DEFINITIONS Flashcards
Medium Fire Situation:
Indicates a fire which may be extinguished with the operation of two (2) hoselines. Fire may involve the structure, contents or both. When describing a fire as Medium Fire Situation, include a quantitative description of the fire: Location, volume and direction of travel of fire.
Light Fire Situation:
Indicates a fire which can be extinguished with the operation of one (1) hoseline or hand extinguishers. It includes fire that can be readily extinguished without resorting to extinguishing agents.
Heavy Fire Situation:
Indicates a fire that will require the operation of more than two (2) hoselines to extinguish the fire or requires the use of hoselines in conjunction with the use of heavy appliances. When describing a fire as a Heavy Fire Situation, include a quantitative description of the fire: Location, volume, and direction of travel.
CLASS 1
FIREPROOF
CLASS 2
FIRE RESISTIVE
CLASS 3
NON-FIRE PROOF
CLASS 4
WOOD FRAME
CLASS 5
METAL
CLASS 6
HEAVY TIMBER
Rip Tides or Currents -
occur when the tide is going out. Rip currents are the primary source of distress in drowning victims.
LIGHT FIRE SITUATION
Light Fire Situation - Indicates a fire which can be extinguished with the operation of one hand line and/or hand extinguishers or those that can be readily extinguished without resorting to extinguishing agents.
MEDIUM FIRE SITUATION
Medium Fire Situation - Indicates a fire which may be extinguished with the operation of two handlines.
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISION
- MEMBER WITHIN VISUAL OR VOICE CONTACT OF OFFICER
- MEMBER WORKING WITH SEARCH LINE OR HOSELINE THAT IS UNDER SUPERVISION OF OFFICER
Medium Fire Situation:
Indicates a fire which may be extinguished with the operation of two (2) hoselines. Fire may involve the structure, contents or both. When describing a fire as Medium Fire Situation, include a quantitative description of the fire: Location, volume and direction of travel of fire.
TRAILERS:
Trailers: Material arranged to spread fire from its point of origin to other areas of an occupancy. (Cotton waste, rags, paper, fluids, excelsior, waste film and others.)
PLANTS:
Plants: Material arranged to start and feed initial fire. (Candles, matches, electrical, mechanical, chemicals and others.)
ACCELERANTS:
Accelerants: Gasoline, kerosene, turpentine, alcohol, paint thinner, cut or disconnect gas lines etc.
IGNITION DEVICE:
Ignition Device: Mechanical, chemical, or electrical means used to initiate a fire.
PROTECTED AREA:
Protected Area: The clean or unburned area left by stock, furniture, contents, etc. covering shelves, floors, or other combustible areas.
Flow Path
FLOW PATH - is the movement of heat and smoke from the higher air pressure within the fire area to all other lower air pressure areas both inside and outside of a fire building
Heat Release Rate
HEAT RELEASE RATE - is the rate at which energy (heat) is released by the burning of a fuel and oxygen mixture
Ventilation Limited Fire
Ventilation Limited Fire - is a fire in which the heat release rate or growth of the fire is being slowed because the fire is consuming the available oxygen and no new oxygen is entering the fire area.
FOWPATH
The term Flow Path describes the movement of fire, heat and smoke from an area of high pressure (the fire area) to an area of low pressure (all areas other than the fire area).
CATENARY WIRES
CATENARY WIRES – Overhead electrical wires delivering approximately 12,000 (12KV) volts of alternating current (AC). These lines retain residual static electricity after the power source has been disconnected. The removal of this residual electricity requires the railroad to have a Class “A” employee (A Man) ground the catenary on the tracks/tunnel circuit where power removal was requested by the Incident Commander (IC).
Incipient:
Incipient: The early stage of fire development where the fire’s progression is limited to a fuel source and the thermal hazard is localized to the area of the burning object.
Growth:
Growth: The stage of fire development when the heat release rate from an incipient fire has increased to the point where heat transfers from the fire and causes the combustion products to pyrolyze adjacent fuel sources. The fire begins to spread across the ceiling of the fire compartment (rollover).
