DCFD1310
08-07-2009, 10:48 AM
Colliers Mansion Conditions-
“What are Collier’s Mansions Conditions &
How Do They Effect Firefighting Operations? ”
“Collier’s Mansion Conditions” describes the home of a “pack rat”. The residents of these occupancies are considered compulsive hoarders.
“Compulsive hoarding (or pathological hoarding) is the acquisition of, and failure to use or discard, such a large number of seemingly useless possessions that it causes significant clutter and impairment to basic living activities such as mobility, cooking, cleaning, showering or sleeping. A person who engages in compulsive hoarding is commonly said to be a "pack rat", in reference to that animal's apparent fondness for material objects.”-Wikipedia.org Quote
A Google search of the internet will yield plenty of reading for those interested. Attached are two links to web-sites with interesting articles that tell the story of The Collyer Brothers of Harlem, New York City. This was probably the first major publicity for someone suffering with Compulsive Hoarding Disorder. Although the Collyer brothers spelled their last name with a “y”, some of the information about this condition is spelled with an “i”.
http://bellcurveoflife.blogspot.com/2008/03/fascinating-story-of-collyers-mansion.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collyer_brothers
The effects of Collier’s Mansion Conditions on firefighting operations:
Collier’s Mansion Conditions impact our firefighting operations due to the amount of debris or clutter accumulated by these individuals. Working in, around, and against all of the debris will lengthen the time needed to complete most firefighting operations. The following list has a few examples of what firefighting operations may be slowed down due to the overwhelming amount of clutter that will have to be dealt with.
Forcible Entry- clutter and debris may block access through doors and or windows. Don’t forget to consider alternate methods, such as breaching a wall.
Hoseline Placement and Advancement- the stacks of clutter will limit the area you have to flake out the line, the path that you will have to advance the line, and you may inadvertently knock over clutter and debris while advancing or operating the line. Breaching walls from an attached exposure may be an alternative tactic used to attack the fire.
Horizontal and Vertical Ventilation- If the clutter and debris is stacked to the ceiling it may affect vertical ventilation. Imagine if you push the ceiling down after cutting the roof, you can see the debris is stacked high and affecting a good flow of heat and smoke out of your vent opening, do you risk pushing over a stack of clutter for good ventilation and possibly push it onto interior crews searching and or attacking the fire? Horizontal ventilation may be ineffective due to clutter stacked next to the windows. You may have to pull mountains of clutter out the window to make ventilation effective.
Egress- The primary means of egress will suffer from the stack effect if too many troops are operating in one area and everyone needs to leave in a hurry. Using a window as a secondary means of egress may be an issue. Will the window be blocked by debris and clutter if the backroom lights off while I’m searching?
Searches- You’re mental picture may change as more crews operate in the fire area. The debris and clutter may move when other crews operate in the fire area. Some clutter may be moved out of necessity or by accident, never the less your mental blueprint that you memorized on your way in, is now different and may disorient you on your way out.
Removal of fire victims- The removal of any occupants can be challenging under normal conditions. Now add in all of the debris and clutter, and removing a victim may become extremely difficult.
Overhaul- Overhaul will be an extended operation. Debris may have to be moved to open ceilings and walls. This may hamper getting ahead of the fire. You know what a truck work fire is, normally in a wood-frame dwelling, and you have to open up ahead of the fire to cut it off. So imagine trying to open up ahead of the fire in a 2 ½ story Wood Frame Dwelling of balloon construction with clutter and debris blocking your every move.
The list of possibilities may be endless, but one sure bet is that all firefighting operations will take more time to accomplish.
The limited amount of space to work in, may dictate that fewer members be placed in any one area of operation. An apartment fire with “Pack-Rat” conditions may limit operations in that apartment to one engine, one truck, and the squad. The back-up line may be staged in the hallway, across the hall, or any area that places the second line close to the fire area, but out of the way of operating crews. Crews performing overhaul may rotate due to space considerations and length of the time required to perform overhaul. The secondary search will certainly be a squadman’s nightmare. Look how long it took to find the second (stinking) Collyer brother when there was no fire to contend with. What if the hoarder was a new mother and you were searching for an infant under these conditions?
The above list is by no means complete. Instead, it is a list of possibilities to get your mind moving.
Where are you assigned? What are your fireground assignments? How will “Collier’s Mansion Conditions” or “Pack-Rat Conditions” affect you as you carry out your duties?
