Ch. 5: Positioning Apparatus Flashcards
How should each type of apparatus be positioned according to?
Its purpose and its role in achieving strategic goals and tactical objectives.
What is the primary function of a fire department pumper on the fireground?
To provide water for firefighting operations.
Determining the proper positioning for the attack pumper begins with:
sizing up the incident.
Where is an apparatus generally advisable to stop when arriving at a location where no fire is evident (investigation mode)?
Near the best access point into the occupancy, often the main entrance.
What is the first tactical priority at any fire incident?
life safety
How will there be less strain on the fire pump when supplying hoselines?
Pumping hoselines downhill, rather than uphill
When is the only exception where the uphill rule of positioning?
wildland fires; position downhill because first move uphill faster
What is generally the safest positioning of the apparatus should a collapse occur?
At the corners of the building
What is considered an optimum position for aerial apparatus?
corners of the building
What will indicate that reinforcement ties are present to support weak or unstable walls?
presence of ornamental stars or bolts
What can indicate a high collapse potential?
ornamental stars
When buildings are higher than five stories, where should aerial apparatus be positioned?
Next to the building, Engines on the outside position
What operations are required when a pumper is going to be supplied from a static water supply?
drafting operations
Where should the pumper stop, when placing the intake hose directly into the static water source for drafting?
Before reaching the source.
What consists of an intake hose connection on the shore and a length of pipe equipped with a strainer that extends into the water supply source?
dry hydrant
What is the most common water supply source in many jurisdictions?
fire hydrant
What is the preferred type of hose for connection to a fire hydrant?
large diameter intake hose (soft sleeve/soft suction)
What is the main disadvantage of connecting to the 2 1/2” outlet of a fire hydrant?
It limits the amount of water that can be supplied.
What operations are actually a form of relay pumping with the pumpers positioned close together rather than evenly spaced in the supply hose layout?
tandem pumping
Because of the dynamic nature of wildland fires,
wildland fire apparatus are seldom positioned in the same location for the duration of the incident.
What are the two most common functions of wildland fire apparatus?
Providing structural protection and making a direct attack on the fire.
What is the highest priority for most wildland firefighting operations after life safety?
The protection of structures that are exposed to the fire.
How should engines be positioned for safety in wildland fires?
backed in from the last known turnaround
Where should engine crew’s wildland attack always begin in order to reduce the risk as much as possible?
From the anchor point - a natural or man-made barrier that will prevent the fire from spreading around and encircling the engine and the crew.
What may be needed to walk ahead of the vehicle in wildland fires to help locate and avoid obstacles?
a spotter (scout)
What should be deployed and charged for protection of the apparatus in wildland fires?
a short 1 1/2” or 1 3/4” line
What should you be assure of when an apparatus is used in mobile attack in wildland fires?
hoselines kept as short as possible
What are the two types of breathing air apparatus?
cascade systems and breathing air compressors
What are the two levels of staging of apparatus?
Level I & II
What may be used on any emergency response where two or more companies are dispatched and first-arriving unit is in investigation mode?
Level I staging
When shall units responding to an incident stop (stage) at least one block away from the scene in their direction of travel and await further order?
Level I staging
What shall be used when numerous emergency vehicles will be responding to the same incident on mutual aid or multiple alarms?
Level II staging
What is some of the most dangerous operational situations faced by firefighters?
Operations on highways and other busy roadways.
What should be used as needed to reach the scene, but once on scene its use should be reduced as much as possible?
Emergency vehicle lighting (high-intensity rotating, flashing, oscillating, or strobe lights)
What is established through placement of advanced warning signs and traffic control devices to divert or detour traffic, then public safety agencies can perform their tasks on scene with minimal emergency-vehicle lighting?
good traffic control
How many lanes of traffic should be closed on a highway incident?
at least one lane next to incident lane
The first arriving apparatus should never be driven into the scene without the material involved being identified first in hazmat incidents.
The apparatus should always be stopped well short of the incident scene until the nature of the hazard is understood.
What is set up to prevent sightseers and other unauthorized persons from walking into hazardous areas or interfering with emergency responders?
control zones