Salvage and Overhaul

SALVAGE AND
OVERHAUL
SAFETY
 An essential component of every

procedure carried out by firefighters.
Safety should be applied to every
activity and cannot be considered as
separate activities.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY
 One of the greatest concerns for fire

fighters performing salvage and
overhaul procedures is the structural
integrity of the building.
 Note:
Fire crews must consider the
effects of their actions before they
further damage a structure.
FACTORS THAT CAN
AFFECT STRUCTURAL
INTEGRITY
Water Load
 During fire suppression large quantities of

water are applied to the fire. The weight of
this water can contribute significant stress to
the structural components of a building.
Burned Floors
 Floors that are severely damaged by fire

will often collapse by just adding the
weight of a fire fighter , water or fire
fighting equipment. This is particularly
dangerous if the floor is damage from a
fire on a lower floor.
Spalled Concrete
 Extremely high temperatures can affect the

integrity of concrete structures. The first
indication that a concrete structure has been
damaged by high temperatures is spalling.
 Spalling can take the form of cracks or
chipping in the concrete.
 Is a warning sign and when this occurs it
may be an indication that the concrete
structure can no longer support the load it
was engineered to carry.
Electrical Lines and Wiring
 Walls are sometimes damaged by

suppression activities it can affect the
structural integrity of the building and can
expose electrical wiring that is normally
house within walls.
 NOTE:
 The electric utility company should be
summoned to all significant fires.
OTHER THINGS AND
CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE
CONSIDER DURING OPERATIONS
 Fatigue
 Lifting capability
 The buddy system
 Freelancing
 NOTES
 Making the scene safe Public safety
 Restricting entry
SALVAGE
 is the process of applying techniques that

minimize damage to contents and structure
during and after fire suppression.
GOAL OF SALVAGE
 To reduce property loss from fire, water and

smoke damage through the application of
salvage techniques.
PURPOSE OF SALVAGE
 Loss Reduction
 Public Relations
 Clean-Up
Loss Reduction
 By effectively applying proper salvage

techniques, fire fighters can reduce the
impact of fire.
 Saving unburned and undamaged
property is more important than
attempting to mitigate the fire in a part of
the structure that is already totally
engulfed in fire.
Public Relations
 A positive departmental reputation

reflects onto individual fire fighters and
increases pride in their work.
 Good public relations also foster better
communication with the public.
 Fire safety programs are more
successful if the public is receptive to
the department.
Clean-Up
 The easiest way to clean up a mess is to

avoid making it in the first place
 Proper application of salvage techniques
not only reduces damage but reduces
the amount of clean-up required after
suppression.
Caution:
The crew members must be aware of

their surroundings at all times to ensure
that they do not find themselves in the
wrong place at the wrong time. Although
the content of a structure is important to
its owner, it is not worth injuring a
firefighter.

SALVAGE EQUIPMENT
 a. Salvage Covers
 b. Water Removal Equipment
 Smoke Reduction Equipment
SALVAGE METHODS
 Salvage is an on-going process that

applies to all firefighting activities.
Although it is not a specific procedure,
there are methods that can be applied
that specifically minimize damage.
 Salvage methods can be divided into
four general categories:
1. Arranging Contents
 The best way to protect the contents of a

building is to arrange the contents so they
can be covered and damaged can be
minimized.
 Once all the contents of a room have been
added to the arrangement in the centre of
the room, cover it with salvage cover.
 Tuck the cover under the edge of the
arrangement to keep water from pooling on
the cover.
2. Suppression Tactics
 a. Fast Suppression
 The faster a fire is suppressed, the less damage it will cause to the
structure.
 However, damaging the structure to speed fire suppression can defeat
the purpose.
 b.Drawing a defensive Line
 When the portion of a building is lost, then change the focus to
minimizing the spread of fire to undamaged portions of the building.
 c. Attack from Unburned Side
 The direction from which fire is attacked can affect the direction of travel
of the fire.
 Attacking a fire from the unburned side tends to drive the fire back onto
itself.
 d. Proper Quantity and Application of Water
 The minimum amount of water required for suppression should be
used and should be applied to one of two places:
 Where the heat is being generated (seat of fire)
 Where the heat is gathering (ceilings)
Note:
 Fog stream absorbs more heat

faster than the straight stream and
causes less damage. A fog stream
is the best choice for applying a fire
stream when needed for fire fighter
protection and for application where
the heat is gathering. However, if the
seat of fire is located, a solid stream is
far more effective and extinguishes the
fire faster with less water.
3. Controlling Water Run-
Off
Water run-off is the downward flowing
and pooling of water in areas with poor
or no drainage that stresses the
structural integrity of the building.
OVERHAUL
OVERHAUL
is the process of placing the property
in a safe and secure condition by
searching for and extinguishing
hidden or remaining fires. It occurs
after the fire is under control.
Goal Of Overhaul
 is to leave the property in safe and secure

condition.
Purpose of Overhaul

a. Prevention Of Further Loss
From Fire
 b. Recognition and Preservation
of Fire Cause Evidence.
c. Risk Management.
d. Public Relations.
Extinguishing Hidden Fires.
 A hidden fire may smoulder

behind a wall or in another concealed
location. When the wall is opened and
the fire is exposed to an oxygen rich
atmosphere, the result can be explosive.
Therefore, a charged hose line should
be available at all times during overhaul
to extinguish hidden fires.
Fire Watch.
 Fire watch with charged hose lines

should be established during
overhaul.
To watch the scene area for signs of fires
and for possible dangers to fire fighters
conducting overhaul.
To respond immediately in the case of fire.
DANGERS OF OVERHAUL
 Fire fighters should exercise extreme caution during overhaul and
be aware of the following potential dangers:
 Weakened floors, ceilings, roofs, stairways
 Weakened structural components and unreinforced masonry walls
 Spalled concrete
 Heavy objects that may have weakened support
 Weakened wood-framed doorways
 Buckled steel roof members
 Walls pushed outward from elongation of steel roof supports
 Decomposed mortar in brick joints
 Exterior signs or attachments with weakened anchor points
 Hidden smoldering fire that requires only exposure to oxygen rich
air to flare up
Overhaul Methods
 1. Separate Debris
 2. Open voids to locate hidden fire
 3. Extinguish Fire
 4. Retrieve Equipment
 5.Transferring Responsibility for the
Scene

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SALVAGE AND

 An essential component of every

 One of the greatest concerns for fire

 During fire suppression large quantities of

 Floors that are severely damaged by fire

 Extremely high temperatures can affect the

 Walls are sometimes damaged by

 is the process of applying techniques that

 To reduce property loss from fire, water and

 By effectively applying proper salvage

 A positive departmental reputation

 The easiest way to clean up a mess is to

The crew members must be aware of

 Salvage is an on-going process that

 The best way to protect the contents of a

 Fog stream absorbs more heat

 is to leave the property in safe and secure

 A hidden fire may smoulder

 Fire watch with charged hose lines

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