Ch. 19 Fire-Related Emergencies: Incinerators, Oil Burners & Gas Leaks

Question 1

Natural gas is primarily:

Answer 1

Methane (more than 90%)

• Ethane, up to 5%
• CO and Nitrogen

Question 2

The presence of _____ in natural gas can sometimes be used by FIRE DEPARTMENTS and UTILITY companies to pinpoint the source of persistent “gas odors” that have no apparent source.

Answer 2

Ethane

Question 3

Everyone has “smelled gas”. Odorant added at a precise rate, so as little as 1% of gas can be detected. The odorant is generally _____, compounded with sulfides.

Answer 3

Mercaptan

Question 4

As little as _______ of odorant can treat up to _________.

Answer 4

1/4 lb.

1 million cu. ft. of natural gas

Question 5

Vapor density of natural gas

Answer 5

.60

Question 6

Large percentage of total number of FD responses involve incidents in which no fire is present OR fire is within its normal container, may be termed:

Answer 6

Emergency Responses

Question 7

Pipeline leak: FD operations should be:

Answer 7

• EVACUATING endangered area.
• PROTECTING exposed bldgs and EXAMINING for gas seeping into them.
• NO attempts at closing any valves

Question 8

2 kinds of regulators (natural gas)

Answer 8

Newer-spring loaded,
steady rate,
1/4 psi diaphragm.
Older-“dead weight”,
column of mercury maintain pressure on diaphragm,
being phased out.
Regulator holds pressure between 2 and 4 psi

Question 9

Regulators inside a building have the vent line piped out through the wall to a:

Answer 9

Peck vent OR fisher vent

Question 10

Steps for gas regulator failure:

Answer 10

Notify utility
Shutoff gas
Search for gas, fire and victims
Vent area

Question 11

Flammable range of natural gas

Answer 11

4 - 14%

5-15% in hazmat

Question 12

Markings on radio for intrinsically safe:

Answer 12

Class 1, Division 1 or 2 atmospheres

Question 13

Natural Gas-Curb valves control the gas service into building. As a guide:

Answer 13

Inside services, high pressure-Yes

Outside meters, low pressure-No (O’s)

Question 14

Deciding WHEN to vent:

Answer 14

How large a leak
Source of ignition/can you control them
Status of gas/air mixture

Question 15

(Natural gas) Of all decisions to be made, _______ has the most variables.

Answer 15

WHERE to stop the leak-inside or outside

Question 16

Gas emergencies usually involve ______ engine company(s)

Answer 16

At least 1.
enough personnel to stretch hoseline.
long enough to cover ENTIRE building.
Apparatus for most shielding.

Question 17

Gas leaks usually take _________.

Answer 17

Path of least resistance-underground along gas pipe or other underground lines, gas deodorized as it travels, soil filters out odor.

Question 18

Nose can detect _____ of gas in air

Answer 18

1%. desensitized after short time. combustible gas meter (explosimeter), 2 meters preferable.

Question 19

Do’s and Don’t’s of outside leak

Answer 19

DO
-stop leak in low-press. STEEL lines (to save a life!!).
-have dry-chem and water ready if someone enters trench.
DON’T
-touch valves in street.
-EVER attempt to stop leak in plastic pipe.

Question 20

Vapor density for propane and butane

Answer 20

Butane - 2.01

Propane - 1.52

Question 21

Barbecue: Leak of LPG (liquid petroleum gas) near the neck AND accompanying fire

Answer 21

• small fire, if on low-pressure side.
• extinguish by turning off valve OR garden hose.
• isn’t done because = lack of knowledge or fear of injury

Question 22

To avoid casualties involving LPG (BLEVE), FF’s need:

Answer 22

• working knowledge of LPG properties
• cylinders in which it was shipped
• tactics for dealing with scenarios

Question 23

LPG or propane leaking finds source of ignition after having the opportunity to spread out farther and mix with more air

Answer 23

Vapor-air explosion (or fuel-air explosion)

-MORE devastating than leak that ignites immediately or BLEVE

Question 24

Propane characteristics:

