Multiple Dwelling Fires Section 1 thru 5

Question 1

A fire partition is a partition provided for the purpose of protecting life by furnishing an area of exit, or refuge, and having a fire resistance rating of?

Answer 1

3 Hours, 1938 Building code

Question 2

A fire wall is a partition provided for the purpose of protecting life by furnishing an area of exit, or refuge, and having a fire resistance rating of?

Answer 2

4 Hours, 1968 Building code

Question 3

OLT’s were built before 4/12/1901. They had 2 means of egress which were almost always?

Answer 3

Interior stair and fire escape

Question 4

These building usually had apartments in the “railroad” fashion 2 apartments per floor. The fire escapes are usually located in the rear. The ever dangerous exception is fire escapes in the front of the building. Who is of concern?

Answer 4

The absence of rear fire escapes is of major concern for the safety of the operating forces

Question 5

The stairway to the cellar in an OLT is located where?

Answer 5

Inside the building usually beneath the interior stair

Question 6

New Law Tenements were built after 4/12/1901 they are 85’ deep and have 5-6 apts per floor. Where is the entrance to the cellar?

Answer 6

The entrance to the cellar is by way of exterior stairs. The 1st floor cellar ceiling is of fireproof construction and unpierced.

Question 7

“Newer” New law tenements were constructed between 1916 and 1929 they had much larger floor area and have very large undivided cocklofts. Where would you ind the entrance to the BASEMENT?

Answer 7

The entrance to the basement is by a side or rear door at that level via an exterior stair from the first floor, or through a passageway located in the front of the building

Question 8

After 4/18/1929 Tenements changed their name to Apartment houses. Between 1930-1940 firewalls were required to be carried to the UNDERSIDE of the roof boards. After 1940 they had to go to the TOP of the roof boards. Why was this done?

Answer 8

To reduce the size of the cockloft and limit fire spread.

Question 9

Fire escapes in theses Newer NLT’s are still common. TRUE or FALSE

Answer 9

True and these buildings have hallways hundreds of feet long

Question 10

Fireproof class “A” MD’s are 4-40 stories or higher. They are well constructed and life hazard outside the fire apartment is not severe. What type of stairs will GENERALLY be found in these buildings?

Answer 10

Apartments may be served by 2 fireproof stairways opening directly into the apartment, or more GENERALLY by 2 fireproof stairways reached by public hallway.

Question 11

What year did they start building “H” type’s?

Answer 11

1916, 1920’s-1930’ “H” type most popular

Question 12

What year did they require most OLT’s to fire retard stair enclosures?

Answer 12

1934

Question 13

In most cases, the first line in a OLT is stretched via the interior stairs to the location of the fire. The purpose is to protect the primary means of egress for evacuating occupants and to confine and extinguish the fire. What is the exception?

Answer 13

Flames issuing from a window endangering people on the fire escapes. The first line may be operated from the street to protect people on the fire escape.

Question 14

Who should chock the door at a fire in a OLT?

Answer 14

The first MEMBER entering the building should use a chock or rug or other means of preventing the door from locking.

Question 15

Tower ladders and aerial ladders should not be tied up stretching lines up them. TRUE OR FALSE

Answer 15

TRUE

Question 16

Hose lines should not be operated into VENTILATION holes from the roof as this decreases ventilation and nullifies the action of lines operating on the top floor. What are the 3 operations a line on the roof should be used for?

Answer 16

Prevent fire from extending past a trench
Protect exposures
Extinguish fire that cannot from below, such as fire in a cornice

Question 17

A member should ALWAYS be posted in the yard or street below to prevent injuries to anyone from falling material. No material shall be thrown where?

Answer 17

Onto roofs of building setbacks and

into NARROW shafts

Question 18

Gas meters in OLT’s are usually found in cellars. Where else may they be found?

Answer 18

Apartments and public hallways!

Question 19

As a general rule outside streams should not be directed into occupied buildings. OCCUPANTS should be removed first. However, in some cases, life safety or fire conditions may require that outside streams be used in occupied buildings. What are they?

Answer 19

Protect people of fire escapes
Heavy fire in a store

Only the IC can order the use of outside streams This may be the officer arriving 1st!

Question 20

The use of outside streams can cause injuries to members operating inside a building. MEMBERS inside the building must be warned, and moved to a safe location before outside streams are directed into the building. This location must be verified by the IC…How?

Answer 20

By radio or personal contact by the IC

Question 21

Engine companies can extinguish a great deal of fir operating across a shaft. However, this should only be done with the permission of?

Answer 21

The IC as it may drive the fire at members advancing from the interior (I thought you cant push fire! on SAT you can!)

Question 22

The 1st line at a cellar fire in an OLT should remain at the top of the stairs and extinguish any fire that is extending unless?

Answer 22

The fire is minor

Question 23

A store fire in an OLT may involve a large amount of combustible material. A 2 1/2” line should be stretched and a second line stretched where?