Semper Fidelis,
Demon Leader 4
“What are Collier’s Mansions Conditions &
How Do They Effect Firefighting Operations? ”
“Collier’s Mansion Conditions” describes the home of a “pack rat”. The residents of these occupancies are considered compulsive hoarders.
“Compulsive hoarding (or pathological hoarding) is the acquisition of, and failure to use or discard, such a large number of seemingly useless possessions that it causes significant clutter and impairment to basic living activities such as mobility, cooking, cleaning, showering or sleeping. A person who engages in compulsive hoarding is commonly said to be a "pack rat", in reference to that animal's apparent fondness for material objects.”-Wikipedia.org Quote
A Google search of the internet will yield plenty of reading for those interested. Attached are two links to web-sites with interesting articles that tell the story of The Collyer Brothers of Harlem, New York City. This was probably the first major publicity for someone suffering with Compulsive Hoarding Disorder. Although the Collyer brothers spelled their last name with a “y”, some of the information about this condition is spelled with an “i”.
http://bellcurveoflife.blogspot.com/2008/03/fascinating-story-of-collyers-mansion.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collyer_brothers
The effects of Collier’s Mansion Conditions on firefighting operations:
Collier’s Mansion Conditions impact our firefighting operations due to the amount of debris or clutter accumulated by these individuals. Working in, around, and against all of the debris will lengthen the time needed to complete most firefighting operations. The following list has a few examples of what firefighting operations may be slowed down due to the overwhelming amount of clutter that will have to be dealt with.
Forcible Entry- clutter and debris may block access through doors and or windows. Don’t forget to consider alternate methods, such as breaching a wall.
Hoseline Placement and Advancement- the stacks of clutter will limit the area you have to flake out the line, the path that you will have to advance the line, and you may inadvertently knock over clutter and debris while advancing or operating the line. Breaching walls from an attached exposure may be an alternative tactic used to attack the fire.
Horizontal and Vertical Ventilation- If the clutter and debris is stacked to the ceiling it may affect vertical ventilation. Imagine if you push the ceiling down after cutting the roof, you can see the debris is stacked high and affecting a good flow of heat and smoke out of your vent opening, do you risk pushing over a stack of clutter for good ventilation and possibly push it onto interior crews searching and or attacking the fire? Horizontal ventilation may be ineffective due to clutter stacked next to the windows. You may have to pull mountains of clutter out the window to make ventilation effective.
Egress- The primary means of egress will suffer from the stack effect if too many troops are operating in one area and everyone needs to leave in a hurry. Using a window as a secondary means of egress may be an issue. Will the window be blocked by debris and clutter if the backroom lights off while I’m searching?
Searches- You’re mental picture may change as more crews operate in the fire area. The debris and clutter may move when other crews operate in the fire area. Some clutter may be moved out of necessity or by accident, never the less your mental blueprint that you memorized on your way in, is now different and may disorient you on your way out.
Removal of fire victims- The removal of any occupants can be challenging under normal conditions. Now add in all of the debris and clutter, and removing a victim may become extremely difficult.
Overhaul- Overhaul will be an extended operation. Debris may have to be moved to open ceilings and walls. This may hamper getting ahead of the fire. You know what a truck work fire is, normally in a wood-frame dwelling, and you have to open up ahead of the fire to cut it off. So imagine trying to open up ahead of the fire in a 2 ½ story Wood Frame Dwelling of balloon construction with clutter and debris blocking your every move.
The list of possibilities may be endless, but one sure bet is that all firefighting operations will take more time to accomplish.
The limited amount of space to work in, may dictate that fewer members be placed in any one area of operation. An apartment fire with “Pack-Rat” conditions may limit operations in that apartment to one engine, one truck, and the squad. The back-up line may be staged in the hallway, across the hall, or any area that places the second line close to the fire area, but out of the way of operating crews. Crews performing overhaul may rotate due to space considerations and length of the time required to perform overhaul. The secondary search will certainly be a squadman’s nightmare. Look how long it took to find the second (stinking) Collyer brother when there was no fire to contend with. What if the hoarder was a new mother and you were searching for an infant under these conditions?
The above list is by no means complete. Instead, it is a list of possibilities to get your mind moving.
Where are you assigned? What are your fireground assignments? How will “Collier’s Mansion Conditions” or “Pack-Rat Conditions” affect you as you carry out your duties?
Semper Fidelis,
Demon Leader 4