Handbook of Tactics Ch 1-3 Flashcards
1
Q
The most basic principle of fire fighting?
A
Human life takes precedence over all other concerns.
2
Q
Concept #1
A
When sufficient manpower isn’t available to effect both rescue and extinguishment at the same time, rescue must be given priority.
3
Q
Concept #2
A
When you don’t have sufficient manpower to perform all of the needed tasks, first perform those that protect the greatest number if human lives.
4
Q
Concept #3
A
Remove those in greatest danger first.
5
Q
Concept #4
A
When sufficient personnel are available to perform both functions, they must carry out a coordinated fire attack.
6
Q
Concept #5
A
When there is no threat to occupants, the lives of firefighters shouldn’t be unduly endangered.
7
Q
If you have a known rescue and insufficient resources to perform both rescue and extinguishment, what 2 factors would dictate that you prioritize getting the hoseline operating between fire and the victims?
A
- Larger building with more victims.
2. Location of victims is unknown.
8
Q
More lives are saved by ____________than by any other means.
A
Properly positioned hoselines
9
Q
Priority of victim removal.
A
- Immediate vicinity of the fire
- Directly above the fire
- Top floor
- Other floors directly above fire
- Anybody in a panic
- Remote location on the fire floor
- Remote locations on other floors above
- Floors below the fire
10
Q
4 ways to reduce life hazard?
A
- Put out the fire
- Remove the victims
- Vent to draw fire away from victims
- Confine the fire
11
Q
Four steps of coordinated fire attack used in many departments (apartment fire)?
A
- Vent the roof over the stairway to prevent mushrooming.
- Stretch the hoseline to the interior apartment door to prevent extension up the stairway.
- Confine the fire until all the occupants are off the stairway.
- Advance hoseline for extinguishment.
12
Q
Sequence of actions at a fire incident?
A
- Locate
- Confine
- Extinguish
13
Q
Norman’s last rule for fire fighting?
A
Let circumstances dictate procedures.
14
Q
Size-up definition?
A
An evaluation of problems and conditions that affect the outcome of a fire.
15
Q
When does size-up begin and end?
A
From the moment the alarm is received until the emergency is under control.
16
Q
Traditional 13 point size-up?
A
COAL WAS WEALTH
Construction
Occupancy
Apparatus and manpower
Life Hazard
Water supply
Auxiliary appliances
Street conditions
Weather Exposures Area Location and extent of fire Time Height
17
Q
What is the deciding factor in determining tactics and procedures?
A
Life hazard
18
Q
What 3 size-up considerations affect life hazard?
A
- Time of day
- Occupancy
- Location and extent of fire
19
Q
What percent of fire deaths occur in residential buildings?
A
Nearly 80%, more than 3,000 people per year
20
Q
Number of firefighter deaths in vacant buildings per 100,000 fires?
A
18.1
21
Q
Number of fire fighter deaths in stores and public assembly buildings per 100,000 fires?
A
12.9 each
22
Q
Number of firefighter deaths in residential buildings per 100,000 fires?
A
3.7
23
Q
What measure of time has the biggest impact on fire fighting?
A
Elapsed time since the fire has begun.
24
Q
_____________ is a key indicator of the likelihood of structural collapse.
A
Elapsed burn time
25
Regarding the 20-minute rule for predicting structural collapse, when does the time frame start?
When the fire has reached flashover and begun to attack the structural elements.
26
Generally, a fire that has not vented from a single window has been at the flashover stage for _______________.
under a minute or two
27
A fire that has vented out only one or two windows is usually____and has been at flashover for____.
Confined to one room;
| 1 to 5 minutes
28
What are two possible reasons for a fire burning on two floors?
1. Prolonged burning
| 2. Use of an accelerant
29
How long does a 30 minute air cylinder last under heavy fire fighting use?
15 to 20 minutes
30
The 20 minute rule applies to only these two types of construction?
