Firefighting Flashcards
Leading causes if failure
Stress
Over exertion
Mvc accidents
Other causes of fatalitites
Falls
Being struck by an object
Trapped in a structure fire
Gsw
Injuries and prevention
-main types
Strains/Sprains
Cuts/bruises
-Prevention Effective training Use ppe properly Physical fitness Follow safety
Chronic illnesses
Respiratory diseases Cardiovascular diseases Cancer Obesity Stress induced hypertension Diabetes Drug and alcohol use
NFPA
Established design criteria for PPE Defined safe training practises/program NF PA 1500 Safety and health related policies Training and education Driver/operator
Risk management
Will risk a lot to save a lot
Will risk a little to save little
Will not risk to save lives or property already lost
Risk management
Prevent…
Reduce…
All levels…
Prevent
- human suffering fatalities injuries illness exposure
- Damage to or loss of equipment trying to build
Reduce
-Occurrences and severity
All levels
-Promote and practice safety program
Components of risk management
Safety and health committee
Department policies
Accident prevention
Training for personnel
Situational awareness
- be aware of surroundings
- Be aware if conditions
- drive defensively
Emergency scene 3 rules
Rules
Situational awareness
Basic structural techniques
Roadway safety
High visibility vests
Apparatus scene lighting
Block traffic w pump
Control zones
Green- cold zone
staging area, command post,RIT
Yellow-warm zone
Safe haven
Red-hot zone
Forward access point
Black-hazard zone
Hazard
-collapse zone
Define fire
Heat producing chemical reaction between fuel and oxidizer
Two types of chemical changes
Physical change
- substance chemically same
- changes size shape appearance
Chemical reaction
- substance changes
- from one type of matter to another
Heat
Increasing temp of substance
potential energy
Stationary
Kinetic energy
Transfers from high to low temperature substance
Always moving
Types of energy
Chemical Thermal Mechanical Electrical Light Sound Nuclear
What happens to cheical energy in fire
Converted to thermal enegry
Released as heat
What does chemical/physical changes involve
Potential energy
Released during combustion
Converted to kinetic energy
2 types of energy reactions
Endothermic
-converting water to steam
Exothernic
-fire
Ignition
Fuel heated
Sufficient heat transfer-causes pyrolysis
Energy necessary for ignition-from external source
Continues production
Ignition so combustion reaction sustained
2 forms of ignition
Piloted
Autoignition
Fire tetrahedron
Reducing agent (fuel)
Oxidizing agent
Chemical chain reaction
Heat
Products of combustion
Thermal energy Toxic smoke Smike Carbon monoxide Hydrogen cyanide Carbon dioxide
Sources if thermal energy
Chemical
Electrical
Mechanical
Conduction
Transfer of heat through and between solids
Convection
Transfer of thermal energy by circulation or movement of fluid (liquid or gas)
Radiation
Transmission of energy as an electromagnetic wave without an inverting medium
Fuel
The material or substance oxidized or burned in combustion
Inorganic
Do not contain carbon
Organic
Contains carbon and other elements
Solubility
Extent to which substance will mix with water
Miscible solubility
Mix in any proportion
Hydro carbon solubility
Do not mix
Polar solevants solubility
Reafily mix
Oxygen facts
21% oxygen is typical
Materials can burn as low as 14%
Fore development factors
Fuel type Availability and location of fuel Compartment volume and ceiling height Ventilation Thermal properties of compartment Ambient conditions (outside weather) Fuel load
Stages of a fire
Incipient Grove Fully developed and flashover Backdraft Decay
Progression to flashover 2 factors
Sufficient fuel, heat release rate
Ventilation- must have sufficient 02
Indications of flashover
Smike Airflow Building type Hest Flame Rollover
Backdraft
Change in ventilation that results in explosively rapid combustion of flammable gasses aka explosion
Backdraft factors
Volume of smoke Pressure Location where ignition occurs Degree of confinement More confined=more violent
Unplanned ventilation
Can be result of wind outside structure
- increase pressure inside structure
- flames into unburned portions
- upset tactical ventilation
2 purposes of ppe
Protect from hazards
Minimize risk of injury or fatality
Respiratory hazards
Oxygen deficiency elevated temperatures particulate contaminants gases and vapour airborne pathogen’s
Psychological effects of reduced oxygen
19.5% normal conditions
15% to 19% ability to perform strenuous work decreases coordination is impaired
12% to 14% “. “
10% to 12% dizziness headache rapid Fatigue
8% to 10% mental failure unconsciousness blue lips nausea vomiting
8% exposure for eight minutes results in fatal exposure for 4 to 5 minutes can be treated
6%, occurs in 40 seconds followed by death
Super heated air health hazards
Decrease in blood pressure
circulatory system failure
pulmonary oedema
asphyxiation
For parts of an open circuit at SCBA
Backplate and harness
Air cylinder
Regulator
Facepiece
Respiratory protection equipment
Air purifying respirators APRs
-filters particles only
Atmosphere supplying respirators ASR’s
-provides breathable air
No. Emergency exits
Situation stabilized shift in strategy replace cylinder IC command assignment complete
Non-emergency exit techniques
Buddy system
controlled breathing
egress paths
accountability system
Emergency exits life-threatening situations
Low-pressure alarm on SCBA or failure incident command or safety officer increased respiratory hazards
change in conditions
Fire hydrant locations
Connected at specified intervals
not more than 300 feet apart in high-value districts
every building within one block
may require immediate hydrants
Factors impacting location and spacing of hydrants
Building constructions occupancy building density size of water main require fire flows in area
Two types of hydrants
Dead end-Receives water from one direction
Circulating hydrant- Receives water from two or more directions
Where is hydrants can fail
Damaged hydrant valves and connections
broken water mains
greater demand then the system can provide hydrants located on dead end water mains
closed isolation valves
