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
Tandem Pumping
- Short relay operation in which the pumper taking water from the supply source pumps into the intake of the second pumper
- The second pumper then boosts the pressure of the water even higher
- This method is used when pressures higher than the capability of a single pump are required
Tandem pumping apparatus can be positioned up to 300 feet apart
PG 144
NFPA 1962Q
Standard for the Inspection, Care, and Use of Fire Hose, Couplings, Nozzles, and the Service Testing of Fire Hose
PG 146
Wildland Structure Protection
Apparatus should be backed in, but once the apparatus arrives at the structure it is assigned to protect:
- Position apparatus off roadway to avoid blocking traffic
- Clear away nearby brush
- Position on leeward side of structure to minimize exposures/heat/embers
- Position nearby, but safe distance from structure
- Keep doors and windows closed
- Place vehicle’s air conditioning on recirculation mode to avoid drawing in smoke
PG 147
Wildland Fire Attack
- Generally operate from several different positions during course of operations –> must constantly be aware of changing conditions to reposition apparatus for most optimal use and safety
PG 147
Anchor Point
- Point from which a fire line is begun
- Usually a natural or man-made barrier that prevents fire spread and the possibility of the crew being flanked while constructing the fire line
- Ex: lakes, ponds, streams, roads, earlier burns, rockslides, cliffs
PG 147
Fording
- Ability of an apparatus to traverse a body of standing water
- Apparatus specifications should list the specific water depths through which trucks must be able to drive
PG 148
Mop Up
- Overhaul of a fire or hazardous material scene
- In wildland fire fighting, the act of making a fire safe after it is controlled by extinguishing or removing burning material along or near the control line, felling dead trees (snags), and trenching logs to prevent rolling
PG 148
Staging
- Standardized process or procedure by which available resources responding to a fire or other emergency incident are held in reserve at a location away from an incident while awaiting assignment
- Level 1
- Level 2
- Base
PG 150
Level 1 Staging
- Used on all multi-company emergency responses
- First arriving vehicles of each type proceed directly to scene and the others stand by a block or two from the scene and await orders
- Units usually stage at the last intersection on their route of travel before reaching the reported incident location
- Engine companies typically stage near hydrant or water source
PG 150
Level 2 Staging
- Used on large-scale incidents where a larger number of fire and emergency services companies are responding
- These companies are sent to a specified remote location to await assignment
- Company officer of first unit to arrive in staging becomes Staging Area Manager
PG 150
Base
- Location at which the primary Incident Management Logistics functions are coordinated and administered
- The IC Post may be co-located with the Base
- There is only one Base per incident
PG 150
HAZMAT Incidents
- Obtain information regarding wind speed and direction from dispatch or by direct observation
- Approach upwind and uphill
- Do not drive apparatus directly to the scene until the material involved has been identified
- Position apparatus and personnel well short of the scene
PG 153
Hazard Control Zones
- System of barriers surrounding designated areas at emergency scenes
- Intended to limit the number of persons exposed to a hazard and to facilitate its mitigation
- Three zones: HOT zone (restricted), WARM zone (limited access), COLD zone (support)
PG 153
Hot Zone
- Potentially hazardous area immediately surrounding the incident site
- Requires appropriate protection clothing and other safety precautions for entry
- RESTRICTED, EXCLUSION, RED ZONE
PG 154
Warm Zone
- Area between the hot zone and cold zone that usually contains the decontamination corridor
- Typically requires a lesser degree of personal protective equipment than the hot zone
- LIMITED ACCESS ZONE, YELLOW ZONE
PG 154
Cold Zone
- Safe area outside of the warm zone where equipment and personnel are not expected to become contaminated and special protective clothing is not required
- The IC Post and other support functions are typically located in this zone
- SUPPORT ZONE, GREEN ZONE
PG 154
Which one of these areas should be located in the COLD ZONE?
Triage/treatment area
In which HAZMAT control zone is decontamination usually performed?
Warm zone
PG 154
A level 2 staging area is designated by the _________ ?
Operations chief
What is an anchor point?
An advantageous location to begin constructing the fire line
PG 147
Which statement about the use of 2.5” or 3” hose to connect a pumper to a hydrant is correct?
It is a useful option when maximum water flow is not required
PG 144
What is an advantage of a tandem pumping operation?
Higher pressures than are possible with a single engine
PG 144-145
According to the “inside/outside” rule parking on the same side of the street as the involved building should be reserved for aerial apparatus if __________ ?
The building exceeds a specific height
PG 140
Whenever possible, don’t park any closer than _________ feet to a railroad track?
30 Feet
PG 155
A pipe with an intake hose connection on one end and a strainer submerged in a body of water on the other end is a __________ ?
Dry Hydrant
PG 142
According to the “inside/outside” rule, pumping apparatus should park on the same side of the street as the involved building if __________ ?
The aerial can still reach the roof with the pumper between it and the building
PG 140
Which hose setup is used in a dual pumping operation?
The unused intake of the engine at the water supply is connected to the intake of the second engine
PG 144
In general, where should a pumper supplying an aerial apparatus deploying elevated streams park?
As close to the aerial apparatus as practicable
PG 141
Which hose setup is used in a tandem pumping operation?
The discharge of the engine at the water supply is connected to the intake of the second engine
PG 145
A single strong hydrant supplying two pumpers is ________ pumping?
Dual pumping
PG 144, 161
When is it safe to attach a hard suction hose to a hydrant?
The hose is designed for use with positive pressure
PG 142-143
Where should you spot the apparatus to make a side intake connection with a large diameter soft intake hose?
A few feet before the intake is in line with the hydrant outlet
PG 143
Hoselines used in a mobile wildland attack should be _________ ?
As short as possible
PG 148
Which potential problem is of particular concern in a tandem pumping operation?
Exceeding the maximum pressure rating of hose and adapters
PG 146
What is the most efficient position for a pumper supplying a FDC?
As close to the water supply as possible
PG 141
Raising water from a static water supply to a pump that is above the water supply is known as _________ ?
Drafting
PG 141
