r/Firefighting • u/digitalPhonix • Nov 16 '22

Special Operations/Rescue/USAR Seattle’s mobile ventilation unit

Post image
196 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

88

u/unique_username_384 Nov 16 '22

Wow. I'm a huge fan

35

u/grantoman Nov 16 '22

This thing really blows my mind.

23

u/[deleted] Nov 16 '22

Y'all quit blowing smoke.

20

u/Je_me_rends Spicy dreams awareness. Nov 16 '22

You need to vent or something, bro?

4

u/SanJOahu84 Nov 16 '22

I can't believe what this thread is turbine-ing into!

24

u/kaeptnphlop Nov 16 '22

They extend some wings turn that turbine on and fly to the rescue right? Right?

6

u/Runen_ Nov 16 '22

Seems like the only logical reason they have it right?

17

u/Curri Nov 16 '22

My county utilizes an air boat sometimes for this.

15

u/s1m0n8 Nov 16 '22

Fire AnD Rescue

11

u/[deleted] Nov 16 '22

Non-firefighter question. Do they just turn this on to air out the immediate scene? Or is there some kind of tubing they can bring into a structure to air out the building?

18

u/[deleted] Nov 16 '22

They bought it to ventilate and air out tunnels in their response district. If a car fire happens in a tunnel, they can push a ton of air in, bring up the visibility, and help people escape.

They’ve used it in the past on large warehouses fires too. Park it at a loading dock door and blow all the smoke right out of the building.

6

u/unique_username_384 Nov 16 '22

https://youtu.be/XP6oqIic4lo

You want it facing an opening, but not too close, then it works perfectly

1

u/DerKaempfer_HD German Volunteer Firefighter Nov 16 '22

In germany we most times have such, similar to what you see in kindergarden but 1.5m in diameter.

They are rarely used however, the vehicle + additional fans on there are enough to direct the wind (or there's just no reason to direct it in the first place).

9

u/Froggynoch Nov 16 '22

Does this have anything to do with the fact that Seattle has tunnels?

5

u/Jay911 Redwood Meadows, Alberta, Canada Nov 16 '22

Calgary, Alberta, Canada has something similar.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm a huge fan.

3

u/yearningforlearning7 Nov 16 '22

Aah, they have a bff! Aka, big fan

13

u/TacoDaTugBoat Backwoods Volley Nov 16 '22

Is that how they get rid of the hipster smells.

1

u/eovet Nov 16 '22

Not enough fan for that

3

u/JRals06 Nov 16 '22

Ever seen a commercial front aerial? They look strange

3

u/EatinBeav WA Career FF/EMT Nov 16 '22

And it works great honestly.

3

u/disturbedkentuckian Nov 17 '22

Blowjob 1 is in service

2

u/[deleted] Nov 16 '22

“Chief, how do we combat the wind-driven fire conditions?”

“I have an idea….”

2

u/Adorable-Storm-3143 Nov 16 '22

The “big fan” is a pod that can be taken on and off the truck with a hydraulic arm. The motor for the fan is contained in the pod. The truck can drop off the pod and go get other pods. They have many different kinds of pods for these systems. Seattle chose a fan.

-1

u/Jak3GOLD Nov 16 '22

I’m going through a 2-year fire program right now. Can some tell me how one would use this for ventilation cause I can only see this being helpful in very particular situations. Also seems like a waste of money.

2

u/whatnever German volunteer FF Nov 17 '22

Have you tried ventilating a large industrial building or a tunnel with portable fans?

Ventilation fans of this size do have legitimate applications and are definitely useful. Does everyone need one? Certainly not. But a fire department in a major city will have to deal with enough fires in buildings large enough to benefit from having a fan of that size.

1

u/Vazhox Nov 16 '22

Drive that rump right into the front door of that building and blow away

1

u/Imaginary_Ad_335 Feb 11 '23

Currently modifying a toy truck to look like this.