auc 151 brush **test** JD Flashcards
3.2.1 Weather is the controlling factor affecting the severity and incidence of brush fires. Serious brush fire conditions occur when the following weather conditions are present:
Low humidity.
Winds in excess of fifteen (15) miles per hour.
Little or no rainfall for the preceding three or more days. The longer the period without rain the greater the hazard.
TERMINOLOGY
- 3.1 The head of the fire is the leading edge of a moving fire.
- 3.2 The rear of the fire is the side opposite the head.
- 3.3 Looking at the fire from the rear of the blackened area, the left side is called the left flank while the right side is called the right flank.
- 3.4 Fingers are strips of long, thin sections of fire extending outward from the main blackened fire area.
- Spot fires are isolated small fires downwind from the main fire that are caused by brands carried by the wind.
3.4 TYPES OF BRUSH FIRES
3.4.1 Surface fires burn grass, weeds, small trees, leaves on the ground, etc. Surface fires are fast moving and are the most common type of brush fire encountered in New York City.
3.4.2 Bog fires start on the surface and burn downward into the soft spongy ground. They burn slowly and can burn for extended periods of time with operations sometimes extending for days or even weeks. This type fire is common in dried
out swamp or marshlands.
Bog fires generally smolder underground with no obvious extension hazards and slower operations can be undertaken.
Bog fires require burrowing holes in the bog, inserting hoselines and flooding, using large amounts of water beyond saturation.
3.4.3 Crown fires burn along the tops of trees, extending by direct flame contact and heat waves. They rarely occur in New York City.
-Apparatus including bfu’s do not cross water deeper than 18”
For administrative and fire report purposes, BFUs are assigned the numeral “9”. Example: BFU 1 would be recorded as 9-501 on payroll and operations reports that require numerals
C. Regardless of operating location, BFUs shall always be designated by their assigned number on Department radio and handie-talkie to avoid operational confusion. Example - “BFU 3 to Command”
BFUs should be operated by trained members from their associated engine company for efficiency, knowledge of limitations and accountability purposes. Firefighters and/or officers of units quartered with BFUs may be detailed to the BFUs if, in the opinion of the Battalion Chief having jurisdiction, it will maximize the operating efficiency of the concerned units. The BFU chauffeur is to be a member trained in operating the vehicle, including off-road driving. If necessary, a trained member from the associated engine company shall be detailed to the BFU and the overtime member utilized to back-fill the associated engine company. This procedure may also be utilized when overtime personnel are provided for staffing during any time of the year.
BFUs are always in service and can be special-called to any incident. When the services of a BFU is required during periods when the BFUs are not independently staffed, the associated engine company or another trained engine company will be assigned to respond with and staff the BFU. The Incident Commander may request that an engine company still responding to the scene be redirected to pick up and respond with the BFU if practical.
BFUs shall perform Brush Fire Patrol in specific areas as designated. Each BFU shall perform two patrols daily. Patrols shall take place between the hours of 1030 and 1130 and again between 1530 and 1630.
-Special attention should be given to four wheel-drive operations, use of winch and water pump operation. BFU winches are designed for self-extrication or for use on similar weight vehicles. They shall not be used to tow out full size apparatus or heavy trucks.
TEST*
When a unit quartered in the same battalion as a BFU goes out of service for mechanical reasons (e.g., flat tire), during periods when the BFU is not staffed independently, the battalion chief on duty may, while awaiting response of and repairs by department mechanic, utilize members of the out-of-service unit to activate the BFU. This may be more practical and less time consuming than detailing the out of service units’ personnel to other units. Whenever a BFU is staffed in this manner, the following shall be adhered to:
A. Notify the dispatcher of the BFU activation.
B. Response procedures will be as per section 4.5.9.(non structual)
C. TESTANY BFU ACTIVATION CONSIDERED UNDER THIS SECTION IS FOR SHORT TERM PERIODS, WHEN IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT REPAIRS WILL BE MADE WITHIN SEVERAL HOURS,(2 hr) the need for a spare apparatus is not anticipated, and time consumed in detailing personnel from the out of service unit to various units and then retrieving them is not warranted.
