Engine Company Operations Flashcards
Members should begin preparation for engine company responses
As they enter quarters
During inspection any items that will reduce the efforts to provide the highest level of service should be
Immediately reported to the unit officer
Training for engine company-specific tasks is important for all members but especially important for the
Operator and officer
It is important for members of the engine company to be familiar with the
Streets in their response area
During pre-planning with the exception of single family dwellings it is important to determine positioning for at least the
First two engine companies and the first truck company
The space between both handrails in the stairwell and allows engine companies to achieve the maximum length of the hose
Well-hole
It is generally acceptable to perform a well-hole stretch without the possibility of the hose wedging in the well once charged if
A firefighter’s fist does not touch either handrail
One way to quickly determine which hoseline is effective for a given building is to measure distances using
300 feet of small diameter rope
One of the most important functions of the engine company is
Training
A step-by-step logical sequence that the decision-maker uses to reach the best decision
Classical decision-making method
Is an intuitive reaction to a problem
The naturalistic decision-making method also known as Recognition Primed Decision-Making (RPDM)
Is the only way to develop muscle memory and learned experience
Repetition
Fire service training falls into three categories
- Self-study
- Company training
- Multi-unit training
Is appropriate for individuals or small groups to cover the material and information that everyone should review on an annual basis
Self-study training
Should be conducted on a daily basis in an informal setting and cover hands-on practical skills
Company training
Should be conducted on an annual basis and should include neighboring companies and mutual aid companies
Multi-unit training
The most important part of pre-incident planning is for fire officers and firefighters to learn about buildings that
Could cause problems or injury to civilians or firefighters
Companies should attempt to conduct a building walk-thru at least
Once a tour
What pre-incident planning should be conducted on a more frequent basis
Known target hazards
Based on the dispatch information members shall don the appropriate PPE and begin their size-up when
Enroute
Engine companies should take their predetermined assignments based on their position number in the dispatched run order unless a unit is
Critically delayed
To maintain situational awareness engine company members should monitor the radio while
In quarters and on the road
While responding it is imperative that all members monitor the
Tactical channel as well as the Mobile Communication Terminal (MCT)
The first due engine company will generally
- Proceed ahead of the truck or rescue squad, if housed together
- Lay the primary supply line
- Deliver on-scene report
- Perform 360 of the structure
-Communicate results of 360 and make command statement - Force entry if without special service
- Advance initial attack line
- Perform search and coordinated ventilation
The second due engine company will generally
- Ensure primary water supply is established
- Assume command if assigned
- Ensure successful deployment of initial attack line
- Deploy a second hoseline
The third due engine company will generally
- Position on opposite side of structure from 1st due engine
- Lay secondary supply line
- Perform visual inspection of side Charlie and report findings to command
- Deploy a third hoseline
The fourth due engine company will generally
- Ensure the secondary water supply is established
- Assume the role of the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT)
- Take proactive measures to increase the safety of members operating inside the IDLH
Companies must treat every call as the
Most significant incident of their career until determined otherwise
Today’s fires burn at a rate ____ ____ faster with rapidly increasing heat compared to fires of just _____ years ago
10 times ; 20
The fire tetrahedron is composed of four things
- Oxygen
- Heat
- Fuel
- Chain reaction
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
An explosion that occurs when additional oxygen is introduced into a smoldering fire as heated gases enter their flammable range and ignite with explosive force
Backdraft
Is observed when flames present in layers of smoke as a result of heated gases that are pushed under pressure from the fire area into uninvolved areas
Rollover
Is the tendency of gases to form into layers according to temperature
Thermal layering
Is layering of smoke and gas clouds
Stratification
As solid fuels are heated and combustible gases are driven from the substance
Pyrolysis
