The news explains the initial call for service as being a respiratory distress call that evolved into a HazMat situation, due to the suspected Meth Lab inside.
This is a great example of the exposure potential to all first responder agencies. Let’s take a look as some learning points from this news clip:
EMS: Many EMS agencies do not carry the needed equipment needed to protect their responders from the airborne dangers of hoarding, managing the collapse risk, and facilitate a safe removal. the need for additional resources should be made immediately.
Police:Our brothers and sisters in blue often do not receive the awareness training when faced with hoarding conditions. When education is taking place adding them into the classes should be mandatory. Often they will respond for a well being check and, without understanding the danger, enter a environment that is hazardous.
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Hoarder Fire Bob Donaldson / Post-Gazette By Molly Born / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Firefighters crawled over piles of books, newspapers and other items Tuesday morning while trying to put out heavy flames in a vacant house in Homestead. Allegheny County assessment records show the house belonged to Margaret Mary Vojtko, the former Duquesne University adjunct professor of French whose death in September sparked a debate about the workloads and pay of adjuncts at U.S. universities. A West Homestead firefighter was injured helping battle the blaze at 1110 Sylvan Ave. Homestead Deputy Fire Chief Ron Kalupson said the firefighter, whose name was not released, was taken to UPMC Mercy for observation after he received an electric shock while extending a hose. The house, while unoccupied, still had electrical power, the deputy chief said. Firefighters had to crawl over a lot of “debris” to extinguish flames coming from the second floor of the two-story brick home, the deputy chief said. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2014/03/25/Firefighter-hurt-in-West-Homestead-blaze/stories/201403250176#ixzz2x55PoQ7L News Video Coverage Found Here
]]>Guest Podcast Recorded with the folks from Firefighter Toolbox. Listen in as David J Soler interviews Ryan Pennington on tips for fighting Hoarder Fires: Show Notes:
Firefighter Toolbox.com Hoarding has been becoming a growing concern in our communities. How does this affect us firefighters? What does it matter? Well, on this episode, I talk with Ryan Pennington, who has done a ton of research on the subject, and he tells us all about hoarding and how it affects us as firefighters and what we really need to know. So many issues arise from hoarder fires and our tactics need to be adjusted because of the different dangers. Get educated on them so you or your crews don’t get hurt. This is something that can happen in any district. This and more. Listen in Here
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When firefighters enter a burning building many different factors come into play. One huge factor that can affect the outcome of the operation is the presence of increased amounts of belongings, caused by a person afflicted with compulsive hoarding disorder. As their collection of stuff accumulates the danger in hoarding firefighting increases.[caption id="attachment_882" align="alignright" width="180"] Firefighter Enter HoardingOver the past two years of reaching out to fire departments from around the world some common challenges kept coming up. Inability to hit the seat of the fire, shielding from the heat , and difficulties in escape were top of the list. This past weekend the chamber of hoarders had a unique opportunity to enter a “live fire” environment to experience these variables.With the assistance of the Frontier Fire Company in Wheatfield New York a hoarding environment was set up and multiple scenarios were run. The results were a confirmation of all the research collected. Each variable was looked at individually and together with great success. It truly served as a reminder that hoarding changes our operations and if we are unwilling to adjust our operation it may not be successful.Shielding from the HeatWith many safety measures in place the fire rotations started with a firefighter between the stacks of belongings with a thermal imager. What we learned was a confirmation and an amazing result. While the other instructors took a beating from the heat in front of and behind the stacks of stuff the inside firefighters documented floor temperatures of 125 degrees with thermal imagining, shielded from the heat.Documenting these temperatures was an unofficial, non- scientific example of the true dangers of the hoarding environment. No monitors, measuring equipment, or recording devices were in place, just a group of firefighters with thermal imaging cameras watching something amazing. The hoard shielded the firefighter from the heat. It restricted the heat and pushed it past and around. These results proved a multiple amount of points. Hoarding can give interior firefighters a false sense of environment Shielding can allow firefighters to push further inside without experiencing the normal heat levels Stacks of stuff can trap firefighters Victims can have more survivable thermal temperatures when insulated with hoarding.With the recent research on flow paths coming to light the need to adjust them for hoarding firefighting was revealed inside the burn room in New York this past weekend. It reconfirmed the dangers of the insulation provided by the interior conditions. This insulation can hide the hidden heat and dangers until it’s too late. Most firefighters advance into burning buildings using their senses to determine how far and deep they are to go. In hoarding conditions they may keep pushing unaware of the hidden dangers waiting for them. Dangers that could present themselves in the form of rollover, flashover, or backdraft, trapping the firefighters because they don’t have secondary means of egress.[caption id="attachment_883" align="alignright" width="120"] Hoarding Firefighting ConclusionConfirmation that the shielding is real was not a surprising result. This weekend just reconfirmed what we have been learning from survival stories from around the world. Hoarding conditions can act as an insulator keeping high temperatures away from the victim or firefighter in the middle. We need to educate firefighters to be aware that this shielding can lead to poor judgment to just how far we should push.Identify, adjust, and attack when Hoarding is discovered!!!!!!! FDIC Flow Path Video. ]]>
