Definitions Flashcards
Define flashover
A sudden hostile fire event that occurs when all surfaces and contents of a space reach their ignition temperature nearly simultaneously resulting in full room fire involvement
Backdraft
Occurs when air is suddenly introduced back into a closed space that is filled with pressurized, ignition temperature, and oxygen deprived products of combustion and pyrolysis
Ghosting
Hostile warning event intermittent ignition of small pockets of smoke usually seen as fingers of flame
Flame over
Hostile fire event, ignition and sustained burning of the overhead layers of smoke in a room or hallway
Attic space
The space between the roof and the ceiling of the top story of a residence
Basement
A story or stories of a building located below the first story
Class A fire
Fire involving combustible materials such as wood cloth and paper
Class B fire
Fire involving a flammable or combustible liquid
Class C fire
Fire involving energized electrical equipment
Class D fire
Fire involving combustible metals
Class K fire
Fire involving combustible cooking media such as vegetable oil’s, animal fats
Combustible liquid
Any liquid having a flashpoint at or above 37.8°C or below 93.3°C
Dangerous goods
regulated by the transportation of dangerous goods act Canada
Fire detector
A device which detects a fire condition and automatically initiates an electrical signal to acute an alert signal or alarm signal and includes heat detectors and smoke detectors
Fire separation
Construction assembly that acts as a barrier against the spread of fire, may or may not have a fire resistance rating
Firewall
A fire separation of non-combustible construction that subdivides a building or separates adjoining buildings to resist the spread of fire that has a fire resistance rating as per building code
Flammable liquid
A liquid having a flash point below 37.8°C 
Flashpoint
The minimum temperature at which a liquid within a container gives off vapour in sufficient concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the liquid
Heat detector
A fire detector designed to operate at a predetermined temperature or rate of temperature rise
Lower explosive limit
The minimum concentration of vapour in air at which flame occurs on contact with source of ignition
Means of egress 
A continuous path of travel provided for the escape of persons from any point in a building
Non-combustible construction
Type of construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by the use of non-combustible materials for structural members and other building assemblies
Residential occupancy
An occupancy in which sleeping accommodation is provided to residents
Smoke alarm
A combined smoke detector and audible alarm device designed to sound an alarm within the room or suite where there is smoke within the room or suite
Smoke detector
A fire detector designed to operate when the concentration of airborne combustion products exceeds a predetermined level
Supervisory staff
Those occupants of a building who have some delegated responsibility for the fire safety of other occupants under the fire safety plan 
Vapour pressure
The pressure exerted by the liquid 
Mitigation
The overall strategy of hazard control
Mitigation hierarchy
A preferred order of hazard control strategies -elimination, reduction, adaptation, transfer and avoidance
Guideline
An adaptable template that offers wide flexibility in application
Procedure
A strict directive that must be followed with little or no flexibility
Risk management
The process of minimizing the chance, degree, or probability of damage, loss or injury
Collapse zone
The area that is exposed to trauma debris and or thrust should a building or part of the building collapse.
Dead load
The weight of the building itself and anything permanently attached to it
Live load
Any force or weight, other than the building itself that a building must carry or absorb
General collapse
The complete failure of a building to resist gravity
Partial collapse
An event in which the building can accept the failure of a single component and still retain some strength
Compression
A force that causes a material to be crushed or flattened
Eccentric load
A load that is off-center to another
Sheer
A force that causes the material to be torn in opposite directions
Structural element
The primary load bearing column, beam or connection used to erect a building
Tension
A force that causes the material to be stretched or pulled apart in line with the material
Torsional load
A load that is imposed in a manner that causes another object to twist
Situational awareness
 The degree one’s perception of his or her current environment mirrors reality
Cold zone
The area surrounding a warm zone that is used for an incident command post, support agency interfacing and staging of personnel and equipment
Warm zone
The area surrounding the hot zone where personnel, equipment, and operators are operating in support of the operation
Hot zone
The area immediately surrounding a hazardous area that can be considered an immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) environment requiring appropriate PPE, accountability procedures, and standby rapid intervention crew
No entry zone
The area in which no responders are to enter, regardless of PPE, due to dangerous conditions
Firm intervention
A direct order to immediately stop, alter, suspend, or withdrawal personnel, activities and operations due to an imminent threat
Soft intervention
Awareness or suggestion made to crews or command that causes them to modify observations and activities to prevent injury from a potential threat
Safety trigger
An approach that an ISO uses to help remind firefighters to be situationally aware and perform in a safe and predictable manner
Building geometry
the buildings layout, size, number of floors, access options and other features
Rescue profile
the probability that a victim will survive a given environment within a given building space or compartment. Classifications include high, marginal and zero rescue profile.
High rescue profile
Classification indicating a high likelihood that a person located within a fire involved structure can be successfully rescued
Marginal rescue profile
A classification indicating a moderate likelihood that a person located within a fire involved structure can be successfully rescued, in this scenario there is clear danger to occupants and rescuers but no compelling evidence to indicate a high or zero rescue profile
Zero rescue profile
A classification indicating no likelihood that a person located within a fire involved structure can be successfully rescued, in this scenario conditions are simply not survivable
Brittle
a material that will fracture or fail as it is deformed or stress passes design limits
Ductile
Description for a material that will bend, deflect or stretch as a force is resisted yet retain some strength
Emergency evacuation
A strict order for all crews to immediately escape from a building interior or roof, leaving hose lines and tools that can impede rapid retreat behind
Hazardous energy
The unintended and often sudden release of stored, residual or potential energy that will cause harm if contacted
Pyrolysis
The chemical breakdown of compounds into other substances by heat alone
Smoke
The products of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis , it includes an aggregate of particles, aerosols and fire gases that are toxic, flammable and volatile
Define workplace
All locations where municipal services, business or social activities of the city of Peterborough are conducted
Define discrimination
Discrimination – unfair treatment of a person or group based on a personal character whether intentional or not
Define harassment
Harassment – engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or ought to be known to be unwelcome 
Command
Either a single incident commander or unified command structure
Responder
Any member of the Fire service assigned to the incident
Resources
responder, response vehicle, and or equipment
Strategy
Overall strategy declared by command either defensive or offensive
Zone
A geographic area, including areas above or below grade, for which an assessment has been made as to a responders exposure to risk
Workplace violence
A) The use of physical force against or by a worker that causes or could cause physical injury such as punching hitting kicking pushing
B) the attempted use of physical force against or by a worker that could cause physical injury
C) an action or statement reasonably believed to be a threat to safety or security in the workplace
Define incident action plan
Can be a verbal plan, tactical worksheet, written plan or combination thereof
Occupancy
Use or intended use of the building
Occupant load
Number of persons for which the building is designed
Fuel load
– Amount of fuel present expressed in terms of weight of fuel per unit area
– total quantities of combustible contents of building space or fire area
Initial action plan
– strategy & tactical objectives for an incident
