of different things. You could get the full stairs, insulated, used for living space attic. The full-stairs, uninsulated, storage space. The "I need a step ladder to get up there attic." Which you don't dare step foot in because people don't like it when you miss the studs and go through the ceiling. For me (And my little experience compared to you guys), I'm attacking the first two types the same way as any interior attack. The third gives a little more challenge, and it would depend on the circumstances on what I ultimately decide to do. Probably injecting a fog stream through the opening. Then assessing from there with a TIC. Ceiling will be pulled, and the story under the attic will probably have a mess made, but the fire would be out.

[nameless]

There is a good article in urbanfirefighter explaining why exactly vertical ventilation is often necessary in attic fires. In many attics found in the North East with steep pitches, there is a significant volume of space that can not be vented by the windows that are typically found. Obviously gable vents will help, but even if they are present they are so small they provide limited ventilation.

Most of our attics are walk up and essentially another floor, the best way is to get up there and put it out. Usually a pretty good fire, lots of junk up in the attic to burn and if unfinished lots of exposed wood.

[Rescue101]

There is a good article in urbanfirefighter explaining why exactly vertical ventilation is often necessary in attic fires. In many attics found in the North East with steep pitches, there is a significant volume of space that can not be vented by the windows that are typically found. Obviously gable vents will help, but even if they are present they are so small they provide limited ventilation.

Most of our attics are walk up and essentially another floor, the best way is to get up there and put it out. Usually a pretty good fire, lots of junk up in the attic to burn and if unfinished lots of exposed wood.

1 Tower,1 Warthog, 2 minutes. You can look at anything in the attic you want,hehe T.C.

[.]

I have found that if the fire has been vented, Fog works really well.

^I'm noticing a running theme with you...

Do you like to vent then attack or Attack from the outside to knock down the main body of fire.

Are you sure you've ever actually fought fire in an attic?

No offense, you must be from a rural area. That would explain these questions, despite 4 years on.

[.]

Yea, go in and put out the fire. Maybe cut a vertical hole, maybe not. (I prefer not in most cases).

Ding ding ding...we have a winner. Concise and to the point (yes others made these points also).