Since attacking the problem of emergency responses in Hoarding Conditions, from the perspective of first responders, the questions from the family members of people who are suffering from Compulsive Hoarding Disorder keep coming in. How can I help my family member? How do I make their home safer are a small examples of the questions that are commonly asked. ]
Hoarding Fire Safety Should include a Escape Plan Answering these questions is complex and has no one simple answer, but there are some steps to help protect your loved one from the dangers of fires in hoarding conditions. While these simple steps may not eliminate the risks to them it can improve the chances of survival if a fire were to happen. Since starting the research into hoarding fire safety many common causes have been identified. Sharing these common causes will help family members protect their loved ones until they can be treated by the mental health professionals. Cooking Fires Cooking fires are commonly seen in the fire service today. Hoarding conditions complicate these types of fires because the clutter has accumulated to the edge of the heating source. When the belongings are allowed to invade the space adjacent to the stove the potential for cooking fires goes up. If you add ordinary combustibles to a heat source the resulting fire can spread fast and trap the occupant who is in the kitchen. 0"] Hoarding Fire Safety In the Kitchen. Fire proofing your family member’s kitchen may be a huge undertaking, especially if the hoarding level is at or above waist level. Compulsive hoarding disorder prohibits the occupant from distinguishing between things that have great or little value. If you were to try and move their “treasured” valuables you will be met with passionate resistance. Being understanding and compassionate in your response will keep the family member at ease as you try to explain the risk for fire. Approaching them with some tradeoffs will allow them to move their belongings away from the heating source, thus reducing the risk for a cooking fire. Example: “Can we take the belongings from the counter and move them over to the table, away from the stove.” If the family members understand how the thought process works they will focus on a positive solution to this problem. This approach may be met with resistance and take time to explain the risks of cooking fire inside their environment. Persistence with this process will be needed and the kitchen may need to be revisited multiple times as the family member replaces the belongings that have been moved. Electrical Fires Another leading cause of fires inside hoarding conditions are electrical fires. Having stacks of belongings closely placed near electrical outlets increase the risks of fire from a sparking electrical outlet. Much like the cooking fires the ordinary combustibles, newspapers and like materials, can make a fire more likely and increase the burn rate trapping occupants. Moving the stacks of belongings away from the outlets is a simple solution to this problem. Approaching the family member with the example of electrical outlet malfunction and explain that you are not asking to throw anything away, just move it away from the outlet will ease the pain felt when approached with the thought of losing their “treasures”. Explaining the process of “moving” not “removing” the items can reduce their anxiety. "] Hoarding Fire Safey A blaring similarity, in electrical fires, seen in the hoarding environment, is caused by extension cords. They are commonly stacked one on top of the other as electric outlets become unusable. If an electric outlet becomes non-functioning the occupant often just runs an extension cord from a functioning one increasing the chance of overloading one outlet. When you enter the family members home you should take time to investigate the status (usable or not) of all the outlets in the home. This access can be difficult as the access to them can be blocked with the hoard. Use the pathways established by the occupant to access the points available first before trying to go through the stacks.
Escape PlanMuch like the education given to elementary students in fire prevention month family members afflicted with compulsive hoarding disorder should be exposed to the exit their home plan. Fires today are known to double every thirty seconds, offering less time for occupants to escape. Taking the time to explain this danger to your family members will help offer some simple solutions, while starting the treatment plan. Taking the time to explain this danger and evaluate the presence of multiple exits paths is paramount for their safety. Example: “If a fire were to happen in the current condition blocking this only exit, you will burn to death” While this sounds somewhat extreme it may be necessary to bring home the dangers presented by not having multiple exit points in their home. Ask your family member “What is your plan in the event of a fire and this pathway is blocked?”
Smoke detectorsBy far the most important part of the visit should be the instillation of smoke detectors in EVERY room. When hoarding conditions are present available airflow for smoke can be restricted. This restriction can delay the time needed for a standard smoke detector to be alerted. Delayed alerting can lead to less time for escape of an occupant. Expecting this delay should lead family members to install more smoke detectors, one in each room. Mounting them on the ceiling in the center of the room is a best option, if the stacks of stuff allow. If not the closest proximity to the center ceiling will allow for the most coverage.
