[MFD594]

Just a few quick notes on some incidents that have happened recently...

#1) Killing electric to the burner... Recently, a dept responded to a puffback. The switch on the actual burner was shut off. What the homeowner beleived to be the secondary switch at the top of the stairs was also shut. Thermostat was cranked, and the burner "re-fired" again.

The "on-unit" switch had been disabled, the the actual "secondary" shut off switch was no where to be found (immediately). Upon further investigation, the "secondary" switch was located in a closet as not to "interfere" with the asthetics of the stairwell.

There are other types of various "switch locations" out there as well, including in ceilings/raters, behind "ceiling panels", etc. And a lot of people arent using the typical "red faceplates".

Killing electric at the panel is a good idea, but many homes are labeled incorrectly or not at all.

Many "Electric" thermostats have an "off" switch as well, but this should not be considered a fool-prrof shut-off method.


#2) Killing "fuel" to the burner (Gas or Oil)... Members need to be leary of "stripped" shutoffs. Some older systems have various types of shutoffs that may have been "stripped" over the years and thus no longer effective.

Homeowners (if possible) need to be made aware of what we did & why we did it. Many times, once we leave, and Mr Johnny Fix It husband gets home, he undoes what we do as the plumber wont get there for a while and the house is cold. They usually realize that thats a bad idea.

Anytime we are shutting gas to ANY appliance, National Grid should be notified. Its just another way to CYA. This can be done by the OIC by phone or via the dispatcher, but you're now documenting what you did, so if it gets "undone" by someone else, you're covered.

I'm sure there's plenty more goood thoughts/stories out there, so lets hear em!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thermostat w/off switch, do NOT trust as your only "shutoff"



Secondary switch at top of staircase



"Primary" switch on burner itself


"Ceiling" access panel



"Plastic" gas shutoff


Newer National Grid residential gas meter (make sure you shut the CORRECT one

[Rescue Me]

you could also kill the circuit breaker and never try to restart a burner until it gets looked at by a serviceman

[MFD594]

Originally Posted by Rescue Me

you could also kill the circuit breaker and never try to restart a burner until it gets looked at by a serviceman

True, but as stated, if the breaker isnt labeled, unless you're gonna kill the whole panel, juice still may flow.

The trying to "restart" is a precaution ALL should do while you're on scene-
In effect, if you leave the burner inoperable there's no chance the homeowner can re-fire it... "Cranking" the temp up while on scene will ensure that the proper "shut-offs" have been applied.

Just like running the hot water when you shut off a hot water heater, if it doesnt kick on befire you leave the scene, ya know you're job was done correctly.

[LADDER 3]

How about shutting off the red switch that is on top of the stair case before you go down into the basement

[MFD594]

Originally Posted by LADDER 3

How about shutting off the red switch that is on top of the stair case before you go down into the basement

Guess you didnt read the 1st post

[rollover]

A good article on the topic, including a brief discussion of "The White Ghost."

http://www.newburyfd.org/responding_to_oil_burner_emergen.htm

[You Dont Know About That?]

looks like we have Steam Heat in the MFD residence

[You Dont Know About That?]

on oil burners when u see a fuel shut off...if you spin the knob and the knob comes off in your hand...that means its off...

oil uses a spring type valve.

like MFD said make sure you are shutting the correct gas meter...its also possible they have a pool heater or other gas appliances that require large gas lines...so it may look like the gas main, when its just another line...just double check!

[mihmedic]

"When it spins off in your hand" That is a Firematic valve. It is suppose to cut the oil flow in case of a fire. All Nassau oil fired burners are required to have one.

[Rescue Me]

Originally Posted by mihmedic

"When it spins off in your hand" That is a Firematic valve. It is suppose to cut the oil flow in case of a fire. All Nassau oil fired burners are required to have one.

some times the older valves get stuck. you must make sure the valve closes. if the valve comes off and the valve does not close. if the stem does not move. put the knob back on and give it a slight tap and you should see the stem drop down. then the flow of oil should stop

[dawreckingstick]

Oil Burner Emergencies can be tricky at times so it’s important to have some basic understand /training on handling this type of appliance.

Chief Montagna’s excellent article on Oil Burner Emergencies (see link posted previously) also can be found on his web site (Responding To Routine Emergencies by: Chief Frank Montagna). There are others as well in the Fire Engineering achieves and in some books including Chief Norman’s Fire Officers Handbook Of Tactics.

I’m not going bore you guys by restating the very good information contained in the articles and books listed above --- read them. However, I would like discuss the Burner Reset Button topic a bit that was brought up earlier.

I would not under any circumstances recommend a Fireman responding to such an emergency press the reset button. The Reset Button located on the burner unit is connected to a Cad Cell (light sensor). This Cad Cell is used to detect Flame, if no flame is detected for 15 to 20 seconds it shuts down the oil supply to the burner. If a homeowner had continually pushed (more than the recommended 2 times) the reset button and the system failed to fire you could encounter a saturation condition (lots of oil in the chamber). If for some reason ignition occurs after hitting the reset button again in a saturated firebox an explosion can occur and the obvious ramifications and safety issues associated will be encountered -- fire -- smoke – flue pipe ---etc -- damage. We could wind up making things worse.

We can never totally eliminate the possibility of people doing stupid things i.e. – trying to restart a malfunctioning heating system after we leave. So we take the appropriate steps within our realm of responsibility and technical capabilities. We clearly explain to the civilian what we did, the need for them to contact a service company to repair the problem and the safety issues associated with trying to restart the unit prior to being looked at by a professional.

What we as the FD should do:

• Ensure no Fire, Ignition or CO hazard exists and if so take the necessary steps as outlined in Chief Montagna’s article.

• Shut down the electrical power via available remote switches and those located on or in proximity to the unit. If you cannot locate a power switch and an extremely hazardous condition (Fire or Large Spill) exists shut down power at the breaker/main.

• Close the oil supply valve at the tank and the firematic valve located on or in proximity to the burner. The firematic valve is a FUSIBLE device that can be manually shut as well -- as stated earlier.

• If you cannot locate any oil supply valves you can –carefully- crimp the oil supply line to the burner unit with a pair of pliers.

We cannot guaranty what people will or will not do after we leave. We respond to electrical emergencies all the time and shut down the main breaker, notify the civilian of the condition and safety issues associated with turning the power back on prior to the response of the electrician or utility. They could very well ignore our warnings and turn the main breaker back on after we leave thus compromising their safety and creating a hazardous condition. We do not and should not pull the meter, which means we can’t totally prevent them from doing something stupid. We did all we safely could that’s within our power, responsibility and technical capability.

We can also notify the building department of the condition and let them take it from there.

Stay Safe.

[You Dont Know About That?]

i recently heard a story about a fd responding to a burner emergency and the FD Okayin the homeowner to turn the burner back on...

apparently they saw some steam bowling off...and they told the h/o that it was a steam boiler and it was missing some safety devices..but it wasnt a steam boiler...and that it was hot water and it was cracked....and leaking onto the burner tubes....

a few bad things could of came from this...and it woulda came back to the FD Okayin the burner be turned back on...
flooded house..
cracked boiler/explosion.
and or a gas leak...

shut down the gas/fuel water/ electric...notify homeowner and let a service man/ company take the liability.