Operational Directives Flashcards
What are the operational directives designed to establish?
A predictable course of action on the emergency scene
What are the dispatch call centers and their designation?
100 - Fort Collins Dispatch
200 - Loveland Dispatch
500 - CSU Dispatch
900 - Larimer County Dispatch
What are the responsibilities of the IC?
Command Basics
Establish command Conduct a size-up Develop strategic goals and tactical objectives Communications Engage
What are the three command options of the first arriving officer?
Investigative option
Fast attack
Command only
What are the Incident Priorities?
Life safety
Incident stabilization
Property conservation
What is a size-up?
An evaluation of what has happened, what is happening and what is likely to happen
What is the definition of strategy?
What needs to be accomplished
What is the definition of tactics
How things will be accomplished
What are PFAs benchmarks?
360 Complete Primary All Clear Fire Control Secondary All Clear Loss Stopped
What benchmarks are used for vehicle extrications, wildfire, and mass casualties?
All patients removed
Fire contained
All patients triaged
What is the PFA risk profile?
We may risk our lives a lot, in a highly calculated manner, to protect savable lives.
We may risk our lives a little, in a highly calculated manner, to protect savable property.
We will not risk our lives at all to save lives or property that is already lost.
Where do units stage on a scene of an incident?
Approximately one block away from the scene that provide for maximum tactical options
Who become the SAM (Staging Area Manager)
The first arriving PFA unit assigned to staging becomes the SAM or the first arriving off-duty PFA member
What are the responsibilities of the SAM (Staging Area Manager)?
Track personnel checking in or assigned from staging
Assembles firefighters into crews
Ensures staged crews are properly equipped ready for assignment
Factors to consider when moving apparatus for system coverage
Location of major incidents
Available resources
Anticipated out-of-service time for apparatus already on calls
Volunteer and mutual-aid companies available
Anticipated call types
When will level 3 dispatching take place?
When upgrading to a 3rd alarm fire
At the request of a BC or Systems Officer
How many fire engines are dispatched to a: 2nd Alarm fire 3rd Alarm fire 4th Alarm fire 5th Alarm fire 6th Alarm fire
2nd alarm = 5 engines 3rd alarm = 7 engines 4th alarm = 9 engines 5th alarm = 11 engines 6th alarm = 13 engines
Where are map books kept for incoming mutual aid apparatus?
Stations 5, 10 and 12
What information should a captain receive prior to responding to a mutual aid call to another agency?
(5 things)
Type of incident Agency requesting mutual aid Incident or staging location Radio frequency assignment Logistical support from PFA BC as needed
PFA Captain shall cease company engagement on a mutual aid assignment when:
Conditions at the incident do not fit the risk profile
Physical needs and rehab of personnel are not being met
Mutual aid request or response should be terminated when what exists?
(4 things)
The IC releases the crew
Conditions at the incident continue to subject PFA personnel to situations that do not fit the Risk Profile
PFA needs its personnel and/or equipment in its own jurisdiction
Providing mutual aid and assistance at an emergency scene ends after 12 hours
What does a PFA unit need to do while en route to an automatic aid incident?
Request a run number from 100
Primary objectives for any operation at a roadway incident:
4 things
Preserving life
Preventing injury to responders
Protecting property
Restoring traffic flow
What are the five areas of a Temporary Traffic Control Zone?
Advanced warning Transition Buffer Work Termination
What distance should you deploy traffic cones?
1 foot for every 1 mph of posted speed
Six locations where an extra engine is dispatched as a blocking engine for MVAs:
Hwy 287 from 54G to the north end of the district Hwy 14 west of Teds Place Hwy 14 east of Timberline I-25 College Ave south of Harmony Rd Harmony Rd east of Ziegler Rd
All tender responses shall be non-emergent unless one or both of the following occur:
An emergent response is requested by the IC
The tender is responding directly behind an engine that is responding emergent
Truck officers should consider the following when placing apparatus:
Extent and location of fire Most dangerous direction of fire spread Fire confinement Exposure conditions Overhead obstructions Structural conditions
If a building is 4 stories or less the truck should park:
Further away from the structure. Outside of the engine
If a building is 5 or more stories in height the truck should park:
Closer to the building. Inside of the engine
On HAZMAT incidents, a first arriving engine should not be driven directly into the without:
The material involved first being identified
What four things should an apparatus be aware of when approaching a HAZMAT scene:
Stop well short of the scene so you’re not being contaminated
Don’t stop or park over manhole covers
Approach from the upwind side
Approach from the uphill side
Who is responsible for firefighter accountability?