Hoarding Fire Safety ConclusionDealing with loved ones that are dealing with compulsive hoarding disorder can be an emotion filled challenge that takes years. Keeping a positive, reassuring approach that always keeps in mind the complexity of Compulsive Hoarding Disorder can lead to a successful safety intervention. While this is not a cure it is an intervention that could save your loved ones life. Make sure to reach out to your local fire departments, hoarding tasks forces, mental health professionals, and health officials for resources to help in your journey. Additional Links: http://www.hoarders.org/f-c.html http://childrenofhoarders.com/wordpress/ http://hoardingdisorderinstitute.com/
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How much risk are you willing to take? While attending the 2013 Ohio Fire and EMS expo in Columbus Ohio last week it seemed clear that first responders don’t fully understand Hoarding Dangers and how they can affect safety. Having the opportunity to travel and meet the brave men and women who serve as first responders is a HUGE honor. In this past week’s travel is where this lack of understanding became crystal clear in these conversations.It’s like clockwork that when someone hears that I am studying responses in Hoarding Conditions they immediately start into a story of a response. These stories always involve the words “lucky” and/or “fortunately” something happened or it could have been bad. As an educator these words are like fingernails on a chalkboard.[caption id="" align="alignright" width="265"] Hoarding Dangers: Glassware Image from http://hoardingwoes.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/hoarding-the-glassware/I would like to share two conversations that came from Ohio. Sharing these conversations is not a judgmental or an effort to “bash” anyone, but rather an attempt for everyone to learn from their experience.Hoarding Danger in Piles:The most troubling story was, by far, the firefighter who described a fire where they had to crawl over piles and piles of belongings to fight the fire. They described hoarding at a level 3 and went on to explain that the interior firefighters had to crawl over multiple stacks of belongings to access the fire, which sounded rather small.The conversation described the difficulties of traversing the stacks and how “lucky” they were to make the fire room and have a successful firefight. With the hair standing up on the back of my neck I began to question them and after some time the “I never thought of that’s came”. Often we all don’t think of a certain danger until someone exposes us to it. Their response is common when dealing with hoarding conditions. Without being judgmental we should all be exposed to the danger possessed by the stacks of stuff.Let’s review some of the factors and why firefighters should not crawl over stacks of stuff and exactly how dangerous it is. Stability of the Piles What are the Stacks Comprised of (magazines, books, Glassware) Collapse Risk Entrapment dangers (wires, yarn, extension cords) Weight of the firefighter Need for rapid escape Height of Stacks (putting firefighter closer to the ceiling and hotter temps)Each of the above danger can place a firefighter in a life or death situation at a moment’s notice. Mix one with another and a recipe for disaster is on the horizon.Example: Firefighters making an interior push choose to crawl over a stack of glassware. The weight of each firefighter plus gear added to the instability of the stacks causes a collapse of the stack downward then adding a side collapse covering the firefighters with sharp glass. You can see the dangers in the above example. Not knowing what is in the piles of belongings should be the number one reason why we should NOT crawl over stacks of belongings. Adding the weight of a firefighter to an unstable situation can lead to a mayday. Do the occupants crawl over the stacks or walk around them?Occupants use the pathways to access the usable space inside the house and so should we. Using the “goat paths” for interior access is the safest way to gain interior access without collapsing piles of belongings on beneath the firefighters. Think about walking to the stage of a theater, would you crawl over the rows of seats or use the isle to access the stage.It was a Clean Hoarder House:Another hoarding story from this trip was a assistance call where they described a Clean Hoarder Environment. This mindset is troubling because of the hidden dangers that may not be seen because of the accumulation of belongings.[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] How clean can it be. Hoarding DangersWhile the environment may look “clean” from the view point of a responder, do we truly know what lies beneath the hoard. Without access to walls, rooms, and the inability to see the floor do we truly know what’s underneath the stacks of stuff. The answer is NO. Stacks of belongings in the home can hide dangers for first responders. Rodents, insects, mold, and animal excrement’s can all be dangerous to responders and all can be hiding beneath stacks of stuff that appear to be clean. Without the ability to clean and maintain a home, due to the hoarding, the occupant may never truly have the ability to clean, sanitize, or remove problem areas. This accumulation can be dangerous for them and us.If you find a hoarding condition that must be entered we MUST assume the worse situation possible and choose to wear our PPE properly. Assuming that the hoarding area is “clean” is an assumption that can lead to Bio Hazard exposure. Once discovered we should take the appropriate precautions and choose to wear ALL of our PPE to make sure we don’t care these dangers home to our families. Review:Emergencies in hoarding conditions should be identified, adjusted for, and then attacked with different approaches by all first responders. Crawling over debris and not choosing to wear proper PPE are just two dangers that could cause injury or death. Make the choice to avoid them both when, not if, you are called to enter the hording environment. ]]>
