“Our Mission Is To Provide Quality Public Service, Public Education, and Professional Emergency Response”

Monroe Fire Department

1810 Martin Luther King Blvd

Monroe, LA

(318)329-2474

Jimmie R. Bryant, Fire Chief

Official

Monroe Fire Department

Web Site

International Association of Fire Chiefs

International Association of Firefighters

National Association For Search and Rescue

National Association of

Emergency Medical Technicians

National Fire Fighter

Near-Miss Reporting System

Extinguishment

After the fire is completely suppressed, or stopped to the point where it will not advance, leaving only small harmless “spot” fires, a resting period is ordered for the responders to “cool down” and regain some energy.  This also gives more time for the residual smoke to exit the structure, either naturally or with the assistance of “positive pressure ventilation.”  Positive Pressure Ventilation uses a powerful fan to increase the air pressure in one opening of the structure, usually an entrance doorway,  forcing residual smoke and harmful gasses through another opening, where they disperse harmlessly into outside air.

After the residual smoke is removed from the structure, the EMS/Safety Officer will direct a survey of the interior of the structure using an air monitor, which evaluates the oxygen content, the carbon monoxide content, and other harmful gases.  This device is taken through each room of the structure where it evaluates the air content, sounding an alarm if the air is found to be unsafe.  This helps insure that the responders can safely work without the cumbersome SCBA units, and that when the resident returns to the structure, that there will be no harmful gases remaining. 

Fire Suppression—The Life Cycle of a Structure Fire Response

Next: Investigation