Chapter 4 Safety Issues Flashcards
Wildland is defined as: sparsely populated geographical areas covered primarily by ____
grass, brush, trees, crops, or combination thereof.
Department’s policy requires that members, engaged in wildland firefighting operations, have the _____ on their persons for additional protection
protective hood
It has been noted in prolonged wildland firefighting operations that the greatest number of injuries occur from fatigue due ____. Dehydration is also a problem.
to heat
4 common denominators: Firefighters lost their lives on relatively small fires or in ____ of large fires.
seemingly “quiet” sectors
4 common denominators: Fatal burns were inflicted in relatively light fuels, such as _____.
grass weeds or very light brush.
4 common denominators: An unexpected shift in the ____ occurred.
wind direction or wind speed
4 common denominators:
Deaths occurred when the _____
fire ran uphill, trapping firefighters.
Spot fires are one of the most ____ fire conditions facing the wildland firefighter.
hazardous
When spot fires develop, the fire can come at you from _____.
any direction with great intensity and speed.
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.
directly downhill / same level or lower.
Spot Fires : it would probably be best to ____, concentrate on hitting the spot fires using your tank water, and letting the ____.
remain mobile / main body of fire burn down to the road.
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 _____.
below on the opposite side of the ridge.
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.
venturi-type of vacuum
A saddle is an extremely hazardous location from which to operate; operate from ______ until fire passes over.
crest on either side of saddle
Ridges are the logical place to ____ fire, but don’t try to stand in front of the fire to do it.
stop and hold an upslope
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.
far side / carry the heat away
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.
200 yards or more
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.
far side away / pre-heating
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.
unstable air
Do not park in ___, at the tops of _____, above _____, or in front of a running fire.
saddles / draws and chimneys / dense fuel masses
Stay away from the street side of the apparatus when possible. Other fire apparatus or civilian drivers will _____.
not be able to see you standing in the smoke filled street.
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.
fire shelters
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.
away from the fire / under or on top
The fire shelter saves lives by reflecting ____.
radiant heat.
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.
breathable air / direct exposure to flames and hot gases
The fire shelter is made of _____ with a nontoxic, high temperature adhesive.
aluminum foil bonded to a fiberglass cloth
The foil will reflect _____ of a flame front’s radiant heat. The remaining five percent is absorbed by the shelter
95 percent
With prolonged exposure, temperatures can ____. Humans can survive these temperatures - - dry saunas often reach ___. Stay calm and stay in the shelter.
exceed 150* F / 190* F
The foil/cloth laminate may begin to smoke during prolonged exposure. This smoke is ____
nontoxic.
Deployment can be accomplished in _____
25 seconds or less.
The two most important actions during entrapment are:
Staying under your shelter.
Protecting airways, lungs, and skin by lying prone, face to the ground.
Wet clothing conducts heat _____ than dry clothing, making skin burns more likely. DO NOT WET yourself down
five times faster
Begin scraping away what fuels there are. Clear an area ____ (larger, time permitting) down to mineral soil.
4 by 8 feet
If self-contained breathing apparatus are available, _____.
wear it inside the shelter.
Enter the shelter so _____ are pointing in the direction of the oncoming flames.
feet
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.
50 mph or more
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.
a six-inch
Case studies have indicated by keeping members close to each other, members experience a more ___ during entrapment.
secure feeling
If sharing is unavoidable, lie ____, noses to the ground.
face to face
During prolonged entrapment, temperatures within the shelter can range from _____.
150* to 200* F.
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.
400*
The shelter has an ____, its materials do not degrade under normal storage conditions.
indefinite shelf life /
Do ___ remove the fire shelter from the bag for inspection. Inspect the vinyl plastic bag for punctures and dents.
not
_____ is the most common type of shelter damage. Abrasions can be seen through the vinyl bag.
Abrasion
If aluminum particles have turned the normally clear vinyl bag _____, serious abrasion has occurred. Remove the shelter from service.
gray,
Remove shelters from service when tears exceed _____.
one inch long
Shelters with dents or punctures in the foil over ______ of foil missing shall be removed from service.
one inch wide or with one-half inch or more
