Fires in Garden-Type Apartments Flashcards
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
Garden apartments
The three distinct building periods for Garden Apartments are
1940’s - 1950’s
1960’s - 1970’s
1980’s - today
In the 1940’s and the 1950’s the buildings were predominately
Ordinary construction with masonry walls
1960’s - 1970’s buildings were predominately
Wood frame construction with masonry veneer walls and a masonry and concrete stairwell
1980’s - Present are almost exclusively
light-weight wood frame construction containing wood stairwells and some form of combustible materials for siding
What is the best means of planning vehicular access to garden apartments
Pre-incident knowledge
A common garden apartment configuration consists of a
Stairwell, foyer and four apartments
Typically the front door and balcony door lead to the
Living, dining and/or kitchen areas
What floor is usually laid out differently than the rest of the building
Lowest (Terrace)
A significant feature is the layout in which the lowest level apartment has its sole entry/egress point
In the rear or side of the building
Garden apartment buildings of ordinary construction typically do not exceed
4 stories and 50 feet in height on the addressed side
In flat roofs the beams normally run from the
front of the garden apartment building to the back
What above the roofline and what below the roofline identify the roof level
Rain scuppers ; cockloft vents
In the majority of buildings what walls are load bearing walls
front & rear (Side ‘A’ & ‘C’)
Floor joists will normally be spaced
16 inches on center
Doors to individual apartments in ordinary construction originally were solid wood with a wood frame and swing
Into the apartment
What is a standard equipment that is an indicator that a unit is occupied if it is in use
Safety chain
Windows in stairwells are typically
Casement or double-hung
Another name for roof overhang
Soffit
Cathedral ceilings frequently found in newer construction may be how high from the floor
12 feet or higher
Firewalls are constructed of two types
Masonry
Gypsum board (in multiple layers)
Windows in the 1970’s and newer type of construction are commonly
Double-hung or horizontal sliding type with aluminum frames
Fire flow estimates will be based on a flow rate of
10GPM per 100 square feet of involved area
With fires originating from outside an additional line must be quickly placed into the building to check for fire spread with emphasis on
The attic and upper floor
Life safety is typically achieved through
Aggressive interior fire attack and primary search
The greatest factor that will drive the tactical decision-making process are the
Location and extent of the fire
Ladders for rescue and egress should initially be placed in the
Front & rear at the fire floor and every floor level above
Ventilation in garden apartment fires is most often accomplished via
Windows and Balcony doors
Resources assigned to a garden apartment fire include
4 engines
2 trucks
1 rescue
1 EMS unit
2 BC’s
1 Command aide
1 EMS Supervisor
The first due engine should allow room for the truck to have the front and should position
Past the involved structure or stop short
Use of the aerial should be anticipated and the turntable positioned
Either directly in front of the involved unit or upwind from the involved area
What unit will cover the floor above the fire
3rd due engine
When there is no access to the rear the 2nd due truck should position
on Side ‘A’ in front of the uncovered exposure
Even if the 2nd due truck cannot park opposite the 1st due truck their priority will remain
Ground ladders and truck operations in the rear
Command needs to be advised as early as possible
The unit number on fire and its relation to the rest of the apartments in the building
No more than how many hose lines should be stretched through any one entrance into a building
2
What type of streams are more efficient in exterior exposure protection
Narrow fog stream
Terrace level apartments are required to have a means of egress that
Leads to the exterior
What is considered the space under a pitched roof
Attics
What is considered the space under a flat roof
Cockloft
What is preferred if there is active fire in the attic or cockloft
Multiple lines
Garden apartment buildings are typically how deep
About 50 feet
The least preferred method of clearing the stairwell is
Breaking large panes of glass
The most effective method of clearing stairwells enclosed in glass is by
Cutting a hole in the roof over the stairwell and punching out the ceiling below (vertical ventilation)
When roof top venting is ordered, someone should be assigned
To a safety watch
Many windows in buildings constructed during the 1960’s and 1970’s have windowsills that are
About 5 feet from the floor
Other than obvious rescues the purpose of ladder deployment at garden apartment fires is to
Provide access into the apartment or establish an escape route for firefighters
Ladders for egress at apartment buildings will normally be thrown first to the
Bedroom windows
Laddering to bedroom windows shall be done to
The front and rear of all floors at and above the level of fire involvement
Firefighters may access several (cantilevered) balconies by
Using a steeper climbing angle (Tip must be secured)
Avoid using a wide fog master stream for attic fires as it can
Push large amounts of air
Before any water is allowed to flow from a master stream you must
Evacuate the involved area and account for all personnel
