Contra Costa County Firefighters Battle House Fire in Brentwood

At 5:30 pm Sunday, August 6... Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Firefighters responded to a report of a working structure fire in the 100 block of Cottonwood Common in the City of Brentwood. This was an exterior fire that made its way into the home and through the attic.

[@jerryhughes5380]

Fires are Chemistry and Physics. When I was a new firefighter in 1987 the fire academy taught us fire behavior for about 3 hours, which was the national average. It wasn't until around 2010 where Underwriters Laboratories (UL) began researching fire behavior for the fire service, conducting live burns in their Northbrook Illinois burn facility. UL was able to document valuable, repeatable fire conditions and evaluate their outcomes. From exterior fire stream applications to roof ventilation, UL quantified the impact of Fire Department procedures on the fire ground which led to some changes to policy and procedures within the fire service. Unfortunately not all fire departments understand the data that UL provided on roof ventilation, especially where the effects of releasing Carbon Dioxide is concerned. What's being left unsaid by UL is that opening a roof to vent smoke and fire gasses also releases a massive amount of CO2. Carbon Dioxide is burned carbon that prevents oxygen from attaching to the unburned carbons (smoke and fire gasses) in the atmosphere of a house fire. For every pound of carbon that burns (oxidizes) in a fire it produces almost 3 pounds of carbon dioxide. CO2 crowds out oxygen and prevents the ignition of fire gasses. Cutting a hole in a roof to vent smoke allows oxygen in as CO2 escapes. That's why you saw this fire turn from smoke to flames so quickly. Also leaving the garage (overhead door) open only feeds the fire the oxygen it craves to increase the amount of flame spread and smoke development inside the structure. All this is evidenced by the ineffectiveness of the interior fire stream that shot vertically past the flames where the roof was cut open. The same fire stream would have produced enough steam to stop the progress of the fire with a small amount of water without cutting a hole in the roof. Using hydraulic ventilation would remove any remaining heat and smoke through a broken window in the fire area. Lastly, UL has opened our eyes to the fact that we are fighting fires that burn hotter and faster than the fires we fought 50 years ago. The abundance of synthetic materials has led to what's known as the modern synthetic rich fuel environment in a fire. Synthetic fuels are petroleum based (Oil based). Water and oil don't mix and you should never throw plain water on an oil fire, it only makes it worse. My suggestion: Add about an ounce of structural firefighting foam concentrate per gallon of water to fight structure fires. The surfactant molecule in Class A foam breaks the high surface tension of water and bonds the water to the carbon making it too wet to burn. Chief Hughes Battalion 1 (retired) Chicago FD

[@cascadianapplications7124]

Thanks for the information Chief.

[@jacksonpegram5153]

Solid take.

[@portagepete1]

This is why they need to privatize the fire department. All that's needed here is somebody that wants to put out a fire.

[@user-ej9jq2zf1y]

That is the way it is done...ventilate and vacate the roof! Great job truckies!

[@trkcap]

Good fire! 🔥 Truck ops/saws looked solid. I wouldn’t perch on that ridge top, that’s your fail point. I always ask for a line to the roof. Running deck fires, façade, interior team has not set up yet. Ect. Every Truck Captain is a little different. Give it up for the interior! GET SOME 🔥

[@ronfreniere8769]

Sure was a lot of fire blowing out the roof, a as the video started from the ventilation work. Hopefully there were no injuries to anyone related to this incident. Thank you to all firefighters everywhere for protecting the citizens of your coverage area.

[@pudster4115]

Just a" Tuesday " for the truckee

[@pudster4115]

Makes life easier for the interior crew

[@ronfreniere8769]

@@pudster4115 yeah it sure does, and no need to vent the roof.

[@rd4660]

Ohhh that mother started ripping when they vented the roof. Holy cow!!

[@larrybaker5316]

i see a lot of flames, firemen standing, and not much putting water on the fire, is this normal?

[@RichardHERVIEUX]

It is there......

[@Stepinup]

They would have to be the worst organised bunch of clowns ive seen

[@manfreddietrich9028]

US-amerikanische Gebäude sind wie vorsätzliche Körperverletzung.

