Fire Tactics Flashcards
Lightweight steel trusses are also known as
Bar joists
What should be the maximum submergence time allowed during
a team search when a 30-minute SCBA is being used?
20 minutes
What is the first thing that is needed to search a
premises to maximize the likelihood of finding victims?
Have a plan
When was the Triangle Shirt Waist Fire and how many died
1911
146
How far past the end of the door will the fork end of the
tool need to be pushed before opening the door will be
possible during forcible entry operations?
1-2 inches
What has been found to be the culprit in wind-driven
fires?
Air movement in the building
The best scrub area for rear-mounted devices is obtained by
Backing into postion
What is the minimum length the tag line should be during a
T-pattern search?
Half the narrowes dimension of the space to be searched
Flat roofs are generally found on
Larger buildings such as stores, factories, schools, and apartment buildings
Buildings built from what decade on should it be assumed
are built with lightweight techniques?
1970s
What was the worst terrorist attack in the United States
since 9/11?
Las Vegas Shooting
After what year did a bulk of firefighter safety research begin
1998
Buildings above what height will many times be required to
be built of Class 1 construction?
6 stories
What is probably the greatest danger to firefighters engaged in roof ventilation is what
The fellow firefighter
How many more times FF fatalities have happened in places of worship than in residential
6 times
What should always be brought to the roof during
ventilation in case the power saw fails?
Pick head axe
What frequency must any occupancy that is subject to CADS hazard display be inspected at a minimum
Annually
Conventional forcible entry is often called the what method
Brute force method
Beginning around what date will stores be packed with stock and customers
Ocrober 1
To breach an inward swinging door where should the fork end of the tool be placed
6 inches above or below the lock
How far back from a door/window should you stand for hydraulic ventilation and what degree fog
6-8 feet, 30 degree fog pattern
Metal deck roofs can fail how soon
As little as 5 minutes
How frequently should you conduct a precautionary stop the
elevator car during the ascent?
Every 5 floors
Kerf Cut is
An inspection cut the width of the blade
How much of its strength has the steel in the cylinder
lost when it is heated to 1,500^F?
1/2
What fire-resistance rating is present in the walls of the ordinary construction building
2 hours
Before conducting a search you should:
Gather as much information as possible regarding victims
What flow is recommended by the NFPA for each 100 square feet of fire area when there is a light fire load of ordinary combustibles and the area has not been vented
10 gpm
Which World Trade Center Building collapsed besides WTC 1&2
WTC 7
4 lengths of 2 1/2 inch flowing 250 gpm requires what psi at the outlet valve
75psi
What is the basic sequence of events on a fire ground
Size up
Locate
Confine
Extinguish
Where should the ladder be secured if it needs to be left
unattended?
Tip
What is the proper climbing angle for a portable ladder
70 degrees
What are the 5 general principles of firefighting
- When sufficient personnel are not available to effect both rescue and extinguishment at the same time, rescue must be given priority
- When you don’t have sufficient personnel to perform all of the needed tasks, first perform those that protect the greatest number of human lives.
- Remove those in greatest danger first
- When sufficient personnel are available to perform both functions, they must carry out a coordinated fire attack
- When there is no threat to occupants, the lives of firefighters should not be unduly endangered
What is the first sense FFs should use when overhauling
Common sense otherwise sight
Most normal locking devices have a key cylinder located about how far from the edge of the door
1-3 inches
What is at times mixed with natural gas to create “peak
shaving gas”?
Propane
Residential buildings can be an estimated how many feet per floor, plus how much for the windowsill
9 feet plus 3 for the window sill
How much distance usually separates each door on the floor
from the door to the other staircase with scissor stairs
in the fireproof multiple dwelling?
20 feet
Nearly what percent of all civilian fire deaths occur in residential buildings each year
80%
What is the maximum pressure permitted per NFPA 14 on the
2 1/2-inch supply line on a Class III standpipe system?
