Chapter 5, Positioning Apparatus

Question 1

Determining the proper position for the pumper begins with what?

Answer 1

Sizing up the scene.

Question 2

When taking wind direction into consideration, where should the pumper be parked?

Answer 2

Pumper should be parked upwind from the incident.

Question 3

Why is it important to park uphill from an incident when possible?

Answer 3

• less strain on the fire pump than pumping uphill

- uphill from hazmat eliminates chance of flowing liquid

Question 4

What is one exception to parking uphill from a fire incident?

Answer 4

Wildland fires (fires move uphill faster that on flat terrain or downhill.

Question 5

When collapse is a concern, where should you park the pumper?

Answer 5

• outside the collapse zone (1 1/2 times the building height)
• when possible, at the corners of the building (considered optimal)

Question 6

What are some indicators that a building may become unstable?

Answer 6

• bulging walls
• large cracks
• falling bricks/blocks/mortar
• interior collapse

Question 7

What is used to identify buildings with high potential for collapse, before an incident?

Answer 7

Pre-incident planning.

Question 8

What method is used to determine placement of the pumper and aerial apparatus?

Answer 8

The inside/outside method (if building is less than 5 stories tall, engine is placed closest to building).

Question 9

What is the hard intake hose designed to withstand?

Answer 9

The negative pressures associated with drafting (not designed to be used under positive pressure conditions, such as a hydrant).

Question 10

What are the common lengths for the soft suction hose?

Answer 10

10 to 50 feet.

Question 11

In order to easily adjust the distance to or from the hydrant (when connecting to side intake), how should the wheels be positioned?

Answer 11

Front wheels should be turned to a 45 degree angle.

Question 12

What is the optimal way to minimize kinks in the soft intake hose?

Answer 12

Put 2 full twists in the hose when making connection between hydrant and pumper (unless one or both ends are equipped with sexless couplings).

Question 13

In order to easily adjust the distance to or from the hydrant (for front or rear intake), how should the wheels be positioned?

Answer 13

Front wheels should be at a 45 degree angle or less, in the direction of the hydrant.

Question 14

What is the main disadvantage of connecting the 2 1/2 to the hydrant, instead of LDH?

Answer 14

The reduced amount of water (unless you use both @ 1/2 outlets from the hydrant, and attach to a single inlet with a gated wye).

Question 15

What is the primary reason for “dual pumping operations”?

Answer 15

So 1 strong hydrant can be used to supply 2 pumpers (allows better use of unused water, and shorter hose lays). Connected intake to intake.

Question 16

What is a Tandem Pumping operation?

Answer 16

Needed when pressures higher than a single engine can supply, are required. The pumper connected to hydrant lays into forward pumper (discharge to intake).

Question 17

What is the difference between pumper positioning for a structural fire fight, and brush truck positioning for a wildland fire fight?

Answer 17

Structural pumper stays in its position for duration of event, brush truck are seldom in the same position for the duration of the event.

Question 18

What are the 2 most common functions for wildland fire apparatus?

Answer 18

• provide structural protection

- making direct attack on fire

Question 19

What is the boundary between wildland and structural development called?

Answer 19

Wildland/urban interface.

Question 20

When fighting structural fires in wildland settings, how should the engine approach?

Answer 20

Engine should be backed in from last known turnaround (for safety), then place ina position to safely fight fire, and escape if needed.

Question 21

When driving into wildland fire areas, what 2 things must the driver/operator be aware of constantly?

Answer 21

• fire’r current location

- direction of spread

Question 22

To reduce the risk to engine crews as much as possible during wildland fires, where should the attack begin?

Answer 22

From an anchor point (natural/man-made barrier, prevents fire from circling around them).

Question 23

What are some typical anchor points?

Answer 23

Roads, lakes, ponds, previously burned areas.

Question 24

In wildland fires, what is a spotter?

Answer 24

Someone that walks ahead of the vehicle to help locate and avoid obstacles (logs/ditches/overhead). Spotters should wear visible clothing and bright handlights.

Question 25

How should the apparatus be positioned during a wildland fire, when sitting stationary?

Answer 25

• positioned for max protection from heat/flames (use firebreaks such as streams/roads)
• wheels chocked
• apparatus facing exit

Question 26

What size line should be deployed, during wildland fire, to protect the apparatus?

Answer 26

A short 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 charged line.

Question 27

During a wildland fire attack, a small portion of water in the tank is reserved for what?

Answer 27

To protect apparatus and crew.

Question 28

What are rescue/squad trucks dispatched to fires for?

Answer 28

• manpower

- perform truck functions

Question 29

How are rescue trucks positioned on fire scene?

Answer 29

• close to scene as possible, without blocking access

- have clear exit (in case needed somewhere else on incident)

Question 30

Where should command vehicles ideally be positioned?

Answer 30

Near a corner of building (so IC has 2 sides of building). Also driveways/parking lots are good locations.

Question 31

Guidelines for positioning command vehicles.

Answer 31

• provide for max visibility of incident
• provide for max visibility of area surrounding incident
• easy to locate
• avoid interfering with incident operation

Question 32

What are the 2 types of equipment used to refill SCBA cylinders on scene?

Answer 32

• cascade system

- breathing air compressors

Question 33

What are cascade systems?

Answer 33

Large breathing air cylinders on mobile apparatus that are connected together in banks (range from a bank of 4 to 12 cylinders).

Question 34

How do cascade systems work?

Answer 34

Air is transferred from large cylinders to smaller SCBA cylinders (limited duration of use before they themselves must be refilled).

Question 35

What are breathing air compressors?

Answer 35

Engine-driven appliances, take in atmospheric air, purify it, and compress it (can continue to refill SCBA cylinders as long as motor runs).

Question 36

Where, on a fire scene, should breathing air apparatus be positioned?

Answer 36

Upwind, in clean air (to prevent the trucks filters from becoming clogged).

Question 37

What are the 2 types of EMS vehicles that may respond to fires?

Answer 37

• rapid response units (non-transport, carry EMT’s/ Medics and equipment to treat victims
• ambulance (transport, carry equipment to treat and transport victims)

Question 38

What are the 2 types of staging?

Answer 38

Level 1 and Level 2.

Question 39

What is level 1 staging?

Answer 39

Applied to incidents with 2 or more companies responding (after on scene established, other units stage a block away in direction of travel).

Question 40

What is level 2 staging?

Answer 40

Applied where large number of apparatus are responding (initiated by IC).

Question 41

How soon after being called must companies be ready to respond?

Answer 41

Within 3 minutes.

Question 42

What are the 2 most common types of incidents on freeways?

Answer 42

• vehicle accidents

- vehicle fires

Question 43

What agency publishes guidelines on operating at highway emergencies?

Answer 43

DOT.

Question 44

What do some highways have, to assist fire dept with vehicle fires on freeways?

Answer 44

Dry standpipe risers (a pumper off the highway establishes a water supply and pumps the standpipe, units on freeway connect to standpipe).

Question 45

What are the 3 control zones used during hazmat incidents?

Answer 45

• Hot (surrounding area closest to hazmat)
• Warm (limited access, briefly safe to work without protective clothing)
• Cold (no protective clothing needed; IC post, staging, and treatment are in this zone)

Question 46

When do fire depts. identify drafting locations in their areas?

Answer 46

During pre-incident planning.

Question 47

What is the primary way to maximize discharge capabilities during drafting?

Answer 47

Minimize lift distance.