RICHARD ANDERSON
SOUTHWICK – As times change, so do fires.
Southwick Fire Chief Richard Anderson said modern fires are much different than fires fought just a few decades ago, and the department’s approach is different, too.
“One thing that affects the change is how houses are built today,” said Anderson. “Homes are tighter now, with improved windows, thicker insulation and wrap.”
The problem, said Anderson, is that these energy efficiencies are great for a homeowner, but when a fire breaks out, they contribute to a hotter, bigger blaze.
“A fire remains insulated in a home until it finds a source of oxygen, like an open window or cracked door,” he said. “So we have to be very careful how we approach a burning building. They smolder more and by the time a fire breaks a window, it’s going pretty good.”
Anderson said fires are “hotter and bigger” today.
Another contributing factor is the way roofs are built today.
“We have to be careful of truss roofs,” said Anderson. “They’re triangular structures held with aluminum clips, and those clips heat up fast and melt, causing the roof to collapse.”
Anderson said it costs about $4,000 to outfit a firefighter with the gear needed to battle a modern fire.
“We can’t just pull up in a truck with water on it anymore,” he said. “There is a lot of plastic used in today’s homes, and plastic burns hot and lets off a toxic smoke.”
Anderson said while recycling is certainly good for the environment, items such as carpets made from recycled plastic can create a more dangerous situation in a fire.
Luckily, smoke detectors have improved over the years and today’s technology allows smoke to be detected much sooner than ever.
Changing technology, building materials, and more are part of the department’s weekly training to stay on top of Southwick’s needs.
