THE ART OF READING SMOKE

As you have seen in previous posts, fluid movement is important, whether it be how we move water or how the effects of ventilation cause fire growth. Before the flames ever show themselves at a fire scene, we can count on the fact that the fire is talking to us.
ARE YOU LISTENING? 

The video this week is from Dave Dodson. It is an older video, however, it is still good information. He teaches that smoke is the fire’s first and most honest language. Long before rollover, flashover, or any structural compromise, smoke is giving us real-time information as long you know how to read it.

Color, volume, velocity, and density are clues we need to pay attention to. 

Thick, dark, turbulent smoke under pressure isn’t just what they call bad smoke, it is fuel rich smoke full of energy and looking to cause chaos. Think of it like a bull in a closed up arena ten times too small... He'll be raging to get out. I like to tell folks that the thick dark stuff that looks like you can reach out and grab it is the worst kind of smoke sandwich there is. There isn't much recovery if you get a gulp of that. 

Light, lazy smoke drifting from multiple openings tells a very different story and Dave Dodson’s approach takes away the guesswork and replaces it with sound decision-making based on observation, and not just your habits.


This video is filled with practical teaching and good for street smart firefighting. Reading smoke should be included in everyone's sizeup, whether it is an initial on  scene report or a personal sizeup that helps you keep sharp while fighting the fire. Smoke can tell us where fire is without actually seeing fire, it can share what's happening and it will keep us on our toes when we need to change our strategy and tactics. Reading smoke isn't some magical trick, it is however a survival skill.


When you see smoke you need to understand what you're looking at. Dave's video will help you do that. 


Once you start reading smoke the way he teaches it, you don’t unsee it. Your size-ups sharpen. Your timing improves. Your safety grows. And the fireground starts to make a lot more sense. For some of the experienced guys this may be a type of refresher, but for the newer firefighters, this should prove to be invaluable. There will be a few videos below Dave's that will give you a chance to read some smoke, but they wont be near as important as the view you see at the next structure fire you respond to! Also, it is important that we note that ventilation, wind and some construction features can fool us, so be vigilant and always keeping an eye out for these things. 


Smoke doesn't care about your rank or experience either. The moment you let your guard down is the moment it teaches you that you weren't paying attention. So, constantly be re-checking your smoke read.


I will leave you with this - Experience should make you more cautious, not more comfortable. Never settle and think you got it whooped or you might just be the one whooped... 

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Use the following video from the 12:05 minute mark to around the 28 minute mark. ​