Incident Response Pocket Guide 2022 Flashcards
In confusing and uncertain situations, a good operational leader will:
• TAKE CHARGE of assigned resources.
• ASSESS SITUATION by gaining intel.
• MOTIVATE firefighters with a “can do safely” attitude.
• DEMONSTRATE INITIATIVE by taking action in the absence of orders.
• COMMUNICATE by giving specific instructions and asking for feedback.
• SUPERVISE at the scene of action.
All leaders of firefighters have the responsibility to provide complete briefings and ensure that subordinates have a clear understanding of their intent for the assignment.
To provide Leader’s Intent:
• Task = What is to be done?
• Purpose = Why it is to be done?
• End State = How should it look when done?
Human Factor Barriers to Situation Awareness includes hazardous attitudes.
Examples of hazardous attitudes that affect Situation Awareness:
• Invulnerable – That can’t happen to us.
• Anti-authority – Disregard of the team effort.
• Impulsive – Do something even if it’s wrong.
• Macho – Trying to impress or prove something.
• Complacent – Just another routine fire.
• Resigned – We can’t make a difference.
• Group Think – Afraid to speak up or disagree.
Planning for Medical Emergencies
Prior to each operational period, ICs, supervisors, and all wildland firefighters need to ask and be able to answer the following three questions:
- What are we going to do if someone gets hurt?
- How will we get them out of here?
- How long will it take to get them to a hospital?
5 Common Denominators of Fire Behavior on Tragedy Fires:
- On relatively small fires or deceptively quiet areas of large fires.
- In relatively light fuels, such as grass, herbaceous fuels, and light brush.
- When there is an unexpected shift in wind direction or in wind speed.
- When fire responds to topographic conditions and runs uphill.
- During critical burn period between 1400 and 1700.
Alignment of ________ during the CRITICAL BURNING PERIOD should be considered a trigger point to reevaluate tactics. Blowup to burnover conditions generally occur in less than 60 minutes and can be as little as 5 minutes.
A tactical pause may be prudent around ______hrs for reevaluating your situation awareness of topography, weather, and fuel.
TOPOGRAPHY and WIND
1400hrs
Time available to use escape routes will DECREASE and safety zone size will INCREASE (possibly by more than double) as wind exceeds _____ mph and/or slope exceeds _____%
10mph
20%
A safety zone is an area where a firefighter can survive without a ________.
fire shelter
Safety Zones:
Separation distance between the firefighter and the flames should be at least _____ times the maximum continuous flame height.
Calculations are based on _______ heat only
4
(Ex: flame height 10’ = 40’ separation distancej
Radiant
(Calculations DO NOT account for CONVECTIVE heat from wind and/or terrain influences.)
1 acre is approximately the size of a football field or _____ft by _____ft.
208’ by 208’
Downhill fireline construction is hazardous in _______, __________, or _______.
It should not be attempted unless there is no tactical alternative.
-steep terrain
-fast-burning fuels
-rapidly changing weather
Do not commit to stay and protect a structure unless a safety zone has been identified during sizeup and triage.
Move to the nearest safety zone, let the fire front pass, and return as soon as conditions allow.
Structure protection is inherently dangerous because it involves _______ firefighting.
indirect
Structure Triage
The determining factor for a defensible vs a non-defensible structure is?
Presence of a safety zone (defensible)
Or lack thereof (non-defensible)
Structure Triage Tactics
Defensible – Prep and Hold
Determining Factor: Safety zone present.
Sizeup: Structure has some tactical challenges.
Tactics: ?
Tactics: Firefighters needed on site to implement structure protection tactics during fire front contact.
Structure Triage Tactics
Defensible – Standalone
Determining Factor: Safety zone present.
Sizeup: Structure has very few tactical challenges.
Tactics:?
Tactics: Firefighters may not need to be directly assigned to protect structure as it is not likely to ignite during initial fire front contact. Patrol following the passage of the fire front will be needed to protect the structure.
Structure Triage Tactics
Non-Defensible – Prep and Leave
Determining Factor: NO safety zone present.
Sizeup: Structure has some tactical challenges.
Tactics:?
Tactics: Firefighters not able to commit to stay and protect structure. If time allows, rapid mitigation measures may be performed. Set trigger point for safe retreat. Patrol following the passage of the fire front will be needed to protect the structure.
