Joe Pronesti

1 month ago | fireengineering.com | Chris Tobin |Alexis Shady |Joe Pronesti

Main Streets have a variety of inherent challenges for laddering, including parapets, tight gangways, limited access in the rear, and numerous others. Here are some examples of those and what can be done so you can be better prepared. Firefighters and Construction: Parapet Wall FailureParapet PreparednessAerials and Overcoming Parapets/CricketsDownload this firefighter training bulleting on building construction as a PDF (547 KB) to share with your crews.

2 months ago | fireengineering.com | Joe Pronesti |Chris Tobin |Alexis Shady

Let’s examine some items firefighters need to consider when working in the rear or sides of a Main Street building alleyway. Alleys behind legacy areas were designed for the location of utilities, delivery of goods and stock, and sanitation pick-up (garbage). Most of these alleys are very narrow compared to the front street.

Feb 26, 2025 | fireengineering.com | Joe Pronesti |Chris Tobin |Alexis Shady

They “pop up” nearly overnight, both as new construction and refurbished “Main Street” occupancies. When they burn—and they do—they can be a challenge due to their stock. This month’s memo highlights what are commonly termed “Dollar Stores,” a ubiquitous presence in communities across the U.S.A fire’s effects in one of these occupancies depends on its construction.

Jan 27, 2025 | fireengineering.com | Joe Pronesti |Chris Tobin |Alexis Shady

Common before modern refrigeration and the advent of the supermarket, legacy cold storage warehouses, built before 1930, still sparsely dot the American landscape today. It’s almost impossible to tell their construction features from the outside; most resemble a heavy timber mill type building, three to five stories tall. There’s one noticeable difference, however: the lack of windows or openings on upper floors.