Chapter 4 Safety Issues

Question 1

Wildland is defined as: sparsely populated geographical areas covered primarily by ____

Answer 1

grass, brush, trees, crops, or combination thereof.

Question 2

Department’s policy requires that members, engaged in wildland firefighting operations, have the _____ on their persons for additional protection

Answer 2

protective hood

Question 3

It has been noted in prolonged wildland firefighting operations that the greatest number of injuries occur from fatigue due ____. Dehydration is also a problem.

Answer 3

to heat

Question 4

4 common denominators: Firefighters lost their lives on relatively small fires or in ____ of large fires.

Answer 4

seemingly “quiet” sectors

Question 5

4 common denominators: Fatal burns were inflicted in relatively light fuels, such as _____.

Answer 5

grass weeds or very light brush.

Question 6

4 common denominators: An unexpected shift in the ____ occurred.

Answer 6

wind direction or wind speed

Question 7

4 common denominators:

Deaths occurred when the _____

Answer 7

fire ran uphill, trapping firefighters.

Question 8

Spot fires are one of the most ____ fire conditions facing the wildland firefighter.

Answer 8

hazardous

Question 9

When spot fires develop, the fire can come at you from _____.

Answer 9

any direction with great intensity and speed.

Question 10

Don’t go ____ to work on a spot fire: go down to the upwind side, then over to the fire on the ____. This will provide an escape route.

Answer 10

directly downhill / same level or lower.

Question 11

Spot Fires : it would probably be best to ____, concentrate on hitting the spot fires using your tank water, and letting the ____.

Answer 11

remain mobile / main body of fire burn down to the road.

Question 12

Saddles :
As the fire burns upslope or out of a canyon and arrives at a saddle, it will probably boil over in the saddle area and spot _____.

Answer 12

below on the opposite side of the ridge.

Question 13

Saddles :
This type of fire situation can envelope large areas and burn with great rapidity back up the ridge because of the ____ created by the saddle and because of the rolling eddy that develops on the lee slope.

Answer 13

venturi-type of vacuum

Question 14

A saddle is an extremely hazardous location from which to operate; operate from ______ until fire passes over.

Answer 14

crest on either side of saddle

Question 15

Ridges are the logical place to ____ fire, but don’t try to stand in front of the fire to do it.

Answer 15

stop and hold an upslope

Question 16

Ridges : The safest place would be on the ___ of the ridge. Normally there is an updraft from the lee slope as a fire crests. This updraft should _____ from you.

Answer 16

far side / carry the heat away

Question 17

Chances of a canyon-bottom blow-up are fairly remote if the canyon is wide (_____). In a narrow V-shaped canyon, a blow-up can spell disaster to any firefighters located there.

Answer 17

200 yards or more

Question 18

Danger signs to watch out for in canyon bottoms are:
1. Spot fires on the ____ from the main body of the fire. This is a sign that the fuel on the far side is ____. The entire canyon fall could burst into flame without warning.

Answer 18

far side away / pre-heating

Question 19

Danger signs to watch out for in canyon bottoms are:
2. Fire whirlwinds in the canyon bottom indicating ____. You may be able to move in after the fire bottoms the canyon and makes a move towards the opposite canyon wall. Once the fire starts up the opposite side of the canyon, you probably won’t be able to stop it short of the ridge.

Answer 19

unstable air

Question 20

Do not park in ___, at the tops of _____, above _____, or in front of a running fire.

Answer 20

saddles / draws and chimneys / dense fuel masses

Question 21

Stay away from the street side of the apparatus when possible. Other fire apparatus or civilian drivers will _____.

Answer 21

not be able to see you standing in the smoke filled street.

Question 22

If fire is going to overrun you:
In a closed apparatus, get inside and close the windows. Consider using your ____ to protect you from radiated heat coming through the window glass.

Answer 22

fire shelters

Question 23

If fire is going to overrun you:
In an open apparatus, have the pump running and stay on the side of the apparatus _____. If possible, park the rig against a cut bank, get on the running boards on the side away from the fire, and use your protection line. Do not get ____ of the rig; in either position you are vulnerable. If available use your breathing apparatus. Consider the use of your fire shelter.

Answer 23

away from the fire / under or on top

Question 24

The fire shelter saves lives by reflecting ____.

Answer 24

radiant heat.

Question 25

Two Results : A supply of ____ is kept inside the shelter; and airways, lungs, and skin are protected from _____, the two leading dangers in entrapment incidents.

Answer 25

breathable air / direct exposure to flames and hot gases

Question 26

The fire shelter is made of _____ with a nontoxic, high temperature adhesive.

Answer 26

aluminum foil bonded to a fiberglass cloth

Question 27

The foil will reflect _____ of a flame front’s radiant heat. The remaining five percent is absorbed by the shelter

Answer 27

95 percent

Question 28

With prolonged exposure, temperatures can ____. Humans can survive these temperatures - - dry saunas often reach ___. Stay calm and stay in the shelter.

Answer 28

exceed 150* F / 190* F

Question 29

The foil/cloth laminate may begin to smoke during prolonged exposure. This smoke is ____

Answer 29

nontoxic.

Question 30

Deployment can be accomplished in _____

Answer 30

25 seconds or less.

Question 31

The two most important actions during entrapment are:

Answer 31

Staying under your shelter.

Protecting airways, lungs, and skin by lying prone, face to the ground.

Question 32

Wet clothing conducts heat _____ than dry clothing, making skin burns more likely. DO NOT WET yourself down

Answer 32

five times faster

Question 33

Begin scraping away what fuels there are. Clear an area ____ (larger, time permitting) down to mineral soil.

Answer 33

4 by 8 feet

Question 34

If self-contained breathing apparatus are available, _____.

Answer 34

wear it inside the shelter.

Question 35

Enter the shelter so _____ are pointing in the direction of the oncoming flames.

Answer 35

feet

Question 36

Flame fronts can generate winds of _____; shelters must be held down firmly. Gloves are critical, without them you may be unable to hold down the shelter, due to heat conducted through shelter material.

Answer 36

50 mph or more

Question 37

Keep your nose to the ground, approximately _____ layer of cooler, cleaner air can be found at ground level. To reduce the heat and smoke inhaled, breathe through a DRY bandana.

Answer 37

a six-inch

Question 38

Case studies have indicated by keeping members close to each other, members experience a more ___ during entrapment.

Answer 38

secure feeling

Question 39

If sharing is unavoidable, lie ____, noses to the ground.

Answer 39

face to face

Question 40

During prolonged entrapment, temperatures within the shelter can range from _____.

Answer 40

150* to 200* F.

Question 41

Studies indicate by taking short, shallow breaths through the nose, air as hot as ____ can be inhaled at LOW humidity for brief periods of time.

Answer 41

400*

Question 42

The shelter has an ____, its materials do not degrade under normal storage conditions.

Answer 42

indefinite shelf life /

Question 43

Do ___ remove the fire shelter from the bag for inspection. Inspect the vinyl plastic bag for punctures and dents.

Answer 43

not

Question 44

_____ is the most common type of shelter damage. Abrasions can be seen through the vinyl bag.

Answer 44

Abrasion

Question 45

If aluminum particles have turned the normally clear vinyl bag _____, serious abrasion has occurred. Remove the shelter from service.

Answer 45

gray,

Question 46

Remove shelters from service when tears exceed _____.

Answer 46

one inch long

Question 47

Shelters with dents or punctures in the foil over ______ of foil missing shall be removed from service.

Answer 47

one inch wide or with one-half inch or more