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New national statistics claim that even with an adequate smoke alarm, a house fire today can become uncontrollable in less than three minutes. Carroll County Fire Chief Tracy Smith says reasons for that include how homes are built today and home furnishings.
He says these are of the many stats that he is well aware of in keeping his fire-fighters as safe as possible. “Today’s construction methods incorporate light-weight building components and the more that we learn about trusses and their performance under fire greatly enhances the fire fighter’s safety,” he says. “Codes are in place for building… for people to get out… not for fire fighters to go in. Therefore, with this more common light-weight construction, we have to be more vigilant than ever in our tactics.”
When arriving at a fire, tactics include ventilating roofs, opening concealed spaces, determining the fire location and keeping the commander aware of the fire’s progress. “This light-weight construction nowadays is in some cases less than a two-by-four, within four minutes is totally burned through and therefore you have quick-collapse time.”
Smith encourages area residents use extra pre-cautions in preventing fires this time of year as colder months do see an increase in home and business fires.