2006 HHR fire video
02-02-2009, 12:46 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: 09-07-2008
Location: NorCal
Posts: 237
Wow, first time to see this. I used to do some firefighting once upon a time so here's my observations.
1. Looks like the airbags went off individually at 5:17 and 5:22 and I'll bet it was the spare tire that blew at 7:54.
2. The first firefighter on camera was an officer and he arrived ahead of the engine in the command vehicle that was parked on the shoulder behind the state patrol car. He was sizing the situation up when he initially walked toward the HHR and was probably not in too much danger at that point as the rear of the HHR was not yet engulfed and the smoke was blowing downwind. Besides the fuel tank, another hazard is bumper shock absorbers letting loose and shooting the bumper and cover straight out at high speed. It's happened and a firefighter had both her legs broken as a result so stay out of the area directly to the front and rear of a burning vehicle.
3. The biggest issue I saw was the lead man on the hose line was not wearing an SCBA, even thought his backup was. Several others (including the officer!) also entered an active fire ground with unprotected breathing...a BIG no-no. They should have known better as fires, esp. vehicle fires, emit a ton of toxic smoke and vapors. That behavior is known as macho BS in the trade.
1. Looks like the airbags went off individually at 5:17 and 5:22 and I'll bet it was the spare tire that blew at 7:54.
2. The first firefighter on camera was an officer and he arrived ahead of the engine in the command vehicle that was parked on the shoulder behind the state patrol car. He was sizing the situation up when he initially walked toward the HHR and was probably not in too much danger at that point as the rear of the HHR was not yet engulfed and the smoke was blowing downwind. Besides the fuel tank, another hazard is bumper shock absorbers letting loose and shooting the bumper and cover straight out at high speed. It's happened and a firefighter had both her legs broken as a result so stay out of the area directly to the front and rear of a burning vehicle.
3. The biggest issue I saw was the lead man on the hose line was not wearing an SCBA, even thought his backup was. Several others (including the officer!) also entered an active fire ground with unprotected breathing...a BIG no-no. They should have known better as fires, esp. vehicle fires, emit a ton of toxic smoke and vapors. That behavior is known as macho BS in the trade.
02-03-2009, 06:11 PM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-03-2008
Location: jerSSey, exit 5
Posts: 1,664
I love how early on the cars just keep buzzing on by, even in the right lane a couple feet away from a car engulfed in flames. They were probably talking on their cell phones and didn't even notice the fire.
The back hatch struts finally gave way around 8:00 and the hatch closed itself.
The back hatch struts finally gave way around 8:00 and the hatch closed itself.