175psi
What is the air pressure on the top part of the clapper
valve in most dry-pipe systems?
30-40psi, hold back up to 100 psi
What is it believed that caused the collapse of number 1
and 2 WTC?
Interior finish and furnishing burning
What minimum height above the windowsill should the ladder
rung being used to pass the rope over when lifting an
unconscious firefighter from a window using a ladder and
rope as a high-point anchor?
4 feet
What is the single most important item of a ladder
Its length
Relief valves and other pressure control devices are required to ensure that the maximum pressure at the top-floor outlets is no more than what for 1 1/2 outlet
Pre 1993: 65 psi
Post 1993: 100 psi
What must be determined first when calculating the maximum
flow a given supply hoseline arrangement will sustain?
Available flow pressure
Hose streams on a trench cut can only be used if what
Interior forces have been removed
Which is the most versatile, most highly maneuverable
master stream on the fireground today?
Tower ladder
Which fire department was the first to prove the
usefulness of positive-pressure ventilation concept on
structures other than high-rises?
Los Angeles Fire Department
Area of refuge in a hallway must be where
Same side of the hall as the fire apartment
What is the usual design flow for the Class II standpipe
system?
100 psi
What is the key to success in operating on a rain roof
The team recognizing the presence of it
The degree of damage created by forcible entry should be consistent with
The danger and damage from the hazard
What should be the minimum collapse zone be at the end
walls that have rafters resting on a truss and bearing on
a wall?
2 1/2 times the height of the wall
Which type of buildings are considered the least stable in of collapse when exposed to fire
Noncombustible
One of the key criteria for keeping firefighters alive is to know
Where they are on the Fireground
What is a common hurricane window formulation
Glass sandwiched around a polycarbonate plastic such as lexan
After what amount of time did 7 WTC suddenly collapse in
pancake fashion?
7 hours
What size pipe is the main drain valve usually on the
sprinkler system?
2 inch
What tool is required when forcing HUD windows installed
by Vacant Property Security, LLC?
Metal cutting saw
NFPA 14 permits upto what psi at 2 1/2 outlets
100-175psi
Up to what amount of time should a firefighter be able to
place an ungloved hand on a surface which would indicate
that the area does not need to be opened up during
overhaul operations?
15-20 seconds
Rain roof is
A new roof built on top of the old roof due to porous during rain
What percent of residential doors open inward
99 percent
What year, where, and what went wrong at the One Meridian Plaza Fire
1991
Philadelphia
Horrible highrise fire where 3 FFs died due to standpipe system failure because of improperly adjusted pressure-regulating valves
How many different means does the Halligan provide of getting a bite on the work
4
What is the floor to floor estimate in commercial structures
12 feet
What is the minimum distance around the LPG cylinder that
everyone should be cleared when flame impingement is
occurring?
150 feet
Scrub area is what
The amount of surface area that may be physically touched by an aerial device
What action should any extreme weather condition prompt at the incident scene
Call for more resources
In which type of construction will the construction elements withstand the effects of fire for a limited time and prevent its spread
Fire Resistive
What is the most common vertical artery in the multiple
story building for vertical ventilation operations?
Staircase
What are 2 critical targets for our search efforts
Bedrooms and exit paths from the bedrooms
Who should be responsible for interviewing witnesses and
victims about what they saw before and during the
radiological event?
Police officers
What should be developed as part of each firefighters size-up for survival
Hazard awareness
During PPV, the fan should be how far away from the structure
8-12 feet
How many times more FF fatalities have been in factories than residential
10 times more
Which consideration will probably have the greatest effect
on the fire when putting a line into operation?
Ultimate destination
Who is responsible for maintaining the resources needed to
keep the attack moving during a high-rise fire?
Staging officer
What is the key factor in determining how much of the cut is
made before pulling of the roof material begins during
roof ventilation operations?
