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
What is the most reliable indicator of a fire’s location?
Velocity or speed.
Higher velocity, closer it is to the fire. Page 27
What are the specific actions employed to fulfill the strategy?
Tactics pg 21
What are interior indicators of fire location?
Smoke levels
movement of air
lift of the smoke level
Listening. Page 28
_______ on the fire ground can be one of the most dangerous and the most important tasks performed by firefighters.
Ventilation pg 22
What is the inability to perceive something that is within one’s direct perceptual feel because one is attending to something else?
Perceptual blindness or inattentional blindness pg 24
What is included in the incident size up?
Pre-incident
Pre-arrival
On scene
360° lap
Situation report
Interior size up
Ongoing size up.
pg 24
What exterior indicator is the most reliable indicator to a fire location?
Velocity/speed pg 27
What are the primary safety threats on the fire ground?
Advanced fire conditions
collapse potential.
Page 29
What are the background factors regarding human physiology related to the VSP?
Human body’s heat threshold is 212°F
CO renders unconscious at 200,000ppm in 4-12seconds
Oxygen less than 10% results in rapid death.
Closing doors can help tremendously. Pg 30
Immediate evacuation of all personnel from an unsafe structure or dangerous area. Pg 39
emergency evacuation
If an emergency evacuation is ordered how should crews consider exiting the structure?
Via portable ladders when possible. Page 41
Penciling can decrease heat in a compartment with high heat and pre flashover conditions by how much?
50-60% pg 47
When pushing in how many sides of the compartment should you apply water to?
All six sides pg 48
What is the reach of the mercury monitor for the different stream patterns?
Smooth bore/straight stream- 185 feet, medium fog- 50 feet,
wide fog- 25 feet.
Page 48
How far are telephone poles typically spaced on residential streets that you can be used for estimating house stretches?
75’ pg 53
What are the ways the back up fire fighter can facilitate hose line movement?
Maintain a gloved hand on the hose line to receive feedback from movement, do not push the hose line arbitrarily unless it is moving or needed.
Page 59
What formation should the hose line be maintained in to facilitate advancement?
The S formation. Should be constantly monitored. Pg 59
How should engine drivers communicate normally?
Face to face to reduce unnecessary radio traffic. Page 61
What is the primary role of the engine officer?
To facilitate, coordinate, and implement a plan of action appropriate for the emergency. Page 61
Who is responsible for connecting each engines supply lines in a split lay?
The water supply engine. Page 64
What guidelines determine tactical priorities?
Actions required to facilitate a rescue. Actions required to minimize fire spread. Actions required to extinguish the fire. pg 64
What must the initial engine officer understand if he has requested to transfer command?
That he remains the incident commander regardless of work status until relieved by a command officer and must facilitate the incident and communications. Page 64
What must the engine officer do prior to opening the door to the fire area?
Ensure ff’s Ppe is properly equipped and ensure that unprepared ff’s and civilians in the hall or stairway will not be exposed when fire attack is initiated. Pg 65
What does the acronym RECEO VS stand form?
Rescue
Exposure
Confinement
Extinguishment
Overhaul
Ventilation
Salvage
pg 21
Which decision making method recognizes sights, sounds, smells, and other sensory cues that trigger the memory of similar situations the decision maker has experienced or learned in the past?
D. Naturalistic Decision Making
Jobs of the Second Due Engine?
Ensure the primary water supply is established.
Assume command of the incident, if assigned.
Ensure successful deployment/advancement of the initial attack line.
Deploy a second hoseline.
Which component of the fire tetrahedron Enables a fire to sustain combustion?
Oxygen
During the ____________, fire develops, and rollover is often seen in an adjacent compartment.
This rollover should serve as a warning that the area may be reaching the point of ___________.
Growth Stage : Flashover
Which component of the fire tetrahedron is Needed to raise the material to its ignition temperature.
Heat
Which component of the fire tetrahedron is Any combustible material in the form of a solid, flammable liquid, or gas.
fuel
Which component of the fire tetrahedron is a Fire ignition when the three elements are present in their necessary
condition.
