Fires in Townhouses and Rowhouses Flashcards
What three types of townhouses are under the umbrella of the term ‘Hybrid’? (pg. v) JH
Piggyback, Back-to Back, and Over-Under
What is a quadplex, or quad-style townhouse? (pg. 5) JH
Four dwellings connected under one roof with separate addresses.
What two methods are townhouse roofs typically constructed with? (pg. 11) JH
Wood Frame and Lightweight
What space is typically found in townhomes with lofts and dormer, known for concealing fire extension? (pg. 13) JH
Knee Walls
Can there be a variance in the existence of firewalls in a townhouse? (pg. 14) JH
Yes, firewalls can be absent, existent between each address, or every other address. They can also be present in the body of the home but absent in the attic.
What is the most common type of window in present day townhomes? (pg. 14) JH
The double-hung, sliding sash window.
Do townhomes have fire protection systems? (pg. 16) JH
Yes, they can be found to sprinkler systems and or FDCs (NFPA 13R)
What is the typical fire flow (GPM) required for a commercial townhouse? (pg. 17) JH
20 GPM per Sq Ft.
What are the four potential tactical position in which command officers can be used in a townhouse incident? (pg. 19) JH
Division Supervisor, Group Supervisor, Branch Director, and Section Chief
What fire situations dictate the request of a second alarm? (pg. 21) JH
Known Rescues, Multiple Units Involved, Fire on multiple levels, and fire in the attic.
What type of layout should ideally be performed to give truck companies prime placement on working incidents? (pg. 21) JH
Forward Lay
When aerial master streams are required, where should the first truck position? (pg. 25) JH
Position with the turntable in front of the most threatened exposure.
What is the best way to combat an attic fire? (pg. 27) JH
Horizontally on the level of fire.
In the event of a deck fire, what is the tactical priority? (pg. 34) JH
Position the first line to the area of the deck. Address the fire and sweep the eaves/soffit.
If there is a fire in the garage of a townhome, and the garage door is closed, and no windows are present, where does the first line go? (pg. 36) JH
Access the garage through the building’s main entrance and the interior garage door
What is a ‘Band Board’? (pg. v) JH
Material covering the area where the first-floor joists meet the exterior wall
When encountering a large volume of fire on arrival of a townhouse, what is an ideal tactic to control spread within, and to exposures? (pg. 38) JH
Quick Knockdown with a 2 ½ hose line and or a master stream (Mercury Monitor/Deck Gun).
What two areas are most critical to search? (pg. 43) JH
Sleeping Areas & Egress Points
What is a ‘Zero Clearance Chimney’? (pg. 16) JH
A galvanized metal pipe in a wood framed chimney with siding on the exterior
What two types of locks are found on exterior doors? (pg. 15) JH
Rim and Mortise Locks
Where can you find access points into the attack space? (pg.13) FC
Inside a bathroom or closet
Typical residential townhouse has a low fire load requiring ___gpm per 100sqft, commercial townhouse may require ___gpm per 100sqft. (pg.17) FC
10gpm / 20gpm
What fire situations should cue the IC to request second alarm? (pg.21) FC
Known Rescues / Fire in 2 Occupancies / Fire on more than 1 level / Fire in Attic Space
The First arriving engine company should position at least ___ addresses before or past the involved unit. (pg.21) FC
2
When giving basement status on 360 report, what information should be relayed? (pg.22) FC
Presence of basement / conditions present in basement / location of access
When using a master stream, 1st arriving truck’s turntable should be positioned where? (pg.25) FC
In front of most threatened exposure
The most advantageous nozzle positioning on master stream is often found where? (pg.25) FC
Soffit Level
Firefighters can prevent the fire from extending to the attic by ________. (pg.26) FC
Sweeping the eaves by directing hose streams at underside of soffit
True of False: Company Officers MUST communicate the conditions in the attic to Command. (pg.28) FC
True
The space between the flat roof and the top floor ceiling is commonly referred to as ______. (pg.30) FC
Cockloft
When responding to exterior townhouse fires extending into dwellings, Officers should first ____. (pg.35) FC
Deploy 1st hose line to fire location on exterior to put a knock on it
What should be considered when encountering a garage fire? (pg.35) FC
Fire Conditions / Garage Location / Presence of Windows / Status of Overhead Door
Residential exterior doors swing ____, commercial doors swing _____. (pg.15) FC
Inward / Outward
Interior inward opening doors typically lead to _______, outward opening doors usually lead to ______. (pg.15) FC
Bedrooms and bathrooms / basement stairs and closets
Additional considerations for the second line is to _________. (pg.24) FC
Protect the crew searching above
Fires in these types of basements have unimpeded access to the structural support of the floor above. (pg.31) FC
Unfinished
Special service units advancing ahead of hoseline crews should _________ as they advance to interrupt the fire’s flow path. (pg.37) FC
Close interior doors
Townhouse roof decking is typically constructed with _______ or _________. SB
4’ by 8’ plywood sheathing; particle board (p. 12)
Basement load bearing walls typically support ___________ floor joist. SB
Side-by-side (p. 14)