Structure Triage Tactics
Non-Defensible – Rescue Drive-By
Determining Factor: NO safety zone present.
Sizeup: Structure has significant tactical challenges.
Tactics:?
Tactics: Firefighters not able to commit to stay and protect structure. If time allows, check to ensure that people are not present in the threatened structure. Set trigger point for safe retreat. Patrol following the passage of the fire front will be needed to protect the structure.
Structure Protection Tactics
Keep _____ gallons of water in reserve.
100 gallons
Approaching thunderstorms may be noted by:
-sudden reverse in wind direction
-noticeable rise in wind speed
-sharp drop in temperature
(Rain, hail, and lightning occur only in the MATURE STAGE of a thunderstorm.)
Thunderstorms:
Take storm precautions AS SOON as you HEAR THUNDER, not when the storm is upon you. Do not resume work in exposed areas until _____ minutes after storm activity has passed.
30 mins
Thunderstorm Safety:
If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stand on end, immediately _________.
Crouch low to the ground. Make yourself the smallest possible target and minimize your contact with the ground. You can use a pack to sit on.
(Never lie on ground)
Individuals may turn down an assignment as unsafe when:
- There is a violation of safe work practices.
- Environmental conditions make the work unsafe.
- They lack the necessary qualifications or experience.
- Defective equipment is being used.
- The individual directly informs their supervisor they are turning down the assignment as given. Use the criteria outlined in the Risk Management Process (10 Standard Firefighting Orders, 18 Watch Out Situations, etc.) to document the turn down.
- Supervisor notifies Safety Officer of turn down. If no Safety Officer present, notify Section Chief or IC.
- Resources asked to perform the assignment of a previous turndown must be informed of the turndown and the reasons why.
Turning down an assignment:
If an unresolved safety hazard exists or an unsafe act was committed, the individual should also document the turn down by submitting a _______ (ground hazard) or SAFECOM (aviation hazard) form in a timely manner.
SAFENET
When an individual feels an assignment is unsafe, they also have the OBLIGATION to identify, to the degree possible, safe alternatives for completing that assignment. Turning down an assignment is one possible outcome of managing _______.
risk
Powerlines:
Heavy smoke and flames can cause arcs to ground. DIRECT ATTACK must be abandoned within _____ feet of POWERLINES (different from transmission TOWERS — 35 ft).
100 ft
(This includes if heavy smoke or flame is within 100 ft of power lines)
Powerline Safety:
Always maintain a distance of _____ feet from transmission TOWERS.
35 ft
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) is most likely to be encountered on military or former military sites (ammunition, grenades, mortars, ect).
Report discovery of UXO to your IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR and/or DISPATCH.
Keep a minimum of ______ feet away from areas on fire that contain suspected UXO.
1,000 ft
When responding to an incident with oil and gas fields and/or coal seams, you MUST RECEIVE the appropriate TRAINING or a BRIEFING before your operational assignment. Primary hazards include TOXIC GASES as well as industry operations and facilities.
Park at least ______ feet away from facilities and equipment. Avoid tampering with the oil and gas pumping equipment.
Seek immediate medical care at a hospital if ______ exposure is suspected.
-20 ft
-Hydrogen Sulfide Gas (H2S)
(Exposure indicators include high heart rate, respiratory paralysis, seizures, and rapid incapacitation.)
_________ resources have the highest smoke exposures.
Symptoms of over exposure start with headaches and visual impairment, then impaired decision-making, and possible death (from carbon monoxide).
-Direct attack
-Line holding
-Mop up
Last Resort Survival:
Drop your gear to increase escape speed. Keep your fire shelter and if time allows keep your:
-hand tool
-water
-radio.
Picking a fire shelter deployment site:
• Your FIRST PRIORITY is to maximize distance from nearest surface fuels.
• Find the lowest point available.
• If possible, pick a surface that allows the fire shelter to seal, and remove ground fuels.
• Get into the fire shelter before the flame front hits.
• Position your feet TOWARD the fire and hold down the fire shelter.
• Keep your face pressed into the ground and protect your airway.
• Deploy next to each other and keep talking.
The four CRITICAL weather elements include:
• Low RH
• Unstable air
• Strong surface wind
• Drought
Critical fire weather PATTERNS that support extreme fire behavior conditions can be separated into two primary categories:
-those that produce strong surface winds
-those that induce atmospheric instability.