Chain Reaction
When should ventilation needs be identified?
When the first officer completes their size-up
Smoke color is an indicator of two things; what is burning and ____________.
Flammability of the smoke
White or white/grey smoke indicates:
The smoke is TOO LEAN to contribute to fire load
Which of the following SHALL the first-arriving engine officer complete before implementing interior firefighting tactics?
Conduct a 360° of the structure
When thinking of Risk Assessment, threats to safety on the fire ground primarily come from two categories; Advanced fire conditions and _____________.
Collapse potential
According to the Victim Survivability Profile, NFPA suggest that the upper range of temperature tenability for humans is ___________.
212 degrees F
What attack method or maneuver, is used to move through a compartment where high heat or pre-flashover conditions exist to the point that the crew cannot safely advance their hoseline toextinguish the fire or initial room of involvement?
Penciling
how much hose should you include for your fire on the
second floor?
1.5 lengths (75’)
The primary role of the ________________ is to facilitate, coordinate, and implement a plan of action appropriate for the emergency.
Engine Officer
When must a command statement be made by the first due engine officer?
After they have completed a size-up and determined what actions are taken
What are the command options if the first in Engine Officer decides to initiate offensive operations?
They should request to transfer command through the first in Battalion Chief
Which tactic is of such importance to fire control efforts that the decision to implement is reserved for the engine officer alone?
Initiating line advance
Grey/Black or brown smoke is indicative of:
Fully developed fire with class A and B fuel sources, most likely ventilation limited
____ is the general plan or course of action decided upon to reach objectives.
Strategy
______ are specific actions employed to fulfill a strategy.
Tactics
Overhaul should start?
In void spaces and closest to the fire, working towards the unburned side
Typically salvage measures are implemented?
After initial knockdown but before extension and overhaul operations are
performed
Interior tactics shall not commence until?
A side “Charlie” report is received
Locating fire inside a building is the responsibility of ______.
Engine Company Officer
The most reliable indicator of a fire’s location is smoke _______.
Velocity or speed
The primary cause of fire related death is _________.
Carbon monoxide inhalation
The fog stream will push _______, but not ______, along the flow path.
Steam; fire
When on scene, who is responsible to ensure the shortest and quickest path to the fire is executed?
Backup firefighter
When performing a split-lay, who has the responsibility to connect the supply lines together?
Supply engine driver
Calling for water to charge a line is a decision that can only be implemented by:
The Engine OIC
After the main body of fire has been extinguished, the engine officer should order the nozzle firefighter to:
Shut down and allow heat and smoke to rise and remaining fire to light up
When the decision-maker recognizes sights, sounds, smells, and other sensory cues that trigger the memory of similar situations the decision-maker has experienced or learned in
the past, what is that method called?
Recognition primed decision-making method (Naturalistic Method)
Recognition primed decision-making method is also known as
Naturalistic Method
Naturalistic Method is also known as
Recognition primed decision making method
What is a key element to avoiding unfortunate outcomes of the situations where a routine fire alarm incident has escalated to a working fire and ultimately a line of duty death?
Eliminating complacency in incident operations
What is the most effective way to quickly mitigate an incident?
Extinguishment
Which of the following clues regarding locating the fire in a building is one of the interior indicators?
Listening. Fires that are vented or
free burning typically make the most noise.
What is a disadvantage of smooth bore nozzle?