Answer 24

Flammable range = 2.1 - 9.5%
VD = 1.52
Boiling point = -44F

Question 25

Propane pressure at 70 and 100 degrees

Answer 25

``` 70F = 100 psi 100F = 190 psi ```

Question 26

BLEVE isn't caused by _____ but by ______.

Answer 26

Rise in pressure Loss of strength due to heat -steel at 1500F loses HALF its strength

Question 27

How many handlines and stream pattern for LPG cylinder.

Answer 27

Three or four 1 1/2 in. or 1 3/4 in. handlines (within exposed bldg, outside protect structure, cylinder fire) Initially, straight or narrow fog -as distance DECREASES, fog gets WIDER so as not to knock over cylinder *open spaces-extinguish, built-up areas-Isn't recommended*

Question 28

Heating systems account for _____% of all fires

Answer 28

21

Question 29

Modern oil burner consists of:

Answer 29

- oil gun | - firebox

Question 30

Gas leaks are ________ and ________.

Answer 30

Among the most common | POTENTIALLY the most deadly

Question 30

Components of an oil burner are divided into the following ______ systems:

Answer 30

Two Oil handling and controls

Question 32

Most common oil burner is:

Answer 32

High-pressure gun type

Question 33

Pressures from oil pump in the gun

Answer 33

- 100 psi - homes | - 300 psi - large installations

Question 34

Oil burner: 2 sources of ignition

Answer 34

Gas pilot light OR | 2 high voltage electrodes (5,000 or more volts)

Question 35

In control system, limit control and limit switches are?

Answer 35

Limit control - thermostat (most common) | Limit switches - pressuretrol (steam)(min and max setting) and aquastat (steam and hot water)

Question 36

______ (extremely important to the fire dept) is the preferred means of interrupting the operation of the burner.

Answer 36

Remote control OR emergency switch

Question 37

Stack switch is a _______ switch designed to sense heat in smoke pipe. It's main purpose is to ____ On newer burners, stack switch may be ______

Answer 37

Bimetallic. Act as safeguard, keeping oil/air from building up w/no fire present. Infrared sensor at burner head

Question 38

2 possible oil burner problems

Answer 38

``` Smoking burner -turn off emergency switch -turn off oil tank valve -Inform owner/written notice Delayed ignition OR kickback -ignition doesn't occur, oil vapor cloud ignites at once -loud thud, similar to explosion -knock smoke pipe loose OR blow open burner ```

Question 39

For kickbacks or "explosion in the cellar", and oil burning OUTSIDE the burner:

Answer 39

``` Handline OR Extinguisher -AFFF -dry chem -CO2 ```

Question 40

Oil burning INSIDE the firebox after kickback (normal):

Answer 40

Let it burn itself out

Question 41

White Ghost is:

Answer 41

LEAST common problem but MOST dangerous Cloud of vaporized oil and air heated above flash point AND out of its container Common during severe cold spells

Question 42

The culprit in roach bombs causing explosions:

Answer 42

Pilot light on stove

Question 43

Roach bombs and ______ are "real recipe for disaster"

Answer 43

Sulfur candles

Question 44

Heavy rolling clouds violently twisting skyward indicate:

Answer 44

Extremely hot smoke | -"black fire"

Question 45

Compactors resemble incinerators, with hopper doors on each floor. Compactors differ from incinerators because:

Answer 45

They aren't designed to hold fire at any time.

Question 46

Smoke coming from a compactor indicates:

Answer 46

Immediate action is needed. | -stretch hose to first floor ABOVE the fire

Question 47

Compactors rooms pose the following hazards (5)

Answer 47

``` High-voltage equipment High-pressure hydraulic hoses Moving rams that can shear off AN ARM if caught in compactor Falling debris Exploding bottle and cans ```

Question 48

The _____ of a compactor fire can be the difference between a routine fire and a rapidly spreading multiple alarm.

Answer 48

Quick identification

Question 49

Battery powered CO detectors

Answer 49

Won't reset quickly Like human body, absorbs and holds on to CO for a long time Gel sensor, 24-48 hrs to reset Sometimes high-dose accumulation won't reset and must be replaced Life span 5-7 *120v reset quickly*

Question 50

CO alarm levels

Answer 50

Low - 15 ppm over 8 hr day or 30 day time frame (8 or 30 Depending on when detectors are made) High - 100 ppm in 90 min or 400 ppm in 15 min

Question 51

Compressed propane shrinks to ________ of its original volume as a gas

Answer 51

1/270th

Question 52

Emergency responses-Working knowledge of how to handle these emergencies is _________.