__________ should be treated as if they are barred. If incident dynamics indicate the need (or potential need) for access to or egress from the area associated with these windows, it must be completely removed. SB
Casement windows (p. 15)
Two standard locks occur on exterior doors: ______ and ______. SB
Mortise; Rim (p. 15)
The importance of identifying _________________, refraining from operating directly above the fire, and testing the stability of the floor prior to advancing cannot be overstated. SB
The lowest level of fire involvement (p. 18)
When fire conditions exist in more than one unit, ICs must decide which unit to designate as the fire unit and then begin _______________. SB
Exposure Identification (p. 20)
Primary search operations should focus on the area near the fire, as well as _________and ____________. SB
Bedrooms; means of egress (p. 19)
True or False: When the IC identifies the exposures (B1, B2, D1, D2), the numbers can change as the event evolves but need to be communicated with everyone operating on the fire ground before the next par check. SB
False. Once the IC makes the exposure designation, the numbering does not change, even if the fire later extends to other exposures (p. 20)
The following townhouse fires situations should cue the IC to ____________: known rescues, fires in two separate occupancies, fire on more than one level of the townhouse, and fires in attic space. SB
Request a second alarm (p. 21)
What should the first arriving unit officer provide in the on-scene report? SB
Unit identification and side of structure apparatus is positioned, building height(number of stories above ground), occupancy type, and detailed report of evident conditions , to include side of structure where conditions are evident, quadrant location, and condition description. (p. 21)
The officer should use their lap to determine: SB
number of above-grade floors in front; number of above-grade floors in rear; specific location of fire, if visible; presence of a basement, conditions present in the basement, and location of basement access; floor labeling; hazards observed; presence of exposures; occupant status (if able to obtain); and the need for additional resources (p. 22)
Personnel should not typically commence interior operations until after receiving a report from __________. SB
Side Charlie (p. 22)
The initial line should be positioned it to protect _______and ________, if possible, to advance it to the seat of the fire for confinement and extinguishment. SB
Occupants and the interior stairwell. (p. 23)
If personnel on the attack line do not need support from the second line, then the second line may be used as the line ____________. Command must be informed. SB
Above the fire (p. 24)
The first-arriving truck’s turntable should be positioned ____________________. The second arriving truck should position its turntable_______________________. SB
In front of the most threatened exposure; in front of the next most severely exposed unit. (p. 25)
The most operationally efficient position for extinguishing attic fires involves opening the top floor ceiling and attacking the fire ____________. SB
Horizontally (p. 27)
If possible, personnel must determine early if the basement is _______. Fires in these types of basements have unimpeded access to the structural supports of the floor above. SB
Unfinished (p. 31)
It is incumbent on the first-arriving engine company officer to identify the fire’s location and where to deploy the handline to best address the incident’s immediate needs. The initial handline may be deployed to: SB
An exterior basement entrance, if present, for fire attack or the front door, utilizing the fire stream reach to protect the interior stairs and upper floors. (p. 31)
For a basement fire, the preferred point of attack for the initial handline is________, allowing personnel to attack the fire at the same level. SB
an exterior entrance leading directly into the basement (p. 32)
The conditions required to create a wind-drive fire can exist with exterior winds as low as __________. SB
10-20 mph (p. 36)
Five conditions must exist for a wind-driven fire to occur: SB
fire in the structure, a failed or opened window or exterior door in the fire area, wind on the structure’s exterior, a secondary failed or opened window or door remote from the fire area, and an unobstructed flow path from the fire area to the secondary failed or open window or door. (p. 37)
Special service units advancing ahead of hose line crews should strategically _____________________ as they advance to interrupt the fire’s flow path. SB
Close interior doors (p. 37)
) If rear access is not available, the third-arriving engine should position _____________________to ensure hose lines can be placed to the rear.
at the end of the row closest to the involved unit (p. 40)
Crews should anticipate using the aerial and should position the turntable either
____________________________________. SB
Directly in front of the involved unit or upwind from it (p. 40)
The area closest to the fire on the fire floor and the area ____________ are the two most dangerous areas. SB
Directly above the fire (p. 43)
Crews going to the floor above the fire must also begin searching immediately, but with the objective of first arriving at _______________ then searching outward from that point. SB
the area over the fire (p. 43)
Members must be ________________ when operating on lightweight construction. A viable and safer option involves venting the ends of a gable roof. SB
independently supported (p. 45)