1. Class 3 (Ordinary)
| 2. Class 5 (Wood-frame)
31
A building’s construction has 4 critical implications for firefighters:
1. Degree of compartmentation
2. Degree to which the building itself contributes to the fire load
3. Number of hidden voids
4. Ability to resist collapse
32
What factor can alert crews to irregular shapes and sizes of buildings?
Early roof report.
33
Three fire locations that demand special care?
1. Top floor fires (common cockloft)
2. Below grade fires
3. Beyond the reach of ladders (high-rise or low-rise, windowless buildings)
34
What does large volumes of black smoke at the roof indicate?
Involvement of the roofing materials
35
What does light to moderate quantities of black smoke in the basement indicate?
An oil burner malfunction (bring Class B extinguisher).
36
What does gray to light-brown smoke indicate?
Burning of common class A materials with sufficient oxygen present.
37
What does heavy, rolling clouds, violently twisting skyward indicate?
Extremely hot smoke from an intense fire within the building.
38
What does large amounts of dark gray or yellow-gray smoke indicate?
Reduced amounts of oxygen and a potential for backdraft.
39
Most residential rooms have a fire load of __ lbs. of fuel per sq. ft.
5 lbs per sq ft
40
How many pounds of fuel will 1 gallon of water quench?
5 lbsj
41
How much water flow is needed for areas of light fire loads? (residential occupancies, classrooms, offices)
10 gpm per 100 sq ft
42
What is the flow of a modern 1-1/2” nozzle?
Up to 125 GPM
43
What is the flow of a 1-3/4” nozzle?
150-200 GPM
44
How much water flow is needed for ordinary hazard areas like commercial occupancies?
20-30 GPM per 100 sq ft
45
How much water flow is needed for high fire loads?
30-50 GPM per 100 sq ft
46
As IC, what should you consider when you encounter an out-of-service auxiliary appliance?
Request an extra alarm.i
47
In addition to fighting fires what are three other uses of hose streams?
1. Protect exposure.
2. Flush areas of flammable liquids and gases.
3. Absorb toxic fumes from dangerous chemical leak.
48
Incipient stage
1. Light smoke and heat
2. Confined to its original area
3. Usually can be put out with an extinguisher
4. If using a hoseline, use a direct attack with a straight stream
49
Free burning stage
The rooms are either approaching flashover or have passed it.
50
What ceiling temperature is common in a well involved room at the free burning stage?
1300 deg F
51
When fighting fire in apartments, hotels, hospitals, and some offices what is the best way to find the location of the fire room?
Go to the floor below to examine the layout.
52
How much hose should nozzle men have at the door to the fire area?
One 50 ft length is enough for most homes and apartments.
53
How should you stretch the lead for fires above the ground floor?
Flake out the spare hose on the floor below and on the stairway leading to the fire area.
54
The nozzle team should stretch dry to a safe area or ___________ before calling to have the line charged.
Get as near to the fire as possible
55
What is the weight of a 50 foot length 1-3/4” of hose, wet and dry?
Wet: 80lbs
Dry: 40 lbs
56
What is considered a safe area to which the lead can be stretched dry before charging? (for above and below grade)
Ground floor fire: front door
Above ground floor fire: landing at the fire floor
Below grade fire: top of the enclosed stairwell
57
It is important to get low in a working fire because there could be a difference of more than _______ in the zone between 2 and 3 feet off the floor.
200 deg F
58
What step can be taken while waiting for water at the door?
Look below the smoke to get the layout of the area.
59
When the line is charged, what should you do before entering the fire area?
Bleed off air and check the pattern.
60
A good rule of thumb is to open up the nozzle only when you see flames. What is an exception to this rule?
When extreme heat and no visible fire is preventing your advance.
61
What method of attack is most often used in the free burning stage?
Combination attack
62
Combination attack
Sweep the ceiling with a straight stream, side-to-side or clockwise motion for 5 to 10 seconds then drop the stream to sweep all of the burning material in the room.
