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CFS NOTES (50) Flashcards

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1
Q

RECEO

A

RECEO = the CFS Structure Fire Management Acronym

  • R = RESCUE
  • E = EXPOSURES
  • C = CONTAIN
  • E = EXTINGUISH
  • O = OVERHAUL
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2
Q

UN HAZCHEM NUMBERS & CODES (3YE etc)

A

All industrial chemicals have a unique UN number which tells you what it is, and a 3 character code giving basic fire and emergency instructions:

The first character is a number which indicates the FIREFIGHTING MODALITY:

  1. = WATER JET
  2. = FOG
  3. = FOAM
  4. = DRY AGENT

The Second character is a letter which indicates the PPE REQUIRED

  • PRWX = full chemsuit
  • STYZ = BA (hence Petrol*, 3YE, needs BA)
  • There may be a third character:
    • V = may react violently
    • E = consider evacuation

Note: Petrol is now 1203, not 1270, which is obsolete, but still used

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3
Q

“GET OUT NOW” SIGNAL AT STRUCTURE FIRES?

A
  • unlike the continuous yip of the burnover warning, the structure fire warning is 3 yips, repeating, to help distinguish it from incoming vehicle sirens
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4
Q

FIRE CLASSES: ABCDEF

A
  • CLASS A = ordinary combustibles, wood, paper etc
  • CLASS B = flammable liquids
  • CLASS C = flammable gases
  • CLASS D = flammable metals
  • CLASS E = live electrical equipment
  • CLASS F = fat fires
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5
Q

EXTINGUISHER TYPES BY COLOUR

A

It is the BAND, not the body that indicates colour

  • RED = Pressurised water
  • BLUE = Foam
  • WHITE = Dry Chemical Powder
  • BLACK = CO2
  • YELLOW = Vaporising liquid (eg BCF, for live electrical equipment)
  • OATMEAL = Wet Chemical (for fat fires: works by Saponification)
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6
Q

AFFF vs BFFF

A
  • AFFF = AQUEOUS FILM FORMING FOAM : best for making foam blankets for Class B (flammable liquid) fires, typically in 3-6% concentration
  • BFFF = BUSHFIRE FIGHTING FOAM : a surfactant which helps water penetrate into Class A fuels, typically in a 0.5% concentration
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7
Q

USE OF CLASS B FOAMS IN TRUCK MOUNTED PROPORTIONERS

A
  • Class B (AFFF) foams are chemically incompatible with Class A foams and should not be run through the trucks plumbed proportioner
  • always make Class B foam by drawing directly from the drum with a foam branch
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8
Q

HOW MUCH STEAM DOES 1 LITRE OF WATER MAKE?

A
  • one litre of water makes 1700 litres of steam
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9
Q

STANDARD LAYFLAT FIREHOSE LENGTHS & CHARGED WEIGHTS

A

Std layflat firehoses are 30m (100ft) long and their charged wts are:

  • 25mm (1 inch) = 20kg
  • 38mm (1.5 inch) = 45kg
  • 64mm (2.5 inch) = 120kg
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10
Q

FIREHOSE COUPLING TYPES, USAGE AND FEATURES

A

the 3 common types in Australian use are:

  1. LONDON ROUND (aka SAMFS) = the old style male/female coarse screw fittings
  2. STORZ = unisex, 1/4 turn, internal lug couplings, widely used by metropolitan fire services
  3. WAJAX (aka FORESTRY) = unisex, 1/4 turn external lug couplings, preferred by rural agencies as they are dirt resistant, and the 25 & 38mm couplings are interconnectable

Australian fire services are slowly standardising on

  • FORESTRY couplings for 25 & 38mm hoses
  • STORZ for 64mm, and all suction hoses
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11
Q

WHAT DOES ‘ROLLED ON THE BIGHT’ MEAN

A
  • a layflat hose that is rolled upon itself from the middle
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12
Q

HOSE REEL DIMENSIONS

A
  • the standard building hosereel has 36m of 19mm (3/4 inch) hose
  • Echunga 34 has 2 reels each with 60m of 25mm hose
  • Echunga 14 has one 30m, 25mm hosereel (check)
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13
Q

TYPICAL MAINS PRESSURE = ?

