Garden Apartment Fires Flashcards
Garden apartment buildings of ordinary construction typically do not exceed ____ ______ and ___ ____ in height on the addressed side.
Four stories, 50 feet
Rain scuppers above the roofline and cockloft vents below the roofline identify ____ ____ _____.
the roof level
Balconies in garden apartments are of two general types, ________ & _____
Extended, recessed
In Lightweight Wood Frame construction Garden Apartment buildings, the heating and cooling units may be located…?
In a closet off of the balcony, often stacked one over the other from the terrace level to the top floor.
Modern garden apartments can also have 13R sprinkler systems. These are….?
Wet systems fed off domestic water with no fire pump.
Vertical voids such as ____ ______ in kitchens and baths are one of the primary means by which fire extends in garden apartments.
Pipe chases.
Light wood frame construction is subject to early failure and has two distinct factors with regard to potential for collapse:
-The presence of lightweight trusses.
-Fire entering the void spaces degrading the structural members.
Life safety is typically achieved through ______ _______ ___ ____ and _______ ______
Aggressive interior fire attack, primary search.
The greatest factors that will drive the tactical decision-making process are…?
The location & extent of fire.
In the case of enclosed stairwells, engine companies may consider using…?
Alternate means for advancing homeliness such as a balcony or terrace-level door
Ladders for rescue & egress should initially be placed …..?
In front and the rear at the fire floor and every floor level above.
In the absence of balconies, ladders should be thrown to the _______ _____ ___ _____ _____. If the fire is showing from the balcony, ladders should be placed to the ________ _____.
Largest window not showing fire, bedroom windows.
Vertical ventilation may be warranted when….?
The stairwell becomes charged with high heat & smoke
The fire is on the top floor
Fire has entered the attic/cockloft
The interior exposure problem should be addressed through…?
Rapid containment of the fire.
Its the responsibility of the ______ ______, while moving into the building to check the floor below the location of the first engine.
Second-due engine
If the opposite side access is not available, the 3rd due engine should position ___ ___ ___ __ ___ ____ ________ ___ ___ _____ ____.
at the end of the row closest to the involved unit.
For the first due truck, use of the aerial should also be anticipated, and the turntable positioned ….?
Either directly in front of the involved unit or upwind from the involved area.
When there is no access to the rear, the 2nd due truck should position where?
On side A in front of the uncovered exposure.
The most important items in size-up (aside from rescue) are…?
Identifying the location of fire and potential for extension in relation to building layout & construction.
Any crew operating in the stairwell ____ ___ ____ ______ _______ shall be notified and prepared to seek refuge before the door to the fire apartment is opened.
above the fire floor apartment
The balcony/ terrace door alternative should not be used if any of the following conditions are present:
-Smoke, heat or fire has already compromised the stairwell.
-Balcony is crowded with furniture, bicycles or other items AND
-The engine company should be capable of deploying a hose line unassisted.
Ladders for egress at apartment buildings will normally be thrown to the _________ ________ first.
Bedroom window
Laddering to bedroom windows shall be done to the front & rear of all floors at …?
and above the level of fire involvement.
The roof should be laddered ____ ___ ________ with an aerial device, if possible.
over the stairwell
If fire has taken total possession of an attic or cockloft, it should be stopped at the…?
Adjoining exposure
Chimneys found in _______ ____________ ______are normally all masonry and
originated in the boiler room of the building
ordinary construction (1940 – 1950s)
The overhead entrance door to the garage and its mounting hardware may not be ____ ______
These types of doors are known to collapse when left open and exposed to fire
fire-rated.
Fire Protection Systems (Ordinary)
Most alarm systems in garden apartments are …?
local alarm systems
Cathedral ceilings frequently found in newer construction, may be __ ____ or higher from the
floor.
12 feet
Windows in the exterior walls may not have brick veneer over or under them. They may have plywood or some other type of combustible siding over windows, which
extend to the windows above and all the way up to the soffit overhang (called a ….?
Spandrel space),
Typically the roof truss system is supported with the ___ __ _____ _____ load
bearing walls.
front (side A) and rear (side C)
HVAC (Frame/Light Frame)
Heating and cooling units in these structures may be located __ _ ______ ___ ___ _______, often
stacked one over the other from the terrace level to the top floor
in a closet off of the balcony
Garages (Frame/Light Frame)
Many new garden apartment buildings are offering attached garages, Figure 33. These garages are typically on ???
the terrace level
Modern garden apartments can also have 13R sprinkler systems. These are required due to height, access, or large floor area. These are ___ _______ fed off of domestic water with no fire
pump.
wet systems
____ _______is the number one priority for firefighters
Life hazard
Each level of the garden apartment may contain between ___ ___ ____ apartments with one to
four bedrooms each. Therefore, the occupancy load per floor should be considered substantial.
one and four
In garden apartments there are limited means of egress. Fires in the ______ ______ of the building increase the life hazard, as the sole interior means of escape is the central stairwell.
lower floors
The presence of __________ _______ can greatly affect the fire hazard, Figure 36. Vinyl and wood siding may contribute to vertical and horizontal ____ ______ and creates a severe exterior exposure problem
combustible siding, fire spread
A quick exterior knockdown of combustible siding, insulation, or wooden balconies may prevent the fire from entering through the roof soffit, windows, and doors. An _________ ____must be quickly placed into the building to check for fire spread with
emphasis on ?
additional line, the attic and upper floor,
________ _____ such as pipe chases in kitchens and baths are one of the primary
means by which fire extends in garden apartments
Vertical voids
The first-due truck company shall take a position at the most strategic location that will allow for rapid placement of ladders (front and rear) and entry into the structure. Use of the aerial should also be anticipated, and the turntable positioned either ?
directly in front of the involved
unit or upwind from the involved area.
The first arriving officer may
get a look at the rear by using ___ _______ __ ______ ___ ___ _______ unit or proceeding to the rear via the open walk through stairwell if available.
the balcony or window of an uninvolved
The primary purpose of the initial attack line is typically to ?
advance to the seat of the fire for confinement and extinguishment.
The balcony/terrace door alternative should not be used if any of the following conditions are
present…?
Smoke, heat, or fire has already compromised the stairwell.
Balcony is crowded with furniture, bicycles or other items,
With limited access to many of these buildings, the rapid deployment of master streams will be difficult. An effective tactic is to rapidly _____ ___ ______ _____ and begin
cooling the building while additional firefighters setup the master stream
deploy a hand line to the affected exposure
Smoke showing from more than one stairwell is an indication of a ?
basement/terrace-level fire.
Another hazard associated with the well-involved attic fire is the collapse of the ???
overhang
(soffit)
The concentrated load of HVAC units positioned over the ________ is a particular collapse hazard concern to firefighters when fire has taken possession of the attic space,
stairwell
Consideration should be given to the integrity of the
balcony and railing when ladders are deployed. It may be safer to place the ladder __ ___ _____ ____ __ ___ ________instead of directly on the railing
on the wall next to the balcony
Large caliber streams from aerial/tower devices need to be directed ____ __ __ ___ ____ _____, into the involved space. Avoid the urge to have streams flow down onto the roof or through the fire area
through or at the top floor/attic level