[caption id="attachment_40" align="alignright" width="180"] Hoarder fire. Picture Courtesy of sdfirephotos.comAre you prepared to call a mayday, right now? One of the most often asked question from my students is how do you know when you should call a mayday. The answer always comes back to, anytime you can’t get yourself out or find yourself in need of assistance, PERIOD! There are many situations that require a firefighter calling the mayday and one that holds true is a firefighter who finds themselves inside the trenches of a Hoarder Home. Without knowing, an interior structural firefighter can find themselves with stacks of belongings that can extend up to ceiling level causing a huge problem in advancing hoses, searching for victims, and any other fire ground tasks.How far do you push into these conditions? At what point do you call a mayday?These are two questions that should be considered by the individual firefighter while using some common variables. How high are the stacks of Stuff Are we experiencing small collapse of belongingsHow high:Determining the level of belongings can alter an interior attack. Making this determination can be the challenge due to smoke conditions. Using the stream of your hose or an extended hand tool can give you an estimate of how high the stacks are. If you carry a 24-36 in haligan you could use it to sweep above your head to determine the height. If you choose this technique you will need to be mindful of the location of the other firefighters with you.Either choice of techniques should be used with caution as the resulting collapse could cover up unannounced victims, secondary means of egress, or uncover hidden pockets of fire. Most often the only part of the hoarder stacks that are burning are the top layer. By knocking over the stacks you could expose more fuel, maybe even more flammable fuels such as newspapers that were once insulated from the heat source.Collapsing Stuff:Whether it’s caused by your sweeping tool or just by itself falling debris should be considered when inside the hoarder environments. Often the pathways, or “goat paths” , that traverse the interior of the hoarding can be narrowed to a level that causes the advancing firefighter to knock stuff over, just by traveling through them. Hoarding Mess:These two variables should be considered if you find yourself inside the hoarder environment. Both can cause an added level of danger to an interior firefighter. Often, hoarding conditions can NOT be identified from the exterior of a building. This can expose an interior firefighter to the dangers once they have passed the point of no return (5 feet inside a structure).If you find yourself in this condition take these two variables into consideration when determining how far you want to push inside.If you are experiencing ceiling level stuff or collapsing debris it might not be a fight that you want to take on. Even worse, if these conditions cause you to become disoriented, entangled or low on air make sure that you are ready to call the mayday and activate your pass alarm. It is better to call and cancel the mayday, than to find yourself in a collapsed stack of stuff and running out of air.If you’re in a mess, use your pass and make sure that hoarding doesn’t trap you inside without a way to escape a rapidly progressing fire condition!If you would like to learn more about hoarder firefighting make sure to check out the Learning Center here on ChambeofHoarders.com. 4 + hours of content on Hoarder Firefighting ]]>
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="223"] New York City Hoarder FireHoarding fire Staten IslandSTATEN ISLAND , N.Y. -- City firefighters rescued 30 small dogs from a blaze that ignited in a two-story home -- apparently owned by a "hoarder" -- in the Clifton section of the borough.The call about a fire at 3 Bowen Street came in at 9:29 p.m. It was under control by 9:59 p.m., said an FDNY spokeswoman."It looks like there was a Colliers' mansion condition in the house; that's what we call a hoarder's house," said an FDNY spokeswoman.Read Morehttp://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/08/fdny_rescues_30_dogs_during_a.html[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="270"] Hoarder FireFirefighters are battling fire at the home of a hoarder in Evendale. The fire broke out Friday around 1:30 pm at 3520 Glendale Milford Road. Crews from Evendale, Glendale and Springdale have been called to help fight the fire. Firefighters were forced to take up a defensive position when they could not get through the front door because of the hoarding. There are no reports of injuries.Read More at: http://www.local12.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/fire-at-hoarders-home-evendale-1471.shtml]]>
After spending the last two days reviewing pages and pages of tragic events, which lead to a Line of Duty Death, searching for the effects of clutter, hoarding, or large amounts of debris. A huge point of learning kept coming up. It wasn't the clutter that killed the firefighter; it was the clutter that kept the firefighter from being able to escape the primary killer….a rapid fire event or collapse.[caption id="attachment_505" align="alignright" width="135"] Photo Courtesy of the Dix Hills Fire Dept,This point of learning kept me up all night long trying to figure out how to share this information with all firefighters in a sensitive, yet stern way. The last thing that any of us should do is disrespect a fellow firefighter when learning how they died, but we all should honor them by learning the how’s and why’s.How’s and why’s constantly included these factors. Extended burn times Hidden pockets of fire. Elevated collapse risks Blocked secondary means of egressWhile some had one, most had two or three of the above factors that contributed to the death of a firefighter. We can make adjustments for these factors, most of us do. But we need to make sure that we are adjusting for them ALL. One can be dangerous, but combine multiple factors together, and it is a firefighter killer.We need to take some steps to make sure we don’t underestimate our enemy, the fire. Using some common assessments during the firefight can give you a buffer of safety and keep you thinking about the potential for death.1) Double burn time estimates2) Use outside crews to coordinate secondary means of egress3) Scan the building for exits while approaching4) Constant updates to command as your hose advance progresses5) Be aware of Hidden FireKeeping these tips and keeping your head will allow you to expect the unexpected, when dealing with the large amounts of clutter. Adjusting how we operate in a hoarding situation will allow us to search, attack, and overhaul the home safely.HOARDER HOMES ARE NOT BREAD AND BUTTER FIRES……...Make sure you Identify, adjust, and attack to make sure we all come home safe!!!!!!]]>
