Responding to residential structure fires is the main business of the fire department – and the fire service does a very good job with these incidents. With a residential structure fire, the fuel load is dependent upon what is inside or around the structure.
There are times when the fuel load will be enhanced by an unusual or introduced object, making the structure fire conflagrate at an increased rate. In our video example this month, we have an example of an aircraft crashing into a residence, causing an immediate structure fire.
An aircraft crash is a major incident, let alone the aircraft crashing into a residential or occupied structure. When this occurs, there are added hazards and considerations that need to be assessed and managed. Knowing the size and type of aircraft involved will allow crews to prepare for several on-the-ground concerns:
- How many potential victims/survivors. It’s critical to have an idea as to how many people may be present at the crash site or spread out in a debris field. There may be survivors, but many plane crashes result in deceased passengers; this may be a biohazard issue. This information will add to the number of occupants inside the structure that will be located either during the primary search or during the secondary search.
- The size of the debris field. Depending upon how the aircraft crashed, the debris field could be spread out in a large circle or be a long stream leading up to the residential structure. This debris field could contain hazards such as aircraft parts, luggage, body parts, fluids, jet fuel and jagged metals. It can also include any dangerous cargo that was onboard which may be hazardous materials. This leads into the involved area – the aircraft crash may involve several structures or just one. In our video example, it is a small aircraft, so the area involved is limited to one or two residential structures.
- How much additional fuel load is present. The type and size of aircraft will also determine how much jet fuel will be dumped into the situation. Jet fuel can be Jet-A, Jet-A1, Jet-B or AV Gas, and it is very flammable with flash points of -43 degrees F. This will increase the fuel load and lead to the intensity of the fire. It may require a foam attack to deal with the flammable liquid.
Other considerations for aircraft-involved fires:
- The hazards present will be the materials of the aircraft. This will include composite, advanced and radar absorbing metals. Jagged metal parts of the aircraft can cut through protective clothing and hose lines.
- Be aware that large aircraft have enough electrical power running through the aircraft electrical lines to kill a person or ignite flammable liquids.
Training time
After watching this video, your department can help crews prepare for this type of call in several ways:
- Contact your local airport authority to see if any collaborative training is available, or if the airport would be open to it.
- Determine if there are any regular flight paths that cross over the response district. If there are, find out what type of aircraft are used to assist with preplanning.
