Horrific incident got me thinking

[KD5NRH]

tragic story.    they don't mention the cause of the fire, but I'm betting it was a cigarette.

Doubt it; the family is LDS, and almost certainly lifelong members.  Even on the off chance someone was sneaking a smoke, I'd be even more surprised if they were careless with the butt; the last thing they'd want is for visitors to notice cigarette butts in the bushes.  (Also, it starting in the front yard makes that less likely, since they sure wouldn't want an unexpected visitor to see them.)

If it was a non-church visitor smoking, then maybe, but even still, tossing a butt in her bushes would about as obviously rude as peeing in the lettuce patch.

ETA:  This article says the FD has specifically ruled out cigarettes as the cause: http://wtvr.com/2014/04/03/family-opens-up-about-fire-that-killed-infant-girl/

[230RN]

hey terry, how about a collapsible ladder?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-12-5Ft-Aluminum-Telescopic-Telescoping-Collapsible-Ladder-Extension-/231087772839?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35cde794a7

Hmmm.  Thanks!   I'll have to look into how it deploys, so I'll check into local distributors for that --if any.

I got another question though...

In general is it OK to have those standard "hardware-store" Kidde extinguishers recharged, or just discard them and buy new ones?  (I know it's a good idea to use the "redlined" ones for practice and training.)

[Tallpine]

In general is it OK to have those standard "hardware-store" Kidde extinguishers recharged, or just discard them and buy new ones?  (I know it's a good idea to use the "redlined" ones for practice and training.)

I think the recharging costs just about as much as the cheaper ones brand new.

Then some of them go obsolete and they won't recharge them anyway.

Honestly, a hose set up inside the house would be really handy 

[Neemi]

Time for more strength training. We have a big ladder locked in our shed, but I can't lift it yet. Of course, the odds are that the fire will be coming from the neighbors in that direction. Good thing we keep another ladder on the other side of the house - and that one I can lift.

ETA: Sounds like the fire was during the daytime when neighbors weren't home - I'm glad we have a few neighbors home around us. Thankfully we're on good enough terms that, excepting the one home that is most likely to start the fire, they'd come to help. Yet another reason to know your neighbors.

[230RN]

^ Neemi, that's why I need something lightweight and rapidly maneuverable and deployable.

^^  Yeah, that's kind of what I figured.  I do have an adapter and a short hose I can attach to my kitchen sink (I use it to blast all the pine needles off the balcony) but it takes a while and a pair of pliers to deploy it.

[Tallpine]

^^  Yeah, that's kind of what I figured.  I do have an adapter and a short hose I can attach to my kitchen sink (I use it to blast all the pine needles off the balcony) but it takes a while and a pair of pliers to deploy it.

I've thought about putting one of those Y-thingies on the washer hookup, but those are notoriously unreliable.  The plastic ones we use outside break after a couple months.  Don't know if you can still get brass ones at any cost.

When we finally get around to re-doing the bathroom, I'd like to put some hose bibs in the shower.  Heck, I'd like to just engineer the whole thing with standard parts all exposed for ease of repair 

[Nick1911]

In general is it OK to have those standard "hardware-store" Kidde extinguishers recharged, or just discard them and buy new ones?  (I know it's a good idea to use the "redlined" ones for practice and training.)

Many of those are disposable.  An easy indicator is if the low mark on the gauge says "Recharge" or "Replace/Discard".

Honestly, it's worth paying up for a decent one.  The fire protection place here sells brand new steel tank 5lb Amerex extinguishers, fully serviceable, for $49.99.

[Boomhauer]

In this case a 24 foot woulda been too short. Lifting a 36 or 40 foot

Most people aren't going to be able to throw a big ladder like that. Those things are heavy as *expletive deleted*ck.

When I was a structural firefighter I always carried a bailout kit of webbing. I could secure the webbing to my Halligan and slam it into the floor or wall as a grappling hook and go right out the window without a problem but you aren't going to be able train a little kid to do a rope bailout.

The roll up escape ladder and lots of fire extinguishers is the most realistic option for most people.

They also make smoke hoods http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_hood that might help your chances in a situation (some firefighters carry a similar filter that locks in to the airpack mask as a last ditch thing if you run out of air)

[KD5NRH]

I've thought about putting one of those Y-thingies on the washer hookup, but those are notoriously unreliable.  The plastic ones we use outside break after a couple months.  Don't know if you can still get brass ones at any cost.

You can get them plenty of places around here, but personally I'd look at putting in regular plumbing Ys, and two bibbs on each line.  (A hot water hose is real nice for filling the mop/carwash/whatever bucket.)  A couple of those 50' self-coiling hoses should tuck nicely out of sight behind the washer, and if it's kept empty, should last for years.  (Not like a little leakage is going to be an issue if the house is on fire.)

[Tallpine]

You can get them plenty of places around here, but personally I'd look at putting in regular plumbing Ys, and two bibbs on each line.  (A hot water hose is real nice for filling the mop/carwash/whatever bucket.)  A couple of those 50' self-coiling hoses should tuck nicely out of sight behind the washer, and if it's kept empty, should last for years.  (Not like a little leakage is going to be an issue if the house is on fire.)

Would have to cut into the wall to do that, but not a bad idea.  Add it to the list of other projects I'm not getting done for one reason or another.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Use shark bite plumbing fittings and its pretty easy install. I want one of the new variable pressure well systems but they are pricey. I wouldn't enjoy pulling my existing pump much either

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[Tallpine]

Use shark bite plumbing fittings and its pretty easy install. I want one of the new variable pressure well systems but they are pricey. I wouldn't enjoy pulling my existing pump much either

Well, I just looked and the existing valves are set into a notch cut in the wall.  Can't even unthread them from the pipe 

But it's an interior wall so it wouldn't be much of a deal to cut out the damn paneling, an make an inset valve box.

Our latest structure training is to make/break a small window opening in the room where fire appears to be, and cool down the hot gases (smoke) and quench fire in short bursts from the hose nozzle.  The water turns to steam and really cools things down. (this in opposition to the "old way" of breaking out all the windows and ventilating so that the fire blows up and kills everybody and competely destroys the stucture  )

Surprisingly, water is still a very good way to fight fire 

[Boomhauer]

Well, I just looked and the existing valves are set into a notch cut in the wall.  Can't even unthread them from the pipe 

But it's an interior wall so it wouldn't be much of a deal to cut out the damn paneling, an make an inset valve box.

Our latest structure training is to make/break a small window opening in the room where fire appears to be, and cool down the hot gases (smoke) and quench fire in short bursts from the hose nozzle.  The water turns to steam and really cools things down. (this in opposition to the "old way" of breaking out all the windows and ventilating so that the fire blows up and kills everybody and competely destroys the stucture  )

Surprisingly, water is still a very good way to fight fire 

We never did the "old way" you describe. We vented each room as we cleared it, not breaking all the windows out and giving the entire fire more O2 to burn. We coordinated entry/ventilation for each room with the truck team on the outside for roof venting or exterior venting and the hose team on the inside.

The newer energy efficient homes and buildings are problematic. The energy efficient, tight construction causes fires to use up all the O2 in the room and smolder...until you either vent or make entry. Then all that fresh air hits that smoldering fire and you get a backdraft. Also, the building materials/techniques in use today can create hazards not normally found in older homes.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

in some houses i've worked on the vinyl soffit lets the outside fire enter the inner structure and eat the roof pretty quick. and all the artsy fartsy roof features provide lots of access too