Chapter 2 - Procedures, Preincident Planning, And size-up Flashcards
Written rules, policies, regulations, and procedures intended to organize operations in a predictable manner
Standard operating procedures (SOP)
SOP‘s should be modified to include tactics related to recent research regarding….?
Fire behavior
venting
flow path
staffing
Although SOP’s must be written specifically for the department, there is a need for……:
Regional planning when writing procedures
Which unit responding is it best to provide specific SOP‘s for?
First arriving engine company
NFPA 1500
Standard on fire department occupational safety, health, and wellness program
If new equipment is placed in service, the availability of the equipment makes a statement that firefighters are expected to be able to use the equipment safely.
When a new tactic or SOP is introduced, the equipment necessary to perform the new tasks must be produced and firefighters must be trained to safely implement the tactic
Cooling hot fire gases using rapid, short duration application (usually 15 to 60 seconds) from a straight or smooth bore fire stream aimed at a steep angle toward the ceiling from the safest affective location. When using this tactic, water is often applied from the exterior to the interior of a building.
Softening the Target
Tactic is often referred to as a transitional attack
What must be completed anytime new equipment is introduced or a new procedure is written?
The equipment - SOP - training cycle
Equipment->SOP->Training
What is the non-compliant unit or member required to do, when a decision is made to modify procedures?
Communicate the variance and be prepared to justify the modification.
What is the most valued fire suppression resource in any community?
The fire fighter
In order for firefighters to achieve this, a ………… requires firefighters know the street layout and addresses and their response area.
A rapid response
Firefighters should know the capabilities of the water supply system available in their……..?
Response area
A well-maintained water distribution system with closely spaced fire hydrants and large flow capacity provides the……..?
Ideal water supply
If applied properly, most residential fires can be extinguished, or at least controlled, with the water carried on the pumper with this hose line?
1 3/4 inch hose line
What operation will be required if the water supply is from a static source?
Drafting
If a water shuttle operation is implemented, the IC should establish this?
A water supply group
How Heavy is water per gallon?
8.3 lbs per gallon
Water is heavier than many other liquids that are transported via tank truck
These pipelines tend to present a greater hazard than natural gas pipelines as the products in these pipelines are generally liquid and tend to runoff, emitting vapors that are often heavier than air.
Petroleum pipelines
Significant risk to occupants and firefighters
Natural gas is lighter than air therefore it tends to
Rise
Common wood frame buildings built prior to 1940 in which the wall studs extend vertically from the basement of the structure to the roof
Balloon frame
Construction technique post 1940, using separate components to build the frame of a structure (one floor at a time.) Each floor has a top and a bottom plate that act as fire stops.
Platform-frame construction
The department pre-incident planning process should include identifying these locations?
Pipeline locations
These often delay fire department entry into a property, and hinder occupant evacuation.
Security barriers
All properties requiring lockboxes according to the local code, use this piece of equipment?
NFPA 1 Fire Code
The same dedicated key
Lockbox systems are usually placed at properties with the following features:
- An alarm system is tied to a central station
- Chemicals are stored in reportable quantities according to the SARA
- Properties that require immediate access by the fire department
Who would be the best Option in conducting a pre-incident plan survey of a property?
Personnel who are most likely going to respond to that property.
Whoever conducts the pre-incident survey should share their findings with other members who routinely respond to the premises, preferably in the form of an instructional program.
Changes to the interior of a building can greatly effect safety and tactics. In some cases, a building that contained a fairly light ……, may change occupants, with a Subsequent change in the ………. and/ or ………
Fuel load
Life hazard and or fuel load
Pre-incident plan information that is not immediately available will be of limited use to the IC or company officers during……..
Initial operations
What is the most difficult to construct and most important part of the pre-incident plan?
Drawings
NFPA 1620
Standard for pre-incident planning
There should be an SOP describing the pre-incident planning system
A plan used when a property has more than three buildings or when it is necessary to show the layout of the premises and relationship between buildings on the site.
Used to identify building and fire protection features as well as hazards for each building
Complex pre-incident plan
A plan for a property with a substantial risk to life and / or property; includes a drawing of the property, specific floor layout, and a narrative describing important features
Formal pre-incident plan
A piece of information about the premises, such as damages to the building from a previous fire. This information may accompany a pre-incident plan or may be available when the building does not have A pre-incident plan.
Marking the exterior of dangerous buildings, such as painting a large X at the top level of a building that should not be entered because of structural problems
Notation preplan
Size up/pre-plan factors,
The building name and address and owners/managers/agents name, with telephone numbers and emergency contact information, should all be included in the ………?
Pre-incident plan narrative
This simple icon provides basic information regarding construction type, hazards of contents, sprinkler and standpipe systems, and occupancy or life hazards.
The center of this symbol is reserved for special hazards such as hazardous materials.
Maltese cross
The center of the Maltese cross is reserved for special hazards. Typically, this is used to identify hazardous chemicals using ………?