Limited versatility in stream selection
Cannot change gallonage without changing tips
Not effective on flammable liquids fires and other type of fires that
require the use of a narrow to wide-angle fog
Smooth bore nozzle pros:
Simplistic design with little to no obstructions between the water and
the fire
A solid, compact stream of water that can penetrate the heat of a
working fire and apply water to the seat of the fire
Less production of steam lessens the instance of injury to firefighters
and increasing chances of better visibility
Less air entrainment with stream to upset the thermal balance within a
compartment on fire once fire is knocked
Less nozzle reaction than fog nozzle
Lower nozzle pressure equates to greater maneuverability of the
hoseline within a structure
Fog nozzle cons
Too many moving parts
Higher maintenance cost
Requires radio communication between the nozzle operator and pump
operator if the flow is changed
Substantial nozzle reaction
fog nozzle pros
Various gallonage amounts to select from for the firefight
Versatility in stream selection from straight stream to wide fog
Interior crews must understand that a compartment with heat reaching temperatures of
____ degrees or more at the ceiling level and thick smoke banked down near the floor are pre-
flashover conditions that should be recognized and changed if the crew needs to continue
operating in that compartment.
800
On residential street, telephone poles are typically spaced approximately ___ apart.
75 feet
What is the correct body position in search and hoseline advancement?
Head up and leading leg out position
If the operating resources include _____, the first due engine officer should NOT hold command
for the entire incident.
3 or more
A ___________ is the space between both handrails in a stairwell and allows engine companies
to achieve the maximum length of the hose.
Well-hole
Fire service training falls into three categories?
Self-study, Company, Multi-unit
__________ is the stage of a fire at which all surfaces and objects within a space have been heated to their ignition temperature and simultaneous ignition of all surfaces and objects in the space occurs.
Flashover
___________ conditions typically exist during the decay stage after the fire compartment has consumed all available oxygen.
Backdraft
__________ should serve as a warning that the fire area may be reaching the point of flashover
Rollover
Which method of extinguishment must not be used in areas where victims may be located or firefighters are operating?
Indirect Attack, Combination Attack
Fire control decisions that may be delegated by the engine officer to the nozzle team
Direction of stream
Rate of advancement
Opening nozzle in an emergency
Partial shutdown of nozzle to reduce nozzle reaction and regain control
Calling for more line
Sweeping floors with stream
What the does T in the acronym ADULTS stand for?
Tons of water
Penciling decrease building heat within a compartment by?
50% to 60%
Analyzing the situation, identifying the problem, developing solutions to the problem, weighing the advantages, disadvantages, and the risks and benefits of each option, and finally choosing the option that best solves the problem, describes which type of human decision-making process?
Classical decision-making method
Attacking with the master stream will only allow for _________ seconds of water flow without a supply.
60-90
Expansion of water to steam is?
1:1700
Using a smooth bore nozzle at 80 PSI or a straight stream fog nozzle at 100 PSI yields a reach of approximately ____ feet.
185 feet
“L” in ADULTS stands for?
Large open area
The recognized formula published by National Fire Protection Handbook for nozzle reaction in smooth bore nozzle and fog nozzle
is?
1.57 x Bore Diameter squared x Nozzle Pressure (smooth bore)
0.0505 x Rated Flow x √Nozzle Pressure (fog)
Today’s fires burn _x faster than fires of just 20 years ago.
10x
Flash over occurs between the _ and _ stages of fire development, while back draft occurs between the ___ and ____ stages of fire development.
Growth and fully developed
Fully Developed and decay
What does “L” in the ADULTS mnemonic stand for?
Large open area
If possible, the nozzle firefighter should bring _ lengths of hose to the fire floor.
2
What is the formula for estimating the stretch?
Setback + width of building + length of building + 1⁄2 length (25’) per floor regardless of the floor reported + 1 length at the point of attack
The Mercury quick attack monitor with a medium fog will typically reach how far?
50’
When smoke is encountered from floor to ceiling it is typically a sign of a _ fire.
Basement
Simply stated salvage is _.
Property conservation
Reading smoke volume is just a starting place that paints the picture of _ and _ of the incident.
Size and intensity
Ordinary Construction is
Type III
Fire Resistive
Type I
Heavy Timber
Type IV
Non-Combustible
Type II
Wood Frame (Lightweight wood truss)
Type V
As solid fuels are heated, combustible gases are driven from the substance- this process is known
as
Pyrolysis
Velocity and pressure are indicators of heat and
Flow path