restricted means caused by sediment and mineral deposits
pipes or hydrants that are frozen
Similarities between hydrants
Construction materials
valve opening and water main connection requirements
male threads conform with local use
NF PA 1963 regulations
Two components to be standard hydrant
At least one large outlet four or 4 1/2 inches
Two hose outlet nozzles for 2 1/2 inches couplings
Two type of hydrant barrels
Dry barrel hydrants Canada cold climate
wet barrel hydrants California hot climate
Hydrant colours
Class a a light blue class a green class B orange class c red
Components of drafting water shuttle operation
Dumpsite
Fill site
mobile water supply apparatus
Drafting water
May be required to access alternative water supplies
needed in areas like public water system
system has an adequate volume
Relay pumping
Establishment factors
-maintain volume for duration needed -must be quick enough to be worthwhile
set up factors
- volume of water
- distance between water source and fire scene -supply hose size and amount available pumper capacity
other considerations
- apparatus with greatest pumping capacity located at water source
- causes of friction loss
- plan in advance and practice often
Two types of damage and what they are
Primary- damage caused by fire and smoke
Secondary- damage caused by firefighters
2 tactics to reduce damage
Salvage- saving personal belongings
Overhaul- searching for hidden fires
Three main ways of protecting content during salvage procedures
Protecting contents in place
moving contents to safe location in structure
removing contents from structure
Overhaul
Always cover openings
preserve evidence of arson
search for Hiddden fires
Place building and contents and safe condition
determine cause of fire
Tools used for overhaul
Pike poles and hooks axes prying tools thermal imager shovels Buckets power saws drills
Hazards of overhaul
Fire weekend floor
broken glass nails and sharp objects
cuts punctures thermal burns if no gloves
strains sprains
fatigue
always have charged hose lines
Situational awareness during overhaul
Teams of two or more Know exit routes maintain RIT monitor personnel be aware of hidden gas and electrical utilities accountability system
For methods of locating hidden fires
Sight
sound
touch
electronic sensors
Overhaul procedures
If extended to other areas determine path
if floor beams burned at party wall ends and flush voids
thoroughly check insulation materials
do not make random openings
understanding basic building construction can help
search and concealed spaces
consider if the concealed space indicates utilities
make openings in neat and planned manner
open ceilings from below
do not stand directly under When pulling ceiling
small burning objects frequently uncovered
large smoldering items taken outside
do not disturb evidence
How does building construction affect fire development
-Helps predict
direction
speed
collapse
-alerts firefighters to
Safe areas
Obstacles to exit
Escape
Size up
1- officer in charge
2- all personnel
3- 1st firefighter on the scene asses situation
- what has happened
- what is happening
- what is going to happen
How can you use senses during situational awareness
Listen to sound sound floor watch colour of smoke fuel door with back of hand
Safety guidelines for structural search and rescue
Search systematically
stay low and move cautiously
mark entry and remember direction
maintain contact with wall and lines in low Visibility
monitor and communicate changes
have staffed and charged hose lines whenever possible
report rooms not searched and searched
keep supervisor informed
Primary search versus secondary search
-Primary search
fast
fire still going
start close to fire as possible
- secondary search
second set of eyes
more thorough
after initial suppression
To being objective to search and rescue
Searching for life
assessing fire conditions
Methods for primary and secondary searches
Left hand search pattern
search as close to fire as possible
use oriented search method for rooms that extend from hallway
perform a quick survey by getting low to ground
Limited visibility during primary search methods
Identify objects by touch
search all sides of any object
report to incident commander is smoke obscures vision
do not move objects it can be disorienting
Lifting technique’s
Incline drag
webbing drag
cradle in arms
seat lift
moving victims onto litter
extremities lift
Three must have survival skills
Recognize and avoid potential hazards
rescue lost and trapped firefighters
escape unavoidable hazards
Pre-incident survey
Read fire and anticipate development
anticipate extent and location of fire
identify construction type and potential collapse
locate entry an alternative exits
anticipate interior changes
two in two out rule
check air supply in teams
risk benefit analysis
Mayday communications
Describe problem
give location
remain in place
if an immediate danger
transmit mayday
activate pass alarm
communicate with incident commander
What does LUNARS stand for with Mayday communications
Location unit name assignment resources needed situation
Three key principles of air management
Know how much air is left
know point of no return
inform incident commander if must exit
Three courses of action during Mayday
- Escape
- seek safe shelter stay low closed doors
-remain in place stay calm breathe slow communicate with radio activate pass alarm make noise shine light directly overhead temporarily turn off pass alarm and listen
What does RIT team do
-2 firefighters
-When located downed firefighter Check air deactivate pass alarm confirm identity request assistance if needed mitigate any hazards moved to safe shelter if necessary
Parts of a ladder
Butt butt spurs beams Rungs bed Section footpad halyard cable pulley tip fly section
Advantages and disadvantages of metal wood fibreglass ladders
Metal
Lighter
cheaper
Wood
Heavy
not a conductor
Fibreglass
Stronger
weather resistant
What NFPA standard are all fire ladders
1932
Two ways to secure a ladder
Heel
Tie in
Two methods of moving a ladder
Shift
Pivot
Removing victims conscious versus unconscious
Conscious- face towards ladder
Unconscious- face towards you