The four fire growth stages are
- Incipient stage
- Growth stage
- fully developed stage
- Decay stage
This stage begins when heat, oxygen, and a fuel source combine and have a chemical reaction resulting in fire
Incipient stage
Occurs when the fire increases in size from small flames to full fire that involves the entire room
Growth stage
Rollover occurs during the
Growth stage
As the fire progresses through the Growth Stage and into the FUlly Developed Stage the potential for ______ exists
FLashover
During this stage the entire room and contents are involved in fire
Fully Developed Stage
This stage occurs once all available oxygen is consumed
Decay Stage
A backdraft can occur during what stage of fire growth
Decay Stage
The difference between new and old for modern fuel loading is referred to as
Modern v. Legacy
Consist of natural materials
Legacy
Are man-made materials
Modern
Is simply defined as the amount of energy released over time
Heat Release Rate (HRR)
Ventilation needs should be identified when the fire officer completes
Their size-up
Is the process of removing large amounts of smoke, fire gases and heat from the interior of a structure within the fire compartment
Hydraulic Ventilation
For hydraulic ventilation the engine company will have to clear the vent opening and position the hoseline ____ feet away from the opening and set the nozzle to a fog that will cover ____ % of the opening
2 ; 80
When hydraulic ventilation begins the nozzle should be ______ opened so that maximum ventilation can be achieved
Fully
Smoke contains many clues to the _____ and _____ of the fire
Location ; status
When reading smoke ______ and _____ are indicators of heat and flow path
Velocity (Speed) ; Pressure
Is an indicator of fire intensity
Volume of smoke
All smoke is filled with high levels of ______ and ______ _______ that if left unchecked will result in fire
Carbon ; Carbon monoxide
Smoke color is an indicator of two things
- What is burning
- Flammability of the smoke
The different colors of smoke normally seen are
- White
- White/Gray
- Grey
- Grey/Black or brown
- Black or brown
Smoke indicates moisture or early stage incipient Class A fire
White smoke
Smoke indicates moisture or early stage of incipient Class A fire
White/Gray
Smoke early stage incipient/free burning fire with Class A & B fuel sources
Grey
Smoke with fully developed fire with Class A & B fuel sources that is most likely ventilation-limited
Grey/Black or Brown
Smoke when fully developed or decaying stage fire that is extremely ventilation-limited
Black/Brown
Refers to the smoke’s thickness
Density
The more potential energy and more spectacular the flashover or fire spread will be is dependent on how
This the smoke is
By combining _____ and ______ personnel can gain a much better snapshot of what is occuring
Density ; color
The speed of smoke provides two critical pieces of information
- General location of the heat source
- Current flow path
The objectives used for firefighting follow RECEO - VS are
Rescue
Exposure
Confinement
Extinguishment
Overhaul
Ventilation
Salvage
Is the general plan or course of action decided upon to reach the objectives
Strategy
Are the specific actions employed to fulfill the strategy
Tactics
Begins with receipt of the alarm and continues throughout the incident
Size-up
The most effective way to quickly mitigate an incident
Extinguishment
A systematic look at the entire fire scene to make sure that there are no further traces of fire
Overhaul
Is property conservation
Salvage
Is paramount to successful fireground operations
Pre-Incident Size-up
Is somewhat of a natural instinct for fire officers
Pre_Arrival Size-up
Gives the initial arriving company officer the opportunity to gathered more detailed information
On-scene Report
Will allow the officer to view all sides of the building and provide information for the officer to further paint a picture of the incident to incoming units
360 Lap or building walk around
Prior to implementing interior firefighting tactics the first-arriving engine officer shall conduct a
Thorough 360 lap
Interior tactics shall not commence until a
Report from Side Charlie is received
When a reported life hazard exists and the initial company officer identifies the need for immediate interior firefighting actions than
A radio report shall be transmitted identifying the need to bypass the size-up from Side Charlie
When the initial arriving officer compiles all of the information gathered through the pre-incident, pre-arrival, on-scene and 360 lap he gets the
Situation Report
Comes from all units working inside of the structure
Interior size-up
CAN stands for
Conditions
Actions
Needs
Locating a fire inside of a building is the responsibility of the
Initial engine company officer
Can be an indicator of the location of the fire
Smoke
Smoke rising or exiting the building fast and under pressure indicates that the smoke is
