Salvage and Overhaul
Loss Control
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
1
Objectives
• List the benefits of loss control to the
public and the fire department.
• State the purpose of salvage.
• State the purpose of overhaul.
• Select facts about salvage planning and
procedures.
• Select facts about salvage tools,
equipment, and materials.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
2
Objectives (cont.)
• Match to their correct uses tools and
equipment used in overhaul.
• Select facts about overhaul safety and
methods.
• List the four basic methods of detecting
hidden fires.
• Select from a list, indicators of hidden
fires.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
3
Objectives (cont.)
• Provide examples of information that
should be noted / reported en-route or
in the vicinity of the fire scene.
• Provide examples of information that
should be noted / reported on arrival at
the fire scene.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
4
Objectives (cont.)
• Provide examples of information that
should be noted / recorded during
firefighting.
• Select facts about preserving and
protecting evidence during overhaul.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
5
Physical Objectives
• Fold and roll salvage covers.
• Spread salvage covers from various
folds and rolls.
• Clean, inspect, and repair salvage
covers.
• Construct and splice water chutes.
• Construct a catchall.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
6
Physical Objectives (cont.)
• Cover or close building openings.
• Use an infrared scanner.
• Remove debris and route water from a
structure.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
7
The Value Of Loss Control
• Adds value to the fire and rescue department’s
services.
• Promotes firefighting as a craft.
• Builds goodwill within the community.
• Receives praise and recognition in the media.
• Gives firefighters a feeling of accomplishment.
• Leads to better morale and efficiency among
firefighters.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
8
Purpose Of Salvage
• Methods and operating procedures associated
with firefighting that aid in reducing primary
and secondary damage during firefighting
operations.
(I.F.S.T.A. Textbook Definition)
• To reduce damage from fire, smoke, water,
heat, cold, or weather during and after a fire.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
9
Purpose Of Overhaul
• To search out and extinguish hidden
fires.
• To protect the scene after the fire.
• To preserve evidence of the fire’s origin
and cause.
• To restore premises to safe condition.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
10
General Planning For Effective
Salvage Operations
• Salvage S.O.P.’s.
• Special pre-plans for buildings with
high-value contents.
• Awareness of contents vital to
businesses in commercial occupancies.
• Working with loss control
representatives of local businesses.
• When to begin salvage operations.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
11
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
12
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
13
When Salvaging Household
Furnishings and Commercial Stock
• Gathering in close piles in center of
room.
• Placing high objects at ends of piles and
using rolled rugs as ridgepoles.
• Placing small objects (pictures, curtains,
lamps, etc.) on larger objects such as
couches or beds.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
14
When Salvaging Household
Furnishings and Commercial Stock
• Using water-resistant materials to raise
furniture off wet floor.
• The challenges of commercial occupancies:
– Ceiling-to-floor display shelves.
– Contents stacked too close to ceiling.
– Un-palleted storage.
– Dangers of high-piled stock.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
15
When Salvaging Household
Furnishings and Commercial Stock
• Removing large quantities of water by:
– Cleaning clogged drains.
– Removing toilet fixtures.
– Creating scuppers.
– Using existing sanitary piping systems.
– Affixing chutes.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
16
Typical Characteristics Of
Salvage Covers
• May be canvas, vinyl, or disposable
plastic.
• Reinforced corners and hems.
• Purpose of grommets in the edge hems.
• Difficulty of adapting plastic covers to
traditional salvage cover folds.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
17
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
18
Salvage Equipment Location
• Why is it recommended that salvage
equipment be located in one area on
the apparatus?
– Eliminates the need to search the
apparatus for equipment.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
19
Salvage Equipment Location
• How should smaller tools and
equipment be stored on the apparatus?
– In a specially designated salvage tool box
or other container to make them easier to
carry.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
20
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
21
Maintenance Of Salvage Covers
• The proper cleaning, drying, and
repairing of reusable salvage covers
increases their span of service.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
22
Maintenance Of Salvage Covers
• Rinse with a hose stream.