Standard system for the identification of the hazards of materials for emergency response
NFPA 704
What should be consulted when developing a symbol system for use in pre-incident planning?
NFPA 170
Standard for fire safety and emergency symbols
What assignments should be avoided on the pre-incident plan?
Specific tactical assignments
When is there a need for the fire department to prepare a pre-incident plan for particular properties?
High Life Hazard (including firefighters safety issues)
Difficult extinguishment problem
High-value property
SOP’s are not etched in stone. When can they be modified?
During preplanning or whenever situations dictate a different course of action.
Heavy roof loading or unusual building features that could lead to a partial or total collapse should be…….
Noted in the pre-fire plan
What type of identification should be noted for buildings that have previously been damaged by fire or weather?
A notation-type pre-incident plan
Nursing homes, hospitals, places of assembly, schools, churches, and other places holding large numbers of people or a significant number of disabled people should be ……
Preplanned
Subdividing of A building into small areas ( rooms ) capable of limiting the spread of fire and the products of combustion.
Most residential buildings are divided into a series of small rooms requiring much less water than in a large undivided warehouse.
Compartmentation
The most important factors, assessed during size up, which change from incident to incident and depend on specific incident conditions
Primary factors
Less important factors at an incident, which change from incident incident and depend on specific incident conditions
Secondary factors
When does size up actually begin?
Before the incident with the development of SOP’s and pre-incident planning
Smoke and fire conditions are directly related to occupant survival as well as firefighter safety. These would be examples of ……. factors and a structure fire
Primary factors
Most fires in occupied residential buildings are oxygen limited and go through this phase, where a decrease in temperature in smoke production could result in no visible signs of smoke on the exterior.
Decay phase
And oxygen sufficient condition in which room temperatures reach the ignition temperature of the suspended pyrolytic emissions, causing all combustible contents to suddenly ignite.
Flashover
Occupants inside post flashover compartments have a very low probability of survival
A fire condition that occurs when oxygen is introduced into a super heated, oxygen deficient compartment charged with smoke and pyrolytic emissions, resulting in an explosive ignition
Backdraft
Smoke and fire conditions can also provide a warning of an impending Backdraft
When openings are available, smoke will try to reach the same temperature as the temperature on the other side of the opening. In most cases, smoke will go to the …….. opening unless when conditions reversed the vent path.
Nearest and largest openings
The movement of heat and smoke from the higher pressure fire area toward the lower pressure area on the interior and exterior of a structure
Flow path
What is the direction of fire travel based on basic chemistry and physics of fire?
Products of combustion travel Upward until reaching a barrier. They will then travel horizontally to fill the top of the compartment and, if contained, will travel downward.
The upward path could also be through concealed wall areas (balloon frame construction is particularly noted for this)
What are the smaller pathways that Fire may travel in platform frame construction and other types of construction with fire barriers?
Utility openings for drains, water pipes, electrical wiring, and others
What are the increased dangers that come with improper venting?
Spread and accelerate Fire
Change the ventilation flow path
Precipitate a Backdraft or flash over
Where should the ventilation opening direct the flow path and fire?
Away from occupants and firefighters
When Venting an area, What is also essentially needed?
Hose lines that are placed to attack the fire
What determines how likely the building is to be occupied at the time of a fire? Number of occupants, fuel load, fuel tape, value of the contents, and many other essential facts?
The building’s use
What is the maximum occupant load per square foot by occupancy type?
One person per 100 ft2 in an office building
A floor area with at least two rooms separated by smoke resisting partitions in a building protected by a sprinkler system, or a space located in an egress path that is separated from other building spaces.
During a fire emergency, the fire department must always check this area.
Area of refuge
Firefighters must know the location, how many occupants could be at the area of refuge, and what the occupants and building managers expect to happen doing an emergency.
What is the purpose of setting up the fire perimeter?
To keep nonresponsive people out of the emergency area.
A formal accountability system is required by ………
The primary fire fighter accountability system is utilizing the incident management system or NIMS
NFPA 1500
Who does the fire department accountability system account for?
All the firefighters and their location at the incident scene
Not
Building occupants
A team of at least two firefighters must be immediately available to rescue fellow firefighters who need assistance
Rapid intervention Team
When should the primary means of egress and locations of the preferred evacuation pathways be identified?
During the pre-incident plan
Who should perform the secondary search and why
A different Company than who performed the primary search.
They may look in areas that the first team overlooked
How large should the collapse zone of a structure be?
1 1/2 times the height of the building, to account for falling debris.
NFPA standard on types of building construction?
NFPA 220
NFPA # on building construction and safety code
NFPA 5000
What are the five types of building construction?
Type I : Fire Resistive
Type II : non-combustible
Type III : ordinary
Type IV : Heavy timber
Type V : Wood frame
Which type of construction is superior to all other building types in regard to structural stability under fire conditions?
Type I - Fire resistive
Large buildings are usually constructed using which construction type?
