Ch. 8 - Fighting Fires In Garden Apartments

Question 1

How are garden apartments generally defined?

Answer 1

Three-story multiple-residence structure. (there are plenty of two and four story versions as well). Normally there are four apartments per floor, with twelve apartments per section.

Question 2

What problems exist with garden apartments as far as parking?

Answer 2

Typically a single, narrow driveway. (may not be able to spot the apparatus close to the front of the building.) (negates the use of aerial apparatus.)

Question 3

________ _________ and ______ __________ can both be high in garden apartments.

Answer 3

Life hazard and fire load.

Question 4

Regardless of their exterior facade, the majority of garden apartments are of what kind of construction?

Answer 4

Wood.

Question 5

The majority of garden apartments have balloon frame construction? True or false?

Answer 5

False. Most were built after balloon frame became more or less extinct (1940-1950) and have platform construction.

Question 6

Most garden apartments have what kind of roof?

Answer 6

Pitched. Either gable or mansard. Flat roofs are the exception.

Question 7

Floors in garden apartments are generally of what construction?

Answer 7

Wood-joist. Except concrete construction has concrete floor and newer garden apartments have wooden I-beam or truss beam construction.

Question 8

What shows site drawings indicating the type of construction?

Answer 8

Sanborne maps.

Question 9

Wooden void spaces in attics, cocklofts, and truss lofts can essentially become small, confined lumberyards that may be prone to what?

Answer 9

Backdraft.

Question 10

The truss roof assemblies in garden apartments tend to be more __________ than those in other types of structures.

Answer 10

Stable. Due to the number of walls beneath them, both bearing and non bearing.

Question 11

Ventilation in garden apartments should be done with _______ and only if ___________________________________.

Answer 11

Caution.

Only if no substantial fire has entered the truss area.

Question 12

If all of the apartments are occupied at the time of a fire in garden apartments, there is the potential for how many fatalities?

Answer 12

A minimum of twelve per section.

Question 13

What should be a top priority in garden apartment fires?

Answer 13

Search, and it will be labor intensive.

Question 14

To be effective in searching a garden apartment you will need a minimum of how many searchers?

Answer 14

Three 3-person crews.

Question 15

Sudden collapse is a major concern in garden apartments.

True or false?

Answer 15

False.

Question 16

If people on balconies are out if the direct path of the flame and smoke, they should still be a top priority to rescue.
True or false?

Answer 16

False. You can put them on the to do list for incoming crews.

Question 17

How should people on balconies be rescued?

Answer 17

Teams of two with ground ladders.

Question 18

If manpower is short, initial efforts should be on putting the fire out an ventilation, not on rescue and search.
True or false?

Answer 18

True. Look for victims next.

Question 19

What size line should be a minimum for a room and contents fire?

Answer 19

1 3/4 inch. Avoid throwing water from the outside.

Question 20

Lines should always be placed between ________ and _________.

Answer 20

Victims/firefighters and the fire.

Question 21

In search, what is the maximin number of members that one oriented man can effectively control?

Answer 21

Four.

Question 22

How can ventilation for fires on lower floors normally be handled?

Answer 22

Horizontal techniques using positive pressure fans.

Question 23

If the fire is in the top floor or has entered the structure itself, what is the best ventilation method?

Answer 23

Vertical ventilation.

Question 24

After opening the roof for ventilation, what should crews do?

Answer 24

Get off the roof as quickly as possible.

Question 25

What is needed by company officers at every fire, particularly to the officer in charge of backup?

Answer 25

Focus.

Question 26

Under most conditions, where should the backup line be positioned in a fire in a garden apartment?

Answer 26

In the same stairway as the attack line.

Question 27

When search is assigned, who should shadow them?

Answer 27

The backup line.

Question 28

If search is being conducted on all three floors of a garden apartment, how many backup lines are needed?

Answer 28

Two.

Question 29

What is unique about some sub level apartments?

Answer 29

They have small windows that create a four to six foot drop inside. Attic ladders may be needed to reach the bottom safely.

Question 30

IFC the attack line can’t darken down the fire within ___________ , an additional attack line will be necessary.

Answer 30

60 seconds.