63
In the free burning stage, ceiling temperatures in a fire room will reach________, while those at the floor are in the range of________.
1200-1500 deg F
| 125-150 deg F
64
What are three advantages of the combination attack?
1. By hitting the ceiling first, you cool the fire gases nearest the line without creating a lot of steam.
2. By shutting down the line when no further fire is visible, you won’t disturb the thermal balance too severely.
3. Combination attack puts the firefighters inside the structure near the seat of the fire and in the best position to to save lives.
65
What are 2 disadvantages of the combination attack?
1. Puts members in a hostile environment.
| 2. Requires live-fire training to develop proficiency.
66
Smoldering stage
Fire has burned up nearly all the fuel and is approaching self extinguishment, OR the fire has consumed all the oxygen and has reached 1,000 deg F throughout the room, and there is a high potential for backdraft.
67
What is the first tactic to consider if you suspect that a backdraft is possible?
Vent the highest portion of the affected area.
68
When fighting fire in a commercial building at night and roof ventilation is not possible, consider_____________.
Using the indirect attack.
69
Who pioneered the indirect attack?
Chief Lloyd Layman of the USCG
70
How much does a gallon of water expand when fully vaporized?
1,500-2,000 gallons
71
4 Requirements of an indirect attack?
1. No occupants
2. Limited ventilation
3. High heat
4. Limited size of potential fire area
72
How do you execute an indirect attack
1. Create a very small opening in a window or door.
2. Direct a 30 degree fog pattern through the opening.
3. Keep the stream open until the volume of steam expelled around the nozzle begins to diminish substantially.
73
You are at a fire in a strip mall when backdraft conditions are suspected and neither roof ventilation nor indirect attack are possible, how should you proceed?
1. All personnel are moved to safe positions or shielded.
2. One firefighter stands to the side of a window and swings a 6' or longer hook at the window.
3. Simultaneously, the nozzleman shall direct a 2-1/2" stream through the opening.
74
Can a backdraft occur at a fire that is free-burning?
Yes, in adjacent areas that have not yet been vented.
75
5 advantages of indirect attack?
1. Reduced exposure to backdraft.
2. Can extinguish fire in high heat areas that cannot be entered.
3. Allows a smaller crew to put out the fire than could advance a 2-1/2" hose for extinguishment.
4. Uses less water.
5. Water damage may be less.
76
5 disadvantages of the indirect attack?
1. Building must be unoccupied.
2. Requires limited ventilation.
3. Discharge of less than critical volume may push fire ahead of the steam.
4. It isn't possible to view the interior layout until the fire is under control.
5. Can increase water damage if used in an inappropriate situation.
77
What are the three possible actions at a structure fire?
1. Offensive attack,
2. Defensive attack.
3. Take no action.
78
Can you use a water curtain for exposure protection?
No, the radiant heat will pass through. Instead, coat the exposed surface with water.
79
At a fire in a warehouse storing pesticides or poison, should an offensive or defensive attack be done?
No action should be taken due to the potential for runoff causing greater problems.
80
When human life is at stake, _____________.
an offensive (interior) attack is mandatory.
81
Don't use an outside stream in ____________.
An occupied building.
82
Get the first hoseline in operation to cover the worst case before _______________.
stretching additional lines.
83
When an attack is stalled, ____________________.
Increase ventilation, water flow, or both.
84
Only these two things should prevent a hoseline's advance:
1. Heat
| 2. Flame
85
Rule of thumb for backup line?
It must be at least as large as the original line.
86
When an effective offensive attack isn't possible or hasn't succeeded within 20 minutes __________.
Prepare defensive positions.
87
When forced into a defensive mode, _______________.
Consider the possible effects of total involvement of the structure.
88
What is the typical frontage that a stream from an elevated platform can cover if it can operate in front of the structure?
100 ft. in length and 3 stories high.