Type 2 : Non-combustible
Which construction type is usually limited in size?
Type V: Wood frame
What should be done on the Pre-incident plan if a truss roof is present, especially a long span truss roof?
It should be highlighted on the pre-plan narrative and a symbol added to the drawing indicating the truss roof
What Do some departments place on buildings to indicate structural damage or other structural problems?
Place a placard directly on the building
The weight of a building;
consist of the weight of all materials of construction Incorporated into a building
Dead load
The weight of the buildings contents, people, or anything that is not part of the permanently attached to the structure
Live loads
NFPA 1, requires that water absorbent materials be stored no closer than ………. from a wall?
24 inches
Fire spreads through concealed spaces and from area to area when enclosures are ……..
Missing or weak
What is the Construction building type that does not contain multiple concealed spaces?
Most others do contain concealed spaces.
Type IV
Heavy timber
If the concealed space involved in a fire contains a truss roof or floor simply what should you expect?
Expect rapid collapse
What is the NFPA# for the standard on thermal Images for the fire service?
NFPA 1801
A fairly new phenomenon, this roof is designed to grow grass and other vegetation on it
Green roof
Both solar panels and green roofs add to the roof load and hinder this type of ventilation?
Vertical ventilation
In most cases, how many crew members should be assigned to a hose line?
A full company
How many types of standpipe systems Exist?
Class 1
Class 2
Class 3
Which two standpipe classes are designed to be used by firefighters and have a required minimum flow rate?
Class 1 & Class 3
When a building is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, what is the primary tactic involved?
Letting the system do its job while firefighters support the system and move in for final extinguishment.
How many firefighters should be assembled to function as the RIC to provide for initial fire fighter Rescue?
4
But minimum of 2
What is needed when all staffing or all apparatus are being used and the incident is not resolved?
A tactical reserve
What is a standby crew called with firefighter gear with or without an apparatus?
A staged company
Larger properties with high-voltage service, firefighters should not attempt to……..?
Disrupt the power supply
Who has the experience, training, and equipment to shut down electrical and pipe to gas supplies?
Utility company personnel
What can determine the likelihood of people being in the building in their degree of awareness?
The time of day
During very cold or very hot weather, most buildings will be tightly sealed to maintain internal temperatures, increasing the likelihood of …….
Ventilation limited fires
NFPA 1 Fire Code..What does the right side of the Maltese cross address?
Fire protection features
N=No protection; this building is not protected by a sprinkler or standpipe system
NFPA1 fire code… What does the bottom of the Maltese cross identify?
Relative life hazard
NFPA 1 fire code… What does the left side of the Maltese cross used to indicate?
The content hazard
M= Moderate fire hazard regarding contents in the building
NFPA 1 Fire Code..What does the center of the Maltese cross represent?
Special hazards,
Typically used to identify hazardous chemicals using NFPA 704
SOP’s and a good size up are necessary prerequisites in the development of an _____ _____ _____.
Incident action plan
The ability to save lives and property is directly related to______ ______.
Response time
It is necessary to have an alternate _____ _____ strategy
Water supply
Using the onboard water supply to attack the fire, sometimes referred to as an _____ ______ tactic.
Attack pumper
When the distance from the fire to the pumper that is supplying hose lines to attack the fire exceeds pump, hydraulic, or hose, limitations, and alternative _____ ______layout is needed.
Water supply
What is one way to provide a continuous water supply when the water supply is a considerable distance from the fire?
Relay pumping
When large diameter hose is used, relay pumping, can provide over ______ gallons per minute GPM over a long distance.
1000 GPM
Buildings being ______ will show the common construction characteristics for an era, and provide a look inside the buildings skeleton.
Demolished
Keeping pre-incident plans current is at least as important as creating the initial_______ ______.
Pre-incident plan
Pre-incident plan drawing would be displayed on top with additional information available by accessing the narrative, via ______over a drawing element or by ______ _____for more text base or graphic information.
Hovering
Drilling down 
Most architectural drawing programs are done in _____, allowing the user to eliminate unwanted, drawing information and add ______ with information important to the fire department.
Layers
Formal pre-incident plans include both a narrative, and ______.
Drawings
The IC needs some narrative information, such as the address, occupants, emergency, contacts,_____ _______, and other general information
Telephone numbers
The Maltese cross marking is based on NFPA ______, Fire code, _______ ______.
NFPA 1
Annex E
When preparing a pre-incident plan, one of the most common errors is pre-assigning companies to respond to ______ _______.
Specific locations
Any building that poses an unusually high risk to firefighters or occupants, must be included in the ______ process.
Preplanning
_______is the primary life safety tactic and an operational priority?
Extinguishment
The fire’s ______ determines the method and direction of attack
Location
Vent openings generally increase the available ______ and often result in a rapid increase in fire intensity in size.
Oxygen
Most older buildings will have heavier, more _____ ______construction.
Fire resistive
