Ch. 13: The ISO at Structure Fires Flashcards
What incident types are considered the most risky for numerous reasons, the greatest of which is the compressed time window that a fire department has to make a difference?
structure fires
What two general areas at structure fires do ISOs need to monitor?
1) Risk and 2) operational effectiveness
What are risks associated with structure fires usually tied to?
tactical priorities and incident benchmarks
An organized reporting activity designed to account for all personnel working an incident.
PAR (personnel accountability report)
What should a PAR include in order to be truly effective?
Radio transmissions with assignment, location, and number of people in the assignment
What are some of the situations or changes that should trigger a PAR?
- Anytime the operational mode has changed.
- Anytime an incident benchmark has been achieved.
- Following the report or witnessing of a flashover or collapse.
- After the report of missing or trapped firefighters.
Who is responsible for establishing control zones at fires?
The ISO
Why must the ISO need to listen for unanswered radio calls and make a judgment of?
Whether the unanswered call indicates communication barriers or the need for rapid intervention to locate the crew not responding.
What does the ISO need to focus primarily on to evaluate rehab effectiveness at structure fire?
the effects of heat, physical exertion, and weather exposure
Who should have radio priority to report conditions, needs, and progress?
Crews engaged in IDLH environment.
Which firefighters are at high risk for injury?
The FFs overdue for rehab.
What is the greatest traffic risk to firefighters at structure fires?
When they are arriving or moving apparatus, especially when water tender shuttle operations are underway.
In which situations should the ISO request an assistant safety officer(s) at structure fires?
- Large buildings with significant fire involvement.
- When a “plans section” is established at the fire.
- Fires in buildings with unusual or unique hazards.
- Anytime the ISO is requested to go into an IDLH environment.
A classification given to the probability that a victim will survive the environment.
rescue profile
What does it mean when it is deemed a zero rescue profile?
There is obvious death or no chance for the victim to survive.
How can reading smoke help determine a zero rescue profile?
Turbulent smoke, black smoke, and superdense smoke issuing from a part of a building are indicators of a zero rescue profile.
A high rescue profile warrants additional risk taking, but what should be monitored so that the risk taking can be adjusted as conditions change?
time, smoke conditions, and firefighting effectiveness
As a starting place, the ISO uses smoke-reading and building-reading skills to define the incident environment in what three dimensions?
the principle hazard, environmental integrity, and the effects of the surrounding elements.
From the ISOs perspective, the principal hazard is what, more than anything else, ______?
is likely to kill firefighters.
What construction features should the ISO pay particular attention to because the firefighter’s safety depends on it?
Fires in void spaces, in basements, and above drop ceilings pose additional threats to working groups.
What kind of concern to the ISO will a fire that has captured a central hallway that will lead to rapid fire spread?
A principle hazard at the incident.
The state of a building, area, or condition being sound, whole, or intact.
environmental integrity
What is the ISOs foundation for effective decision making?
Judging the rate of change (is it getting better or worse - and how fast?)
Which one physical feature has been cited as a significant factor in multiple firefighter deaths?
a sloping grade
What should the ISO ensure when surveying the entire area of incident impact?
That each crew has at least two escape areas (safe havens), as well as a clear corridor for egress.
What should the ISO continually relay to the RIC?
Access, egress, and hazard information.
What is often used to measure the effectiveness of the incident commander?
The ability to evaluate, manage, and assign resources.
What are the key resource considerations for the ISO in structure fires?
[PET] personnel, equipment, and time
Which important resource dictates hazard priorities, permits reconnaissance efforts, or makes the difference between an imminent threat to life or a minor operational concern?
time
What are the benefits to having safety briefings?
They show responders that their safety is a priority and help them get dialed into the incident prior to assignment.
What is the number one tactical priority in buildings with central hallways and stairwells?
Ventilation in the center-hall/stair buildings
What can pay huge dividends for the ISO in strip mall fires?
Watching smoke
What should ISO functioning at a high-rise incident be of particular interest to?
- The overall action plan.
- Control of building systems (elevators, HVAC, & stairways)
- Occupant evacuation or shelter-in-place issues, a safety issue with FFs going one way & occupants the other
- Communication with and feedback from the assigned ASOs
What must the ISO do to determine if the interior crews
are achieving positive results at the structural fire?
Read the smoke and the building
Which element is NOT essential to an effective personnel
accountability report?
Personnel ranking
Which crews typically receive most of the rehab effort?
Interior
What can pay huge dividends to the ISO at strip mall
fires?
Watching the smoke
Where should the ISO take up a position at the high-rise
fire?
With the command post
Which rule should the ISO follow at structure fires for
face-to-face communications with the IC?
15-minute
What activity should initiate a rehab session for the
firefighter?
Air cylinder change
What is the state of a building, area or condition?
Environmental integrity
How many general areas does the ISO need to monitor at the structural fire incident?
2; risk and operational effectiveness
Which zone is where firefighters, other responders and IMS staff are operating or staged?
Support
Which type of incident can be considered the most risky to respond to?
Structure fires
Who is responsible for establishing control zones at
fires?
ISO
Who should the ISO report to if a shortage in the staging
area is discovered?
IC
What often times makes the crew exposure equation
negative?
What and how the crew is doing something
Which is NOT seen as a responsibility of the ASO at a
high-rise incident?
Control of building systems
What is the ISO’s foundation for effective decision making in relation to environmental integrity?
Judging the rate of change
Which type of priorities are risks at the structural fire
incident associated with?
Tactical
What is the principle hazard at the structural fire from
the ISO’s perspective?
Anything that will kill firefighters
In which zone may escorted media representatives be
allowed at the incident scene?
Support
What is a classification given to the probability that a
victim will survive the environment?
Rescue profile
When which section is created should the ISO request an
assistant to accomplish the ISO “field component”?
Plans
At a structure fire when is the greatest traffic risk to
the firefighter?
While moving apparatus
What is the benchmark given when search and rescue are completed?
“All clear”
What zone is identified as a limited access area for
members directly aiding operations in the IDLH
environment?
Warm
What is the minimum number of escape areas that the ISO should ensure the crews have at a structural fire
incident?
2
Who is responsible for delivering safety briefings at the
high-rise incident?
ISO
Which tactical priority has the benchmark “under control”?
Fire control
Which statement about the ISO’s recon efforts is correct?
Recon should be performed many times during the incident
Which main components will help the ISO classify a
building at a structural fire incident?
Size and use
Which of the following is NOT something that makes the
strip mall a firefighter killer?
Low fire loads
What is the number one tactical priority when fighting
fires in a center-hall building?
Ventilation operations
What is the amount of time needed for the staged crew to respond called?
Reflex time
Which impedes fire control more often than not at the
structural fire?
Inadequate ventilation
Which physical feature has been cited as a significant
factor in multiple firefighter deaths?
Sloping grade
How often should the PAR be given when firefighters are
working in an IDLH environment as a general rule?
15 minutes
Which of the following does the concept of reach usually
apply to?
Height
What is the best method to deal with traffic related
issues at the structural fire scene?
Awareness
Which is often a forgotten resource?
Time
What color tape should be used to denote the hot zone?
Red