Wind direction
What two emergency maneuvers should be taught for SCBA
Reduced-profile and emergency escape
What is the maximum distance above the roof that a
spinning blade or chain should be allowed during roof
ventilation operations?
6 inches
Overhaul comes in two phases
Precontrol and post control
Up to what proportion does the LPG vapor mix with air to
produce an explosive gas-air mixture?
47:1
How many more times air can PPV fans move than NPV fans?
Twice the volume
According to the NFPA, how many firefighters died while operating inside at structure fires between 2000-2017
249
The secondary search is often combined with what
The post control overhaul phase
What year was the one New York plaza fire and how far did the medium-weight building’s for sag
1970, 18 inches
Where does NFPA recommend that hose intended for occupant
use be located with the standpipe system?
Outside the stairwell on the fire floor
What is often the first action taken on entry into a fire building
Search
Civilians with light clothing will often appear what in a TIC
Light colored as their body heat is visible
What size hole should result when creating an inspection
hole in the roof?
8-10 inch
Modern plastic fuel loads almost guarantee that the fire will be in what state upon arrival
Oxygen-limited
When making a primary search of the fire area it is usually best to search where first
As close to the seat of the fire as is safe
Two major problems with trusses
Lack of mass and connectors
Is it normal for an inverted roof to have a springy feel to it
Yes
Anytime one member of a team must leave an area:
Another member must accompany that person to safety
What does the pressure of water depend upon in an open
container?
Depth of the container
What design load has been selected for most ladders?
750 pounds
How many lengths of 50-foot hose are needed when
connecting to a standpipe system in a building under NFPA
14 post-1993?
4
What is likely to happen to the smoke when a ventilation
opening is made if the fire is on an upper floor and the
outside temperature is high?
Drawn into the building
At what height is the standpipe outlet valve generally
located?
Head
How much distance usually separates each door on the floor
from the door to the other staircase with scissor stairs
in the fireproof multiple dwelling?
20 feet
What is the best way to breach a hurricane window
Circular saw with a carbide tip blade
What is generally the fire-resistance rating required for
elevators?
2 hours
What used to be in manufactured gas that made it toxic?
Carbon monoxide
What is used to determine the scrub area of the
articulating boom?
Length of the bed section
When did the FDNY begin to experience firefighters burning
to death during incidents?
1990
How far apart are studs of a partition wall
16 inches on center
How many psi does water pressure increase for every 2.3
feet of depth?
1 psi
Sprinklers have controlled or extinguished the fire what
percent of the time?
More than 96% of the time
What speed must the wind not exceed for PPV fans to be
able to pressurize the attack staircase?
25 mph
What is the maximum recommended discharge pressure for LDH
per NFPA 1932?
200 psi
Immediately upon reaching the roof members should what
Vent any vertical shafts they find
Fire in which area of the building generally yields a more serious hazard
Lower in the building
What is the best position for maximum scrub area for an aerial device
As close to the building as possible with the basket in line with the window, with the apparatus just off parallel (15-20 degrees) to the objective
What is the cut depth of a typical 12-inch circular saw blade
4 inches
What happened at the San Francisco fatal fire
Wall of windows in the basement failed causing an influx of air and intensifying the fire up the stairwell where the firefighters were
From 2011 to 2015 how many firefighters did we lose for every 100,000 in factories
28 for every 100,000
Which type of pressure can be observed when you open a
hydrant?
Flowing
In what year did FDNY begin using various types of TICs?
1985
What is the first thing that should be decided when
constructing an operational plan for ladder companies?
Number of people that will be part of the plan
What year was NFPA 14 (standpipe and hosesystems) updated
1993
Which is a particularly dangerous issue for firefighters
when allowances are given by building codes when an
automatic sprinkler system is installed with new
construction?
Increased travel distance to exits
How many major types of locks will be encountered by the
fire service?
Three
A 1,000 gpm master stream adds approximately how much weight to the building
8500 pounds each minute
What should be suspected by the firefighters if there is
dimming of the lights or overheating of the building’s
electrical service wires?
