Stihl MS 460 Instruction Manual page 16

Roof-Venting
Fire and rescue departments in North
America frequently engage in the
practice of "roof-venting" structures
involved in fires to help evacuate
penned-up heat and smoke by sawing
vent openings into the top layer of a
building.
Roof-venting usually means physically
placing one or more fire fighters on or
near the roof of a structure, that may still
be burning and forcing openings either
manually or with a power tool. There are
several ways to make such an opening,
but many, if not most, run counter to
standard safe and sound operating
principles for handheld power
equipment, primarily due to insecure
footing.
!
Warning!
STIHL does not generally recommend
this practice due to the many variables
the fire/rescue service may encounter in
the field, e.g. steeply sloped roofs, low-
grip conditions such as ice/snow, the
close proximity of bystanders (including
other fire fighters), weakened structural
integrity, etc.
!
Warning!
Roof venting is extremely dangerous
and should be conducted only by
specially trained personnel in
accordance with all local, state and
federal rules and regulations. In
addition, in order to reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injury, always observe
the following precautions. Never attempt
Rescue Saw
to operate any Rescue Saw when you
are not in a secure position, allowing you
to safely hold the saw with both hands.
Never use a Rescue Saw while standing
on an unsecure and/or unstable ladder.
Such ladders may fall, slide or collapse.
Never use a Rescue Saw on a roof
unless you are certain that it is
structurally sound and secure footing is
provided. Avoid cutting through rafters
that will weaken the roof support and
standing on surfaces that will be
weakened by the cut. The frequently
used pre-fab roof trusses held together
by nail-plates are particularly subject to
rapid weakening when exposed to the
heat of a fire. Sometimes, a moveable
platform unattached to the structure,
such as the basket of an aerial truck,
may be the only means to provide the
necessary adequate footing and the
freedom to use both hands to operate
the saw.
English / USA
!
Warning!
Never work on any insecure support.
Never use the saw above shoulder
height. Never work in a tree unless you
have received specific, professional
training for such work, are properly
secured (such as tackle and harness
system or a lift bucket), have both hands
free for operating the chainsaw in a
cramped environment and have taken
proper precautions to avoid injury from
falling limbs or branches.
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