A
  • standard mains pressure = 500-600kPa, ie a bit less than optimum branch pressure
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14
Q

OPTIMUM BRANCH WORKING PRESSURE

A
  • Branches are optimised to work at 700kPa (100psi), and the flow settings are calibrated to that pressure
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15
Q

FIREHOSE SAFE WORKING PRESSURE

A
  • Large layflats (38 & 64mm) are rated to 1500kPa, ie a bit over twice optimal branch pressure
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16
Q

PUMP REVS REQUIRED TO RUN THE HALO?

A
  • PLENTY! enough to make at least 1000kPa
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17
Q

EXTINGUISHERS SUITABLE FOR LIVE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT?

A
  • (YELLOW Banded) Vaporising Liquid types are best
  • DRY CHEM & CO2 are acceptable
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18
Q

EXTINGUISHERS SUITABLE FOR CLASS D (METAL) FIRES

A
  • NONE really, and certainly not water, you need specialty ‘DRY AGENTS’ which are NOT the same as DRY CHEMICAL POWDER
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19
Q

CFS RADIO SYSTEMS & CHANNELS (GROUND)

A

The CFS uses 3 separate radio systems, GRN, VHF & UHF

  • GRN - is for talk between the base controlling the incident and the fireground, typical TGs are
    • 124 to Adelaide Fire
    • 128/129 to Heysen Stations or the Group base
    • 136 for Lofty Grp (Mylor)
  • VHF - is for talk around the fireground, typically on Channel 087
  • UHF CBs - these are small unofficial handheld walkie talkies for non operational housekeeping at incidents, typically on
    • Ch 11, or
    • 9, 19 or 29 for farm units
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20
Q

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE GRN BEFORE ISOLATING THE BATTERY?

A
  • Otherwise the Network will not know the radio is off, and will keep looking for it
  • (Nobody bothers with this)*
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21
Q

RADIO COMMS WITH CFS AIR ASSETS?

A
  • INITIAL contact with incoming bombers is on the Regional Air Ops G__RN (108 for Echunga), then switching to VHF for tactical operations, typically VHF 56 for Echunga
  • these will be paged out with the response page
22
Q

DESCRIBING FIRES TO AIR SUPPORT

A

Use

  • POI
  • Head
  • L flank
  • R flank

not compass points

23
Q

WHO TO CALL IN A MAYDAY SITUATION ON THE FIREGROUND?

A
  • First choice is a MAYDAY call on the local fireground VHF channel, or failing that, the local GRN talkgroup (they are the only ones close enough to visualise your problem and provide immediate help)
  • 2nd choice is to press the ORANGE Mayday button*, but this will only notify ADELAIDE fire, who are unlikely to be able to offer immediate help

* NOTE, the new Digital VHFs also have the Orange Mayday button

24
Q

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE (CFS) GRN MAYDAY BUTTON IS PUSHED ?

A
  1. It sets off an alarm at ADELAIDE FIRE, denoting the source of the call, and, with Digital Systems* the GPS location of the radio.
  2. The Radio switches to the emergency TG (115) and Adelaide fire calls you.

* in Region 1, VHF is now digital, but GRN is not yet

25
Q

HOW TO RESET THE GRN MAYDAY BUTTON

A
  1. notify Adelaide Fire the button was pushed in error
  2. hold the ORANGE button down until one long beep is heard
26
Q

RADIO CALL USED TO DENOTE

“IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOLLOWING, ALL OTHERS LISTEN”?

A
  • check, check, check
27
Q

HOW TO UNLOCK A GRN OR VHF HANDHELD WHICH HAS HAD THE KEYPAD LOCK ENGAGED?

A
  • Move the rotary collar to ‘B’, it must have inadvertently been set to A or C.
28
Q

ACTION TAKEN ON GRN RADIO GIVING A ‘BUSY’ SIGNAL?

A
  • Release PTT and retry shortly
29
Q

WHAT ARE THE GRN ‘MULTI-AGENCY TALKGROUPS’?

A
  • most GRN talkgroups are agency specific and can only be reached on their own radios
  • GRN 17-36 are multiagency talkgroups which can be reached on any GRN radio (but need to be centrally patched together).
30
Q

CFS FUEL CARD PIN

A
  • = the Region number (1) plus the 3 numbers of the registration plate
31
Q

DRIPTORCH FUEL MIXTURE ?