Fully Developed:
Fully Developed: The stage of fire development which has reached its peak heat release within a compartment. This usually occurs after flashover, resulting in floor to ceiling burning within the compartment thereby creating heat conditions untenable for members.
Decay:
Decay: The stage of fire development within a structure characterized by either a decrease in the fuel load or available oxygen to support combustion, resulting in lower pressure and lower temperatures in the fire area.
Fire partition
Fire partition - A partition provided for the purpose of protecting life by furnishing an area of exit, or refuge, and having a fire resistive rating of at least three hours as per the 1938 Building Code.
FIREPROOF CONSTRUCTION
Fireproof construction - A building in which the walls, floors, structural members and stairway enclosures are made of non-combustible materials with fire resistive ratings as required by the Building Code.
FIRE STOPPING
FIRE STOPING - The closing of all concealed draft openings to form a barrier against the spread of fire with non-combustible materials.
FIRE WALL
Fire wall - A fire-rated, smoke tight wall having protected openings designed to restrict the spread of fire from one structure to another, or from one area of a structure to another. It extends continuously from the foundation to, or through, the roof with sufficient structural stability to withstand the collapse of construction on either side of it. Fire Wall ratings for 1968 BC are rated at 4 hours; 2008 BC are rated at 2 or 3 hours depending on occupancy.
BEAM
Beam - A horizontal supporting member in building construction
BEARING WALL
Bearing wall - A wall of a building which carries any load other than its own weight
CASEMENT WINDOW
Casement window - A metal framed window which opens outward.
COAMING
Coaming - A raised frame around a floor or roof opening or scuttle to keep water from running in.
COLUMN
Column - A vertical structural member in building construction.
DOUBTFUL
Doubtful: Indicates that a fluid, and still developing situation exists. It is not necessary to repeat this term in subsequent progress reports
PROBABLY WILL HOLD
Probably Will Hold: Indicates that in the judgment of the Incident Commander there is enough apparatus, equipment and personnel to contain the fire or emergency and prevent any further extension or escalation.
UNDER CONTROL
Under Control: Indicates that at this time, in the judgment of the Incident Commander, final extinguishment of the fire or control of the emergency will be accomplished by the apparatus, equipment and personnel on the scene.
HEAVY FIRE SITUATION
Heavy Fire Situation: Indicates a fire that will require the operation of more than two (2) hoselines to extinguish the fire or requires the use of hoselines in conjunction with the use of heavy appliances. When describing a fire as a Heavy Fire Situation, include a quantitative description of the fire: Location, volume, and direction of travel.
STANDING FAST
Standing Fast: Indicates that a unit is held in reserve status, intact as a unit at the Incident Command Post or Staging Area and is immediately available to the Incident Commander.
Incendiary Fire
Incendiary Fire: A designation given to a fire, in which the Fire Marshal has determined through physical examination of the fire scene and interview with witnesses that the fire was intentionally set by someone. A fire may be suspected of being incendiary if there is evidence of, among other things, the presence of an accelerant or a firesetting device, two or more separate and distinct fires burning at the same time, an eye witness to the setting of the fire, a confession, or a combustible substance deliberately placed at the point of origin.
SUSPICIOUS FIRE
Suspicious: A designation given by the Incident Commander in command of a fire operation and is one of the circumstances in which the Fire Marshal is called to the fire scene to investigate and determine the cause, origin and circumstances of the fire. A fire is suspicious if:
- There are indications that the fire may have been set and all accidental causes have not been eliminated. (When all accidental causes have been eliminated, the fire is incendiary.)
- A threat preceded the fire.
- It is one in a series of similar fires.
- Premises normally locked are found unlocked.
- Stock or belongings were removed prior to the fire.
DISENTANGLEMENT
Disentanglement - The removal of wreckage from around the victim.
EXTRICATION
Extrication - The physical removal of the victim from the vehicle
