4 Loss Control Flashcards
Primary damage
Caused by fire itself and not actions taken to extinguish
Secondary damage
Damage from firefighting efforts and leaving priority unprotected
Loss control was originally done by
Insurance companies and civilian salvage companies
Purpose of loss control
To reduce damage from fire, smoke, water weather, during and after fire.
Loss control should be considered during
Pre planning,
During fires
After fires
When is pre incident loss control planning performed
During regular pre planning
Same basic steps used in all systems to assess and manage loss control risks
Risk Id
Risk evaluation
Plans development
To differentiate them from code enforcement inspections, pre plans are often called
Surveys.
Pre plans or surveys have three purposes
Allow ff to become familiar with building and contents
Gather info for plan development
Inform owners or occupants of anything to be done to reduce loss
During plans, surveys, ffs should look for anything that might increase primary or secondary loss. Note such items as
Life safety hazards
Means for primary and secondary access,egress
Vital processes that should be shut down only if needed
Biohazard, flammable or reactive material
Highly absorbent materials that need to be kept form water
During pre plans ff should note features or systems that can reduce loss
Fire escapes, smoke towers, area of refuge
Automatic fire doors
Built in fire detection suppression systems
Auto smoke vents
Loss control
Practice of minimizing damage and providing customer service through effective mitigation and recovery efforts before during and after incident
Loss control element of plans may specify or indicate the following
Most effective, least destructive means of entry, lock boxes
Most effective evacuation and protect occupants
Vital records kept and how to protect them
Supporting and using fire suppression systems
How to protect building contents from smoke water etc
Because of privacy issues, findings of pre plan surveys must be kept
Confidential
Most important way of limiting primary loss
Extinguishing fire fast
Most important factors of limitng primary loss
Proper size up Effective strategy Adequate on scene resources Effective ventilation Through overhaul
Size up
Ongoing dynamic mental eval process performed by officer in charge to evaluate all influencing factors develop strategic goals and tactical objectives before committing personnel
To prevent primary loss, overhaul should be thorough and detailed but not
Indiscriminate and careless
During overhaul, mental exhaustion can make firefighters more likely to
Miss subtle danger signs like impending collapse
What can help extinguish hot spots more effectively
Class a foam
Other common fire gasses
Acrolein Hydrogen chloride Hydrogen cyanide Carbon dioxide Nitrogen oxides Phosgene
Secondary loss control, considerations may include
Assisting fire attack
Venting
Salvage
Ways to assist fire attack
Gaining entry
Pulling ceilings and opening walls
How to minimize secondary damage while gaining entry
Instead of forcing, try conventional means of opening windows and doors, if safe to do so or possible. Or force with the aim to keep function of the door or window instead of destroying it.