FOEHN Winds (Santa Ana, East and North Winds) are WARMING and DRYING winds blowing from HIGH ELEVATION downslope.
Foehn Winds can be ___ to ____ mph, can exceed 90 mph
20-60mph
Responding to large scale disasters & Structure Hazard Marking System:
Responding to large scale disasters & Search and Rescue (SAR) Marking System:
Helicopter Landing Area Selection:
-Helicopters land and take off into the wind.
-The area must be free of stumps, brush, posts, large rocks, and anything over ___ inches high.
-Approach/takeoff path free of brush and trees ____ ft out from landing area
18 inches
300ft
A ____ rated fire extinguisher is needed for the Helicopter Landing Area
40BC extinguisher (20lb)
Helicopter Hand Signals:
Aviation Ops
If escape is not possible during a water drop:
• Lie face-down with head TOWARD incoming aircraft with hardhat in place
• Hold hand tool away from your body
• If possible, grasp something firm to prevent being carried or rolled about by the dropped liquid.
Retardant and Suppressant Use Reminders:
• Suppressant (water, foam, or water enhancer) = Direct attack with close ground support.
• Retardant = Indirect attack, point protection, and direct attack ahead of ground support.
• Retardant use should coincide with ground support within _____ hours.
24hrs
The purpose of the _______ system is accident prevention. It is a tool used to encourage the reporting of any condition, observance, act, maintenance problem, or circumstance that has the potential to cause an aviation or aviation-related accident. It can also be used for reporting positive safety actions and mishap prevention measures.
SAFECOM
Strategy - Direct Attack:
Strategy - Indirect attack:
Working with Heavy Equipment (dozers):
Stay at least ____ feet in front and ____ feet behind heavy equipment.
In timber, distances should be increased to 2½ times the canopy height.
-100ft in front
-50ft behind
Working with Heavy Equipment (dozers):
Never approach equipment until you have eye contact with the operator and:
-all implements have been lowered to the ground
-equipment is idled down
“CHAINS” are a unit of measure in a land survey commonly used to report FIRE PERIMETERS and FIRELINE DISTANCES.
One Chain = ____ ft
66 ft
The _______ is a progressive line construction technique in which self-sufficient crews build fireline until the end of an operational period, remain overnight (RON) at or near that point, and then begin again the next operational period.
Crews should be properly equipped and prepared to spend TWO or THREE shifts on the line with minimal support from the incident base.
Line Spike, or Coyote
Reporting Fire Chemical Misapplication:
Inform your supervisor and/or Resource Advisor (READ/F) if you encounter fire chemicals which may have been misapplied into any of these locations:
-waterways
-300 foot riparian buffer zones
-threatened and endangered species habitat
-mapped avoidance areas
Heat-Related Injury (HRI) Mitigation:
-Performing physical tasks, such as hiking up hills, is our LARGEST producer of body heat.
Hikes into a fire typically raise your body temperature ___ to ____° F from your pre-hike level.
-Pack weights exceeding ____% of body weight add to the demand of an activity.
•1–2° F
•25%
Medical Incident Reporting:
-For non-emergency incident: work through CHAIN OF COMMAND to report and transport injured personnel as necessary.
-For a medical emergency: Identify onscene IC by name and position and announce “______” to initiate response from the IMT Communications/Dispatch.
“Medical Emergency”
How many Standard Firefighting Orders are there?
10
18 Wildland Watchout Situations:
Helicopter/Airship Orientation Compass:
What are the Human Factors that affect Situational Awareness?
-Low Experience Level with Local Factors
-Distraction from Primary Task
-Fatigue
-Stress Reactions
-Hazardous Attitudes
Common Tactical Hazards associated with your POSITION:
• Building fireline downhill.
• Building undercut or mid-slope fireline.
• Building indirect fireline or unburned fuel is between you and the fire.
• Attempting frontal assault on the fire or you are delivered by aircraft to the top of the fire.
• Establishing escape routes that are uphill or difficult to travel.
Common Tactical Hazards associated with your SITUATION:
• Poor communication due to a rapidly emerging small fire or an isolated area of a large fire.
• Suppression resources are fatigued or inadequate.