Open ground
What was the main cause of the disaster at the Vendome
Hotel in Boston?
Renovations
Where should you position the aerial apparatus if there
are no specific requirements visible when you arrive?
Just past the corner of the building you approached first
What date was black Sunday and how many firefighters were trapped
January 23, 2005
6 firefighters
Mushrooming effect is
When smoke is restrained from rising and spreads horizontally then banks down
What is the most crucial part of a personal escape system
The rope
What is the minimum depth that must be cut when removing
the VPS system HUD window?
3 inches
Which aerial device is designed around an aerial ladder
and provides for ready climbing?
Ladder tower
In which construction type will the walls, partitions, columns, floors, and roofs are non combustible but will not prevent the spread of fire
Noncombustible
What is the maximum amount of time that should pass
between maintenance and flow testing of the PRVs?
3 years
How many rungs of the aerial ladder should be extended above the level of the roof
5 rungs
When does size-up begin
With the alarm information
What percent of fire victims dies while trying to escape
per NFPA data?
35%
Fire Service is steeped in traditions going back to when
1736 Philadelphia
How should the roof on flat roof commercial structures be reached
Ladder or platform, never interior stairs
At what wind speed does the threat of a wind-driven fire
increase?
10-15 mph
What should be vented first when you encounter a flat roof
building?
Stairs and windows
Which stage of firefighting produces the most carbon monoxide
Overhauling
What pressure is 1 ATM
14.7 PSI
When were high-rise buildings being equipped with
combination sprinkler and standpipe systems due to many
serious fires?
Early 1970’s
In what minimum amount of time can lightweight steel-bar
joists lose their strength when exposed to fire?
5-10 minutes
What part of the victim needs to clear the windowsill
before being lowered to the ground by the members below
when using a ladder and rope as a high-point anchor?
Torso
Two main reasons for venting are
Venting for fire, venting for life
About what distance from the main vent hole is considered
to be sufficient when choosing where to place the trench
cut?
20-25 feet
How far in front of the intended edge of the trench should
inspection holes be placed?
5-6 ft
Once the fire is above which floor in the building will
the use of the standpipe be preferred?
2nd
When was the lesson learned in America that responders are
targets of the terrorists?
1996
What percent of civilian fire deaths occurred while the victims are asleep
36%
Gases flow from areas of ______ pressure to areas of _______ pressure
High, low
What is an officer’s primary duty
Protect their people
What building burned but didn’t collapse on 9/11 due to being a heavy-weight highrise
90 west street
If possible which door should be used for entry
The door that occupants normally use
If there is more than one lock where should the fork be placed
Between
When distinguishing between venting for life and venting for fire, the key factor is:
The timing of the ventilation
What must be removed for the trench cut to be effective?
Roof and ceiling
Firefighters often look what in a TIC, and often the SCBA bottle appears what in the TIC
Dark, Black bottle
What should be done before connecting fire department hose to any standpipe connection
Probe inside the connection
Which should be the overriding concern during forcible
entry?
Need for speed
What two classes of supporting members will virtually any building and or occupancy have
Standard or lightweight
What should be done if you will be overextended
horizontally while working from the ladder?
Reposition the ladder
What is the minimum width that the trench cut should be
made?
3 feet
Distance from power lines for all aerial devices
10 feet
What is the fourth and least used sense
Smell
At what distance are knots typically tied in the search
rope?
25 feet
What size hole would open up with the failure of one truss
in a bowstring truss building?
40 ft
It is usually better to _____ an existing ventilation cut than it is to ______
Extend, start a new one
If you see hinges:
The door opens out towards you
Bevel of the Halligan should face which way when forcing an inward swinging door
Toward the door, its a force multiplier
Which lock is often installed in masonry walls and is one
of the most difficult forcible entry challenges you could
ever encounter?
