Ch. 12 Mission of Backup

Question 1

_____________ is to protect interior working crews (attack, search and others) by pulling and STRATEGICALLY placing protective lines between them and OBVIOUS OR POTENTIAL areas of fire spread, AND to ensure egress if retreat is necessary.

Answer 1

Mission of backup

Question 2

Backups only purpose is to __________.

Answer 2

Watch out for safety of interior crews

Question 3

The backup group provided the ______ that led our department to create __________. Crews kept telling us how backup crew wa used as a ___________. Those on the outside thought the officer and crew assigned to backup were inside looking out for ________.

Answer 3

Impetus, mission statement.
Second attack line.
The interior crews.

Question 4

Backups two primary concerns:

Answer 4

Monitoring interior conditions.

Knowing locations of ALL companies operating within the structure.

Question 5

Procedure should dictate initially no line smaller than ________ should be pulled for attack. If attack thinks line is too large, they can call for booster line and keep ______ inside as backup. That means ________ should be assigned at every working fire at which a line is pulled.

Answer 5

1 1/2 in.
1 1/2 in.
Backup group

Question 6

Backup has three responsibilities:

Answer 6

Ensure safety of ALL INTERIOR crews.
Position and maintain a working backup line.
Keep command informed

Question 7

The backup officer should be a ____________ who command believes will be able to identify potential trouble areas and _________ from the backup crew and the line _________ to check on other crews.

Answer 7

Seasoned officer or firefighter.
Move away.
For short periods of time.

Question 8

If backup group finds a fire, can do one of two things:

Answer 8

Small/nonthreatening fire - inform ATTACK on the radio/in person.
Fire of significant size - inform COMMAND

Question 9

3 parts of “position and maintain a working backup line”.

Answer 9

Backup officers first task is to determine suitable location for backup line that will protect interior crews AND to locate means of egress.
Backup takes crew to location and gives them detailed instructions.
Backup then leaves area of backup line and moves from work area to work area to ensure other crews are safe.

Question 10

If command tells backup to knock down fire (LAST RESORT), backup must: (3)

Answer 10

Member should STAY behind to remain focused on interior crews.
Officer must be aware of TIME/not focus on fire too long.
Doors CLOSED in specific area until attack becomes available.

Question 11

Command informed by backup of fire, command can do one of four things:

Answer 11

Send SEPARATE attack company.
Request ATTACK to move.
Inform backup that crew being sent to backup and when they get there, backup will have NEW designation.
Tell backup to knock down fire and SOMEONE will be sent to overhaul.

Question 11

In urban settings, a supply line taken from _________ should suffice as an alternate water supply.
If water available and fire intensity or its hold on structure is a CONCERN, engine assigned backup can _________.

Answer 11

A separate hydrant.

Take its own hydrant and lay in.

Question 12

Backup officer.
Backup gives location of where he is going to crew. If crew doesn’t hear from officer in ______, someone will ______ OR _______.

Answer 12

45 seconds.

Go check on the officer OR
Advance the line.

Question 14

Backup crew secures it’s own supply if: (5)

Answer 14

Near FLASHOVER and offensive strategy.
Fire attacking STRUCTURE itself.
Multiple FIRES/multiple LEVELS.
Fire in large structure with MULTIPLE backup lines.
Fire in COMMERCIAL occupancy.

Question 15

If there is any doubt about the safety of crews, _____________ should be established for the backup lines.

Answer 15

An alternate water supply

Question 16

As a rule of thumb, the backup line should ________________. Reasons? (2)

Answer 16

Follow the attack line into the structure.

Decreases possibility of opposing lines.
Backup may take a different way in and not know where attack is.

Question 16

Proper location of backup LINE and its crew depend on:

Once positioned, line should be stationary

Answer 16

Number of floors in the structure.

• If fire on first floor, backup LINE TWO-THIRDS between point of entry and attack crew.
• structure has 2 floors, backup LINE should be positioned according to locations of fire AND working crews.