Answer 52

Vital to efficient performance of duty

Question 53

Natural gas emergencies divided into three basic categories:

Answer 53

``` Inside leaks (greatest danger). Outside leaks (next most dangerous). Leaks resulting from fires ```

Question 54

Pipeline pressure

Answer 54

350-850 psi

Question 55

City gate stations pressure

Answer 55

60-150 psi

Question 56

Potential for mass disaster (failure of ) Underground vaults Pressure reduced further

Answer 56

District regulator stations | FD can't do anything DIRECTLY to solve problem, only notify utility

Question 57

Low pressure systems Operating at 1/4 psi Gas mains are all at 1/4 lb of pressure

Answer 57

Older system

Question 58

Street main at 2.5-60 psi Gas line going into premises from street has own regulator Reduces to 1/4 psi

Answer 58

Newer system

Question 59

First priority of report of gas leak should be to:

Answer 59

Notify the utility

Question 60

How strong is the smell?

Answer 60

Strong-potentially serious, leave premises (expect the worse) Not so obvious-intensity and evac decided by officer in command

Question 61

Combustible gas detector

Answer 61

Indicates concentration of gas, expressed as percentage of LOWER explosive limit (LEL)

Question 62

For faint odors, always check __________. Try to isolate as close to source with __________ and if that isn't possible, next point of control is _________.

Answer 62

Pilot light Quarter-turn appliance valve Meyer wing cock

Question 63

At multiple tenant occupancies, master valve called a _________ stops the flow to ALL the tenants.

Answer 63

Service entrance cock

Question 64

Natural gas-Where to vent?

Answer 64

``` Simple-vent upper areas. Opening windows-generally sufficient. PPV-more effective means *NO smoke ejectors* Search and vent = 👍🏻 ```

Question 65

Some utilities mix in _____________ to make up difference between supply and demand, called __________.

Answer 65

Liquified petroleum gas | Peak shaving

Question 66

______ is a mixture of several of the hydrocarbon gases, mostly propane, but with quantities of butane and possibly ethane.

Answer 66

LPG

Question 67

A ________ is a particular threat to firefighters, since it often occurs after the arrival of the fire department, unlike most fuel-air explosions.

Answer 67

BLEVE

Question 68

Pressure relief valve on a LPG cylinder keeps pressure inside at around _________.

Answer 68

250 psi

Question 69

LPG cylinder evacuation distance for BLEVE:

Answer 69

150 ft in all directions

Question 70

Lowest floor with smoke will usually have fire on it. FF should make a point of checking ____________.

Answer 70

At least one floor below this level

Question 71

Heavy smoke throughout building with no visible fire indicates ________. Even more apparent if smoke is issuing from ________.

Answer 71

Cellar fire Chimney

Question 72

Fire in an early state. _____ is the only clue there is a problem.

Answer 72

Odor

Question 73

Smoke/odor of fire This minimizes damage and generally doesn't affect the security of the apartment. If forcible entry is required, arrange with ____, ____, or _______ for security of apartment.

Answer 73

Fire escape as another view of the structure and it permits forcible entry. Police, responsible tenant, or building maintenance

Question 74

Trash compactor chute and incinerator shafts are __________________. A fire in ________ isn't necessarily an emergency.

Answer 74

Abnormal, life-threatening conditions An incinerator

Question 75

Incinerators/compactors If smoke comes out when the door is opened, you are ______ the blockage. (Blockage not on fire, incinerator/compactor is)

Answer 75

Below

Question 76

Carbon Monoxide Flu-like symptoms? Reporting symptoms? There is no alternative to ____________.

Answer 76

EMS dispatched. Building evacuated until checked. Testing with meters.

Question 77

CO Alarm values (battery): | CO acceptable levels:

Answer 77

Low-15 ppm, over 8 HR day or 30 day time frame High-100 ppm for 90 min, 400 ppm for 15 min 9 ppm for residences, 35 ppm for commercial where no one sleeps

Question 78

CO-If you find defective or leaking appliance, __________________.

Answer 78

Shut it down and continue to monitor | After reading complete, you should begin to vent

Question 79

Extinguishing wood-burning stoves (5)

Answer 79

Shut off air intake Chimney fire extinguisher ABC type dry-chem (excessive mess in occupied area) Plastic bags of dry-chem into top of chimney Low-volume, water mist nozzle (avoid streams from hose nozzles-crack the flue)