Fires inside an enclosed structure create a mess for fire fighters operating on the floor. Fire fighters often encounter debris that has fallen off shelves, and ceiling and wall fixtures that have burned and are left hanging to the floor. These hazards, coupled with the mess a fire fighter creates when searching for victims in smoky environments, can create egress problems for a fire fighter. As fire burns draperies, blinds, lighting fixtures, computer wiring, and HVAC ducting, the possibility of encountering an entanglement hazard increases. The overhead ducting of the HVAC system contains wires that give the ducting its stability. If a fire breaches the ceiling and burns the ducting, the wires within the ducting fall to the floor. These wires can cause a dangerous entanglement hazard to fire fighters operating on the floor. Fire fighters must anticipate these hazards and have a plan to follow when egress is cut off. The disentanglement prop simulates this situation. As fire fighters progress through the prop they must manipulate their bodies with full turnouts and SCBA through a prop having wire obstructions crossing the area of travel. In addition to teaching disentanglement techniques, this skill also teaches the need to be flexible, physically fit, and to exercise good air management. The skill of disentanglement is a physically demanding process. Fire fighters must place their bodies in different positions to free themselves. This requires the fire fighter to twist and turn their bodies to avoid entanglement, and even to fully remove their SCBA’s while in awkward positions. Fire fighters will learn to monitor their respirations and maximize efficiency of movement while going through the prop so air is conserved. Fire fighters are required to perform this skill with and without vision. Prop difficulty is increased by adding entanglement hazards and obstacles as performance improves.

Disentanglement-Prop-guide