Question 17

The placement of the backup CREW depend on (4)

Answer 17

Location of fire.
fire in the Attic areas.
if fire is on More than one floor.
fire in the Basement.
(LAMB-backup line like a lamb/lion)

Question 18

If stretching line into uninvolved room (second floor), ______ to pull line may save ________. If attack line goes left, back up line goes ______.

Answer 18

10 seconds.
30-60 seconds.

Right

Question 19

If fire in basement, backup position must be _______. If backup officer has concern with basement fire, then _______. If this is done, ___________ should be assigned to the top of the stairs PRIOR to the original backup line _________.

Answer 19

At top of stairs.
Line taken downstairs.
An additional backup crew line.
Going downstairs.

backup line moved to side of stairs

Question 19

If fires on multiple floors, and attack on second floor after first floor knockdown, backup officer and crew member should __________.
Backup officer should move until: (2)

Answer 19

Should advance their line upstairs after attack. Ensure safety of attack and quickly move back downstairs to ensure not getting cut off.

Command declares fire under control AND
Attack has given benchmark “fire knocked down”.

Question 20

In attic/basement, if line is NOT actually advanced to level of working crews, backup officer must _________.

Answer 20

Rotate among

• backup line.
• working crews.
• and means of egress.

Question 21

3 person crew possibilities (attic/basement) (2)

Answer 21

Assign another FF to backup as soon as one is available.
Leave single member with radio. Has line and within 10-20 ft of working group.
decisions about who is left alone: department chief AND incorporated into written procedure

Question 22

Normally, the backup group is a _________.

Answer 22

Safety valve

Question 23

Backup group should not be terminated until:(5)

Answer 23

All VISIBLE flame extinguished.
Attack benchmark “Fire is knocked down”.
All areas have been checked for EXTENSION.
Command observes no smoke “FORCIBLY” leaving/color lightened.
MOST IMPORTANT, Command benchmark “Under control”

Question 24

Once fire is under control, backup can be:

Answer 24

Reassigned.

Typically moved to assist attack with overhaul

Question 25

If attack and search on second floor and second floor is small, backup can:

Answer 25

Leave nozzle at top of stairs and FF at bottom of stairs.

Question 26

P. 146 Attack and search groups operating on different floors, backup line positioned as if fires were on both floors of a structure - ___________.

Answer 26

Up the stairs with additional line.

• then says give edge to search…no line at all*
• then “location of fire and search officers proximity to egress”*

Question 27

Multiple backup lines and backup officer(s). How many?

Answer 27

No officer ESPECIALLY BACKUP should have more than 5 subordinates.

• if 5 or 6 man crew is assigned and officer designated can control two separate backup crews in different areas, ONE OFFICER may be sufficient.
• distance between two backup lines may make it impractical.
• one backup line can cover TWO OR MORE attack groups.

Question 29

If multiple groups that normally DO NOT USE hoselines are assigned, then:

Answer 29

Multiple (and individual) backup lines MAY be warranted.

Question 30

If two or more backup groups are required:

Answer 30

It may be advisable to designate backup as a BRANCH

Question 31

___________ will dictate where backup FALLS on command’s to do list.

Answer 31

Fire conditions

Question 32

_________ determines when backup comes to the TOP of the to-do list.

Answer 32

Command

Question 33

Backup close the door and protect stairway for following reasons: (4)

Answer 33

Occupants have easier time descending stairs.
Crews have easier time getting into upper floors.
Attack can open door to start controlling fire.
Working groups enter, already have a backup crew working.

Question 34

Normally backup is assigned after ____________ and perhaps even after ___________ have been assigned and have begun working.

Answer 34

Attack groups.

Search groups.

Question 35

There may be times when command assigns backup immediately on arrival. Crew could be used for: (3)

Answer 35

Protect means of egress and access.
Provide a protective line for search crews if first priority is SEARCH.
Ensure safe and continuous means of egress for interior crews if fire involves more than one level or area.