Engine Company Manual Flashcards
At a minimum, what positions should be assigned at shift line up?
Nozzle firefighter and backup firefighter and associated duties. Pg 2
What should engine company members be familiar with in their first due?
Streets
alternative routes of travel,
unit blocks,
specific building addresses
fdc locations and hydrants. Pg 2
Who should positioning be prepared for?
The first two engines and the first truck. Pg 3
What are the two human decision making processes?
Classical (step by step, logical sequence) and naturalistic (intuitive reaction to problem, aka Recognition Primed Decision-Making) Pg 4
What is the only way to develop muscle memory and learned experience?
Repetition. Pg 4
What is the only way to master the necessary skill to ensure proper application and technique for the emergency situation?
Experience. Pg 5
What are the three categories of fire service training?
Self study, Company training, Multiple unit training. Pg 5
How often should companies conduct walk throughs?
At least once a tour. Pg 5
While responding, it is imperative that all members monitor the ______ as well as the _________.
Tactical channel, mobile communication terminal (mct) pg 7
A key element to avoiding LODD’s is ______
Eliminating complacency. Treat every call as the most significant incident of your career until determined otherwise pg 8
Information from pre-incident walkthroughs and familiarization should include what information?
Occupancy name/ address.
Occupancy type.
Construction type.
Combustibility of contents.
Accessibility.
Hydrants.
Fire protection systems.
Alarm systems.
Utilities shut off
building specifics. pg 5
What should personnel gather/obtain when arriving on scene of a fire alarm?
Information from fleeing residents or building rep to find the exact location and nature of the alarm.
Obtain Knox box keys.
Locate the FCR/annunciator panel
verify location, type, and number of alarms. Pg 9
How much faster do fire burn today than 20 years ago?
Ten times faster. Pg 10
What are the components of the fire tetrahedron?
Oxygen, heat, fuel, chain reaction. Pg 10
When does flashover occur?
Between the growth and fully developed stages. When all surfaces inside a structure heat to their ignition temperature and simultaneously ignite. Pg 11
When does a backdraft occur?
During the the decay stage after the fire compartment had consumed all available oxygen. Introduced oxygen results in an explosive force Pg 11
What is the tendency of gases to form into layers according to temperatures?
Thermal layering. Pg 11
When flames present in layers of smoke as a result a heated gases are pushed under pressure from fire area to uninvolved areas
roll over
What is the layering of smoke and gas clouds?
Stratification. Pg 11
What is pyrolysis?
When solid fuels are heated and combustible gases are driven from the substance pg 11
What are indications of a possible back draft?
Heavy, dense smoke with no visible flame in a tightly closed occupancy. Black smoke pushing around closed doors or window frames. Glass stained with smoke condensation and pulsating from the pressure of the fire. Reversal of air movement pulling smoke back into a building through a doorway. pg 13
What does rollover serve as a warning sign for?
Fire area may be reaching the point of flash over. Page 12
The difference between the new and the old is referred to as what? (in reference to materials used in building/fire load)
Modern versus legacy pg 13
When does the decay stage occur?
When all available oxygen is consumed. Page 13
What is the process to hydraulically ventilate?
Position the hose line 2 feet from the opening and set the nozzle to fog to cover 80% of the opening and flow out of the structure. Page 15
What are the fireground principles of smoke?
Smoke is fuel.
Smoke density/color = flammability
Velocity/ pressure =heat and flow path.
Volume = intensity
Pg 16
What does smoke color indicate?
What is burning and flammability. Pg 16
Gray/black or brown smoke indicate the fire is in what stage?
Fully developed or decaying pg 17
What are pre-arrival size up considerations?
Occupancy type
Time of day,
class of construction,
weather conditions
water supply access. Page 24
The general plan or course of action decided upon to reach the objective. (Offensive (interior/exterior) versus defensive) pg 21
strategy
When is confinement of fire necessary?
When extinguishment is impossible due to the lack of on scene resources pg 22
Besides smoke what is another exterior indicator of fire location?
Dark stained windows or crazed or cracked glass. Page 27
What interior indicators can help locate the fire?
Smoke levels.
Movement of smoke and air.
Lift.
Listening.
pg 28
What is one of the most critical functions performed on the emergency scene?
Conducting a risk assessment and employing a risk management strategy pg 29
What do the principal objectives of risk management include?
Internal process to identify and evaluate risks, then develop, select, and implement measures upfront to lessen the probability of a harmful consequences pg 29
What questions must be answered to assist with a risk assessment?
life hazard
fire conditions
potential for victim survival
structural stability/collapse potential
Adequate resources to make a positive impact on the incident?
pg 29
What is the core concept of Victim Survivability Profile (VSP) ?