[@robertwalton7307]

God Bless ya guys. great job get off the roof now! In the east everyone would be setting up the wash-it-all-away machine. Great Job

[@rataMata-po2bx]

From here, the couch, this is what it looks like. They vented way too early which feed the fire allowing it to grow causing more damage. Put water on the fire, once under control… vent.

[@michaelhoward7153]

They used what they had and got the job done. But Its been shown that venting a roof should only be done in limited cases. It causes the Chimney effect causing a fire to expand. Smoke is combustible and only needs air for it catch on fire of which roof venting causes. Dare to to show me any large fire that does not go from small to large by venting the roof. Best solution is roof breach lines that are used in the south. Better yet a cold cut breach line at over 50mb. Requires 1 person who can do it from roof of structure or interior. Maybe 3 gallons of water . To many departments have failed to embarrass modern techniques or equipment. Rail roads kept firemen on trains to feed coal to engine years after trains were not fueled by coal.

[@bobdambra4421]

The truck company guys looked very frightened... It was only a single level unit. They are In dire need of truck drills

[@darrellperkins2714]

GREAT JOB

[@danb2122]

Wow that super heated smoke and air flashed over quickly thru the vent. I understand the reasoning for venting the fire so crews can work interior ops. But doesn’t venting make the fire spread and grow faster? Just a question.

[@Edward-pu1wt]

Vertical ventilation is the removal of super-heated toxic gases and smoke by allowing it to take its natural traveling path - UP!

[@Cthippo1]

It can if it's done wrong. The critical part is cutting the hole in the right place because by opening that hole you are creating a flow path and feeding more oxygen to the fire. If you di it right the fire will follow the flowpath up and vent harmlessly to atmosphere, improving conditions inside. If you do it wrong and cut the hole someplace away from where the fire is burning, then the fire will still follow that flow path to the vent, but now it is travelling through previously uninvolved spaces, spreading the fire. Ventilation does increase the rate of fire growth, so it is important to not ventilate until you are ready to put water on the fire. A structure should not be vented until the attack lines are in place and ready to put water on the fire, hence coordination is critical. Vertical ventilation from the roof is a high risk, but potentially beneficial tool in the right curcumstances.

[@danb2122]

@@Cthippo1 that makes a lot of sense. Thank you for answering!

[@michaelmrvosh]

​@@Cthippo1There is no good place to put the vent when the fire is out of control. The vent will only make the fire grow and conditions will get worse. You are only supposed to vent when water is being put on the fire and the fire is under control.

[@ericscott430]

@@Cthippo1 I agree with you 100% I'm a LT of a truck company and we emphasize this all the time we typically use horizontal ventilation with vertical ventilation being kind of a last resort and also the engine company must have water on the fire as its being performed.

[@jakee8704]

Good coverage

[@MrUnknown-wf1xf]

Ok if you're going to cut holes in the roof wouldn't be good idea to bring a charged line up with you also to help extinguish the fire to instead of various fire fighters falling through the roof with that much heat,fire instead or standing around watching the place burn ?

[@davidweston6653]

You’ll notice the streams of water coming up from below. There are firefighters down there. If you direct water from the roof you will literally cook/scald those people

[@JB91710]

@davidweston6653 What do you think their own water application will do considering they are standing IN the fire?

[@ptech88]

So putting water on it is the last step? Seems to be alot of standing around

[@jacobkeppler1984]

Nice work guys keep it up there

[@theshadow4292]

It would appear that the Contra Costa Fire Department does not train their firefighters when to use the trubo/fog setting on their nozzle. The Turbo setting will provide the proper discharge and coverage water as opposed to the straight bore setting which will not displace the heat and smoke inside a small structure.

[@RealJeep]

Lots of straight streaming rookies inside. 45° fog and stick it up in the ceiling and let it whip around. Geeze...Kids these days.

[@Phardy332]

Textbook ventilation , great job

[@michaelmrvosh]

If that's textbook they need to change the textbook. By cutting a vent in that roof the fire increased in intensity because the vent is giving the fire oxygen. You are only supposed to vent when water is being put on the fire and the fire is under control.