• Scrubbing with a brush and mild soap
and water for heavy soiled areas.
• Rinse.
• Allow to air dry.
• Inspect for damage.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
23
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
24
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
25
Salvage Equipment
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Wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers.
Plastic, knife, nails, screws, duct tape.
Hammers, staple gun, pry bar.
Squeegees, brooms, water vacuum.
Scoop shovels, debris buckets.
Equipment based upon local service area
needs!!!
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
26
Methods Of Folding, Rolling, and
Spreading Salvage Covers
• One firefighter spread with a rolled
salvage cover.
• One firefighter spread with a folded
salvage cover.
• Two firefighter spread with a folded
salvage cover.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
27
One Firefighter Spread With A
Rolled Salvage Cover
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
28
One Firefighter Spread With A
Folded Salvage Cover
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
29
Two Firefighter Spread With A
Folded Salvage Cover
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
30
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
31
Water Chutes
• Salvage covers can be used to create
water chutes to direct water out of a
structure to prevent further damage to
the building and its contents.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
32
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
33
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
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Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
35
Construction Of A Catchall
• A catchall can be constructed from a
salvage cover and placed on the floor to
catch water. They can hold up to a
couple hundred of gallons of water.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
36
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
37
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
38
Covering Openings
• Cover all exterior openings to help
prevent further damage to property by
weather.
• Cover broken or missing doors or
windows with plywood, heavy plastic,
and/or similar materials.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
39
Covering Openings
• Cover openings in roofs with plywood,
roofing paper, heavy plastic sheathing,
or tar paper.
• If using roofing paper, tar paper, or
plastic, use appropriate roofing nails to
tack down the edges with laths
between the nails and the material.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
40
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
41
Overhaul
• Is it necessary to wear self-contained
breathing apparatus (S.C.B.A.) when
performing overhaul?
– YES!!! It is essential for firefighters to
wear proper personal protective equipment
(P.P.E.), including S.C.B.A.; eye protection
should be worn if it is safe to remove selfcontained breathing apparatus.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
42
Overhaul
• What size hoseline do you need for
overhaul?
• What kind of appliances may be used to
extinguish small fires during minor
overhaul operations?
• What should firefighters do with the
hoseline during overhaul operations to
prevent water damage?
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
43
What Other Tools Will Be Needed
For Overhaul?
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
44
What Is The First Step In
Overhaul?
• Determine if the condition of this
building is safe to perform overhaul?
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
45
What Two Major Factors Affect
The Condition Of The Building?
• Fire intensity and amount of water used!
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
46
What Are Some Signs Of
Structural Instability?
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Weakened floors.
Spalled concrete.
Weakened steel roof members.
Offset walls due to elongated steel
supports.
• Opened mortar in wall joints.
• Melted wall ties.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
47
What Is The Second Step In
Overhaul Operations?
• Searching for and extinguishing hidden
fires.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
48
Utilize Senses To Search For
Hidden Fires
• Touch
– Feel walls and floors for heat with the back of a
ungloved hand.
• Sound
– Popping or cracking of fire burning.
– Hissing of steam.
• Electronic Sensors
– Thermal (heat) signature detection.
– Infrared signature detection.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
49
When May The Process Of Looking For
Extension and Hidden Fires Begin?
• After the fire has been knocked down
and the person responsible for
determining the cause and origin of the
fire says that it is all right.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
50
Where Does The Process Of
Looking For Hidden Fires Begin?
• In the area of actual fire involvement.
This will extend away from the area of
origin to the area above the fire, below
the fire, and to all sides of the fire.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
51
What Are The Four Basic Methods
Of Detecting Hidden Fires?
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Sight
Touch
Sound
Electronic Sensors
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
52
What Are Some Ways Firefighters
Can Detect Hidden Fires By Sight?