All personnel beginning with the individual firefighter and ending with the IC
What three aspects does the PFA accountability system include?
Chain of command
Accountability system
Procedures for accountability
What is unity of command?
Each responder is under the direct supervision of one supervisor
What four basic components make up the PFA accountability system?
Tactical worksheets
Tracking of elapsed time
Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)
Emergency traffic
PARs shall be performed when?
Lost or trapped firefighter
After reports of building collapse
When changing operations from offensive or defensive
As determined by the IC
Emergency traffic shall be used when:
A firefighter is lost or trapped
A confirmed or threatened building collapse
When changing strategies
The four elements of accountability include:
Defined crew size. 2-4
Crew identification
Crew staging
Emergency scene tracking
When shall crews communicate to command when making entry or egress within a structure?
Any time a SCBA must be worn into an IDLH
Group/Division supervisors should know:
Position, progress and needs of the crews
Stay within visual or radio contact with crews assigned to them
Captain and crew leaders should stay within:
Visual, voice, touch or radio contact with crew members
What does an emergency scene perimeter do?
It establishes an area of safety for our firefighters and our customers. It separates areas of danger and relative safety
Once an area scene perimeter is established, all personnel entering the area shall:
Wear pipe Have crew intact with a portable radio Be assigned to a group or division Have an assignment or directive Have a safety officer watching personnel working
When shall an emergency evacuation notification be made?
Whenever deteriorating conditions, imminent structural collapse or similar conditions endanger firefighters working in or around the emergency scene perimeter
What are the emergency evacuation signals for the PFA?
Emergency traffic notification over the radio and three short blasts with the air horn
What are the Emergency Evacuation Procedures
Command broadcasts the emergency tones over the pertinent frequencies
Command announces need for immediate evacuation
3 short air horn blasts
All supervisors immediately evacuate their crews from the structure or area of danger
Conduct and report your PARs
Whose responsibility is it that proper PPE is worn during an emergency operation?
Each firefighter along with his/her supervisor
SCBAs reduces the risk of injury from contact with:
Products of combustion, superheated gases, toxic products and other hazardous contaminants
SCBAs shall be worn when:
In an active fire area
Directly above an active fire area
In a potentially explosive or fire area, gas leaks and fuel spills
Where combustible products are visible, i.e. Vehicle and dumpster fires
Where invisible contaminants are present: CO or HCN
Where toxic products are present
In any confined space
Respiratory protection shall be worn until:
Air monitor readings are 0 ppm
PFA firefighters shall be required to meet these criteria for SCBA use:
Personnel are to be trained and certified in the use, care and maintenance of the SCBA
Undergo a department fitness exam at least every four years
Facial hair that interferes with the face-piece seal shall not be allowed
Only approved eyewear and eyeglass mounts are to be worn inside the face-piece
What section of ICS oversees rehab?
Logistics. If it is not set up yet then the SAM directs the rehab area
The location of rehab should provide:
Physical rest
An area where PPE can be removed
Protection from the elements
Water and other fluid to rehydrate personnel
EMS personnel and equipment to monitor PFA crews
Rehab guidelines:
4 items
Rehab should be set up away from staging
Personnel sent to rehab enter and exit as a crew
Food should be provided at incidents where work is being done for 3 or more hrs
Firefighters should go to rehab after 45 minutes of work or whenever two air bottles are depleted
What is the responsibility of the Incident Safety Officer?
To focus on the safety of emergency operations and provide the IC with needed safety information and recommendations
The following conditions require an Incident Safety Officer to be assigned:
Second or greater alarm incident
A firefighter injury requires transport or a line-of-duty-death occurs
Whenever firefighters must take extreme risks or the IC wants
If the Incident Safety Officer finds activities falling outside the Risk Profile:
He has the authority to terminate or suspend the actions via face to face or radio communications
The Incident Safety Officer should review the IAP and provide a risk assessment based on the plan. Additionally, the ISO ensures or evaluates the following:
Provides the IC with reports on conditions, hazards, risks
Makes sure an accountability system is in place
Determines the need for collapse zones, hot zones, and/or safety zones
Ensures a RIC is in place
Advises the IC on potential building collapse, fire extension, rapid fire progress, and access and egress
Ensures rehab is set up
Monitors vehicle traffic near the incident
What are the three Code Numbers where clear speech may not be appropriate over the radio?
