IFSTA - Chapter 4 Flashcards
Preincident Planning
Act of preparing to manage an incident at a particular location or a particular type of incident before an incident occurs
PG 136
Positioning Apparatus for Fire Attack
- Size up determines most advantageous position for attack pumper
- Consider position for best tactical advantage, but also for an exit route if withdrawal is necessary
- Pull apparatus past front of building to view three sides of the building
- Consider best access point for personnel and equipment entering the occupancy
KEY POINTS:
1. Rescue situations
2. Exposures
3. Water Supply
4. Method of Attack
5. Hoseline Deployment
6. Wind Direction
7. Terrain
8. Roadway Response
9. Structural Collapse
10. Overhead Utility Lines
11. Falling Debris
PG 136-137
Rescue Situations
If a rescue is indicated, position apparatus to facilitate most efficient deployment of ground ladders (or aerial ladder)
PG 137
Exposures
- Position apparatus so that fire streams can be deployed to protect exposures
- Consider fire apparatus as its own exposure –> avoid placing it where it will be subjected to high heat, falling embers, or other products of combustion
PG 137
Water Supply
- Consider the need to establish own water supply or lay in
- Consider supply hose placement in attempt to NOT block later arriving units
Method of Attack
- Handlines or portable master streams = pumper must be positioned in close proximity to building
- Fixed appliance = apparatus must be positioned where it is close enough to building, but not in danger if collapse of structure should occur
PG 137
Hoseline Deployment
- Position apparatus to support deployment of hoselines for fire attach or supply lines to FDC’s
PG 137
Wind Direction
- Attempt to position apparatus upwind of incident
- Minimizes health risks to driver/operator and potential for apparatus to become exposure
PG 138
Terrain
- Park on hard surfaces when possible
- Position uphill to eliminate the chance of hazardous fluids from flowing underneath apparatus
PG 138
Roadway Response
- Position apparatus so that it is safe from hazards of the incident, while protecting personnel from oncoming traffic
PG 138
Structural Collapse
- Maintain collapse zone of at least 1.5x the height of any building determined likely to collapse
- Corners of buildings are advantageous, as they are considered most structurally safe from collapse
PG 138
Overhead Utility Lines
- Avoid placing apparatus directly below power lines
PG 139
Falling Debris
- Operating/positioning within 200 feet of the base of a high-rise fire may need to be protected from falling glass and debris
PG 139
Positioning to Support Aerial Apparatus
- First arriving apparatus must position to best support their functions, while also considering positioning/functions of later arriving aerial apparatus
- “Inside/outside method”
- Must consider the spread of the stabilizing system of the aerial apparatus
- If supporting/pumping aerial, pumper apparatus must be parked as feasibly close to aerial as possible to minimize friction loss
PG 140-141
“Inside/Outside” Method of Apparatus Placement
- INSIDE: If building is LESS THAN 5 floors tall = attack pumper is positioned on the side of the street closest to (INSIDE the aerial) the building
- OUTSIDE: If building is MORE THAN 5 floors tall = attack pumper is positioned on side of street away from (OUTSIDE the aerial) the building
PG 140
Positioning to Support FDCs
- When supporting FDC, position as closely to water supply as possible
PG 141
Fire Department Connection (FDC)
Point at which the fire department can connect into a sprinkler or standpipe system to boost the water pressure and flow in the system
- This connection consists of a clappered siamese with two or more 2.5” intakes or one large diameter intake
PG 141
Drafting Operations
- Required when a pumper must be supplied from a static water supply such as storage tank, lake, stream, pool, etc.
- More common in rural areas where there is a lack of hydrants
PG 141
Drafting
- Process of acquiring water from a static source and transferring it into a pump that is above the source’s level
- Atmospheric pressure on the water surface forces the water into the pump where a partial vacuum was created
PG 141
Static Water Supply
Supply of water at rest that does not provide a pressure head for fire suppression, but may be employed as a suction source for fire pumps (reservoir, pond, lake, pool)
PG 141
Dry Hydrant
- Permanently installed pipe that has pumper suction connections installed at static water sources to speed drafting operations
- Consists of intake hose connection on the shore and length of pipe extended into the water with a strainer on the end
PG 142
Side Intake Connections
Position apparatus close to the curb with pump panel a few feet short of being in line with the hydrant (stopping short will allow supply line to curve and prevent kinking)
PG 143
Dual Pumping
- Operation where a strong hydrant is used to supply two pumpers by connecting the pumpers intake-to-intake
- The second pumper receives the excess water not being pumped by the first pumper, which is directly connected to the water supply source
PG 144