Garden Apartment Fires

Question 1

Garden apartment buildings of ordinary construction typically do not exceed ____ ______ and ___ ____ in height on the addressed side.

Answer 1

Four stories, 50 feet

Question 2

Rain scuppers above the roofline and cockloft vents below the roofline identify ____ ____ _____.

Answer 2

the roof level

Question 3

Balconies in garden apartments are of two general types, ________ & _____

Answer 3

Extended, recessed

Question 4

In Lightweight Wood Frame construction Garden Apartment buildings, the heating and cooling units may be located…?

Answer 4

In a closet off of the balcony, often stacked one over the other from the terrace level to the top floor.

Question 5

Modern garden apartments can also have 13R sprinkler systems. These are….?

Answer 5

Wet systems fed off domestic water with no fire pump.

Question 6

Vertical voids such as ____ ______ in kitchens and baths are one of the primary means by which fire extends in garden apartments.

Answer 6

Pipe chases.

Question 7

Light wood frame construction is subject to early failure and has two distinct factors with regard to potential for collapse:

Answer 7

-The presence of lightweight trusses.
-Fire entering the void spaces degrading the structural members.

Question 8

Life safety is typically achieved through ______ _______ ___ ____ and _______ ______

Answer 8

Aggressive interior fire attack, primary search.

Question 9

The greatest factors that will drive the tactical decision-making process are…?

Answer 9

The location & extent of fire.

Question 10

In the case of enclosed stairwells, engine companies may consider using…?

Answer 10

Alternate means for advancing homeliness such as a balcony or terrace-level door

Question 11

Ladders for rescue & egress should initially be placed …..?

Answer 11

In front and the rear at the fire floor and every floor level above.

Question 12

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 ________ _____.

Answer 12

Largest window not showing fire, bedroom windows.

Question 13

Vertical ventilation may be warranted when….?

Answer 13

The stairwell becomes charged with high heat & smoke
The fire is on the top floor
Fire has entered the attic/cockloft

Question 14

The interior exposure problem should be addressed through…?

Answer 14

Rapid containment of the fire.

Question 15

Its the responsibility of the ______ ______, while moving into the building to check the floor below the location of the first engine.

Answer 15

Second-due engine

Question 16

If the opposite side access is not available, the 3rd due engine should position ___ ___ ___ __ ___ ____ ________ ___ ___ _____ ____.

Answer 16

at the end of the row closest to the involved unit.

Question 17

For the first due truck, use of the aerial should also be anticipated, and the turntable positioned ….?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

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

Answer 18

On side A in front of the uncovered exposure.

Question 19

The most important items in size-up (aside from rescue) are…?

Answer 19

Identifying the location of fire and potential for extension in relation to building layout & construction.

Question 20

Any crew operating in the stairwell ____ ___ ____ ______ _______ shall be notified and prepared to seek refuge before the door to the fire apartment is opened.

Answer 20

above the fire floor apartment

Question 21

The balcony/ terrace door alternative should not be used if any of the following conditions are present:

Answer 21

-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.

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Bedroom window

Question 23

Laddering to bedroom windows shall be done to the front & rear of all floors at …?

Answer 23

and above the level of fire involvement.

Question 24

The roof should be laddered ____ ___ ________ with an aerial device, if possible.

Answer 24

over the stairwell

Question 25

If fire has taken total possession of an attic or cockloft, it should be stopped at the…?

Answer 25

Adjoining exposure

Question 26

Chimneys found in _______ ____________ ______are normally all masonry and
originated in the boiler room of the building

Answer 26

ordinary construction (1940 – 1950s)

Question 27

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

Answer 27

fire-rated.

Question 28

Fire Protection Systems (Ordinary)

Most alarm systems in garden apartments are …?

Answer 28

local alarm systems

Question 29

Cathedral ceilings frequently found in newer construction, may be __ ____ or higher from the
floor.

Answer 29

12 feet

Question 30

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 ….?

Answer 30

Spandrel space),

Question 31

Typically the roof truss system is supported with the ___ __ _____ _____ load
bearing walls.

Answer 31

front (side A) and rear (side C)

Question 32

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

Answer 32

in a closet off of the balcony

Question 33

Garages (Frame/Light Frame)
Many new garden apartment buildings are offering attached garages, Figure 33. These garages are typically on ???

Answer 33

the terrace level

Question 34

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.

Answer 34

wet systems

Question 35

____ _______is the number one priority for firefighters

Answer 35

Life hazard

Question 36

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.

Answer 36

one and four

Question 37

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.

Answer 37

lower floors

Question 38

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

Answer 38

combustible siding, fire spread

Question 39

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 ?

Answer 39

additional line, the attic and upper floor,

Question 40

________ _____ such as pipe chases in kitchens and baths are one of the primary
means by which fire extends in garden apartments

Answer 40

Vertical voids

Question 41

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 ?

Answer 41

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

Question 42

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.

Answer 42

the balcony or window of an uninvolved

Question 43

The primary purpose of the initial attack line is typically to ?

Answer 43

advance to the seat of the fire for confinement and extinguishment.

Question 44

The balcony/terrace door alternative should not be used if any of the following conditions are
present…?

Answer 44

 Smoke, heat, or fire has already compromised the stairwell.
 Balcony is crowded with furniture, bicycles or other items,

Question 45

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

Answer 45

deploy a hand line to the affected exposure

Question 46

Smoke showing from more than one stairwell is an indication of a ?

Answer 46

basement/terrace-level fire.

Question 47

Another hazard associated with the well-involved attic fire is the collapse of the ???

Answer 47

overhang
(soffit)

Question 48

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,

Answer 48

stairwell

Question 49

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

Answer 49

on the wall next to the balcony

Question 50

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

Answer 50

through or at the top floor/attic level