IFSTA CH 15 Overhaul Flashcards
LOSS CONTROL
To describe the activities performed before, during and after a fire has been extinguished to minimize losses to property
Properly applied loss control activities include:
Minimizing damage to the structure, exposures and contents
Eliminating the chance that a fire will reignite in the structure
Reducing the amount of time needed to repair and reopen the business
Creating goodwill for the fire department within the community
Minimizing financial loss for the owner/occupant, insurance company and community
Two types of damage result from a structure fire
Fire and smoke causes primary damage
Fire suppression activities such as forcible entry, ventilation, and fire extinguishment operations cause secondary damage
OVERHAUL
Refers to all operations conducted after the main body of the fire has been extinguished
Overhaul includes the following activities
Searching for and extinguishing hidden or remaining fire
Placing the building and its contents in a safe condition
Determining the cause of the fire
Recognizing and preserving evidence of arson
The steps to establish safe overhaul conditions include the following:
Inspecting the premises
Developing an operational plan
Providing needed tools and equipment
Eliminating or mitigating hazards (including securing any remaining utilities)
common toxic gases
Carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide
due to the threat of reignition
charged hose lines should be present during overhaul operations
Additional overhaul safety considerations:
Work in teams of two or more
Maintain awareness of available exit routes
Maintain a RIC throughout the operation
Monitor the need for personnel rehabilitation
Beware of hidden gas or electrical utilities
Continue using the accountability system until incident termination
Firefighters can often detect hidden fires by
sight
touch
sound
electronic sensors
hidden fires - sight
Discoloration of materials
Peeling paint
Smoke emissions from cracks
Cracked plaster
Rippled wallpaper
Burned areas
hidden fires - touch
Heat felt through walls and floors
hidden fires - sound
Popping or cracking of fire burning
Hissing of steam
hidden fires - electronic sensors
Thermal (heat) signature detection with thermal imager
Infrared heat detection
Overhaul Procedures
-Overhaul typically begins in the area of most severe fire involvement
-Move furnishings of the room to locations where they will not be damaged. If it is not possible to move the contents, protect them with salvage covers
-Remove only enough wall, ceiling or floor covering to verify complete extinguishment
When pulling any ceiling, do not stand directly under the area to be opened
Position yourself between the area being pulled and a doorway to keep the exit route from being blocked with falling debris
Always wear full PPE including respiratory protection when pulling ceilings
Procedures to be performed before leaving the scene include:
Using a soft bristle brush and damp towel to remove large debris from PPE
Removing all turnout gear
Using wet wipes or towel to remove soot from your skin
Using a hose line to rinse off all PPE and equipment
Bagging contaminated equipment for travel back to the station
Showering immediately upon returning to the station
Cleaning gear and apparatus interiors immediately following cleaning yourself when returning to the station
PROPERTY CONSERVATION
Also called savage
Firefighters attempt to save property and reduce further damage from water, smoke, heat and exposure during or immediately after a fire
Typical tools and equipment used in salvage operations include but are not limited to:
o Salvage covers
o Electrical tools
o Mechanical tools
o Plumbing tools
o General carpentry tools
o Mops, squeegees and buckets
Salvage Covers
Used to protect unaffected furniture and areas of the building
Made of waterproof canvas or vinyl and are manufactured in various sizes
Vinyl covers
are lightweight, easy to handle, economical and practical for both indoor and outdoor use
They may melt if used to cover hot objects and may tear if used to cover sharp corners or edges
Automatic Sprinkler Kit
Tools in a sprinkler kit are used to stop the flow of water from an open sprinkler
Carryalls
Are used to carry debris, catch fallings debris, and provide a water basin for immersing small burning objects
Dewatering Devices
Dewatering devices are pumps used to remove water from basements, elevator shafts and sumps
Water Vacuum
These devices can be used where standing water is too shallow to be picked up with a submersible pump or siphon ejector
Backpack-type tanks normally have a capacity of 4-5 gallons (15-20L)
Choice of salvage procedure depends on:
- Number of personnel available
- Type, size and quantity of the contents
- Extent and location of the fire
- Current weather conditions
Salvage procedures include:
Moving contents to a safe location in the structure
Removing contents from the structure
Protecting the contents in place with salvage covers
You can remove large quantities of water in the following ways:
Make use of existing sanitary piping systems
Create scuppers*
Create chutes made of salvage covers, plastic or other available materials to route
water into other areas
Locate and clean clogged drains
Remove toilet fixtures
Removing water with chutes
Water chute is one of the most practical methods of removing water that comes through the ceiling from upper floors
Water chutes may be constructed on the floor below fire fighting operations to drain runoff out of the structure through windows or doors
Constructing a Catchall
Are constructed from a salvage cover placed on the floor to hold small amounts of water
Properly constructed catchalls can hold several hundred gallons (liters) of water and often save considerable time during salvage operations
Covering openings
You should cover openings to prevent further damage to the property from weather and trespassers
Doors and windows that have been broken or removed during suppression activities should be covered with plywood, heavy plastic or some similar materials to keep rain out
Salvage Equipment Care and Maintenance
The only cleaning required for canvas salvage covers is wetting or rinsing with a hose stream and scrubbing with a broom
Extremely dirty or stained covers may be scrubbed with a detergent solution and then thoroughly rinsed
Canvas salvage covers should be clean and completely dry before they are folded and stored on the apparatus
SCENE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION
Scene preservation includes all attempts to prevent contamination and/or removal or loss of evidence relating to the origin and cause of fire
Reason for Protecting the Fire Scene
Evidence of the location of the area of origin and fire cause is necessary to determine the fire cause classification
Area of Origin
Is the general location where the fire began, it will contain the precise point of origin
Control of all evidence must be maintained as part of the chain of custody required in a legal case
Chain of custody*
Point of origin*
Area of Origin*
Obvious Signs of Fire Origin
Firefighters can follow physical indicators from the area of least damage to the area of most damage to locate the area of origin
The most obvious sign of origin is the location with the most damage: where the fire was burning the hottest for the longest amount of time
Early security measures should include the following
Restricting access to the scene
Protecting any potential evidence located in the area
Minimizing fire suppression and overhaul activities that could destroy important information regarding the origin and cause of the fire
Guidelines for establishing a perimeter of the proper size - explosions
should be established at 1.5 times the distance from the furthest piece of debris found
Guidelines for establishing a perimeter of the proper size - structure fires
firefighters may establish a fire scene perimeter to limit access to the fire and keep bystanders at a safe distance
The perimeter should extend beyond the farthest piece of evidence located during the exterior examination of the structure
Fire Cause Determination (next step after fire origin)
Is the process of establishing the cause of a fire incident through careful investigation and analysis of the available evidence
Identifying signs of arson
Time of day (ex. At night occupants should be in night clothes)
Weather and natural hazards (ex. If temp is low the windows typically wouldn’t be open)
Man-made barriers
People leaving the scene
Time of arrival and extent of fire
Wind direction and velocity
Doors or windows locked or unlocked
Location of fire
Containers or cans
Burglary tools
Familiar faces
As operation continues, you should continue to observe
Unusual odors
Abnormal behaviour of fire when water is applied
Obstacles hindering fire fighting
Incendiary devices*
Trailers (usually leave char or burn patterns)
Structural alterations
Fire patterns
Heat intensity
Availability of documents
Fire detection and protection systems
Intrusion alarms
Location of fire
Personal possessions
Household items
Equipment or inventory
Business records