A London hoarder had a lucky escape when her ceiling collapsed under the weight of 20 tonnes of rubbish.Wendy Towers, 61, of Forest Gate, east London, was feared dead and buried beneath the rubble by neighbours when they contacted police on Tuesday after seeing that her living room ceiling had caved in.
Luckily for Ms Towers she was staying with a friend when the ceiling gave way and returned to her home of 30 years last night unaware of what had happened.The waste disposal company involved in clearing the house claimed there was "at least 20 tonnes of stuff in there.” Read the Full ArticleHere: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hoarder-was-feared-dead-after-living-room-ceiling-collapsed-under-20-tonnes-of-rubbish-8752661.html 6"]
Photo Courtesy of http://www.independent.co.uk/ Chamber of Hoarders Learning Point:
Collapse risk should always be considered when entering the Hoarded environmentEven a Ceiling collapse could injure or kill a First Responder
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[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] Hoarder Fire NSW Fire DepartmentOne question that keeps coming up, time and time again, when dealing with hoarder homes, is how do we keep the piles of belongings stable and prevent them from falling on us or the occupant. This is a challenging question with a multiple different answers, dependent on the situation. From fighting a fire to removing a patient on an ems run this challenge can be met head on to keep the stuff off of us. Let’s look at a few simple ways to keep the massive amount of belonging in their place while we perform our tasks.Firefighting:The most challenging part of fighting a fire in hoarder conditions is keeping the belongings in the same place. From a VEIS search to advancing a hoseline dealing with the stacks will be difficult. One way of stabilizing these piles is to avoid them at all costs. The clinical term used is “Goat Paths” and this is how the occupant accesses their home. By using these pathways will allow you to minimize the movement of the belongings, if the pathways are wide enough to allow. Enviably you will know some things over, but if you make an effort to keep the hose low on the stacks and crawl toward the bottom of the pile you can help prevent a collapse.While staying low will not be an end all, cure all it will use the base to keep them in place. Another benefit in staying low is to avoid the heat that you will be exposed to if you choose to go over the piles of belongings. Every 12 or so inches equals 100 degrees and with some hoarding conditions that means a 200 degree spike.If you can’t stay low you may be creative in your thought process. Bringing an attic ladder, or two, or a salvage cover can offer you a tool to help keep the stuff in place. If you choose an attic ladder, try to place it at waist level, when standing, to stabilize the middle of the pile. This will be a labor intensive task and you will need to pay close attention to your air supply. Often times there will not be enough space to lay it flat, so you will need to angle it upward to the ceiling level to capture as much surface area as possible. Choosing a salvage cover will also be challenging. Pre-rigging it for a quick and sometimes not complete deployment will be needed. If fire conditions allow you can carry it inside and deploy it over the pile. The cover will need to have some weight to it, not the lighter weight blue style. During this process you may need to knock over some of the pile to help stabilize it. When choosing this method a thermal imagining camera and due diligence is needed to make sure you are NOT exposing the firefighters or cover to high heat conditions.Accessing the exterior:One pressing problem with hoarding is accessing the exterior of the home. From collections in the back yard to side yard full of belongings gaining access can be a hazardous. Using some of the above mentioned tactics can be used, but also using ground ladders to stabilize the outside belongings may also be used. Laying it on top, to the side, or a combination of both can be used to make pathways of access. Removing of privacy fencing of other barriers may be necessary to make this achievable due to the fact that they often use them to “Hide” their hoard.You may also choose to use a salvage cover in combination with grounds ladders to make a stable environment as well. Much like a ladder chute, to collect water, you can use two ladders and a salvage cover to make pile of belongings more stable to walk around, or worst case, climb over. Climbing over these massive amounts of material can be challenging even with chutes and ladders to help offer stability. ConclusionFrom stabilizing the piles to maneuvering around them entering a hoarded environment offers man challenges. Taking the time to stabilize the pile will allow you a greater level of safety as your exit routes will stay clearer. One thing needs to be remembered when crawling in, your way out may become blocked, no matter how hard you try. Using the paths to fight a fire or access a patient is a “best practice” when dealing with hoarding. Getting creative and using some technical rescue skills will also allow you to enter and exit safely. Remember that unless you practice these you WILL NOT be proficient at them. Add some of these recommendations to your next drill and see if you can stabilize the stacks……..]]>