[@virgilhilts3924]

@@michaelmrvosh Wrong yet again

[@michaelmrvosh]

@virgilhilts3924 The fact that you are not explaining how I am wrong proves you don't know what you are talking about.

[@virgilhilts3924]

@@michaelmrvosh Your own words prove you have no clue what you are talking about

[@michaelmrvosh]

@virgilhilts3924 The fact that you won't explain your point of view proves you're just a troll.

[@jamessimmonds3773]

Vent holes are to vent. Not to dump water into with the interior crew still working. That's fire 1

[@billkarenaz]

They wern’t dumping they were holding down, and preventing horizontal spread along the roof, also it breaks up the thermal column which slows the fire down, also aids in extinguishment. All of that is very evedent in the video. It was a brilliant and proper call by the chief that got that going as can be seen in the video. The streams were not directed down towards the interior FF. They were directed horizontally across the roof line, there is no pushing towards the FF. There are numerous videos on you tube where everyone stands around and watches the fire spread all over the place just because of the mentality as you, that one can’t use a little common sense and wet things down horizontally as here, that if you could see, beyond locked in there is only one way, you would be able to see that it had a dramatic and instant positive effect towards extinguishment. And you are right should never dump water directly down in a vent hole with FF underneath. That was’t even close to what he did.

[@smedleybutler1969]

@@billkarenaz You explained it very well but I don't think some of these guys will get it!

[@mrchicken8170]

Wrong.

[@mrchicken8170]

It’s called a coordinated attack. Communicate w interior. We do roof attacks often. Get aggressive and put the fire out. Water from the roofs hand line isn’t going to hurt anybody! Burning down the house is though. The interior is pulling ceiling on to themselves, doesn’t that hurt? The ladder is knocking drywall down. Wear your gear, go hard and stop making excuses. If you have fire from the hole and the roof is tenable then get some.

[@RLTtizME]

Some might like to invite you to shut your vent hole.

[@joedonovan8470]

I disagree the truck opened the to vent for the engine the problem was there was not an engine inside the fire bldg. it appeared as if this was fought from the exterior.

[@virgilhilts3924]

You would be incorrect

[@slackjawedyokel1]

wonder if the attic was floored and used for storage -and hard to get to from below

[@lizardfirefighter110]

At 0:42 it’s ventilated, get the … off the roof!

[@tomlorenzen4062]

I hear that water helps

[@kenjr]

Now that’s how you let the heat out!!

[@JB91710]

Thats how you create more heat and threaten everyone in the structure. Weren't you watching?

[@kenjr]

@@JB91710No that’s not how you threaten everyone inside. With that amount of heat and fire that came out of that vent I doubt there was anyone inside until they had it vented and took out windows.

[@JB91710]

@@kenjr I mean that as a general lesson.

[@choppermike3329]

@@JB91710 HaHaHa!! Take a physics course!

[@choppermike3329]

@@JB91710 A lesson coming from a twelve year old, hilarious!

[@robertgildea2841]

I am watching from Elmira NY it looks like a bad one how long did it take to bring under control?

[@miltonchavez1262]

146 Cottonwood Common.

[@tomp8871]

Nice vid and great stop, looked like no extensions with tight quarters. 👍

[@michaelmrvosh]

You are not supposed to vent until you have water on the fire and the fire is under control. Cutting holes in the roof before the fire is under control will make the fire spread faster as you can see in the video.

[@kenjr]

You better do some more schooling!!

[@virgilhilts3924]

You would be incorrect

[@michaelmrvosh]

@virgilhilts3924 Explain how I am incorrect. You don't know what you are talking about.

[@virgilhilts3924]

@@michaelmrvosh Okay... You are incorrect because you are wrong

[@JB91710]

@@michaelmrvosh He is incapable of explaining anything. See how he responded?

