2 Man Gable Cut

The 2 Man Gable Vent cut is a technique that can be used when true vertical ventilation is not an option.  This can be due to a number of circumstances, including but not limited to:  Too much fire in the roof, chief says no (due to conditions hopefully), roof is too long for a roof ladder (winter or metal roof), multiple roof layers, etc. 

          There are a number of skills used in this technique that are not normally trained with and can improve basic firefighting skills greatly, they are: using power saws off of a ladder, using a power saw left handed, throwing ladders in a small area simultaneously with another firefighter, and carrying a large load of equipment in one trip. 

          For your tools that you take up the ladder, it is strongly advised that one be available for assisting in removing the siding (axe or short hook, and one be available for breaching the sheetrock to make a vent hole in the ceiling area of the room below the cut; a 6 foot roof hook or pike)

          Make the cut on the side nearest the fire, and remember you are aiming for as big a hole as possible.  Additional tools should be hung from a ladder rung to make the process go quicker.  The wall you are cutting on in most cases will not be a load bearing portion of the roof, so if necessary cutting studs is OK.

          Also keep in mind that after the cut has been made, it is a good opportunity to punch holes in the ceiling near your opening to ventilate the inside of the structure and not just the roof area.

          *the prop shown in the picture has since been expanded with a pitch added to the top.  The vertical studs simulate your framing pieces and the goal is to cut around them not through them, much like a cut on top of a roof.  This prop took 10 2 x 4’s to build (including the pitched portion) and cost approximately $50 including screws and extra bits for the drill.

Good Luck

McC

2 Man Gable end ventilation cut

This cut is performed using 2 14’ Roof Ladders, 1 chainsaw and a hand tool for a one story home, or 2 24’ Extension ladders, 1 chainsaw and a hand tool on a 2 story residence.

Your crew will consist of 1 person carrying a 14’ ladder with a chainsaw and a second person carrying a 14’ ladder and a hand tool (to open up hole if necessary)

Next the first arriving ladder person positions there ladder on the far end of the gable and stands next to the ladder with his arms spread apart to space the next ladder

 

Both firefighters scale the ladders and get in position to make the cuts, and the first person makes 3 cuts, top, bottom, side.

 

 

Once the first three cuts are completed, the saw is passed across to the next person who finishes the top and bottom cut and finishes the opening with the last side cut.

If necessary the tool you brought up the ladder with you can be used to open the hole.  Finished product will be close to a 4’ x 4’ hole.

For safety, an SCBA should be donned and worn for this operation, as fire and smoke may be coming out as you make your cut.

Here are two examples of gable cuts, the first one is done with 1 person and took approximately 5 minutes to complete, the second is a two person cut and took less than 3

This is not what we want home owners to see (and call ourselves professionals)

 

This cut was performed with 2 firefighters and was done around a chimney pipe, again, we are going for a clean looking cut when performing this task.

The other advantage to this cut is the low cost of fix for the home owner (if he doesn’t have to replace his roof when he’s done).

Thanks again

McC