Welcome back into the chamber of hoarders. After some time away we are back and well into summer preparing emergency responders to face the challenges of compulsive hoarding disorder environments. This week we are going to look back at a training topic that we have visited before, with a new twist. It is vitally important to allow firefighters to communicate their findings on each response; this is even truer when faced with massive amounts of clutter found inside hoarder homes. From pulling on scene to making a interior attack, each and every firefighter should be taught what to say, who to say it too, and how to say it when a hoarding environment is suspected. Example, “ interior to command we are experiencing Heavy Content”, “command received.” Often this is where this line of communication ends, not allowing incoming units or firefighters that didn’t receive this message aware of the potential for danger. It’s time for us to change how we process, receive, and announce situations. [caption id="attachment_388" align="alignright" width="275"] Courtesy of Oxford Pa Fire DepartmentFirefighter LevelBeing the eyes and ears of the responders is a role that each firefighter should be given. Constantly scanning, evaluating, and searching for potential dangers should be trained on until they become automatic. During this training is where we should introduce them to cues and clues that a hoarding situation is present.Here are a few: Blocked doors and Windows Cluttered yards or Porches Cars Full of BelongingsIf you encounter any of these situations a message should be transmitted to command. Announcing the presence of hoarding conditions will put everyone in a more defensive mindset and allow the commander to call for additional resources. Extra manpower, more apparatus, and needed rehab sector are all areas that need reinforced when dealing with hoarder conditions. If the IC doesn’t know they need them, why would they call for them? Make the call, even if you are wrong. If they are not needed they can be released and returned to service. Incident CommandersBeing in command of a fire when the announcement of heavy contents is made requires some direct actions. First action is to communicate the findings to the dispatch center to share the message with everyone responding and on scene. Second action is to call for more help. With hoarding conditions firefighters air consumption will be greater, thus lowering their work time and will need a longer rehab period because of the stresses placed on them while working in these overloaded spaces. Knowing this a commander should request additional units to respond to the scene. Third action should be a second rapid intervention team. If a firefighter is inside and experiences a Mayday, it will require a larger number of firefighters to access and remove them.A good rule of thumb for any commander is the rule of doubles. If you discover hoarding double the number of firefighters, RIT team members, and double the rehab time allowing your firefighters to adequately recover from the larger workload. The worst thing that you could do is place your firefighters into a stressful environment and not allow them time to recover before going back.ConclusionIf you see something, say something!If you hear something, Dispatch Something! If you allow your firefighters to make the announcement of a potential hoarding situation it will allow all commanders to use the rule of doubles and call for the help needed. Hoarding can place us all at a greater risk do to the compression of belongings that has taken years to accumulate. Make the adjustments if you are faced with these conditions and make sure we all go home!]]>
Some amazing stories from Fire Departments around the World have been released in the last week. Here are some links to some challenging repsonses inside hoarding conditions. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-22629605 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2328960/Coroner-criticises-TV-shows-making-light-hoarding-pensioner-trapped-piles-rubbish-dies-blaze.html?ito=feeds-newsxml http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2323959/Mummified-body-Chicana-author-New-Mexico-home-dead-year.html
]]>[caption id="attachment_114" align="alignright" width="300"] Hoarder Fire Photo Courtesy of Keven SmithDuring the past two years I have spent much time and energy studying all aspects of emergency responses inside hoarding conditions. There is one key point that consistently comes up, interacting with the occupants. Hoarding or “Compulsive Hoarding” is “the accumulation of and failure to discard a large number of objects that seem to be useless or of limited value, extensive clutter in living spaces that prevents the effective use of the space causing significant distress or impairment caused by hoarding” (Frost and Hartl..1996). The affects of someone having this disorder takes away the ability to make rational decisions, making process to distinguish between an item with no apparent value and one of great value (example: grocery store coupon vs. baby pictures). This compulsive behavior can cause problems with first responders when faced with a hoarding situation. Interaction can prove difficult first due to the unwillingness to leave and second the emotional trauma of strangers touching their “treasures”, understanding and adjusting for these situations is our job to figure out before we run this call. The first adjustment need to be the terminology that we use. Let us look at why we should change our terminology to include “Heavy Content” when describing a hoarded environment.Politically CorrectA very well respected friend of mine that is in a different career once looked me straight in the eye and said “you must be jaded because of all you have seen and dealt with”. After I digested that statement I realized that is exactly what happens. We are jaded by the countless number of tragic events that we deal with on a daily