CH 4 FIRE SCENE OPERATIONS

Question 1

Life saving operations are placed ahead of firefighting when

Answer 1

Sufficient firefighters are not available to do both, as is the case when no ladder company is on the scene

Question 2

The best life saving measure may be a

Answer 2

Prompt attack on the fire which if allowed to spread would trap occupants

Question 3

A life hazard visible on arrival

Answer 3

Must be addressed

Question 4

However immediate rescue attempts by the 1st arriving engine company without simultaneously stretching and positioning a hose line should be attempted

Answer 4

Only in extreme situations

Question 5

Factors impacting on the decision to attempt an immediate rescue include

Answer 5

• Safety team complied with
• Occupants endangered by being in the immediate vicinity of the fire
• Number of persons trapped
• Occupants threatening to jump
• Means of egress cut off by fire
• Ability to reach occupants with portables
• Anticipated arrival time of 1st due ladder company
• Staffing level of the engine company (4 or 5)

Question 6

An accurate and complete size up must include consideration of the following strategic factors

Answer 6

Time of day
Life
Area
Height
Construction
Occupancy
Location and extent of fire
Water supply
Street conditions
Auxiliary appliances
Weather
Apparatus and equipment
Exposures (6 sides of the fire)

Question 7

Actions that the officer of the 1st arriving engine company can implement to protect endangered occupants include

Answer 7

• Position a hose line between fire and endangered occupants
• Verbal instructions & assurances to the occupants
• Close doors to limit spread of smoke
• Ensure that the incoming units are informed of the location of endangered occupants

Question 8

Depending on the engine staffing one member may be

Answer 8

Released from the stretch and proceed to the roof to provide vertical ventilation over the stairs

Question 9

When the exact location of the fire has been determined it

Answer 9

Must be conveyed to the other units operating on the scene

Question 10

3 stages of fire suppression

Answer 10

Locating
Confining/Controlling
Extinguish

Question 11

Stages of fire growth

Answer 11

Growth Stage (incipient)
Fully Developed (free burning)
Decay (Smoldering)

Question 12

Growth stage (incipient)

Answer 12

*Increases from small flames to full fire
*Takes several seconds to several hours
Rollover potential

Question 13

Fire growth is dependent on (COSI)

Answer 13

Combustible content (Fuel Load)
Oxygen supply (ventilation openings)
Size of room
Insulation of room

Question 14

Roll over serves as a warning that the area

Answer 14

May Flashover

Question 15

Fully developed stage(free burning)

Answer 15

Entire room and its contents are involved in fire

Question 16

Decay stage (smoldering)

Answer 16

As available oxygen is consumed the fire moves into the decay stage
Potential for back draft exists

Question 17

Warning signs of possible Back Draft

Answer 17

• Heavy dense smoke with no visible flame in a tightly closed occupancy
• Black smoke pushing out around closed doors or window frames
• Glass stained with smoke condensation and pulsating from the pressure of the fire
• Reversal of air movement pulling smoke back into the building through a doorway

Question 18

The progression of modern content fires differs from the traditional fire development curve as follows

Answer 18

• Incipient
• A rapid growth stage that consumes the available oxygen vert quickly
• Since modern content fires RAPIDLY consumes the available oxygen within the fire area, they enter into an EARLIER oxygen limited Decay Stage when compared to Legacy fires, and will remain in the Decay Stage if no additional oxygen is added to the fire area
• If additional oxygen is added to the fire area, a second rapid growth stage may be encountered
• A second decay stage will occur as the fuel load is depleted or the fire area is extinguished

Question 19

A rollover occurs in what stage of the fire

Answer 19

Growth Stage

Question 20

The Incipient stage is defined as

Answer 20

The early stage of fire development where the fires progression is limited to a fuel source and the thermal hazard is localized to the area of the burning object

Question 21

The Growth Stage is defined as

Answer 21

The stage of fire development when the heat release rate from an incipient fire has increased to the point where heat transfers from the fire and causes the combustion products to pyrolyze adjacent fuel sources. The fire begins to spread across the ceiling of the fire compartment (rollover)

Question 22

The Rollover is an indicator that the fire conditions are

Answer 22

Rapidly changing

Question 23

Backdraft’s will occur in the

Answer 23

Decay Stage

Question 24

The fully developed stage is defined as

Answer 24

The stage of fire development which has reached its peak heat release within a compartment. This usually occurs after FLASHOVER, resulting in floor to ceiling burning within the compartment thereby creating heat conditions untenable for members.
NOTE: As modern content fires rapidly consume the available oxygen, the fire can go into an EARLY decay stage PRIOR to reaching full development. The interior conditions are pre-heated, smoke filled and oxygen deficient. As additional oxygen is added to the interior, a ventilation induced flashover can occur, resulting Qin rapid fire development