Acting Captain's Exam: Incident Safety Officer Chapter 6 - Reading Smoke

Question 1

an explosive event that occurs when air is suddenly reintroduced into a closed space that is filled with pressurized, ignition temperature and oxygen-deprived products of combustion and pyrolysis.

Answer 1

Backdraft

Question 2

A slang term for smoke that is high-volume, has turbulent velocity, is ultra-dense and is deep black; a sign of impending auto ignition and flashover.

Answer 2

Black Fire

Question 3

A rapid fire growth phenomenon that occurs when combustion air is re-introduced into a ventilation controlled fire, leading to smoke flame over and room flashover.

Answer 3

Explosive growth phase

Question 4

A hostile fire event that includes the ignition and sustained burning of the overhead smoke layer within a room and/or hallway

Answer 4

Flame Over

Question 5

A sudden hostile fire even that occurs when all the surfaces and contents of a space reach their ignition temperature nearly simultaneously, resulting in full-room fire involvement

Answer 5

Flashover

Question 6

An avenue that heat, smoke, flames and combustion air follow

Answer 6

Flow path

Question 7

A hostile fire event warning sign that is characterized as the intermittent ignition of small pockets of smoke usually seen as fingers of flame that dance through the upper smoke layer

Answer 7

Ghosting

Question 8

A fire behaviour phenomenon that can suddenly harm firefighters; events include explosive growth phase, flashover, backdraft, smoke explosion and flame-over.

Answer 8

Hostile fire event

Question 9

Also referred to as pyrolitic decomposition, the chemical breakdown of compounds into other substances by heat alone.

Answer 9

Pyrolysis

Question 10

the products of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis; it includes the aggregate of particles, aerosols and fire gases that are toxic, flammable and volatile

Answer 10

Smoke

Question 11

A hostile fire event that occurs when a spark or flame is introduced into a pocket of smoke that is below ignition temperature but above some aggregate flashpoint. The result is a split-second ignition (and rapid expansion) of the pocket with no sustained burning

Answer 11

Smoke Explosion

Question 12

In today’s plastic rich world, many materials lack _______ ________ to absorb heat, therefore, breakdown quickly when exposed to exothermic energy

Answer 12

Material mass

Question 13

The ignition of smoke that has pressurized a room or box, likely results in a(n) ________________ surge

Answer 13

expansive

Question 14

smoke velocity is generated by:

a) wind speed
b) smoke volume
c) ventilation
d) Firefighting techniques

Answer 14

b) Smoke volume

Question 15

John Mittendorf, noted author, instructor and retired battalion chief from Los Angeles Fire Department, said it best “Smoke is the fire talking to you. It is telling you the _____________.”

Answer 15

Future

Question 16

Most of the smoke at a typical building is not coming from burning materials but from materials breaking down without burning: TRUE or FALSE

Answer 16

True

Question 17

If the smoke is getting faster, thicker and darker in seconds, while interior operations are underway:

a) it is a sign the operation is succeeding
b) The fire is reaching the decay phase
c) The IC should verify PPE compliance
d) The IC should consider intervention

Answer 17

d) The IC should consider intervention

Question 18

The classic fire growth model is in the process of being upgraded to how many phases? List them

a) Four
b) Five
c) Six
d) Seven

(Incipient, Growth, Limited, Growth, Developed, Decay)

Answer 18

c) Six

1) Incipient Stage
2) Initial Growth Phase
3) Ventilation Limited Phase
4) Explosive growth phase
5) Fully developed phase
6) Decay phase

Question 19

All of the following are considered hostile fire events EXCEPT:

a) Backdrafts
b) Flame-over
c) Flashover
d) Ghosting

Answer 19

d) Ghosting

Question 20

An aerosol can be defined as a suspended or propelled __________

Answer 20

Liquid

Question 21

What are the four attributes of smoke?

Answer 21

Volume
Velocity
Density
Colour

Question 22

Name 4 flammable gases contained in smoke?

Answer 22

Benzene
Acrolein
Carbon Monoxide
Hydrogen Cyanide

Question 23

What 5 factors control compartment fire growth phases?

Answer 23

• Size of individual compartments
• Type, quantity and continuity of fire load
• Presence or lack of smoke and fire control systems
• Available flow paths through adjoining compartments and the exterior of the building
• Size and status of exterior openings

Question 24

Factors that influence the reading of smoke:

WTF Charlie

Answer 24

• Weather
• Thermal Balance (Temperature, Humidity, Wind)
• Firefighting efforts (Forced Ventilation Tactics, Positive Pressure attack tactics)
• Container size