basis and it most often affects how we interact with someone who is encountering an emergency. The very first thing that happens to set the tone of the call is how we present our self; this includes body language and the terminology that we choose. “This is a trash house” or “pack rat conditions” are two terms that first responders use when the discovery of hoarding conditions are found. How would these terms be received if the occupant overheard their house full of treasures called “trash”? If someone called you a “pack rat” how would you feel? They are unable to see their surroundings in your perspective, but it is important for the brief time you spend on the call that you try to see it from theirs.It is good to remind ourselves of the characteristics of compulsive hoarding disorder. There is deep emotional attachment to belongings, with the inability to distinguish between trash and treasures. This compulsion can cause an overload to the occupant if they overheard these terms broadcasted over the radio or yelled out the window. “Hey chief, this in the interior crews, we have a “trash house”! this statement seems to be a popular description. All it would take would be one radio being around the occupants to have a potential for an emergency for them or you. There have been documented cases of occupants needing to be physically restrained from trying to re-enter a burning home to save their treasures. Another potential danger is the reaction of the occupant in a violent manner towards the first responders. Wouldn’t it make all of our shifts easier if we took away this easy negative and replaced it with such an easy fix. Being as compassionate as possible during all emergencies is the best practice scenario for all of us, this remains true when dealing with the occupants of a hoarded environment. Occupant safety is the biggest concern of any first responder and when the problem is a compulsive hoarder; words can be just as harmful as flames. Removing terms such as trash house and pack rat conditions will help provide a more neutral environment for the occupant while standardizing the terminology used by first responders.Heavy Content: A key termAnother key factor in dealing with hoarded conditions is the amount of belongings and the weight exerted on the structural supports of the building. Collecting a large amount of belongings can lead to an overloaded structure, even before the first ounce of water is applied. Using the term “heavy content” should remind all first responders of the overloading potential and collapse risks associated with dealing with a hoarded environment.A heavy content environment can offer many potential for a collapse, this is usually wither from interior debris falling to a complete collapse of the entire structure. When a building is over loaded with massive amounts of stuff it has the potential to injure or kill first responders. Using the heavy content terminology to identify these potential risks should put all responders at a heighten level of awareness to be looking for collapse. It should also evoke a thought process needed to identify what is being collected inside the building. Identifying items such as books, magazines, or car parts can help with the collapse risk assessment. Another factor that can be used is a hoarding level scale such as the Institute for Challenging Disorganization rating scale of 1-5. If a level 5 is determined, a No-Entry decision may be the best option.Conclusion:Emergency responders are dealing with compulsive hoarding disorder on a daily basis. There is a huge difference in terminology used worldwide used when describing hoarded conditions, but there is huge effort to change that. From “Colliers Mansion Syndrome” to “Pack Rat” conditions it seems like your terminology is based on a geographic locations. It’s time that we standardized terminology to allow us all to understand the conditions, even if we are not familiar with the term. Heavy Content should be used worldwide to allow a standard, politically correct term to describe these conditions. It offers cues to us all, even if you have never heard of the term before. Being mindful of the compulsion and trying to remain respectful to it will allow us to have an improved public perception and protect ourselves from the potential for confrontation with the occupants.]]>
By Assistant Fire Chief Sam Terry[caption id="attachment_387" align="alignright" width="198"] Pictures Courtesy of Oxford Fire DepartmentApril 30, 2013***WITH AUDIO***Box 2104At 0643 hours, the Union Fire Company No. 1 and the Cochranville Fire Company (27) was alerted for a reported house on fire in the 200 block of Old Limestone Road in the Russellville section of Upper Oxford Township.Engine 27-2 was the first to arrive reporting smoke showing. The Engine pulled into the driveway and the crew deployed an 1.75" into the house.Assistant 21 (Terry) arrived immediately after and established the "Old Limestone Command" and requested the Box to be filled. This added the Bart Township Fire Company (51) and the West Grove Fire Company (12/22/32).[caption id="attachment_388" align="alignright" width="275"] Courtesy of Oxford Pa Fire DepartmentEngine 21-1 (Capt. Obenchain) arrived and took the end of the driveway. The crew stretched a 5" supply line to Engine 27-2 and then went into the scene and deployed a second 1.75" handline.Crews encountered intense heat and smoke throughout the house as they attempted to advance. Due to the interior conditions, both crews backed out and began an exterior attack.Read More Here Audio From Fire Here Chamber of Hoarder Learning Points: First arriving supervisor called for the second alarm immediately Interior crews pulled out once they discovered the heavy contents Crews attacked from the sides Rehab sector was established and extended Overhaul was extended to account for the amount of belongings]]>
There are hundreds of hoarders in London and Insp. James Hind says “For the people who live like this, this is normal. This is their life. Everything that you see…holds some sort of meaning to them.”