Closer to the heat source
Threats to safety on the fireground primary come from two categories
- Advance fire conditions
- Collapse potential
NFPA suggests that the upper range of temperature tenability for humans is around
212F
The primary cause of fire-related death is
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Earth’s atmosphere contains ____ oxygen
21% oxygen
Percentages of oxygen of less than ____ result in death rapidly
10
Is a coordinated and specific relocation of units and their equipment operating from an area deemed untenable to a specific area deemed safe to continue operations
Tactical withdrawal
An emergency evacuation differs from a tactical withdrawal as the emergency evacuation has a
Higher degree of urgency
Mode that involves taking direct action to mitigate the problem
Offensive Mode
An effort of trying to prevent the area around the structure from being damaged
Defensive Mode
What occurs when the IC recognizes a serious threat to firefighters and safe operation in a structure is compromised
An emergency evacuation
Strategy used when the initial attack is defensive then transitions to offensive once the fire is knocked down by the exterior streams
Blitz Attack
Attacking with the master stream will only allow for ___ to ____ seconds of water flow without a supply
60 ; 90
The expansion of water to steam ratio is what at 212F
1:1,700
This nozzle has a preset gallon per minute setting that allows it to flow the set gallonage at any stream setting as long as the manufacturer rated nozzle pressure is maintained
Fixed-gallonage Fog Nozzle
This nozzle has a selectable ring typically located behind the rubber bumper of the tip that allows the operator to change the required flow based upon the conditions
Selectable-gallonage Fog Nozzle
The range of a selectable-gallonage fog nozzle range of gallon per minute selections will typically span from ___ gpm to ____ gpm
90 ; 200
The simplest design of all firefighting nozzles
Smooth Bore Nozzle
The attack method when the attack crew advances into the fire area and uses a straight or solid stream
Direct Attack
The attack method when the crew attacks the fire from a doorway, window or other protected area not entering the fire area
Indirect Attack
This attack method utilizes both the direct and indirect methods at the same time
Combination Attack
A compartment with heat reaching temperatures of ____ degrees or more at the ceiling level and thick smoke banked down near the floor are ________
800; pre-flashover conditions
Penciling will immediately decrease building heat within a compartment by
50% - 60%
To pencil hold the hoseline and angle the stream at the ceiling. Open and close the nozzle ____ with _____, ____ sec bursts at the ceiling
fully ; short ; 1
Using a quick attack monitor a smoothbore nozzle at 80PSI or a fog nozzle at 100PSI yields a reach of approximately _____ feet
185
When using a medium fog pattern pumped at 100PSI the reach is approximately _____ feet
50
On a wide fog pattern, the reach is approximately _____ feet
25
Crew communications accepted practice has always been to be within ______, ________, ________ to maintain crew integrity
sight ; sound ; touch
Who must ensure that the primary hoseline is in place and making progress before deploying any other hoselines
All companies
The distance from the engine company to the entrance of the fire building
Setback
A typical parking space is approximately ______ feet apart
10
On residential streets, telephone poles are typically spaced approximately _____ feet apart
75
A typical residential structure will require _____-______ GPM
150-175
A helpful mnemonic for 2.5” line selection is ADULTS that stands for
Advanced fire conditions
Defensive operations
Unknown fire location
Large open area
Tons of water
Standpipes
It is preferred to chock doors at a ________ _______ of the door
lower portion
If possible the nozzle firefighter should bring _____ lengths of hose to the fire floor
2
The correct body position is to be in a
Head up, leading leg out position
The engine company driver’s ultimate responsibility is the
Safe delivery of personnel to-and-from the scene
Should be considered the quarterback for all incidents
Engine company officer
When performing the split lay, connecting each engine’s supply lines together remain the responsibility of the
Water supply engine
Who is the interim incident commander by default
First due engine company officer
When the engine officer elects to hold command of the incident
Hold command
If the engine officer determines the need to initiate offensive operations they should request to transfer command through the first due battalion chief
Request to transfer command
Door control is _______ to the safety of all firefighters operating above the fire
critical
Is composed of the nozzle and backup firefighter under the leadership of the officer
Nozzle team
