5 Things Firefighters Know About Fighting a Garage Fire

Knowing how firefighters approach a fire in an attached garage will probably give you an idea of just how dangerous a garage fire can be. Here are 5 concerns, firefighters express when they look at the best ways to put out a fire in an attached garage.

1. Firefighters Expect The Worst. When they enter a garage fire, they know that they may be met with a flammable-liquids fire, a release from a gas cylinder or even a rocketing aerosol can. Gas struts and drive shafts from vehicles can also take flight. Firefighters may knock down the garage fire and let the contents cool a bit before they enter to avoid these hazards.

2. Approaching The Fire From Inside. Firefighters may choose to approach a garage fire from inside your home or from the garage door. If they try to push back the fire from the inside, they will probably try to open the garage door or a service door to pull the smoke and heat out as they come at it from the inside. However, this can be very dangerous as high heat and fir conditions can enter the home.

3. The Garage Door Approach. The other firefighting route is through the garage door itself. They will try to knock down the bulk of the fire to protect the home. Beware! Falling garage doors are not unheard of – they will probably try to secure it to avoid this hazard. They could use a pike pole or a wedging tool.

4. Expect Fire Loading. All that stuff in your garage means that it is likely that the garage will be fully involved when the firefighters arrive. Their primary job becomes trying to contain the fire and keep it out of your home. They’ll probably use large-caliber water streams. They may even put a hole in the roof of your home as close to the garage as possible to allow the contained fire to vent.

5. They’ll Look Up. Fire may break through the roof of an attached garage or enter the main house through an attic vent. If there are rooms over the garage, they may become involved and the firemen will need to have lines to the second floor and/or attic to prevent the fire from extending into these areas.

Fire companies will usually arrive at a garage fire with lots of firefighters and lots of water. They’ll want extra resources to try to protect your home from becoming engulfed. Garage fires are extremely dangerous – to the firefighters, to your home and to you. Call the fire department immediately and don’t try to handle a garage fire on your own.Don’t keep flammable materials in your garage and keep it as neat as possible; these steps could keep a garage fire from growing and make fighting it safer and easier. You’ll also want to make sure that your garage door is as safe as possible. Make sure you have a yearly inspection by a licensed Garage Door Repair Phoenix & LiftMaster Garage Door Opener Phoenix company. You also may want to make the investment in having the highest rated door between the garage and your home. It’s an investment that may pay off big!