[@uncuttfunk]

It has been proven, for years now, that certain sound frequencies will extinguish fires. Why has this not been implemented? Just curious! ❤️☀️

[@bluenoodles2566]

If you’ve ever got your house burning down, don’t worry about calling the fire brigade. Just play some noises on the loudest speakers you have! May as well start patrolling the streets with your firefighting sounds while you’re at it too, give them a hand with their years of training with carefully designed tools and equipment, developed through decades of research, science, plumbing and physics, with intricate strategies only learned and evolved through devastating losses of life and property in the past. You’ll be known as the speaker superhero, why didn’t we ever think of this before?

[@thomaswilliamson5951]

I see to hose lines going up to the church but are not being used , what's up with that !? Why aren't they using them it looks like they are letting it burn to the ground 😡😡😡!!!

[@davidmcfarlin9132]

Roof ladder, I'm an Eng guy. ❤

[@sonanddadchannelmostlydad56]

That is why God invented roof ladders

[@FloridaCatholicGuy]

This is precisely why FDNY does not vent on pitched roofs.

[@user-wy1bn9ju9d]

thats nice

[@willibald9568]

6.44 min 3 Feuerwehrleute stehen da ,aber keiner hat ein C Rohr in der hand

[@roger0929]

They need to take that jacket away from the stumbling boomer and ban him from future firegrounds. But I'm sure he'd whine incessantly about his "rights" being taken away.

[@RLTtizME]

You are an angry person. Do you have personal problems?

[@user-jw3gx8qw6e]

I'm black

[@matthewsims4457]

Fire department - 0, Fire - 1

[@get1rocstartim5]

Thay just make it worse by opening the roof.

[@willibald9568]

sehe nur ein Strahlrohr und sehr viele Schläuche am Boden

[@pepperhitchcock]

Why not use the deck gun on the truck in the street?

[@jacobkeppler1984]

Truck company open up the roof

[@davidraya8760]

Excellent Truck work! CCCo.F.D.

[@martineschepp8936]

3d4❤❤😊

[@willibald9568]

Ich sehe keinen Wasserschlauch, nur Brecheisen , Feuerhacken und Motorsäge, wieder mal USA

[@user-qn5vr4dg9h]

If I was the officer in charge i would be making everyone on the roof to get down because you dont know how safe it is

[@RichardHERVIEUX]

Another comedy hour courtesy of the Contra Costa County Firefighters. It amazes me how much money they pay these people to do nothing at a fire scene......

[@JB91710]

They've taken a suffocating fire and turned it into an inferno. Where is the Coordinated Water they always talk about? Now they truly have a structural fire on their hands. Can you imagine falling through the roof into that? All they had to do is open a small hole in the ceiling and fog the attic.

[@virgilhilts3924]

Spoken like someone who's never been a firefighter... oh wait... its JB... someone who's never been a firefighter The irony is that in your above comment you literally proved you've never been a firefighter and you will never know the few words that gave you away. Any experienced firefighter will see them and know in an instant, but you'll never know...😆😅😂🤣

[@michaeld.4521]

@@virgilhilts3924 JB91710 is a well known troll. a FDNY reject.

[@virgilhilts3924]

@@michaeld.4521 👍

[@choppermike3329]

@@JB91710 Pay attention in English class little guy! And don't forget to say something negative about American FFs, troll.

[@andyoxleyonhistravels]

@@virgilhilts3924 His comment is spot on and you will find that European fire departments have been doing it for years. Far safer and the reason why we have far less lodd than you guys.

[@tommaxwell429]

Maybe some of those guys standing around doing nothing could move some of that stuff out of the garage. You know, actually protect property. No we'll stand around, admire the fire, and watch this family lose everything including the stuff we could have saved. Not impressed.

[@willibald9568]

Erster wasserangriff nach 3.35 Min

[@bmck5002]

Damn those are lazy firefighters..

[@RLTtizME]

And you are a load making comments on YT.

[@marksteele8760]

unbelievable these usa fire fighters, why go on a burning roof and risk injury or even death, just get the hoses set up quicker and attack it with water like we do in the uk

[@Arturohpineda-po2fv]

Cash Money FOUnD O SEND IT COBY cheKS

[@AyeCarumba221]

I see that Christian cross on the front of the building ain’t doing much to help the owners…