Definitions Flashcards
Oxidation
The process in which oxygen combines chemically with another substance to create a new compound
Combustion
A chemical process in which the combustion of a substance with oxygen produces heat and light
Pyrolysis
The decomposition of a material brought about by heat in the absence of oxygen
Span of Control
The number of people whom one person can supervise effectively
Unity of Command
The concept that each fire fighter answers to only one supervisor, each supervisor answers to only one boss, and so on
Conduction
The process of transferring heat directly from one molecule to another
Convection
heat transfer by circulation within a medium such as a gas or a liquid.
Radiation
the transfer of heat through the emission of energy in the form of invisible waves
Backdraft
caused by the introduction of oxygen into an enclosure where super-heated gases are already hot enough for ignition but lack sufficient oxygen
what is a BLEVE
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
Flameover (rollover)
the spontaneous ignition of hot gases in the upper levels of a room.
Flashover
the near-simultaneous ignition of most of the exposed combustible material in an enclosed are or room.
flash point
the lowest temperature at which a liquid produces a flammable vapor
flame point (fire point)
the lowest temperature at which a liquid produces enough vapor to sustain a continuous fire
vapor dnsity
the weight of an airborne concentration as compared to an equal volume of dry air. air is assigned value of 1
Lower Flammable Limit (LFL/LEL)
concentration of a combustible material in air below which ignition will not occur. (Too lean)
Upper Flammable Limit (UFL/UEL)
the highest concentration of a combustible substance in air that will produce flame/combustion. (Too Rich)
Crew
groups of Firefighters working without apparatus
Division
Geographic areas
Group
Functions
Branch
oversees divisions or groups
Task Force
groups of single different resources
Strike Team
Five units of same type working on the same task
