CANTON, CT — The Canton Fire and EMS Department is giving residents a closer look at one of the more physically demanding assignments firefighters may perform during a structure fire.
As part of the department's "Inside the Assignment" series, Firefighter Nick Graziano recently demonstrated the roof firefighter position and the equipment and skills required for the job.
Because Canton operates a ladder truck, firefighters train in vertical ventilation, a tactic that can involve opening portions of a roof, bulkheads, skylights, or scuttles during a fire, according to the department.
The assignment can require a firefighter to work while wearing about 60 pounds of protective equipment, while also carrying a 24-pound gas-powered saw and approximately 10 pounds of hand tools.
When coordinated with firefighters attacking a blaze from inside a building, vertical ventilation allows heat, smoke, and fire gases to escape, according to the department.
The tactic can improve visibility, reduce heat and fire spread, and improve conditions for occupants and firefighters inside.
The firefighter working on the roof also serves as another set of eyes for the incident commander, providing information about fire conditions, potential building hazards and the progress of firefighting operations.
The department said continued training is intended to ensure firefighters can safely and effectively perform those duties when needed.
Canton Fire and EMS plans to continue its "Inside the Assignment" series, highlighting other fireground positions and introducing residents to the firefighters who perform them.
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