That can include rotten food, clothing stacked feet high, dust, debris and more that make it difficult to navigate a residence.
Read more: http://london.ctvnews.ca/hoarding-a-serious-safety-issue-for-firefighters-1.1259271#ixzz2RwvFvrZv Hoarding a serious safety issue for firefighters | CTV London News.]]>As first Responders we understand the dangers associated with responding to many types of emergencies. From auto accidents on busy interstates to working house fires with potential hazardous materials we train on these types of events and how to protect ourselves from dangers associated with them. One danger that continues to be overlooked is the exposure risks found inside hoarder homes. Often with the accumulation of massive amounts of belongings come the associated risks from exposure to many types of infectious disease and bio-hazards materials. A first responders can be exposed to these dangers when walking into a situation to assist, such as a emergency medical run or assistance call. Many of us have suspected that the houses we have been going into were dangerous, how dangerous may have been severly underestimated. Let’s review some of the potential exposures first responders may face inside the hoarded environment.Air QualityAirborne contaminants inside a hoarding environment can present dangers not seen by the naked eye. Often when entering these environments first responders do not take in account the unseen dangers. From elevated ammonia levels to aerosolized mold anyone who enters these areas unprotected can be facing danger. These elevated levels can be caused my animal urine, decomposing animals, fecal matter, and mold.One common risk that can be managed with ventilation is the exposure to ammonia. Ammonia is a irritant to the eyes and upper airway tract at or below the exposure threshold of 50-PPM (Parts Per Million). Without the proper application of ventilation the responder can be exposed to up to 150 PPM of ammonia. This is 3 times more than the limit set by OSHA. Ref.. (The Hoarding of animals Research Consortium) Without accurate gas meters the only detection device we will have in our sense of smell. If you identify a heavy content environment and begin to smell high ammonia levels do not enter without aggressively ventilate the structure or use a SCBA to reduce the risks when high ammonia levels are present. Misc. ExposuresWithout understanding the risks first responders are potentially risking their own personal health and safety when entering the hoarded environment. Here is a list of potential exposures that have been documented inside a hoarded environment.Human to Human Listeria Hepatitis A and B Scabies Pneumonia ShingleAnimal to Human Tapeworm Hanta Virus Psittacosis Cat Scratch DiseaseHow many of these diseases are communicable? Without even knowing that we have been exposed we can take them home to our families, my worst fear. If we don’t take the time to protect ourselves from exposures we could potentially place our families at risks.PPE Discussions. What types of PPE do you carry? First responders only have a few choices available when selecting respiratory and splash protection. At a MINIMUM we should be using our N-95 mask and turnout gear when entering a hoarded environment. While a n-95 might not protect you from all contaminants it will offer some level of protection. If the levels are extremely elevated a SCBA can be used to enter the environment. Choosing to use a SCBA is the best option that we have available as first responders but does offer some challenges interacting with the occupant, if conscious. We will have more info on that coming, but for this article just realizing that you should be wearing one will be enough.Protecting yourself from contact with biohazards can be another challenge as the belongings will be stacked so high touching them will be unavoidable. Using gowns, coveralls, tyvex suits, or turnout gear can offer contact protection as you enter. While none of these seem practical, except your turnout gear, they should be considered when entering this dangerous environment. One key point is the potential for patient and/or responder decontamination. Conclusion:First responders worldwide have been dealing with hoarding conditions for years. When was the last time you considered that the dangers inside can harm you and your family. Taking the time to identify that hoarding is present, choosing the most appropriate levels of PPE, ventilating the area, and having decontamination available you will increase your safety and reduce the exposure to harmful materials. Would you ever go into a fire unprotected? Hoarding conditions can cause multiple problems for first responders and we have the potential to be “Most Exposed” during an assistance or EMS call. Take the time to identify, adjust, and attack hoarding with the proper level of PPE.]]>