The Blanket Effect

The fire window blanket is a useful tool during high-rise residential fires

Throughout my career, I’ve been to a few—and thankfully not many—extreme high-rise residential fires. These incidents presented some of the most punishing conditions I’ve encountered. Many times, the fire turns from routine to deadly.

High-rise residential fires occur in Class 1, fireproof buildings and usually just involve the contents. At FDNY, a contents fire confined to one apartment with the door closed is usually relegated to an all-hands fire using a first-alarm assignment consisting of three engines and two ladder companies. If the door to the fire apartment is kept closed and no occupants are trapped inside the apartment, the fire will usually just burn itself out. I’m not recommending using this tactic, but you must always weigh the risk-vs.-benefit factor and firefighter safety when conducting your size-up.

When the door to the fire apartment is left open, however, conditions become extreme for accessing the apartment and conducting the search. If a window in the apartment self-vents or is vented by a firefighter prematurely while other crews are searching, we could encounter an extreme wind-driven fire, which presents operating units with many problems. Conditions in the public hallway will be untenable. Even a 2 ½" hoseline won’t provide a sufficient amount of water to cool the hallway and allow for line advancement.

If a fleeing occupant left their door open on the opposite side of the hallway and a wind-driven fire is present, members operating in this area will be subjected to very high-heat conditions and will likely be burned. My department has lost members under these conditions. Therefore, members should force an apartment door on the same side as the fire apartment for an area of refuge if and when needed. This area of refuge is very important, especially if the stairway is far from the fire apartment.

Another solution to the problem of wind-driven fires: placement of a fire blanket. The fire blanket is used to cover a window or windows where the fire has vented and is blowing back into the occupancy. Once the blanket is in place, it diminishes the effects of wind on the fire and often improves conditions for operations. The 10' x 12' blanket is made of fire-retardant material, weighs 40 lbs. and it features straps for securing it.

Fire window blankets can be deployed from roof level or from one or two floors above the fire floor. Members assigned to place the blanket must carry forcible-entry tools in the event they must force their way into the occupancy, and a 6' hook/pike pole to assist in positioning the blanket. At least one member should carry a portable radio.

The blanket must be secured by the straps from the top and bottom (the bottom of the blanket is weighted to help keep it in place). The incident commander should make an announcement over the radio to operating units that the blanket is being put into place. After the blanket is in position, members must report any adverse conditions immediately. The blanket should be inspected after each use to determine if any damage occurred due to fire exposure.  

The fire blanket is an effective tool that proves handy under certain conditions. Remember: During a high-rise residential fire, all floors of the building are affected by wind, even lower floors. The fire blanket is one of those tools you may only need one time, but if it prevents injury or saves the life of a firefighter, one word sums it up: Priceless!

Chief Fred LaFemina is a 23-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), presently serving as a battalion commander for Rescue Operations Battalion #1. He has been with Special Operations for more than 19 years and is the task force leader for New York’s Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue team. He is also the operations chief on the USAR IST White Team. LaFemina has written many articles on fire operations and technical rescue and lectures throughout the country. He is a technical editor of FireRescue.