Fires in Garden-Type Apartments

Question 1

The term applies to a specific group of buildings, anywhere from two to five stories in height, with each floor housing one to four units

Answer 1

Garden apartments

Question 2

The three distinct building periods for Garden Apartments are

Answer 2

1940’s - 1950’s
1960’s - 1970’s
1980’s - today

Question 3

In the 1940’s and the 1950’s the buildings were predominately

Answer 3

Ordinary construction with masonry walls

Question 4

1960’s - 1970’s buildings were predominately

Answer 4

Wood frame construction with masonry veneer walls and a masonry and concrete stairwell

Question 5

1980’s - Present are almost exclusively

Answer 5

light-weight wood frame construction containing wood stairwells and some form of combustible materials for siding

Question 6

What is the best means of planning vehicular access to garden apartments

Answer 6

Pre-incident knowledge

Question 7

A common garden apartment configuration consists of a

Answer 7

Stairwell, foyer and four apartments

Question 8

Typically the front door and balcony door lead to the

Answer 8

Living, dining and/or kitchen areas

Question 9

What floor is usually laid out differently than the rest of the building

Answer 9

Lowest (Terrace)

Question 10

A significant feature is the layout in which the lowest level apartment has its sole entry/egress point

Answer 10

In the rear or side of the building

Question 11

Garden apartment buildings of ordinary construction typically do not exceed

Answer 11

4 stories and 50 feet in height on the addressed side

Question 12

In flat roofs the beams normally run from the

Answer 12

front of the garden apartment building to the back

Question 13

What above the roofline and what below the roofline identify the roof level

Answer 13

Rain scuppers ; cockloft vents

Question 14

In the majority of buildings what walls are load bearing walls

Answer 14

front & rear (Side ‘A’ & ‘C’)

Question 15

Floor joists will normally be spaced

Answer 15

16 inches on center

Question 16

Doors to individual apartments in ordinary construction originally were solid wood with a wood frame and swing

Answer 16

Into the apartment

Question 17

What is a standard equipment that is an indicator that a unit is occupied if it is in use

Answer 17

Safety chain

Question 18

Windows in stairwells are typically

Answer 18

Casement or double-hung

Question 19

Another name for roof overhang

Answer 19

Soffit

Question 20

Cathedral ceilings frequently found in newer construction may be how high from the floor

Answer 20

12 feet or higher

Question 21

Firewalls are constructed of two types

Answer 21

Masonry
Gypsum board (in multiple layers)

Question 22

Windows in the 1970’s and newer type of construction are commonly

Answer 22

Double-hung or horizontal sliding type with aluminum frames

Question 23

Fire flow estimates will be based on a flow rate of

Answer 23

10GPM per 100 square feet of involved area

Question 24

With fires originating from outside an additional line must be quickly placed into the building to check for fire spread with emphasis on

Answer 24

The attic and upper floor

Question 25

Life safety is typically achieved through

Answer 25

Aggressive interior fire attack and primary search

Question 26

The greatest factor that will drive the tactical decision-making process are the

Answer 26

Location and extent of the fire

Question 27

Ladders for rescue and egress should initially be placed in the

Answer 27

Front & rear at the fire floor and every floor level above

Question 28

Ventilation in garden apartment fires is most often accomplished via

Answer 28

Windows and Balcony doors

Question 29

Resources assigned to a garden apartment fire include

Answer 29

4 engines
2 trucks
1 rescue
1 EMS unit
2 BC’s
1 Command aide
1 EMS Supervisor

Question 30

The first due engine should allow room for the truck to have the front and should position

Answer 30

Past the involved structure or stop short

Question 31

Use of the aerial should be anticipated and the turntable positioned

Answer 31

Either directly in front of the involved unit or upwind from the involved area

Question 32

What unit will cover the floor above the fire

Answer 32

3rd due engine

Question 33

When there is no access to the rear the 2nd due truck should position

Answer 33

on Side ‘A’ in front of the uncovered exposure

Question 34

Even if the 2nd due truck cannot park opposite the 1st due truck their priority will remain

Answer 34

Ground ladders and truck operations in the rear

Question 35

Command needs to be advised as early as possible

Answer 35

The unit number on fire and its relation to the rest of the apartments in the building

Question 36

No more than how many hose lines should be stretched through any one entrance into a building

Answer 36

2

Question 37

What type of streams are more efficient in exterior exposure protection

Answer 37

Narrow fog stream

Question 38

Terrace level apartments are required to have a means of egress that

Answer 38

Leads to the exterior

Question 39

What is considered the space under a pitched roof

Answer 39

Attics

Question 40

What is considered the space under a flat roof

Answer 40

Cockloft

Question 41

What is preferred if there is active fire in the attic or cockloft

Answer 41

Multiple lines

Question 42

Garden apartment buildings are typically how deep

Answer 42

About 50 feet

Question 43

The least preferred method of clearing the stairwell is

Answer 43

Breaking large panes of glass

Question 44

The most effective method of clearing stairwells enclosed in glass is by

Answer 44

Cutting a hole in the roof over the stairwell and punching out the ceiling below (vertical ventilation)

Question 45

When roof top venting is ordered, someone should be assigned

Answer 45

To a safety watch

Question 46

Many windows in buildings constructed during the 1960’s and 1970’s have windowsills that are

Answer 46

About 5 feet from the floor

Question 47

Other than obvious rescues the purpose of ladder deployment at garden apartment fires is to

Answer 47

Provide access into the apartment or establish an escape route for firefighters

Question 48

Ladders for egress at apartment buildings will normally be thrown first to the

Answer 48

Bedroom windows

Question 49

Laddering to bedroom windows shall be done to

Answer 49

The front and rear of all floors at and above the level of fire involvement

Question 50

Firefighters may access several (cantilevered) balconies by

Answer 50

Using a steeper climbing angle (Tip must be secured)

Question 51

Avoid using a wide fog master stream for attic fires as it can

Answer 51

Push large amounts of air

Question 52

Before any water is allowed to flow from a master stream you must

Answer 52

Evacuate the involved area and account for all personnel