Answer 23

To the entrance hallway. If not needed it may be advanced to the floor above.
This 1st floor public hall MUST be examined immediately
A charged hose line MUST be ready before the store is ventilated

Question 24

Cockloft fires on OLT’s are much smaller than in NLT;s and are therefore not much of a problem. Usually these fires are extinguished via?

Answer 24

From below AFTER an adequate vent hole is cut over the fire

Question 25

A hoseline should be stretched to the nearest point from which water can be directed onto fire in the shaft. For fires in rooms in the vicinity of a shaft, after the fire has been______, the line should be operated up the shaft to ______ the fire and cool the shaft.

Answer 25

Controlled

Extinguish

Question 26

Three indicators of possible collapse in an OLT include?

Answer 26

Plaster ceilings falling
Floors or ceilings sagging
Unusual creaking noises

Question 27

SRO’s require sprinklers in each room and in the stairway. How are they supplied?

Answer 27

City water main

They have no roof tank and CANNOT be supplied by FDNY

Question 28

Steel in “H” type buildings creates 3 concerns for the fire service what are they?

Answer 28

Steel when heated EXPANDS
Steel when heated may FAIL
TRANSMITS fire and Heat

Question 29

The most common roof has the top floor ceiling several feet below the main roof beams. TRUE or FALSE

Answer 29

TRUE

Question 30

If the pipe is hot to the touch (who touched it? LOL) a top floor examination of the top floor is required. Who is notified of same?

Answer 30

Officer AND IC

Note: Can no longer touch a soil pipe with the back of an ungloved hand

Question 31

Whats our main concern about channel rails utilized in these buildings?

Answer 31

Our main concern is that they are not fire stopped

Question 32

Instead of stretching around an elevator shaft, it is much easier and faster to use a rope to pull the hose line up to the floor below via the outside of the building, then up the interior stairs to the fire floor. Can you use the stairway window on the fire floor?

Answer 32

No, Floor below

Question 33

Fire out the windows in the throat, courtyard and front windows? In what order should you extinguish the fire from the TL?

Answer 33

Windows in throat 1st
Then toward the front of the building
Then finally into the front windows

Question 34

Officer arriving 1st shall transmit info to the IC. It is represented by the acronym LO DANCE…Explain?

Answer 34

Location of fire apartment
Occupants located or accounted for
Difficulties or delays
Access (location of stairs)
Number of Apts
Conditions
Extension

Question 35

Store fires in NLT’s, the 1st 2 lines are stretched into the store and the 3rd line shall go above. The 1st ladder will go into the store and the 2nd ladder above. Areas larger than the store shall be checked due to the possibility of horizontal spread of fire as well as smoke. These buildings have a peculiarity? What is it?

Answer 35

Fire will bypass intermediate areas both veritcally and horizontally

Question 36

Cellar fires in Class “A” NFP MD’s built after 4/12/1901 are no big deal the cellar ceilings are made of concrete and have a two hr fire resistance. How should the 1st line be stretched to extinguish the fire?

Answer 36

By way of the usually numerous exterior approaches to seat of the fire and extinguish.

Question 37

ALWAYS be aware of the possible civilian life hazard in these cellar areas. TRUE OR FALSE

Answer 37

TRUE

Question 38

Top floor fires ALWAYS present the possibility of fire extending into the cockloft. The IC shall designate a company officer as the roof sector supervisor until a chief officer can be assigned. How many saws should be in operation when he arrives?

Answer 38

2 saws should be put into operation promptly to prevent lateral spread of the fire in the cockloft

Question 39

At times it may be necessary to assign INDIVIDUAL engine firefighter to pull ceiling at cockloft fires. TRUE OR FALSE

Answer 39

TRUE A charged hoseline must be in readiness to extinguish exposed fire

Question 40

A trench should be cut but not pulled until there is a vent hole over the fire. 2 or more inspection holes may be made on the fire side of the trench. The trench shall be AT LEAST 3 feet wide and 20 feet from the initial vent hole. The cut shall be made from wall to wall or other suitable fire stop such as?

Answer 40

Stair or elevator bulkhead

Do not depend on firewalls constructed WITHIN the structure.

Question 41

During trenching operations it is good practice to have 2 ladders raised to the roof at large buildings to provide egress at different ends of the building.A charged line should also be in position. The line may be operated into the trench after?

Answer 41

Adequate precautions have been taken to prevent injury to interior operating forces

Question 42

During trenching operations at H type building fires ceilings on the floor below must be opened up in various apartments, continually working towards the trench area. TRUE OR FALSE?

Answer 42

TRUE

Question 43

ALWAYS examine walls in the vicinity of the bathroom for the large void enclosing the waste pipe. TRUE OR FALSE?

Answer 43

TRUE

Question 44

A fire escape in the throat often spans the firewall and indicates?

Answer 44

2 separate apartments in the throat

Question 45

One apartment in the throat may span a firewall with no fire escape. Whats the 2nd means of egress?

Answer 45

2 Interior exits one in each wing