Garden State Size Up
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Nj firefighter striving to help all those with construction, size up, tactics,history etc.
I didn’t know there was such a big problem with witches back in the day….
A “witches’ crook” (or witches’ bend) is an intentional bend, twist, or slant in a chimney, typically found in homes built in the 1800s. Folklore suggests it prevents witches from flying down the straight chimney into the house. Practically, it helped center chimneys in the attic or align with the roofline.
Historically, the primary belief was that witches needed a straight line of flight, and the bend (or “crook”) would stop them from entering the home.
Masons often created this bend in the attic to allow the chimney to exit at the highest peak of the roof, even if the fireplace below was situated differently.
The bend was used to maneuver the chimney around wooden structural framing members.
The bend is generally considered safe and functional, though it can create corners where soot, creosote, and debris can accumulate, requiring regular cleaning.
According to RawsAlerts-A Mass casualty incident has been declared after a jet has collided with a fire truck with numerous injuries reported
At this time, emergency crews and officials have declared a mass casualty incident after a jet collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York. The aircraft struck the vehicle on the runway, triggering a major emergency response. Multiple injuries have been reported following the incident, with unconfirmed reports of fatalities at this time. At least an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 was involved, carrying approximately 100 souls on board, while 5 first responders were in the fire truck. Multiple agencies are on scene, with crews actively conducting rescues, triaging victims, and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.
Authorities are working to secure the area as the situation unfolds.
03/22/2026
Sizes varied over time, but older lumber was definitely closer to full dimension before drying/ planing became standard.
The fire-technical properties of lumber change with age, primarily due to alterations in chemical composition and moisture content. Generally, moderately aged wood (40–80 years)exhibits higher thermal resistance than both very young (0–10 years) and very old (120+ years) wood, while older wood is often denser and burns slower than modern, fast-grown timber.
Research on oak shows that 40- to 80-year-old samples possess the highest resistance to ignition, having higher activation energy compared to 0–10 year-old samples.
Old Growth vs. New Growth: Old-growth lumber (e.g., 60+ rings) is denser and burns slower than new-growth timber (e.g., 16 rings).
Very Old Wood (120+ years): Extremely old, dry oak can be less thermally resistant than 40–80 year-old samples due to the degradation and chemical changes over time.
Moisture Content and Aging: Freshly cut green lumber needs to season for 6–12 months to reduce moisture, increasing both strength and resistance to quick ignition.
Lumber has become progressively smaller over time, evolving from rough-cut, full-dimension pieces (e.g., 2” x 4”) in the 1800s to standardized, surfaced, and kiln-dried “actual” dimensions (1.5“×3.5”) by the mid-20th century, largely to increase efficiency and reduce shipping costs. Modern 2x4s are roughly 1/2” smaller in both dimensions than their historic counterparts.
I know all of you in the comments are going to start saying it’s pine not oak and their were different species of pine in different parts of the country then a now. These are just examples so people understand how age, density, mass and moisture content contribute to fire load.
03/21/2026
Being done in Toronto, can’t say the same for the United States.
The term “flat roof” is kind of a misnomer because they actually have a slight slope to them.
The water has to go somewhere. We are all familiar with a cockloft and a flat but pitched roof to help with water shed. But here you can see a flat roof framed with tji and then beefed up on top with 2x6 lumber being ever so slightly tapered down to get the pitch they are looking for going towards the drains.
It’s important to get out and preplan buildings and identify roofs just like this one. I’m not aware of any kind of placards that need to be in place for a roof such as this in Canada But if I was working there I sure would want to know about this in advance.
One Firefighter Killed and Another Severely Injured When Ground Ladder Contacts Overhead Electrical Wires at Structure Fire - Jersey City, New Jersey - March 20, 1993
On March 20, 1993,
Jersey City Firefighter Carlos Negron was killed while assisting fellow firefighters with raising an aluminum ground ladder to the third floor of an occupied mixed-use building that was on fire with a report of victims trapped. Firefighter Negron, who was off duty at the time of the fire, asked the incident commander if he could be of assistance. The incident commander placed him on-duty and asked him to assist other firefighters with raising a ground ladder to the front of the structure. As the firefighters maneuvered the ladder on the sidewalk in front of the building, the metal ladder came in contact with a 7,500-volt primary electric transmission line. Of the three firefighters raising the ladder, one was slightly injured, one was critically injured, and Firefighter Negron suffered fatal injuries from the contact. This is a reminder when on the fire ground Throwing ladders, placing apparatus, or just making your way into the structure always take the time to check for overhead wires, there location and the stability of them in relation to the fire.
