4 Loss Control Flashcards
Ch. 4 pg. 93
Primary damage
Caused by fire itself and not actions taken to extinguish
pg 93
Secondary damage
Damage from firefighting efforts and leaving priority unprotected
pg 93
Loss control was originally done by
civilian salvage companies hired by fire insurance companies
pg 93
Purpose of loss control:
Primary damage:
Secondary damage:
To reduce damage from fire, smoke, water weather, during and after fire.
Primary - damage produced by fire and smoke
secondary- damage that results from fighting the fire and/or leaving the property unsecured.
pg 93
Loss control should be considered during (3)
Pre planning,
during fighting structure fires
during post fire operations
When is pre incident loss control planning performed
During regular pre planning
pg 95
Typically, pre-incident loss control planning is done in conjunction with other preincident planning. Regardless of what system is used to assess and manage loss control risks all such systems involve the same basic steps. (3)
Risk Id
Risk evaluation
Plans development
To differentiate them from code enforcement inspections, pre plans are often called
Surveys.
pg 95
Risk identification is usually accomplished through an ongoing program of preincident planning surveys. These site visits are commonly 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
pg 95
During plans, surveys, ffs should look for anything that might increase primary or secondary loss. Note such items as: (7)
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
pg 95
Risk identification is usually accomplished through an ongoing program of preincednt planning surveys. During planning surveys, firefighters should look for and document any conditions that might increase primary or secondary loss.
In addtion, ff should note any of the following features or systems that can reduce loss: (4)
Fire escapes, smoke towers, area of refuge
Automatic fire doors
Built in fire detection suppression systems
Auto smoke vents
pg 93
Practice of minimizing damage and providing customer service through effective mitigation and recovery efforts before during and after incident
Loss control
pg 97 plans development
once a building has been surveyed and the loss control risks have been identified and evaluated, the information and conclusions should be translated into operation or contingency plans. Loss control element of plans may specify or indicate the following: (5)
- 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
pg 98
Because of privacy issues, findings of pre plan surveys must be kept
Confidential
pg 98
Most important way of limiting primary loss
Extinguishing fire quickly
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
pg 102
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
pg 104
Other common fire gasses: list (6)
Acrolein Hydrogen chloride Hydrogen cyanide Carbon dioxide Nitrogen oxides Phosgene
pg 104
while other fire fighters are limiting primary loss by attacking a structure fire, truck company personnel can make a significant contributions to the secondary loss control effort. Secondary loss control, considerations may include: (3)
Assisting fire attack
Venting
Salvage
pg 105
there are several Ways to assist fire attack
first is by creating exterior and interior openings,
second is Pulling ceilings and opening walls to allow water to be applied more directly.
pg 105
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.
pg 106
If fire situation allows. Ceilings should only be pulled after
Room contents below have been properly protected.
Note: it may be advantageous to pull the ceilings over hallways and other areas with little or no contents to protect.
107
Like forcible entry, ventilation preformed in a professional manner can contribute to both primary and secondary loss control.
Effective and coordinated tactical ventilation can limit the spread of: (3)
Fire, smoke, heat, which can reduce primary damage.
pg 108
Heat in a compartment can be reduced by using controlled bursts or pulses of
Fog streams
pg 109
If there are sufficient resources, ff should begin salvage operations where
The floor below the fire as soon as it is safe to do so.
pg 109
It may be prudent to delay fire attack in certain situations for salvage effort
to allow a certain amount of salvage work to be done first.
Ex: computers and expensive property can be damaged, like underneath the ceiling of an attic fire in an office, salvage first may be prudent. Cost of good and property may exceed the cost of the fire damage
pg 109
If a piercing nozzle is used to penetrate the attic space from the roof, what effect might it have inside
It may push heat and smoke down on interior crews.
pg 106
Hall runners:
Narrow canvas or plastic sheets or salvage covers to protect hallways.
