Service Delivery 3

Salvage
Section 1.1(e) of the FIRE SERVICES ACT, 1947 requires Fire Authorities to: 'secure efficient arrangements for ensuring that reasonable steps are taken to prevent or mitigate damage to property resulting from measures taken in dealing with fires in the area of the fire authority'. Simply `The limitation or prevention of avoidable damage, before, during or after a fire. ` The effectiveness of salvage operations depends on the speed and skill with which Brigades can put such operations into effect. At a large fire, effective salvage can mean the difference between a total loss and, possibly, closure of a firm, and comparatively minor disruption. At a small fire, lack of proper salvage work can result in greater damage from smoke, water and other causes than from the fire itself.

The value of salvage

Damage is not restricted to the burning of property. Damage may also be caused by: Heat, smoke, steam, fumes, condensation; Water or other extinguishing agents; Debris, dirt and breakages; The effect of adverse weather conditions on exposed interiors and their contents; Vandalism and pilfering at insecure premises.

The aim and potential of salvage

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The aim of salvage is to minimise the losses due to a fire and the operations undertaken to extinguish it. Studies have shown, however, that even limited salvage can save a considerable sum of money. Firefighters should always bear in mind that not only a quick extinguishment of the fire, but also an effective salvage operation, both during and after firefighting, is very important in reducing damage and consequent cost.

The extent of salvage

The level of specific salvage work undertaken can vary considerably, much effective salvage is in fact achieved solely by good firefighting practice and many activities contribute to both salvage and the efficient tackling of a fire. The success of salvage decreases as the delay between the start of firefighting and the start of salvage work increases.

Salvage procedure
Effective salvage is a continuous process and involves a wide range of activities and considerations. The various aspects can, however, be arranged in the following groups, which follow a rough sequence:

Preliminary work
Steps can be taken before a fire occurs which could reduce the potential losses. Advice to occupiers about how they store their goods, any fire protection measures to be taken and general advice during 1.1(d) visits Advice to occupiers on pre-planning salvage considerations, keeping up to date on the items, order and the location to which they are to be removed Regular salvage exercises to validate the salvage pre-planning.

Considerations to be borne in mind whilst fighting the fire

The way firefighters undertake their duties can assist salvage operations
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Keeping the amount of water used to a minimum Reduce the number and size of jets in use as soon as operations will allow Use hand controlled branches and hose reels where possible Replace damaged hose lines quickly to prevent unnecessary water damage Haul hose lines aloft to keep the exits clear and reduce the amount of hose required Drain dry risers to the outside of a building to prevent unnecessary water damage

Active measures to prevent avoidable damage

Cover up any items which cannot be removed to prevent damage Remove water where possible to prevent standing water causing unnecessary damage Keep drain holes clear of debris, allowing water to flow away

Mitigating the effects of the fire and firefighting operations

Keep water on the move and if practical to do so divert the water to the lowest floor in order to remove it using pumps Assist in the removal of smoke from the building to prevent smoke damage and make the working conditions easier

Subsequent rehabilitation and protection of a property and its contents

When firefighting operations are complete, assist in the removal of any remaining water and debris once any investigation has been completed Open windows and doors to allow ventilation and the drying of the premises to begin Attempt to make the property secure, to prevent theft or further damage by vandalism

On arrival
The Incident Commander or the officer with delegated responsibility for salvage will note immediately the type of building involved, its use, the position and extent of the fire, and the possibilities for salvage. He/she should be familiar, in general, with the recovery
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value of different items but, if the occupier is present, their advice should be sought on areas or items of value. Subject to any general, over-riding considerations, this advice should be followed as much as possible. The Incident Commander should instigate salvage operations with as little delay as possible, remembering that later salvage will not compensate for early losses. In some cases the employees at a particular work place may be able to help, the owner may in fact have already established a damage control team. Such assistance must, of course, be under the direction of the Fire Brigade Incident Commander who will pay particular attention to the safety of personnel as well as salvage.

