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A New Weapon for Hi-Rise Fires-The Hero Pipe

Mount a Master Stream Attack from the Exterior Regardless of Height.

FireDaily has learned that the Chicago Fire Department has been testing a new tool for hi-rise fires. It’s called The Hero Pipe, and it looks very interesting. This nifty device offers an additional tactical option: with access to the floor below the fire floor, you can now mount a master stream attack from the exterior regardless of height.

Some of you may remember the Cook County Building fire at 69 W. Washington St. back in 2003. Master streams were initially ineffective due to the height of the fire floor (12th). The only other alternative was to mount an interior attack with handlines.

After the fire, I was able to talk with the guys in there on those lines. Every single guy I spoke with told me they had never been in a hotter fire- ever. More than one shared the thought that they knew they were not going home that day. They were literally tasked to put out the fire from inside the oven.  Eventually they were forced out and aerial master streams were able to be placed and used with efficacy.

Less than a year later, CFD had the LaSalle Bank fire on the 26th floor, out of reach of ladder company master streams. After an unsuccessful interior attack — again turned back because of high heat and flames — firefighters set up master streams on adjacent rooftops to put enough water through the 26th floor windows to cool the fire so an interior attack could be made.

Perhaps there is a better way.  According to The Hero Pipe website:

With as little as a two person team, the HERO PIPE can be set up for action in minutes. Once the proper attack points have been determined the aluminum manifold is secured to the sill using the rapid action lever clamps. If no sill is available, rest it directly on the floor at any outside wall or directly on the floor. Then secure with a patented hydraulic system between the floor and the ceiling.

The HERO PIPE was created by a veteran fire fighter with 20 years experience in downtown Chicago who recognized the limited capabilities when battling modern high-rise fires. Their product has been chosen as a finalist at the 2009 Chicago Innovation Awards being held on a week from Tuesday at the Goodman Theater in Chicago. Good luck, guys!

Toss this idea in with all the others in my cabinet labeled “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” Anyone have any experience with this device? Let me know!

FireDaily.com has no financial interest in this product.

-J

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Posted by on October 9, 2009 • 9 comments
  • http://firecritic.com Fire Critic

    I saw this video on Youtube. I didn’t have a lot of information on it.

    It seems like a unique tool. I think the biggest consideration would be operating below the fire and taking collapse into account. In most highrise construction, this probably would not be as big a concern compared to working in wood frame construction.

    It is good to see firefighters coming up with more and more unique tools!

  • http://www.FireCritic.com Fire Critic

    I saw this video on Youtube. I didn’t have a lot of information on it.

    It seems like a unique tool. I think the biggest consideration would be operating below the fire and taking collapse into account. In most highrise construction, this probably would not be as big a concern compared to working in wood frame construction.

    It is good to see firefighters coming up with more and more unique tools!

  • Anonymous

    I can’t think of any wood frame constuction highrise. This tool would be used for highrise fire attack.

  • Anonymous

    I can’t think of any wood frame constuction highrise. This tool would be used for highrise fire attack.

  • http://www.facebook.com/theheropipe Tony

    *Note, I work for The Hero Pipe. According to experts, the chances of collapse are minimal to none. Most high-rise structures are built of steel and concrete. You may see an older building that is heavy timber construction but those are typically your older warehouses which don’t extend high enough to be considered a high-rise and therefore are low enough for exterior aerial streams.

  • http://www.facebook.com/theheropipe Tony

    *Note, I work for The Hero Pipe. According to experts, the chances of collapse are minimal to none. Most high-rise structures are built of steel and concrete. You may see an older building that is heavy timber construction but those are typically your older warehouses which don’t extend high enough to be considered a high-rise and therefore are low enough for exterior aerial streams.

  • Pat

    When a large scale or wind driven fire occurs in a high-rise all operational guidelines direct firefighters to stage on the floors below and prepare for an attack directly from the floor below the fire. This is currently our only tactic for offensive operations in high-rise fires. To re-introduce the option of an exterior attack in a high-rise fire and reduce the risk to our brothers and sisters is a long waited and much needed option. Other information I’ve reviewed after learning of “The Hero Pipe” has shown positive remarks to it’s operation, safety features and effectiveness.

    As your site states “By firefighters…For firefighters.

  • Pat

    When a large scale or wind driven fire occurs in a high-rise all operational guidelines direct firefighters to stage on the floors below and prepare for an attack directly from the floor below the fire. This is currently our only tactic for offensive operations in high-rise fires. To re-introduce the option of an exterior attack in a high-rise fire and reduce the risk to our brothers and sisters is a long waited and much needed option. Other information I’ve reviewed after learning of “The Hero Pipe” has shown positive remarks to it’s operation, safety features and effectiveness.

    As your site states “By firefighters…For firefighters.

  • Janus

    I remember old issues of “Fire Engineer” magazine from the 80′s showing similar equipments in the NYFD?, then near 30 years after that appearas this HERO….”the only new things are those we forget”.

    They appeared ensambling aluminum duct with a nozzle, thie new one looks like an improvement of that, with good marketing you can sell reefers to the inuits.Regards