FFBlaser

So many questions... Alright here we go, the armchair battles! Here are links to the EXACT pieces I use except the rope because that was surplus. Rope Bag: http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm/pid_4189_bailout_bag_w_40_39_8mm_personal_escape_rope/ Device: (which I have had for about 8 months) http://cmcrescue.com/product.php?CatalogID=1&dept_id=20660&rootNode=0&pid=20307 Device I used before that at the structure fire: http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm/pid_5750_cmc_survivor_8_descender/ The bail out bag is pretty common out here, However the class I took was on my own with four or five guys from other districts to see if it was valuable to the County as a whole. Here is the link to the company that taught it: http://www.therescuecompany.com/Aboutus.html Spent about a week in arizona learning from those guys. definitely worth the tax dollars spent. I should correct myself in saying that it was more of a WS&R class than than US&R

The construction workers, did a primary search until the flames started to extend.

Ah yes pascuals, pretty good restaraunt. Anyway, I'll give you my size-up. Arroyo Hondo Two story dwelling under construction, bottom floor flames showing, first arriving engine stated flames showing with possible extension, all construction workers accounted for. two other guys got on the nozzle and started interior attack with assistance from a tanker, me and two other guys established a search team and entered the front door with basic irons and made way upstairs making a secondary search. after about 10 minutes the flames extended up the stairs and the BC on scene determined that an alternative means of evac. was needed and we used our belay bags.

i believe thats what its called, Its a few years old. also I don't know what the price was. i think 50% percent was the deal for me and 25% for department.

thats not the exact model i use. same device essentially just for 1/4 inch rope.

Yeah it was a worker,We had a second line but it was deemed that the structure was unfit for further operations on the interior. I was one of the first piece to arrive. My department is a volunteer department however it is part of a larger county department which staffs five 24/7 staffed ambulances which are stationed with volly departments. The county also has several paid stations that respond with volly departments. I reside in santa fe, which is the capital of new mexico. I work for the State OEM. Most of the time I am on OV but I was one of the only interior certified guys on scene. I was on the search team with two other guys who used the same system as me to extract from. I use a 1/4 inch rope, thats not the exact model of bag i have but the similar concept. It works great and fits in my pants pocket. I enjoy the questions! sorry for the late response! busy day!

Basically, It is about 100 feet of climbing rope with an easy lock carabiner and belay device that is tucked into a rope bag, the rope bag has a hole in the bottom end where the carabiner side of rope is threaded through. Basically, you create a body belay using the carabiner end and and belay device. Than you find an anchor point and thread the bag of rope through the anchor point and begin your decent. While belaying you use the belay device in conjunction with the rope bag to slowly descend down the side of your structure, It is a very rural situation out here and I have only had to self rescue once in fully involved structure fire when O2 got low and command ordered the interior attack team out from the second floor. of course the stairs were collapsed and unfit for evacuation. It worked well even though I was hesitant in the beginning. The bailout system is something you should always have. However, you should create it based on your environment. I know guys on brush rigs who tie themselves into trees so they have a way out if it gets tough. Here are the links for my system, Rope bag:http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm/pid_955_tfs_rope_bag_empty_small/ Carabiner: http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm/pid_6322_cmc_proseries_aluminum_key_lock_rescue_carabiners_nfpa_g/ Belay device: (expensive on here but I have a friend who works for CMC so I got the department a deal) http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm/pid_6952_cmc_rescue_multi_purpose_device_pulley_rescue_belay_descender/

Oh trust me I have had to use it before. I took a US&R class that taught us how to create and use one effectively without taking off structure gloves.

I personally Spent about fourty dollars on a Bailout system consisting of a good climbing carabiner, a 20 dollar rope bag and 50 feet of rescue rope. I usually am on exterior vent anyways but I keep in my POV with my Bunker gear.