Salvage considerations
Firefighters can give basic assistance to salvage by undertaking their duties in such a way that they do not cause unnecessary damage or undo salvage work already carried out. This is particularly so where the firefighting is less urgent, as at a chimney fire, but firefighters should always bear in mind their obligations in this respect. In particular they should: Keep the amount of water used to a minimum Reduce the number and size of nozzles as soon as the situation permits Use hand-controlled branches and hose-reel jets where possible Move to smaller jets, fog, or spray as soon as they can Replace damaged and leaking hose quickly Use lines to haul hose up the outside of buildings Drain dry risers to the outside of a building

At neighbouring premises
Firefighters will obviously attempt to keep the fire from spreading to neighbouring premises. They should also try to ensure that their firefighting operations do not cause damage there. Water is the most likely cause. It can enter under doors or through
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defective brickwork in separating walls, via dislodged or broken slates or tiles, through broken or partially open windows, and through flooding due to the blocking of drains. When firefighters have to take hose through neighbouring buildings to direct their jets effectively, water can spread from burst hose, couplings blowing out, the turning on of supplies before the branch is connected, and improperly drained hose being carried out of the building. Firefighters should guard against these possibilities.

Active prevention of avoidable damage

Whatever care firefighters take in their use of water there will remain some risk of damage from that which has to be used. It will therefore be of prime importance to provide some protection against this. Covering items susceptible to damage with waterproof sheets is a good way of giving protection. The items most at risk are those on the floors below the fire. In private dwellings, offices and medium sized shops, firefighters should move furniture and fittings to the safest place in a room, lift stock from the floor onto tables, counters, benches, shelves or other support, improvising if necessary, and sheet them over. They should repeat this procedure from room to room and floor to floor. It is often better to use transparent polythene sheeting rather than salvage sheeting when covering fragile items, so that it is possible to see what is underneath.

Burst pipes
Water escaping from burst or fractured pipes can cause additional damage. When this is happening, firefighters should close the stopcock or, if that is inaccessible, flatten the pipes on either side of the burst. Water from a fractured pipe can be diverted to a suitable place for disposal.

Reducing smoke damage

It will play an important part in salvage but firefighters must bear in mind that careless ventilation can have a serious effect on the fire and cause it to spread. They must therefore carry it out only on the orders of the Incident Commander and in the manner prescribed. When appropriate they should use any forms of artificial ventilation available
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to assist them, such as fans or smoke extractors. They should also see that smoke doors remain closed and that other communicating doors are not opened unnecessarily if this would cause the smoke to spread.

Drying premises.
The actions firefighters will have already undertaken should have protected goods against water damage and removed the bulk of waste water. Any remaining should now be drained away e.g. by making channels through debris or piercing a ceiling with a ceiling hook to release water trapped there, having first placed a suitable container below Firefighters must exercise caution in handling debris, both because it may contain items of value and because its examination whilst undisturbed can help investigation into the cause of the fire.

Roofs
In addition to covering any item, which might have had to be taken outside, firefighters may also have to protect a building and the goods still within, when the roof has been damaged. It may be necessary to move items directly below a hole in the roof, but in any case firefighters should try to cover the hole if possible. Salvage sheets will give protection if the hole is of a limited size, ensuring the salvage sheet is adequately secured.

Some methods of securing salvage sheets onto a roof.

Premise security
If present, the key-holder will be responsible for the security of the premises once the fire has been extinguished. If the key-holder is not by then present, the Fire Brigade Incident Commander will ensure before leaving that, doors and windows are as well secured as possible. The police should also be informed and asked to take responsibility.

Salvage equipment
The following are among the principal items of equipment used by Brigades in carrying out salvage: Axes Brooms Buckets Chisels Cutting tools for steel and brickwork Drain cover keys Forks Hammers Pumps (light, ejector and submersible) Hand saws Smoke extractor fans Bolt croppers Brushes [hand] Ceiling hooks Crowbars Dams Electric lights (hand lamps, floodlights) Gloves (rubber and plastic) Lines Salvage sheets Shovels Spades

The salvage sheet is one of the simplest and most useful items employed in salvage work When using salvage sheets, firefighters should take care not to tear them on sharp edges and projections. They should never nail them down except through the eyelets. When removing sheets, firefighters should lift, not drag them off, and fold them. At the station, they should clean, dry and examine the sheets for damage before restowing them.

Health and Safety considerations

To satisfy the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, personnel are reminded of the duty to take care for the health and safety of themselves and others as required by Section 7 of the Act. Full firefighting kit must be worn

Always be aware of your surroundings, remember that conditions can rapidly deteriorate Open manhole covers may be encountered, to prevent injury lay them diagonally across the opening When shovelling debris or making holes in ceilings, eye protection must be worn

Lift and carry items as instructed, to prevent injury Place equipment in a safe place after use to prevent the risk of injury

Bibliography Manual of Firemanship Book 12 Part 4