DB 13-04 Dangers of Vacant Buildings Flashcards

1
Q

Vacant Building:

A

A building that may be empty or unoccupied, but there exists an owner with an expressed interest in the building.

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2
Q

Abandoned Building:

A

A building where there is no clear owner/landlord or responsible party that can be easily reached. These buildings are often not secured, poorly maintained, dilapidated, and in a dangerous condition.

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3
Q

Introduction:
According to the NFPA, there are approximately ___ structure fires that occur in vacant and abandoned buildings every year in the U.S.

A

31,000

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4
Q

Introduction:
These fires result in an average of ___ firefighter injuries annually and have become a matter of increasing concern as our economy weakens.

A

4,500

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5
Q

Introduction:
During the ten year period 1998 – 2007, a total of ___ firefighters were fatally injured in abandoned building structure fires.

A

15

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6
Q

Introduction:

The question of risk versus gain must be addressed every time fire officers are dealing with incidents in ___

A

vacant/abandoned structures.

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7
Q

Another consideration is that these fires typically ___.

A

do not start on their own

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8
Q

Vacant and/or abandoned buildings are subject to a lack of ___

A

maintenance and neglect.

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9
Q

Salvage workers or scavengers may remove doors, walls, railings/banisters, stairs, windows, electrical wiring and piping. This can interfere with compartmentalization in the structure and increase the rate of ___.

A

fire spread resulting in extreme or abnormal fire behavior.

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10
Q

What are usually the two causes of vacant building fires?

A

1) Arson

2) Warming fires

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11
Q

Fires started under these circumstances often burn for long periods of time before they are ___.

A

discovered or reported.

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12
Q

Fire Department Notification:
Fire Department members shall notify the ___ if they discover a vacant/abandoned property that presents a danger to firefighters.

A

Floor Captain at Metro Fire Command (MFC)

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13
Q

Fire Department Notification:

The MFC Floor Captain can be reached ___

A

telephonically at 213-576-8900.

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14
Q

Fire Department Notification:

Members should provide the following information: ___?

A

1) Occupancy address
2) Hazard description
and any other
3) Pertinent information.

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15
Q

Fire Department Notification:
The MFC Floor Captain will place a ___ on the run sheet (teletype). This message will automatically attach to dispatch information whenever an emergency resource is dispatched to the location.

A

warning note

Modify Temporary Command

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16
Q

Fire Department Notification:

The information provided to the MFC shall also be entered in ___ and the ___

A

FPOS and the Station Journal (F-2).

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17
Q

Fire Department Notification:

The MFC Floor Captain shall also be notified and FPOS entries made when the hazard is ___.

A

abated

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18
Q

Building and Safety Notification:
The ___ is the agency responsible for the abatement of buildings which constitute a nuisance, are hazardous, or in a substandard condition.

A

Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety

LADBS

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19
Q

Building and Safety Notification:
The provisions of ___ of the Los Angeles Building Code contain the requirements and procedures that LADBS applies to such buildings.

A

Chapter 89

20
Q

Building and Safety Notification:

LADBS requires ___ and ___ at vacant or abandoned structures to prevent entry.

A

fencing and posting of signs

21
Q

Building and Safety Notification:
If field personnel discover a vacant/abandoned building that has not yet been addressed by LADBS or has been interfered with, the ___ shall be notified at 213-252-3962.

A

LADBS Code Enforcement Bureau Senior Inspector

22
Q

Owner Notification:
Once the Fire Department has identified an address as an vacant/abandoned building with conditions that represents a potential life safety risk to Fire Department personnel, the ___

A

building owner shall be notified

23
Q

Owner Notification:

The owner of such property is responsible of ___.

A

properly securing the vacant/abandoned building from unauthorized public access.

24
Q

Owner Notification:

The placement of the placards does not relieve the property owner of the responsibility of ___.

A

properly securing the vacant/abandoned building from unauthorized public access as delineate in the Fire Code Section 57.20.12.

25
Q

Owner Notification:

Placards can be removed, with the approval of the ___.

A

Fire Department, if/when hazardous conditions are mitigated.

26
Q

Installation in the City of Los Angeles:

Fire Department placards on vacant/abandoned buildings are what size?

A

24” x 30”

27
Q

Installation in the City of Los Angeles:

Placards are installed on how many sides of this structure to alert incoming fire companies?

A

two

28
Q

Installation in the City of Los Angeles:

The Fire Department will ___

A

provide and install these placards at no cost to the property owner.

29
Q

Installation in the City of Los Angeles:

The Fire Department will make every attempt to minimize ___.

A

damage to the property owner’s structure while installing the “warning” placards.

30
Q

Installation in the City of Los Angeles:
If the owner chooses to install the placards or use a private company, who will the owner notify, and within how many days?

A

1) Fire Marshal’s office within 14 days

31
Q

Placarding System:

What regulation regulates vacant and abandoned premises.

A

Section 311 of the 2009 International Fire Code

32
Q

Placarding System:

Where can placards be obtained at and who shall be posted by?

A

1) Division Offices

2) field personnel

33
Q

International Fire Code (Section 311):

Where shall Placards be applied to the vacant/abandon structure?

A

1) front visible from the street.
3) side of each entrance
4) penthouses

34
Q

International Fire Code (Section 311):

Placards minimum in size?

A

24 inches by 30 inches

35
Q

International Fire Code (Section 311):

What colors and size of hazard identification symbol space do placards need to be?

A

Red background with white reflective stripes and white reflective border with 6 inches for hazard identification symbols

36
Q

International Fire Code (Section 311):

The stripes and border shall have what size stroke?

A

2” stroke

37
Q

International Fire Code (Section 311):

What dates must the hazard placard bear?

A

1) date of initial application and,

2) date of most recent inspection

38
Q

International Fire Code (Section 311):

Red Square means:

A

This symbol shall mean that the structure has normal structural conditions at the time of marking. (NOT used by LAFD)

39
Q

International Fire Code (Section 311):
Red Square with diagonal line through the box mean:
-Hazard Building

A

This symbol shall mean that the structural or interior hazards exists and interior fire fighting or rescue operations should be conducted with caution.

40
Q

International Fire Code (Section 311):
Red Square with and “X” through the box means:
-Dangerous Building

A

This symbol shall mean that structural or interior hazards exists to a degree that consideration should be given to limit fire fighting to exterior operations only, with entry only occurring to know life hazard.

41
Q

The following symbols shall be used to designate known hazards on the vacant/abandoned building marker. All that apply shall be placed on what portion of placard?

A

Directly above the placard.

42
Q

R/O means ?

A

Roof Open

43
Q

S/M means ?

A

Stairs, Steps and landing missing

44
Q

F/E means ?

A

Avoid Fire Escapes

45
Q

H/F means ?

A

Holes in Floors

46
Q

International Fire Code (Section 311):
The use of these symbols shall be ___ only and shall not in any way limit the discretion of the on-scene Incident Commander.

A

informational