Ch. 19 - Safety Precautions Prior to Collapse Flashcards
When a danger is rptd. to CP, IC must do something:
Verbally acknowledge
Order Increased sprvsn.
Withdraw FF’s
Order an Emer. Evac.
IC’s response depends on several factors:
- Seriousness of warning
- Who tx’s the danger
- FF’s avail. to respond to crisis
- Urgency of rescue ops. being carried out at time of rpt.
Safety actions IC may consider when receiving a reported danger:
1- Acknowledge rpt. & TAKE NO IMMED ACTION
2- Light up danger area
3- Assign EXPERIENCED OFFICER OR CHIEF to investigate
4- Inc. sprvsn. in danger area
5- ALERT A RAPID INTERVENTION TEAM TO RESPOND
6- EVAL. UNSTABLE STRUCTURE W/A TELESCOPIC LENS
7- Rope or tape off danger area
8- Establish collapse safety zone around danger area
9- Evac. people AND FF’s from rpt’d. danger area
10- Order partial withdrawal of M’s from section of fire bldg.
11- CHANGE STRATEGY FROM OFFENSIVE TO DEFENSIVE by withdrawing M’s from fire bldg.
12- Order an IMMED. EMER. EVAC. of All FF’s
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
A report of smoke seeping thru an exterior brick wall during early stages of fire op. when only content is burning & structure is not burning.
ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF RPT’D DANGER BY RADIO & TAKE NO ACTION:
- Chief may feel crack in structure is due to improper foundation settling prior to fire
- If fire not exting’d by initial hose line & instead grows to involve structure, IC may have to reconsider the defect & take add’l precautions
All reports of danger must be ack’d by the ??
IC
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
During initial stage of a night fire, a chimney or advertising sign has become unstable OR partially collapsed & is hanging down on one side
LIGHTING:
- Due to need for search & rescue effort & initial hoseline placement, there may not be avail. FF’s to secure/remove the danger.
- Have R.I.T. illuminate the danger
- When add’l FF’s avail, IC may order inc’d safety measures
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
During overhauling when floor stability in question;
Floor may be springy or bounce when walked upon;
In some older BLDGS, floors vibrate when walked upon:
- this effect may be caused by absence of cross bracing or bridging btwn joists OR from overhauling by M’s OR stock
- After serious fire, charred floor joists may be reduced in thickness, causing this effect
IC may order a Chief OR EXPERIENCED CO. OFFICER to invest. a rpt’d danger
This officer invest’s. condition & advises chief whether to continue or discontinue FF’ing in vicinity of danger.
Investigation of Bldg’s Interior after fire, BUT B4 overhauling:
- Safety Chief insp. Bldg’s structural int. stability after master streams used to DET. Effects of fire damage, master streams & water accumulations.
- NOONE INSIDE STRUCTURE EXCEPT SAFETY OFF. & A TEAM MEMBER.
Safety Off. Sould note the following conditions & make recommendations to Chuef whether M’s should re-enter for overhauling:
1- Floors w/storage or Hvy machinery
2- Excess vibrations of FL’S
3- Charred & weak FL decks that will disintegrate if stepped on - they should be roped off
4- condition of stair treads & landings
5- Estimate weight of water accumulations absorbed in plaster that has fallen to the fl. or been absorbed into storage materials.
If Investigating Officer finds structure unstable, IC may:
1- Inc. safety precautions taken & order FF’s not to conduct overhauling
2- Order M’s to remain outside bldg & outside the collapse zone & direct master streams into bldg for HOURS OR DAYS.
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
When the continuation of a RESCUE or FF’ing effort IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL OP
Increased Sprvsn. in the danger area
- Assignment of a Chief to sprvs. is often done
- Another Chief or VETERAN Fire Officer. Ay be directed to op. in danger area.
- HAS AUTH. TO WITHDRAW M’s FROM DANGER AREA IF DANGER BECOMES TOO GREAT
Several Ops. Where dangers are always present & assignment of a Chief Officer is often directed:
“C.O.R.T.H.”
C Ellar fires O perating on fl. Above R oof venting T op fl. Fires H ose line advancement at a rapidly spreading fire
R.I.T. may:
- RIse lads I/F/O BLDG
- Reposition an AL for rescue
- Set up lights I/F/O BLDG
- Remove hoseline kinks I/F/O BLDG
- Should not enter bldg or wander from CP
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
During an explosion or collapse, where M’s are searching the rubble for LIVE, BURIED OR PARTIALLY BURIED VIC’S
Assignment of a monitor (Eval. Structure w/a telescopic lens)
- Assign an Off. Or FF To observe the structural defect continually & NTFY IC of any change
- Transit = MORE EFFECTIVE than a FF if a monitor is needed
- FF must continually monitor transit anytime FF’s operating in secondary collapse area.
