Mobile Homes: Small House – Big Challenge

Mobile Homes: Small House – Big Challenge

Joseph Polenzani

Manufactured housing accounts for about 10% of the new homes built each year. Learn what makes trailers different from “regular” wood-frame structures and how to safely operate within this challenging environment. Tactics for suppression and ventilation, as well as strategies for operating in high-density mobile home communities are also presented.

The class begins with an overview of the different types of manufactured housing and its associated terminology. The students’ interest is then engaged by a “fact vs. myth” section, where commonly held preconceptions about mobile homes are discussed. The presentation then moves on to size-up exercises, where real-world examples are used to illustrate the features, modifications, and design elements that can pose problems for emergency responders. After each segment, tactics for success are provided, focusing on the topics presented. Tips are broken down into 2 broad categories of special interest to firefighters: fire suppression and RIT. Offensive, defensive, and transitional attack tactics are evaluated, with an emphasis on efficiency and safety. Two firefighter line-of-duty death incidents involving mobile home fires are used to reinforce lessons learned. The fourth section of the class covers firefighting in mobile home communities. Students discuss water supply and identify potential paths of fire spread. The class concludes with a look at new technologies in mobile home construction.