A
  • 2 DIESEL : 1 PETROL
32
Q

CFS HLO DUTIES

A
  • contact SAAS EOC (aka 5FT) enroute to scene on TG 20 to advise ETA of HLO to scene, using the callsign [Incident location]-HLO (eg ‘Flaxley HLO’)
  • on arrival, select suitable site, at least 50m dia (day) or 75 (night). If at night, marked by crossed headlights pointing into wind.
  • Monitor TG 20 for incoming helo, then relay landing instructions, wind direction and speed
  • if at night, on Helo approach, ensure all high beams and beacons are extinguished: just use amber flashers and low beams*

*same same for runway aprons, and yes, this is often neglected at primaries, but the pilots would like it

33
Q

FIRE RISK V RELATIVE HUMIDITY?

A

RH is a major determinant of fire behaviour: as a general guide:

  • > 30% = fires are easily manageable
  • 15-30% = fires become increasingly difficult to control
  • < 15% = fires are generally uncontrollable
  • < 10% = CATASTROPHIC conditions
34
Q

FDI SCALES

A
  • < 12 = LOW - MODERATE
  • 12 - 24 = HIGH
  • 25 - 49 = VERY HIGH
  • 50 - 74 = SEVERE = TOBANS
  • 75 - 99 = EXTREME
  • > 100 = CATASTROPHIC
35
Q

STANDARD CFS RESPONSE LEVELS TO RURAL FIRES DURING THE FIRE DANGER SEASON?

A

During the FIRE DANGER SEASON, but not on a TOBAN day:

  1. Initial response = 1st ALARM = 2 Tankers*
  2. Next level = 2nd ALARM = 2 more Tankers
  3. Next level = 3rd ALARM = 2 more Tankers
  4. Next level = STRIKE TEAMS via REGION

On a TOBAN day

  1. Initial response = 1st ALARM = 4 Tankers + 1 BWC
  2. Next level = 2nd ALARM = 4 more Tankers
  3. Next level = 3rd ALARM = 4 more Tankers
  4. Next level = STRIKE TEAMS via REGION

* = at least a 24, or sometimes 2x 14/QRVs

36
Q

CFS RECOMMENDED IDLE SPEED FOR TANKER ENGINES ON THE FIREGROUND?

A
  • 1300 RPM!
37
Q

CFS STANDARD RCR RESPONSE LEVELS

A
  • Standard RCR response = 1 Rescue + 1 Tanker
  • Heavy rescue = 2 Rescue + 2 Tankers
    • an extra Tanker if Helicopter landing site reqd
38
Q

THUNDERSTORM METEOROLOGY

A
  • UNSTABLE atmospheric conditions* may allow warm moist air at lower levels to ascend to great heights, 60,000 ft or more
  • the moist air cools as it rises, producing first rain drops (and CUMULUS CLOUDS) then hail
  • Strong turbulence** within the cloud causes collisions between hail particles, creating electric fields, causing lightning to jump within the cloud, between clouds, and to the ground
  • repeated rise and fall within the cloud can produce very large raindrops or hailstones which may fall violently to earth, accompanied by strong local winds.

  • * = those conducive to large vertical movement of air masses*
  • ** this is why thunderstorms are dangerous to fly through*
39
Q

WHAT IS THE C-HAINES INDEX?

A

the C-Haines index is a is a measure of atmospheric instability, which is an important* predictor of fire behaviour, because increasing instability favours generation of convection columns which increase local winds

  • 0-4 = stable, fires easily controlled, models over predict fire behaviour
  • 4-8 = becoming unstable, fires becoming difficult to control: models are good predictors
  • 8-10 = unstable: fires are difficult to control, models under predict
  • >10 = very unstable, fires uncontrollable, models dramatically under predict

* albeit not part of traditional models

40
Q

WHAT ARE PYRO-CUMULUS CLOUDS?

A
  • these are high white cumulus clouds which develop above the smoke column at a big fire: they are a RED FLAG MARKER OF ATMOSPHERIC INSTABILITY, and of severe and unpredictable fire behaviour
41
Q

CFS BA CYLINDER CAPACITY

A
  • CFS uses 9 litre, 300 bar fibreglass cylinders with a maximum capacity of 2700 litres
42
Q

MINIMUM BA CYLINDER PRESSURE FOR BUILDING ENTRY?

A
  • 170 BAR
43
Q

WHEN DOES THE CABA WHISTLE SOUND?