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Discoloration of materials.
Peeling paint.
Smoke issuing from cracks.
Cracked plaster.
Dried wallpaper.
Burned areas.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
53
What Are Some Ways Firefighters
Can Detect Hidden Fires By Touch?
• Feeling walls with back of ungloved
hand.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
54
What Are Some Ways That Firefighters
Can Detect Hidden Fires By Sound?
• Listening for popping or crackling of fire
burning, listening for hissing steam.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
55
Use Of Electronic Sensors
• They use a laser to detect a
temperature of an object, such as a
wall. With a higher than normal
temperature may indicate a hidden fire.
A Thermal Imagining Camera (T.I.C.)
would also work in much the same way.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
56
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
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Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
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Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
59
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
60
Methods Of Checking For Fire
Extension and Hidden Fires
• If floor beams are burned at their ends
where they enter a party wall, flushing
voids in wall with water and check the
far side of the wall for hidden fire.
• Removing, checking, and extinguishing
insulation materials.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
61
Methods Of Checking For Fire
Extension and Hidden Fires
• If fire has burned around doors and
windows, opening door and window
casings and extinguishing fires.
• If fire has burned around a combustible
roof or cornice, opening the cornice and
inspecting for hidden fires.
• If sensory equipment indicates, remove
materials and check for hidden fires.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
62
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
63
Protecting and Preserving Evidence
• En-Route or In Vicinity:
– Time of day.
– Weather and natural hazards.
– Man-made barriers.
– People leaving scene.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
64
Information That Should Be Noted
On Arrival At The Fire Scene
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Time of arrival and extent of fire.
Wind direction / velocity.
Doors and windows.
Location of fire.
Containers or cans.
Burglary tools.
Familiar faces.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
65
Information That Should Be Noted
During Firefighting Operations
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Unusual odors.
Abnormal fire behavior.
Out-of-place items.
Obstacles to firefighting.
Incendiary devices.
Trailers.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
66
Information That Should Be Noted
During Firefighting Operations
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Structural alterations.
Fire patterns.
Heat intensity.
Documents.
Fire detection and protection systems.
Intrusion alarms.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
67
Information That Should Be Noted
During Firefighting Operations
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Location of fire.
Personal possessions.
Household items.
Equipment / stock.
Business records.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
68
Responsibilities Of Firefighters
After The Fire
• Report observations to officer-incharge.
• Write chronological account of
circumstances personally observed if
fire is suspicious origin.
• Do not move debris.
• Do not throw debris outside in piles.
• Remain watchful for further evidence.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
69
General Methods For Protecting
and Preserving Evidence
• Do not gather or handle evidence
unless absolutely necessary in order to
preserve it.
• Do not change the evidence in any way
other that what is absolutely necessary
in the extinguishment of the fire.
• Preserve footprints and tire tracks under
cardboard boxes.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
70
General Methods For Protecting
and Preserving Evidence
• Close dampers and other openings to
preserve partially or completely burned
papers found in a stove or furnace or
fireplace.
• Leave charred documents found in containers
such as wastebaskets, small file cabinets, and
binders that can be moved easily; keep the
items away from drafts.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
71
Summary
• Benefits of loss control to the public and the fire
department.
• Purpose of salvage.
• Purpose of overhaul.
• Information about salvage planning and procedures,
salvage tools, and equipment.
• Information about tools and equipment used in
overhaul.
• Select facts about overhaul safety and methods.
• List the four basic methods of detecting hidden fires.
• Select from a list, indicators of hidden fires.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
72
Summary (cont.)
• Provided examples of information that should
be noted / reported en-route or in the vicinity
of the fire scene.
• Provided examples of information that should
be noted / reported on arrival at the fire
scene.
• Provided examples of information that should
be noted / recorded during firefighting.
• Select facts about preserving and protecting
evidence during overhaul.
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
73
Questions
Frederick County / Winchester
Basic Fire Academy
74