Mul-T-Lock
Approximately what amount of time must pass before the
poured-in-place reinforced concrete building can support
its own weight?
48 hours
What is one of the biggest problems at fires in the
sandwich apartments?
Large number of tenants fleeing
What CO reading is considered acceptable for a residence?
9 ppm
What must be controlled to win the battle between fire and
firefighter?
Oxygen
What is the minimum recommended size SCBA cylinder that
should be donned during subcellar operations?
45 minutes
What is the amount of electricity that a wire is carrying?
Amperage
What should be done if auxiliary equipment is found
inoperable at a fire scene?
Call an additional alarm
When searching the floor above, it is often best to start where
As soon as you enter the door area and progress towards the fire
When entangled while wearing an SCBA, where is the entanglement usually at
Between the cylinder and the wearer’s back
What is rule number 1 with forcible entry
Try before you pry
Acronym for size up of a fire
COAL WAS WEALTH
Approximately how many days does it take concrete to reach
its greatest load-carrying capacity?
28 days
Where does the greateast fire-related loss of civilian life each year occur
One- and two-family dwellings
In which occupancy are the greatest number of fire fighter fatalities occurring
Factories
Most people that become aware of a fire will attempt to flee
Via their normal path of egress
Which part of the locking mechanism needs to be gotten out
of the way to perform through-the-lock forcible entry?
Cylinder
A large portion of doors for commercial establishments and places of assembly open which way
Outward
What temperature will the label on a ladder change color
300 degrees
Nearly what percent of all civilian fire deaths occur in
residential buildings each year?
80 percent
How long after the first evaluation should a wall be
rechecked during overhaul operations?
2 minutes
What occurred at the San Francisco fire in 2011 which
killed two firefighter that allowed an influx of fresh air
right at the seat of the fire?
Failure of a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows in the
basement
What degree angle should a Halligan be inserted into an inward swinging door jam
15-20 degrees
Make every attempt to have the two people forcing a door with a set of irons to work on which sides
Opposite sides of the irons
What should be done if visibility on the roof is
completely obscured but the saw operator must move?
Drop and crawl
What does COAL WAS WEALTH mean
Size up acronym C-construction O-occupancy A-apparatus and personnel L- Life safety W-water A-auxiliary services S-street conditions W-weather E-exposures A-area L-location and extent of fire T-Time H- Height
What is most likely going to be the nozzle pressure you
will have available, especially on the upper floors of a
building with standpipe operations?
50psi
Inverted roof is
Similar to a standard flat roof except the roof is raised above joists on a framework of 2x4s
What year and what happened the beacon street fire in boston
March 2014, window failed from an attached shed in the rear on fire of a brownstone building
What must be done to force an entry door with the VPS
system in place that uses a skeleton key from the
exterior?
Cut the hinges
How much does a 50 ft section of charged 1 3/4 hose weigh
80 pounds, 40 dry
What was largely to blame when an automatic sprinkler
failed to control a fire?
Human Error
What is the fuel load per square foot in most residential rooms
5 pounds
Buildings above what height will many times be required to be built of class 1 construction
6 stories
What fires are greatly aided by vertical ventilation
Fires in attics and cocklofts and floor directly below the roof
What year and what happened at the Waldbaum’s supermarket fire
1978, 6 firefighters operating on a rain roof over a bowstring truss roof for an extended time due to not realizing it
What is the first thing that should be done when a report
is received of a firefighter down on the incident scene?
Call for an ALS ambulance
How many members are initially given the task of interior
operations under the Ladder 4 plan?
3
In which type of construction is the minimum fire-resistance rating of the exterior walls 2 hours
Heavy Timber
What is often the best method to protect exposures once a threat to them is identified
Extinguish the original fire
When was the New York City’s Superpumper built that had a
capacity of 8,800 gpm?
1965
Where does a majority of the friction loss within a hose
originate?
Turbulence in the stream