A
  • Whistle time = out time = 50 Bar = 10 mins air left
44
Q

ECO DUTIES

A

The ECO controls the entry of BA operators into incidents

  1. don ECO vest & set up ENTRY CONTROL POINT at a suitable site near incident entry point
  2. lay out Green & Red & tarps for full & empty cylinders
  3. collect TAGS* from waiting operators, record cylinder pressure, confirming >170 bar
  4. upon doffing, calculate out time from starting pressure
  5. ensure team** out on time, or send rescue crew in***
  • * removing this tag from the DSU activates it*
  • ** a team = 2 operators*
  • *** always aim to have the next team ready to go in*
45
Q

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ROOFTOP SOLAR & BATTERY STORAGE

A
  1. Solar Panels produce DC current and feed it to an INVERTER which converts it to 240V AC for immediate use, export to the GRID, or storage in a BATTERY system
  2. Homes with solar panels have a PV (Photovoltaic) sticker on the fusebox, and those with Batteries have an ES (Energy storage) sticker
  3. Traditional Batteries were LEAD-ACID arrays, but Lithium types are proliferating, and can can melt down violently if pierced or overheated.
  4. EMERGENCY ACTION in the event of a house fire or battery emergency:
    • Turn off all switches in the fusebox
    • Treat battery leakage as HAZMAT
    • Cool overheated Li-Ion batteries with FOG only (jets risk electrocution)
    • Allow battery fires to burn out whilst protecting exposures
46
Q

ELECTRIC CAR INCIDENTS AND FIRES

A
  • Electric vehicles currently lack a universal ‘number plate flag’ and may need to be identified individually
  • EVs have 2 battery systems:
    • A conventional 12V battery which runs the traditional accessories
    • A larger, high voltage battery which powers the electric motor.
  • In case of crash:
    • EVs have crash sensors which should disconnect the high voltage battery, but ensure this by disconnecting the 12V battery leads and pulling the ‘first responder plug’ if present (usually in engine bay)
    • Identify the ORANGE high voltage cables and avoid cutting during rescue
    • Treat high voltage battery leak as caustic
  • In case of High voltage battery fire:
    • SCBA mandatory
    • use high volumes of water (>20,000l) to extinguish and cool
    • quarantine for 48h: can reignite later*
47
Q

WHO TO NOTIFY HOW WHEN RESPONDING TO AN INCIDENT (2016)

A
  1. ack to Adelaide Fire by phone on arrival at station
  2. notify Adelaide Fire when mobile, arrived, clear, returned etc, using K codes on 128
  3. notify HEYSEN DUTY OFFICER when mobile on 12__8 (Heysen Duty does not see K codes)
  4. upon arrival, send HEYSEN DUTY initial sitrep on 128 as:
    1. Echunga 34 arrived incident number..
    2. the incident name is….
    3. the incident commander is…
    4. the initial SITREP is….
  5. Notify HEYSEN DUTY when complete on 128
48
Q

CFS PRIORITY ONE* DRIVING RULES

A
  • Don’t exceed speed limits by >20 kmh
  • Stop before disobeying a RED light
  • Don’t disobey train signals unless directed by a rail worker
  • You must use BOTH Lights & Sirens at all times
  • Don’t exceed 60kmh on the freeway downtrack

* P1 = Emergency driving, P2 = normal

49
Q

ECHUNGA PRIMARY SCHOOL FIRE SYSTEM

A
  • Echunga Primary School has no fixed alarms or sprinklers, but it does have 4 ‘mains pressure’ water points:
    • 2 hydrants, one at each end of the main school carpark
    • 2x 36m reels, one on the external wall midway between the hydrants, and another inside the same building
  • These are fed at 600kPa from 2x 60,000L tanks and an autostart* diesel pump adjacent the school crossing. A booster cabinet alongside the pumphouse allows the system to be pressurised by an appliance in the event of pump failure.
  • Initial actions upon arrival
    1. Locate 34 in the main carpark and commence work using 64mm layflats direct from each hydrant
    2. Establish BA Entry control point

*but not autostop: shut down via buttons in the booster cabinet or pumphouse.

50
Q

BEST EXTINGUISHER FOR GUARD DOGS?

A
  • CO2, sprayed directly on the nose through the fence at initial contact
51
Q

HOW TO STOP A CHARGING DOG

A
  1. Do not run
  2. Face the dog and loudly tell it to GO HOME - most will hesitate at this .. if so, reinforce by advancing.
  3. If not, ‘become a tree’ … stand immobile, no eye contact, ignore, even if nipped
52
Q

TYRE PRESSURE IN SAND

A
  • As a general guide, begin by halving the normal pressures, eg to 50 psi, but can go lower

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