Truck Company Operations Guide- Salvage.pdf

Subject 8
SALVAGE
Definition and
Basic Objectives
Salvage is the
protection of
buildings and their
contents from unnecessary damage due to water,
smoke, heat , and other elements. It is estimated that seventy-five percent (75%) of total
fire loss is created during extinguishing operations and other events occurring after the fire,
(Indirect damage). Twenty-five percent (25%) represents the loss actually caused by the fire,
(Direct damage). Although we can do little to prevent direct loss caused by fire and its byproducts,
speedy and efficient salvage operations, performed as early as time and personnel
permit, can greatly reduce the total loss and inconvenience to a structure and its occupants.

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Truck Company Operations Guidelines and Considerations
Forcible Entry
Ventilation
Use of Hose Streams
Overhaul
By nature, some suppression tasks result in damage to a structure, e.g., forcible entry, ventilation,
use of hose streams, etc. The fire departments obligation rests with every crew member, from forcible
entry to the final stages of overhaul, with regard to controlling damage in order to keep losses to a
minimum.
The success or failure of salvage operations can be directly attributed to the degree to which those
involved have familiarized themselves with salvage equipment and techniques. It is a combination of
this familiarity mixed with a good dose of imagination and ingenuity that will enable effective and
timely salvage at the scene of an emergency.
REMEMBER: Salvage remains an essential function of the fire service. Victims of fire and other
disasters recognize and appreciate the fire department’s efforts when irreplaceable personal belongings
and other contents of a home or business are saved through efficient salvage work. Salvage does not
require a huge workforce. It can be performed by a small number of well trained, well-prepared
personnel. In simple terms,
EFFECTIVE SALVAGE = GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS

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Strategic Priorities
Strategic priorities, relating to salvage
operations, will be dictated by the type of
incident (fire, flood, etc.). Other factors to be
considered may include, but are not limited to:
— Type and size of structure
— Type of construction
— Occupancy
Residential – Start with irreplaceable
personal belongings such as family
photographs and other items of possible
sentimental value. Then move on to
clothing and other essentials, and finally,
consider televisions, furniture, etc.
Commercial – Give priority to any
bookkeeping materials and other records
including computers, then move on to
merchandise.
Industrial – As with commercial,
consider records first. Then pay attention
to any valuable machinery and raw
materials.
— Progression of incident at time of arrival
— Value of contents
— Automatic fire protection systems
— Possible location of records and files
(including computers)
— Personnel available
— Salvage equipment available
An effective salvage operation begins with a
good size-up as part of a coordinated attack.
Size-up of an incident must be made to gather
data for decisions on what needs to be done and
how to best perform those tasks. Salvage sizeup
should begin upon receipt of the alarm and
must be included in all phases of fireground
operations. The same system of size-up used for
a fire can easily be adapted to other salvage type
incidents. It includes the following steps:
— Facts - Nature of incident, type of
occupancy, type of construction.
— Probabilities - Estimation of progress,
possible hazards, weather.
— Available Resources - Type and quantity
necessary to perform effectively.
— Decision - What are the objectives?
— Plan of Operation - How to accomplish
objectives.
Tactical
Considerations
Controlled damage at the scene of an incident
is the goal of salvage. To achieve this goal crew
members should train and become proficient in
all operations relating to the following:
9-3
Forcible Entry – Know how to gain access
with a limited amount of damage. Make sure
the amount of damage is warranted and
necessary in relation to the urgency of the
situation. In other words, if there is no
immediate life hazard and no significant sign of
fire, consider a less destructive means of entry
than breaking down a door or taking out a
window.

84
Truck Company Operations Guidelines and Considerations
ALWAYS CONSIDER:
Urgency vs.
Amount of Damage
Ventilation – To minimize damage from fire,
smoke and heat should be confined to as small
an area as possible. Ordinary doors are
extremely effective in blocking smoke and
convected heat. If no door exists, plastic or
salvage covers work extremely well as a
temporary draft curtain in this situation. Rapid
removal of heat and other products of
combustion can significantly lower the amount
of direct fire loss. First consider horizontal
ventilation, e.g., positive pressure ventilation
utilizing natural or existing openings. If
horizontal ventilation is insufficient and vertical
ventilation is deemed necessary, be sure to make
a hole only large enough to do the job. If
horizontal ventilation worked well enough, leave
well enough alone and don’t cut holes in roofs for
the sake of a drill. Consider covering the hole
or other openings with plastic before leaving the
scene.
Application of Water – Although it is not
thought of a a normal Truck Company
function, it needs to be said that applying water
at the wrong time, from the wrong place, with
the wrong nozzle pattern causes a significant
amount of preventable damage. Make every
attempt to locate the seat of the fire and use only
as mush water as is necessary to control the
situation. Often the water extinguisher carried
by truck companies can control a small fire even
before hose lines are in place.
Dewatering – Methods used to remove water
from a structure are only limited by the amount
of salvage equipment on hand and the
imagination of the crew. Often, these
operations should be started in unaffected
portions of the structure that may be threatened
by the progression of the incident. Do not
waste time attempting to save already damaged
goods when it can be better spent directing the
flow of water or removing goods and materials
from the path of water. In multiple story
buildings salvage may need to be initiated on
lower floors before the affected floor. Every
attempt should be made to stop the source of
the water while continuing to control the path
of the water.
Overhaul – Hap-Hazard overhaul techniques
can also contribute to greater fire loss. An
attentive overhaul crew can sometimes recover
valuables that may have been written off as a
total loss. Many a business has been able to
reopen its doors because partially files were
legible enough to allow restoration.
Covering of Goods and Materials – In order
to be effective, this operation must begin as
SALVAGE
COVER
PLASTIC

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early in the incident as possible. Before
covering is begun consider these facts:
— Can the valuables be moved to a safe
location, eliminating the need for
covering?
— Is there enough covers or plastic to
safely and effectively cover all the
valuables?
— Are the valuables you intend to cover
already lost to fire, smoke or water?
Although traditional salvage covers continue
to prove invaluable in fire, heat or other
specialty situations, plastic should be given
strong consideration in the following situations:
— As an additional vapor barrier under a
salvage cover.
— If the area to be covered is in excess of a
standard 12 x 18 foot salvage cover.
— Valuables will require covering for an
extended period of time.
If covers were used initially they can be
replaced with plastic prior to leaving the
scene.
— If covering for water protection on
floor(s) below an incident.
— Limited manpower.
Plastic is also advantage because large
quantities can be easily stored on the apparatus,
it can be left at the scene indefinitely, and it is
extremely cost effective. ($10.00 per roll
compared to $150.00 per salvage cover)
=
$150.00 $150.00
Another advantage of plastic is the case with
which it can be hung using only a staplegun.
This makes it an excellent choice for “bagging”
a room prior to pulling a ceiling during a
creeping attic fire. Upon completion the plastic
and staples can be removed, leaving only small
staple holes in the walls and a relatively clean,
dust free environment in the rest of the
structure.
Summary
If 75 percent of fire loss is indirect, salvage,
then, is a vary important fire department
operation. Salvage should be a concern during
every phase of the incident, from forcible entry
to overhaul. Along with its other
responsibilities, the fire department must
attempt to limit suppression damage as much as
possible. The result will be reduced fire loss,
valuable possessions saved, and businesses able
to reopen their doors.