• Assignment or escape route depends on aircraft support.
• Nighttime operations.
• Wildland urban interface (WUI) operations.
Considerations for effective safety zones:
• Take advantage of heat barriers such as leeward side of ridges, large rocks, or solid structures.
• When possible, burn out safety zones prior to arrival of the fire front.
• Avoid locations that are upslope or downwind from the fire, chimneys, saddles, narrow canyons, and steep, uphill escape routes.
• Not intended for structure protection.
When building downhill fireline, the following is required:
- Discuss assignments with crew supervisor(s) and fireline overhead prior to committing crew(s). Responsible individual stays with job until completed.
- Decision is made after proposed fireline has been scouted by supervisor(s) of involved crew(s).
- Coordinate LCES for all personnel involved.
- Use direct attack whenever possible. If not possible, the fireline should be completed between anchor points before being fired out.
- Fireline will not lie in or adjacent to a chute or chimney.
- Starting point will be anchored for crew(s) building fireline down from the top.
- Monitor bottom of fire; if potential exists for the fire to spread, take action to secure the fire edge.
Rapid mitigation measures for structure protection include:
• Remove small combustibles immediately next to structure.
• Close windows and doors, including garage (leave unlocked).
• Clean area around fuel tank and shut off tank.
• Charge garden hoses.
• Apply CAF, foam, or gel retardants if available.
Turning Down an Assignment
A turn down is a situation where an individual has determined they cannot undertake an assignment as given and they are unable to negotiate an ________.
alternative solution.
The Fire Assessment Process BEFORE receiving an assignment and for EACH operational period includes:
• Review fire weather forecast, noting NWS Watches and Warnings and key discussion terminology.
• Review recent fire activity and notable fire behavior.
• Compare current fire danger levels to historic trends and thresholds on local PocketCard to assess season severity.
• Consider critical fire weather patterns with fire weather forecast and predictive services 7-day outlook.
A fire environment factor are steep slopes at _____% grade.
> 45%
“Tight” crown spacing of trees is considered _____ ft.
<20 ft
Rapidly Changing Fire Behavior includes:
• Smoldering fires pick up
• Trees begin to torch
• Firewhirls beginning
• Leaning or sheared column
• Increased frequency of spot fires
Interpreting a Smoke Column:
Flame Lengths ____ to ____ ft are too intense for direct attack with handtools. Heavy equipment line construction and holding with water may be effective.
4 to 8 ft
Aviation Ops
NO SMOKING within _____ ft of an aircraft
50 ft
_______ is the first consideration of fireline location.
Firefighter safety
Media Interviews:
Always notify chain of command and PIO if media arrives unescorted.
-Give simple answers ____ to ____ sec in length.
-AVOID using JARGON or ACRONYMS.
-CONCLUDE with a SAFETY or wildfire PREVENTION MESSAGE.
10 to 20 sec.
Factors that affect Situational Awarness
24 hours awake affects your decision-making capability like _____ blood alcohol content.
.10
The Sizeup Report reference is found where in the IRPG?
Inside Front cover
The Briefing Checklist is found where in the IRPG?
Back cover (inside)
The 10 Standard Firefighting Orders are found where in the IRPG?
Back cover (outside)
The 18 Watch Out Situations are found where in the IRPG?
Back cover (outside)
Color coding of chapters in the IRPG:
-Green pages: Operational Engagement
-Grey pages: Specific Hazards
-Orange pages: Fire Environment
-Yellow pages: All Hazard Response
-Blue pages: Aviation
-White pages: Other References
-Red pages: Emergency Medical Care
Landing sites for helicopters:
CPR
CPR compressions should be at _____ to _____ per minute.
100 to 120
_________ is used to indicate the lower atmosphere’s support for rapid fire growth due to dry and unstable conditions over the fire area.
Haines Index
The turn down of an assignment MUST be based on _________.
an ASSESSMENT of RISKS and the ability of the individual or organization to control those risks.
The Briefing Checklist is split up into what categories?
-Situation
-Mission/Execution
-Communications
-Service/Support
-Risk Management
All ROUTINE medical incidents (i.e., non-life-threatening), shall continue to be administered under the established ICS-_____ Medical Plan as an injured/ill member, (i.e., line-emergency), and SHALL NOT be administered as an IWI. .
ICS-206
