Chapter 1 - Intro to the Fire Service and FF Safety

Question 1

Organizational principles

Answer 1

Chain of command - formal line of authority, responsibility and communication (fire chief down to probationary FF).
Unity of command - each employee reports directly to just one supervisor.
Span of control - Max number of subordinates or functions that any 1 supervisor can control. Usually 3 to 7, with 5 being optimal.
Discipline - Organizations responsibility to provide leadership, and an individuals responsibility to follow orders. Administered through rules, regulations, and policies.
Division of labour - Process of dividing large jobs into smaller jobs to make them more manageable, equalize workloads, and increase efficiency.

Question 2

Career departments

Answer 2

Employ full time, career firefighters.

Question 3

Volunteer departments

Answer 3

Usually not continuously staffed, rather with volunteer FF to respond when necessary.

Question 4

Combination departments

Answer 4

Mixture of both career and volunteer. Also called a composite department.

Question 5

Fire companies

Answer 5

Basic unit of firefighting operations.

Question 6

NFPA 1001/1072

Answer 6

Standard for FF professional qualifications. 2 levels, 1 and 2. Trained in fire suppression, search and rescue, extrication, ventilation, salvage, overhaul, and EMS. In addition, must meet 1072, standard for HazMat/weapons of mass destruction.

Question 7

Difference between FF 1 and 2

Answer 7

FF 1 works under direct supervision of FF 2 or company officer. FF 2 performs more complex FF tasks, and assumes and transfers command within the Incident command system (ICS).

Question 8

NFPA specialties

Answer 8

1001 - FF professional qualifications
1002 - Apparatus driver/operator
1003 - Airport
1006 - Technical rescuer
1021 - Fire officer
1031 - Fire inspector and plan examiner
1033 - Fire investigator
1035 - Fire and life safety educator, public info officer, youth firesetter intervention
1037 - Fire marshal
1041 - Fire service instructor
1051 - Wildland
1977 - Wildland firefighting protective clothing
1072 - HazMat and weapons of mass destruction
1521 - Fire department safety officer
1500 - Occupational health and safety programs
1582 - CFD candidate medical suitability
1971 - PPE design and construction
1851 - PPE care and maintenance
1975 - Station/work uniforms
1981 - SCBA
1982 - PASS devices

Question 9

IDLH

Answer 9

Immediately dangerous to life and health

Question 10

NFPA 1500

Answer 10

Emergency ops must include rapid intervention crews, rehabilitation facilities, and postincident analysis. Establish wellness programs and initiatives.
Prohibits the wearing of helmets inside cab

Question 11

Leading cause of FF deaths

Answer 11

Cardiovascular disease.

Question 12

Common chemicals found in smoke

Answer 12

CO
Sulfur dioxide
Hydrogen chloride
Phosgene
Nitrogen oxides
Aldehydes

Question 13

How does temperature affect absorbing chemicals/carcinogens

Answer 13

As temperature increases so does the skins ability to absorb chemicals deposited on it. Absorption rates increase 400% for every 5 degree rise in temp.
Areas of high absorption rates - groin (highest), jaw, forehead, and back. Can also happen to a lesser extent on the arms, hands, and ankles.

Question 14

How to mount or dismount apparatus properly

Answer 14

Maintain 3 points of contact.

Question 15

Hot zone

Answer 15

Trained personnel working to resolve the problem on scene. Only staff who are directly involved in disposing the problem allowed to enter.

Question 16

Warm zone

Answer 16

Immediately outside of hot zone. Staff supports personnel working in the hot zone. Limited to staff operating hydraulic tool and providing emergency lighting and fire protection. Also in full PPE.

Question 17

Cold zone

Answer 17

Surrounds hot and warm zone. May include incident command post (ICS), rapid intervention crews (RICs), location of public info officer, rehab area, and staging areas. Outer boundary of this area is the control line for general public (crowd-control line).

Question 18

Inverter

Answer 18

Convert the vehicles 12 or 24 volt direct current (DC) into 110 or 220 volt alternating current (AC).

Question 19

Junction boxes

Answer 19

Provide multiple outlets or connections and are supplied through one inlet from the power source.

Question 20

Adapter

Answer 20

Permit different types of plugs and receptacles to be connected.

Question 21

Personnel Accountability systems

Answer 21

Designed to track personnel both in and out of the IDLH environment.

Question 22

Generator

Answer 22

Portable device for generating auxiliary electrical power; powered by gasoline or diesel and typically have 110 or 220 volt capacity outlets. Position downwind.

Question 23

Power take-off (PTO) system

Answer 23

Mechanism that allows a vehicle engine to power equipment such as a pump, winch, or portable tool; typically attached to the transmission.