Drill Bits – Laundry Fire

Emergency: FIRE IN THE SHIP’S LAUNDRY:

Preparation

• Agree a time for the drill, preferably different to the last one and discuss the scenario. Take time to properly plan the drill and think about the following:
• Prepare the areas where exercises will take place:
• Placing signs denoting fire location – tumble dryer in the laundry
• Place signs denoting hot-spots – on bulkheads surrounding the laundry space
• If you have an artificial smoke generator on board, set it up in the laundry area
• If you don’t have a smoke generator – post signs describing smoke conditions (light, thick, colour etc)
• Decide on who will be a casualty. You may want to have more than one. Make sure they are instructed not to show up at muster. If you have a dummy to act as a casualty, place it in the laundry.
• Decide how the drill will be initiated and by who (manual call point activation or smoke detector)
• Don’t make access too easy – if the area is often obstructed, recreate those conditions

Raising the alarm

1 Bridge team announce “Alarms will be sounded for drill purposes”

2 Activate the laundry smoke detector – this will test the detector head and the alarm system.

3 Allow activation of the general alarm – the crew proceed to their muster stations

4 Bridge team announce – “For drill purposes there is a fire in the laundry, this is a drill”

Running the drill

At the muster stations:

• Check all persons on board are present and correct and report to the bridge. In this instance, the second engineer has failed to show up.
• On scene command:
• Officer in charge (1 I/C) establishes forward control point, where the fire teams will reposition – for example the nearest accommodation entrance to the laundry.

Team roles and goals

Bridge Team:

Execute the relevant laundry fire contingency plan. Check that the fire plan and contingency plans are available and correct. Note any potential improvements that could be made.

Ensure that the whole bridge team know how to operate the GMDSS equipment. Send a GMDSS test call and log this in the GMDSS logbook.

Maintain accurate records of the event.

Engine Room Team:

Check the fire main system is correctly set up (including any manual crossover valves to other systems) and start the fire pumps.

Shut down (or simulate) the ventilation fans to the affected zone or area that contains the laundry. Isolate the electrical supply to the laundry.

Ensure the team knows how to carry out these tasks. Remember to discuss how other areas might be affected by loss of electrical power or ventilation.

Fire Team 1:

SCBA team to don full firefighting equipment and conduct all pre-entry tests.

Set up enough fire hoses from the nearest hydrants for the SCBA team to enter with and reach the fire.

SCBA control board set up at the entry point. Record entry of the SCBA team into the space and use the board to monitor the time the team are on air. Maintain effective communications with on-scene commander.

SCBA team to pass through SCBA control and enter the space using all correct door entry techniques. Search for seat of fire using proper techniques and maintain communications as appropriate. If a casualty is found during entry, perform rescue. Simulate firefighting techniques to extinguish fire and knock down. Once extinguished, conduct search of the area to locate and extract casualty.

Fire Team 2:

SCBA team dons full fire equipment and conduct all tests to equipment in preparation to enter the laundry space if a second team is required – such as checking for reignition, damping down or continuing search for casualties.

Boundary Cooling – Ventilation Team:

Follow instructions on boundary cooling and ventilation requirements. Locate any manual vents for the laundry and simulate closure. Ensure the condition of the ventilators and closing mechanisms are in good condition and fully operational.

Set up hose lengths to simulate boundary cooling of the laundry area.

Hot Spots Team:

As instructed, check areas surrounding the laundry and its uptakes for hot spots and the potential spread of fire. Check for any combustible material in these spaces.

First Aid Team:

Gather stretcher and all relevant first aid equipment from the hospital, include burns treatment. When on scene, practise putting a casualty in the stretcher and first aid treatment.

The debrief

After the drill, everyone should help clear up, don’t leave this to one crew member.

The debrief should involve everyone. Discuss:

• Did everyone know their role and responsibilities and did everyone do what was expected of them?
• What went well?
• What problems were encountered and how can these be addressed?
• Were any equipment or procedural defects noted?
• If there are any lessons learned, don’t waste them. Make sure they are recorded and put into practice.