03/20/2026
Close the door…. It could save your life
Fire-rated doors are safety components designed to compartmentalize fire and smoke, with ratings typically ranging from 20 to 90 minutes (up to 4 hours for some commercial applications). They are crucial for protecting stairwells, elevator shafts, and separating garages from residential areas. Common materials include hollow metal, wood, and fiberglass.
Common ratings are 20, 45, 60, and 90 minutes. A 20-minute door is often used for residential garage-to-house access, while higher ratings are required for commercial exit stairways.
What are some different Types
Hollow Metal/Steel: Often used in commercial buildings for high-rated protection.
Wood/Fiberglass: Many manufacturers offer 20-minute wood-edge or fiberglass doors for interior use, often featuring a fiber cement core.
Glass Doors: Fire-rated glass doors are available, providing fire resistance while allowing visibility.
Rolling Steel Doors: Used in commercial, industrial applications.
Residential: Door leading from a house into a garage (typically 20-minute).
Commercial: Boiler rooms, stairwells, and elevator shafts (typically 1-1/2 hour or 2-hour).
03/19/2026
People who cut into floor joists like this should go to jail. Be careful out there everyone. This has homeowner special written all over it
03/19/2026
Don’t blow your top…. But that’s exactly why happened to this building right here, a large 3 story type 3 commercial use occupancy building has its roof partially blow off when high winds came through downtown.
What really caught my attention when I was studying the photos werethe two small bowstring trusses spanning the building parallel to the front of the building. (Not where or how you would typically find them). They are also covered by a flat roof leaving almost no sign of why is going on underneath. You can see a girder is built up running with the trusses to hide the bow in the roof.
You might ask yourself why are these trusses here… I asked myself this question in doing some research and asking help from others about it, it was discovered that the top flood was set up originally as a meeting hall. Sanborn fire maps from 1926 show a meeting hall set up on the top floor. I could not find any photos of wha it looks like now but in the buildings advertisements it’s suggested as potential room for growth of the first floor business Using the 2nd and 3rd floor would add an additional 8,000 sqft of space the business could use.
The single fire escape located in the center of the third floor on the front of the building is also a good indication that the space is still set up as it was originally intended as a large meeting hall.
There are no placards on the building indicating the truss roof system in place.
I have to give a big thanks to both Chief Rick Degroot and chief John Norman for allowing me some of their time to discuss and learn a little more with what’s going on with these photos.
There are some valuable lessons in these photos, get out and preplan your districts, learn the history of the municipality that you work/volunteer in, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you aren’t 100% sure yourself.
John wayne time for these two…. Go get em brothers lol
In all seriousness what are your thoughts on the smoke here? What is your initial report? What are your actions? Comment below 👇
03/18/2026
Lazy post but some more diagrams or breakdowns for all you! Comment below 👇 for some others you are looking for in the future
Here’s another video of the false mansard fire and further info….
These decorative, non-structural, steeply angled facades are often constructed of lightweight wood framing, providing both fuel and a continuous, horizontal pathway for fire to travel undetected along the perimeter of a building, often wrapping around to connect multiple units in townhouses or apartments.
False mansards create a hidden “cockloft” or void space that connects to the attic or exterior walls. Without vertical fire stopping (which is frequently missing or improperly installed), fire can spread rapidly around the entire perimeter of a building.
The angled structure acts like a chimney, creating a natural upward flow for heat and smoke. Wind forces air into this space, creating the perfect oxygen-rich environment for fire to grow exponentially
These roofs are typically made of wood framing, plywood, or OSB decking, which, when combined with combustible exterior siding or asphalt shingles, provide ample fuel.
Because the fire is hidden inside the facade, it can burn undetected for long periods, bypassing firewalls if there are any, and spreading through common soffits, eaves, or joist pockets between buildings.
Fire from lower-level windows or the exterior (which is what happens here)can easily ignite the lower, often unsealed, part of the false mansard, allowing it to rapidly leap to the top-floor ceiling/roof.
The wood trusses supporting the false mansard can fail quickly in a fire. As the plywood decking or metal framing burns, the entire structure can detach from the building and fall.
Cutting into the top of the mansard can reduce its structural strength, causing a sudden collapse. Firefighters often have to use special techniques, such as attacking from below through the soffit or utilizing aerial platforms, to handle fires in these
Big thanks to one of our loyal followers for the addition information and video!
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