Code 4 - All clear, scene is secure
Code 6 - Request for PD assistance. Law enforcement is dispatched without further information asked from 100
Code 8 - Crazy person
After action reviews are training tools to discuss and learn from incidents. The responsibility for conducting them are as follows: Company level- Shift level- Multiple alarm- Firefighter LODD or serious injury-
Company level - Discretion of Captain
Shift level - Discretion of BC
Multiple Alarm Incident (3rd or greater) - Required
LODD or serious injury - Required
First arriving PFA unit is responsible for what initial operations?
(6 things)
Establish command
Conduct a Size-Up
Develop strategic goals and tactical objectives
Communicate IAP to other units
Ensure orders and assignments are understood
Engage
Structure Fire initial arrival report consists of:
Size (small, medium, large)
Height (2 or 3 story with the garden level being floor 1)
Occupancy type or common name
Conditions (nothing showing, light smoke, smoke showing, working fire)
360
Alpha side
Command
Wildland fire initial arrival report consists of:
Size Behavior Fuels Rate of spread Direction of spread Threats Actions Command
Structure fire follow up report:
360 complete Update description (basement, fire location) Update actions Update needs Determine strategy
Wildland fire follow up report:
Update changes or corrections to size, fire conditions, exposures
Determine strategy
Assignments
What are the 5 structure fire benchmarks?
360 Complete Primary All Clear Fire Control Secondary All Clear Loss Stopped
What are the two offensive strategy options available for the IC?
Initiating an aggressive interior attack
Resetting the fire from the exterior followed by an interior attack
Second arriving engine’s responsibilities may include:
Performing a reset Deploying a primary attack line Water supply Supplying standpipes, sprinkler systems, or master streams Two-out Performing door control
Third arriving engine company’s assignments may include:
Resetting the fire Deploying an attack line Two-out Water Supply Door Control Supplying standpipes, sprinkler systems, or master streams Rapid Intervention Crew RIC
Support Company functions at a fire may include:
Forcible entry Search and Rescue Anti-ventilation and/or door control Laddering the building Ventilation Salvage and overhaul Assisting with fire cause determination
What is Two-in/Two-out?
Requires a minimum of a two person crew, to be positioned inside the emergency scene perimeter, properly equipped and ready to make entry. This crew is prepositioned outside the structure in the non IDLH area.
When are exceptions allowed for not having a Two Out in place?
Structure fires in the incipient stage
Structure fires involving a known rescue
Structure fires that may be fought from a non IDLH
What is the definition of VEIS?
Venting or opening up a smaller room or tenable area of the structure, allowing the smoke to vent and entering to isolate the room and quickly performing a search.
How long should a Two-out be in place?
Until Incident Stabilization is achieved
Ventilation provides the following benefits:
Increases the chance of victim survival
Increases firefighter safety
Improves visibility and increases the effectiveness of interior operations
What is a ventilation limited fire?
A fire which the heat release rate and fire growth are regulated by the available oxygen within the space
What is flow path?
Is the movement of heat and smoke from the higher pressure within the fire area toward the lower pressure areas accessible by doors, window openings, and roof structures. Unless the thermal layering is disturbed, hot air travels out from the top and cool air travels in at the bottom. (Uni-directional or Bi-directional)
What are actions firefighters can perform to prevent a rapid fire progression?
Maintain door control by reducing air flow
Control ventilation of windows
Get sufficient water on the fire as quickly as possible or into the gas layers
What 7 considerations should be considered in a ventilation size-up?
What is the purpose of the opening?
Wind direction
Location of fire and smoke. Is this a vent limited fire?
Is ventilation needed?
Where are the victims most likely located?
Where is the attack line located?
Where are firefighters on the interior located and are they ready for ventilation?
What are the 3 Cs of ventilation?
Controlled
Coordinated
Communicated
When is anti-ventilation the optimum strategy?
4 items
A charged hose line is not in place to attack the fire
Vent opening may spread the fire into roof spaces
A vent limited fire might advance towards a rapid fire progression event
A clear objective or reason to create an opening has yet to be identified