> Here we tend to ventilate only once the fire is under control rather than during the rescue and initial attack stages. Cutting a hole in a roof to ventilate a fire is never done. Breaking a window is very rare.
Respectfully disagree. At the central FL fire dept I worked for (2006 - 2020) ventilation during initial attack was practiced and expected. The command to ventilate is given by the hose team once water is on the fire.
For my dept, breaking a window was probably the most used because a couple of reasons: 1) most houses are single story and 2) usually not enough people for roof ops, initially at least. First due is a 3 man engine, 2 man rescue (ambulance) and a district chief, with at least the same complement for second due.
2-in / 2-out rule kept crews off the roof but the 2-out could, and would, break a window.
Once additional crews arrive on scene, roof ops would be started if needed.
But, each dept and type of fires for the area are different. At our dept, single family homes, room and contents fire were the bread and butter, so roof ops weren't usually needed, but, breaking a window in a coordinated effort and in a strategic position was almost always done.
The person you're replying to didn't say where "here" is. I took them to mean they were in Europe, which could explain why your experience was different.
Respectfully disagree. At the central FL fire dept I worked for (2006 - 2020) ventilation during initial attack was practiced and expected. The command to ventilate is given by the hose team once water is on the fire.
For my dept, breaking a window was probably the most used because a couple of reasons: 1) most houses are single story and 2) usually not enough people for roof ops, initially at least. First due is a 3 man engine, 2 man rescue (ambulance) and a district chief, with at least the same complement for second due.
2-in / 2-out rule kept crews off the roof but the 2-out could, and would, break a window.
Once additional crews arrive on scene, roof ops would be started if needed.
But, each dept and type of fires for the area are different. At our dept, single family homes, room and contents fire were the bread and butter, so roof ops weren't usually needed, but, breaking a window in a coordinated effort and in a strategic position was almost always done.