Large scale brush fire operations can encompass a large geographic area. Officers of units responding to large scale brush fire operations shall report to the Incident Command Post (ICP) for orders regarding assignment and position. IF NECESSARY, THE IC SHALL GIVE ORDERS TO RESPONDING UNITS VIA THE DEPARTMENT RADIO OR HANDIE-TALKIE. UNITS ARE NOT TO SELF-COMMIT TO OPERATIONS UNLESS STRUCTURES ARE EXPOSED. IN THIS CASE, THE OFFICER IS TO NOTIFY THE DISPATCHER FOR RELAY TO THE IC AND REQUEST ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE DEEMED NECESSARY.
5.4.2 Initial attack operations should concentrate on mobility. Avoid hooking up to hydrants, except to protect exposures.
- -In general, avoid attacking from or operating in front of the fire.
5. 4.6 If necessary to operate in front of the fire (only to protect life), sufficient charged lines must be in place and capable of protecting operating forces. An on-rushing wall of fire can endanger operating forces.
-Handlines should be considered when protecting EXPOSURES, when cutting off forward fire travel, and for deep seated fires. The commitment of resources necessary to get a handline into operation must be weighed against its effectiveness, mobility and anticipated results.
- 4.16 Fires burning on hillsides will burn rapidly towards the top of the hill. Have units positioned on streets at the top of the hill to protect exposures but attack the fire from the bottom of the hill and work upward.
- 4.17 Attempting to break-up heat waves by using a water curtain is generally ineffective. Instead, utilize streams to apply water directly onto exposures…
5.5.4 Assign sector chiefs to locations where EXPOSURES are or may become endangered.
- A raised tower-ladder can also serve as a reference point for units operating in the brush.
Units operating in the brush may be obscured. To verify a unit’s location, contact the unit via handie-talkie and have members raise brooms in the air, or operate streams into the air…
- 9.3 The Post Radio greatly enhances communications when used by Chief Officers operating on the Command Channel.
- 9.4 Responding Chief Officers shall report in with their Post Radios…
-
RESERVE BATTALION CHIEF
A. When Box 100D-400D has been transmitted in anticipation of increased brush fire incidence, the Officer Assignment Desk can, after consultation with the Chief of Operations, assign any surplus Battalion Chief to Division 8. Such chief officers can be utilized to activate an additional battalion, assist with Incident Command Post operations, manage the Staging Area or for overall coordination, at the discretion of the Staten Island Borough Commander/ Command Chief…
When Aviation Operations are needed, the IC shall have the Borough Dispatcher activate the Air Support Plan. The Air Support Plan is activated automatically for all doubtful third alarms but can be activated anytime on orders from the IC. The NYPD helicopter can be used for the following;
1. Air Reconnaissance (PRIMARY USE).
2. Implementation of fireground strategy.
3. Control of field forces.
4. Water drops.
Note: The Primary use of the NYPD Helicopter is for Air Reconnaissance…
The Battalion Chief responding to the NYPD Aviation Unit shall call the NYPD Aviation Base at 718-692-1230 and inform them of the response. The borough dispatcher shall likewise notify NYPD Operations of the request for air operations from NYPD. The ARC shall bring both the UHF handie-talkie and the VHF Citywide handie-talkie in the helicopter.
- 9.4 The helicopter will not fly in winds over 40 mph.
9. 5 The helicopter has limited operating time, generally 2-3 hours…
The use of the Bambi bucket shall be under the control of the IC, in consultation with the ARC. The ARC shall notify the NYPD Helicopter Pilot directly of the location of the water drop.
The ARC shall use the Primary Command Channel (Ch. 2) to contact the IC. At the ICs discretion, subsequent communications with the ARC may be on an alternate channel.
Test
There are times the ARC’s helicopter may need to refuel due to prolonged operations. This can be done at Floyd Bennett Field or at a forward refueling site. The forward refueling site shall be a location chosen by NYPD Aviation that is in a safe area and in close proximity to the brush fire. This will reduce travel time and get the helicopter back in service much quicker. If a forward refueling site is used, a Foam Carrier and a Purple K unit with the associated engine company should be special called to that location for the duration of the refueling operation. The ARC should notify the IC that a forward refueling site will be used and its location, so the necessary units can be special called to the scene.(notify IC on command ch #2,
IC is one that special calls units to refueling site)
….