Size up the structure to determine the likelihood of victim rescues. Pg 30
What is a tactical withdrawal?
Coordinated and specific relocation of units and their equipment operating from an area deemed untenable to a area deemed safe to continue operations age. Pg 39
Transitioning to a defensive attack allows the officer an opportunity to review the building from the exterior and note what?
Smoke and fire conditions,
ladder placement,
alternative attack points.
Page 41
How long will a blitz attack with a master stream allow for?
60 to 90 seconds of water flow without a supply. Page 43
What is the easiest method to initiate a blitz attack?
They fixed master stream, usually the engines deck gun. Page 41
Can a blitz attack be used on fire with trapped victims?
Yes, but their location should be known to prevent further injury from the master stream and it’s effects. pg 43
What are the different types of nozzles?
Fixed gallonage fog nozzle,
selectable gallonage fog nozzle,
smoothbore nozzles. Page 45/46
Name the five fire attack methods.
Direct attack,
indirect attack (no victims, no FF)
combination attack, (no victims)
penciling (50-60% cooling)
pushing in (water all 6 sides)
Page 46 to 48
What patterns are utilized in a combination attack?
Narrow fog with T, Z, O pg 47
What attacks should not be used in areas where there may be victims or firefighters operating?
Indirect or combination attacks. Page 47
How do you pencil?
Open and close the nozzle fully with short one second bursts at the ceiling while moving from one side of the compartment to the other to cover the entire width pg 47
When pushing in what must be done to ensure the hose is not pulled across any material that could burn a hole through it?
Sweep the floor pg 48
_______ is vital for effective deployment of the second hoseline.
Tactical communication pg 50
What is the formula for estimating hose line stretch?
Setback + building width + length of building + 1/2 length (25’) per floor + 1 length at point of attack. Pg 52
How to do you estimate setback using parking spaces?
10’ per space. Pg 53
What is the acronym for using the 2 1/2”?
ADULTS:
Advanced fire conditions,
Defensive operations,
Unknown fire location,
Large open area,
Tons of water,
Standpipes
pg 53
Line selection and placement is whose responsibility?
The engine officers pg 53
Where is the preferred place to chock a door?
Low so that retreating firefighters can remove them quickly if necessary. Pg 54
If possible, the nozzle fire fighter should bring ______ length(s) of hose to the fire floor, if the hallways or landings permit.
2 pg 54
What is the alley stretch?
The nozzle ff holds the shoulder load on his shoulder at the door, firmly grasping the nozzle. The backup firefighter grabs the coupling on the should load and stretches it away from the door pg 55
Who is responsible for clearing kinks and the hose bed?
The back up fire fighter. Page 57
What rolls and responsibilities does the back up fire fighter have?
-Chasing kinks.
-Ensure the shortest and quickest path to the fire is executed.
-Illuminate excessive hose not needed in the structure.
-Determine the number of turns to the seat of the fire.
-Facilitate path of attack.
-Maintain correct body position.
-Observation of fire conditions.
-Room management.
-Nozzle reaction.
pg 56-59
What is the engine drivers ultimate responsibility?
The safe delivery of personnel to and from the scene pg 60
What two options does the first due engine officer have regarding command?
Hold command: For the lower priority incidence when only one or two units are operating.
Request to transfer command: when immediate offensive operations are initiated.
Pg 64
What should the officer do when the main body of fire is knocked down?
Shut down the nozzle to allow the fire to vent and let any remaining fire light up. Pg 66
What tactics are of such important to fire control that the decision to implement is reserved for the engine officer alone, not the nozzle ff or back up FF?
Calling for water
opening the nozzle
Initial stream direction
direction of team advance
initiating line advancement
Stopping line advancement
stream shut down
use of stream for cooling
use of fog for attack
Use of fog stream for venting
Amount of water used
Assignment of engine fire fighter for venting or search
relief of nozzle team
need for relief of unit
necessity to back the hoseline out.
Page 66-67
What decisions may be delegated by the engine officer to the nozzle team?
Direction of stream,
Rate of advancement
opening nozzle in an emergency
partial shut down of nozzle to reduce nozzle reaction and regain control
calling for more line
Sweeping floors with stream.
Page 67
CAN report stands for?
Conditions, Actions, and Needs pg 26
What are the stages of fire growth?
Incipient, growth, fully developed, decay. Page 12
Why are manmade modern materials (modern) more hazardous than natural legacy materials?
Because of their high heat release rate. HRR pg 13
The effectiveness of hydraulic ventilation is based on what?
The size of the opening
Amount of water flowing
pg 15
All smoke is filled with high levels of ____ and ____ that if left unchecked will result in fire.
Carbon and carbon monoxide pg 16