The City of Solon prides itself on minimal fire loss as reported annually in the year end report. Solon Fire Rescue is responsible for protecting the lives of approximately 22,000 permanent residents and up to 40,000 people who travel through or work in Solon.

This is admittedly an expensive venture. While the fire service does not necessarily generate many dollars, it is our responsibility to protect the over 1 Billion dollars of real property (2000 evaluation) that generate the tax dollars that make our community strong.

The need for rapid response

Despite our best efforts to prevent fires, unfortunately they do occur. While fires make up about 25% - 30% of the total emergency incidents for our department, they pose the greatest risk. The risk of fire of course is twofold. Initially, fire destroys property, sometimes irreplaceable heirlooms. More importantly, fire can injure a large number of people in a very short amount of time compared to an emergency medical call which usually only involves one person. Because of these reasons, it is imperative for the fire rescue service to have the ability to respond with the proper amount of equipment and personnel to have a chance at a successful outcome.

Victims of fires are almost always overcome by smoke before they are threatened by flames. Actually, the majority of fire deaths, 75%, are caused by smoke, not by flames. This smoke is a mixture of carbon monoxide and other deadly gasses and chemicals. Once a victim is overcome by smoke, rescuers have a 4 to 6 minute window to rescue the person and begin life saving resuscitation efforts if there is a chance for a positive outcome.

An event that occurs frequently at structure fires is a phenomenon known as "flashover". Flashover occurs when every item, from floor to ceiling, reaches its ignition temperature and explodes in flames. Flashover is a critical stage of fire growth for two reasons:

1. It is impossible for any person involved in a flashover to survive. Temperatures can be as high as 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Flashover involves a quantum leap in the rate of combustion, thus spreading the fire faster.

A post-flashover fire burns much hotter and moves faster which complicates the search and rescue function in other areas of the building. This complication requires additional resources of personnel to effectively and safely carry out this function. Flashover can occur in as little as 5 minutes from the beginning of a fire.

For these reasons, it is important to remember to report all fires immediately, no matter how small they are. This will insure a rapid response to the situation. Additionally, do not assume that someone else called the fire department. When you see a fire, it is important that you call 911 to report the incident. This way, you are sure that we were called. There have been incidents where people have seen fires and assumed someone else reported the incident, when in actuality, no one had called.

The need for adequate personnel

As we have seen from the above description, time is of the essence in a fire emergency. Just as important is having the appropriate resources to accomplish a multitude of tasks. There are many functions that must be accomplished simultaneously with the first few minutes upon arrival to prevent the situation from getting out of control. These functions are listed below:

Water supply – While all of the apparatus operated by Solon Fire Rescue carry their own water, it may not be enough to extinguish the fire. The engine operator is responsible for connecting a hose to the fire hydrant so a water source is secured. This person is assisted by another firefighter.

Hose lines – New standards governing the fire service recommend two personnel on each hose line. This crew is responsible for attacking the fire with water.

Search and Rescue – Minimally two personnel are required for this task. Depending on the size of the building, more personnel may be required.

Ventilation – To immediately improve the building conditions for the victims and assist the search and rescue crews, ventilation is completed early to release the smoke and help control the fire.