pg 110
Exposed contents of a burning building can be protected in two ways
Removal- most effective
Covering- most common
pg 110
Exposed property should be removed in what order
Closest to fire seat
Most likely path of fire spread
Floor above fire
pg 111
Many Small items can be removed using
Line of persons like bucket brigade
After fire is knocked down, placing a leaking nozzle or coupling out a window can
Reduce water damage
pg 112
After a fire has been knocked down, placing a leaking nozzle out a window can also reduce water damage. What can be used with conventional attack lines to reduce secondary loss? (decreases water damage)
Class a foam
compressed air foam system
pg 112
Water absorbed by materials or objects inside a structure can cause
Shelved or stacks to topple, structural failure, expansion and damage
A building 50x100 ft with 6” of water on the floor will cause an additional what weight to be supported
78 tons
pg 113
Ways to remove water from a structure:(6)
- Wipe from horizontal surfaces
- Construct water chutes and catch basins
- Mops squeegees scoop shovel, vacuums
- Portable pumps
- Breech exterior walls making scuppers
- Remove toilets, allow water to drain down pipe
pg 114
Basement water may be pumped out as long as
As ,long as water is contaminated with sewage, ignitable liquids, or other hazardous materials.
pg 114
Severely Contaminated run off from firefighting must be
Contained to be Deconed later using catch basins, ditches or damming and diking
Post fire loss control operations take two forms
Economic loss control,
Psychological loss control
pg 115
Before leaving, to prevent looting, vandalism, weather damage, what must firefighters do to a building
Properly secure it
pg 115
Valuables and monetary items should be turned over to
Law enforcement or IC
pg 115
Sentimental, personal or family collections should be placed
In a safe protected area
pg 116
Building owner or occupant me be responsible for securing the entire property if.
There are potential hazards around the building, downed utilities, possible collapse or Holes in floor or ground into which someone could fall.
pg 116
If hazards exists. Firefighters should make the occupant or owner aware of them by
Performing a tour of the property if safety allows, and describing the hazards present.
pg 116
Property should not be released to owner until
Release or receipt documentation is signed
pg 116
One of the first things ff can do to limit psychological loss
Be aware of where the place debris during overhaul, maybe not in view of owner.
pg 116
Basic ways to prevent psychological loss (5)
Provide shelter on scene Notify friends and family Provide a phone Transport to temp housing On call chaplains
p.94 Preincident Loss Control Planning
+This information helps FF’s make faster and more informed on scene decisions as well as allows them to focus on protecting themselves/others, stabilizing the situation and conserving property
Preincident Loss Control Information
p.95 \+System used to assess and manage loss control risks have the same steps of -Risk Identification- -Risk Evaluation- -Plans Development-
Risk id- ff look for and document conditions that might increase Primary or secondary loss.
Risk Eval- process of using info from the risk Id preplan survey
Plans devel- translating information into operational plans.
p.95
+Usually accomplished through ongoing program of preincident planning surveys in which FF’s:
-Become familiar with building and contents
-Gather info for plans development
-Inform owners/occupants of anything they can do to reduce risk of loss.
Risk Identification
p.96
+This evaluation involves using judgment and experience to assess how any particular item will increase or decrease the potential for primary or secondary loss.
+Info from this can be used to identify additional fire dept tools/equipment that might be needed in the event of fire.
Risk Evaluation
p.97
Once the loss controll risks have been identified and evaluated, the information and conclusions should be translated into operational or contingency plans.
This falls into what step of managing loss control.
A. Risk Identification
B. Risk Evaluation
C. Plans development
D. Pre-incident planning
Plans Development
p.98
+Isolating involved sections until sufficient resources are in place to attack the fire can assist is limiting fire spread and smoke damage defines what?
Anti Ventilation or Compartmentalization
p.98
An important part of minimizing secondary damage is conducting an_____so an accurate picture of the problem is developed.
Adequate Dynamic Risk Assessment(Size up)
p.99 Effective Method of Attack
+Intermittent application of water fog to the hot gas layer will help cool walls and ceilings without disrupting the_____.
+When the smoke level rises due to __ cooling, water can then be applied to the burning material.
Thermal Balance
Gas
p.104
Substance of most concern to FF’s
Nitrogen Dioxide
p.104
while other firefighters are limiting primary loss by attacking a structure fire, truck company personnel can make significant contributions to the secondary loss control effort.
+Secondary loss control considerations for truck company personnel. (3)
- Assist fire attack
- Ventilation
- Salvage
Truck Company Skills and tactics
Ch. 4 Loss control
The purpose of loss control is to reduce damage from fire, smoke, water inclement weather, or other contingencies _______, _____ and ______ a fire.
before
during
after