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
Leaning Masonry Chimney
Cordon off rpt’d danger are
- This action can be taken WHEN THE DANGER AREA BENEATH THE UNSTABLE STRUCTURE IS SMALL
- Role or Orange marking tape tied around apparatus, bldg parts or utility poles
- Rope = WAIST TO CHEST HIGH ABOVE GROUND
- Continuous monitoring is required
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
A section of loose bricks on a parapet wall
Cordon off rpt’d danger area
- This action can be taken WHEN THE DANGER AREA BENEATH THE UNSTABLE STRUCTURE IS SMALL
- Rope or Orange marking tape tied around apparatus, bldg parts or utility poles
- Rope = WAIST TO CHEST HIGH ABOVE GROUND
- Continuous monitoring is required
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
When a larger part of bldg is in danger of collapse & requires MORE THAN A SMALL AREA TO BE ROPED OFF
A collapse danger zone should be established by IC
- VERTICAL collapse zone area = 1, 1-1/2 OR 2 TIMES THE HEIGHT OF THE WALL, depending on IC’s orders
Examples of collapse dangers greater than the height of the wall:
- Wall collapse danger for truss roof failure with hip rafters
- Wall collapse dangers from a mansard roof with hip rafters
What is he MOST DANGEROUS PARAPET & WHY?
A hollow ornamental cast stone parapet wall, because it is tied together by reinforcement bars & angle irons
- When ornamental cast stone parapets = unstable, bulging or leaning outward, ASSUME HORIZONTAL COLLAPSE ZONE TO BE ENTIRE PARAPET WALL LENGTH.
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
A ceiling collapse is possible AND the bldg has a stairway enclosed by masonry walls AND stair landings are independent of floor landings
Partial withdrawal of FF’s
- M’s may be withdrawn to the safety of the stair enclosure BEFORE CEILING COLLAPSES
- THIS PRACTICE CAN ONLY BE ALLOWED WHEN CONSTR. OF BLDG KNOWN IN DETAIL AND PARTIAL COLLAPSE WILL NOT CAUSE ENTIRE STRUCTURE TO FAIL
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
Some structures are divided into bldg sections, which are separated by fire walls & have separate roofs & floors
Partial withdrawal of FF’s
- THIS PRACTICE CAN ONLY BE ALLOWED WHEN CONSTR. OF BLDG KNOWN IN DETAIL AND PARTIAL COLLAPSE WILL NOT CAUSE ENTIRE STRUCTURE TO FAIL
A true firewall, separating 2 sections of a bldg has:
AN INDEPENDENT FOUNDATION
A firewall where roof & fl. Beams run parallel with the wall can be considered a ??
FIRE DIVISION
Attached 2-Family houses with plasterboard or masonry fire wall btwn the houses must be considered ??
ONE STRUCTURE
- When 1/2 of the attached structure becomes unstable & in danger of collapse during a fire = ENTIRE STRUCTURE IN DANGER = OCCUPANTS & FF’s MUST BE WITHDRAWN FROM BOTH SECTIONS
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
Any time a serious structural defect is discovered
Complete withdrawal of FF’s
The warning sign that most often causes IC to withdraw M’s from a burning bldg:
A large body of fire on several floors in an old bldg
Which Safety Action should IC Consider?
Prolonged burning of a serious fire on ONE OR MORE FLOORS of a structure
WITHDRAWAL OF FF’s MUST BE CONSIDERED
ADD’L FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE IC TO CONSIDER COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL:
1- age of structure 2- LARGE combustible content 3- LARGE structural fuel load 4- UNdivided open fl. spaces 5- UNprotected cast iron columns 6- LW steel & wood trusses 7- LONG SPAN roof & floor systems
A WITHDRAWAL is ordered when ??
A fire is BEYOND EXTINGUISHMENT OR A COLLAPSE IS ANTICIPATED
An EMERGENCY EVACUATION is ordered when ??
AN IMMINENT DANGER is discovered or reported such as an:
- explosion
- collapse
- terrorist event
- HAZ Mat incident threatens to overtake & trap FF’s
When an EMERGENCY EVACUATION is ordered, evacuated FF’s should report to a:
PRE-DESIGNATED AREA, NOT:
- IN FRONT OF THE BLDG & NOT AT THE CP
- COULD BE NEAR AN APPARATUS IN A STAGING AREA OR IN STREET AWAY FROM BLDG
