Phx Fire Vol 2 (Deck 13) Flashcards
204.04 - 204.10
204.04
Flammable Liquid Incidents
Disposal process for large quantity spills of flammable liquids.
Disposed of by a specialized haz mat clean-up contractor per C99, which may require a fuel transfer pump or vacuum truck and personnel familiar with fuel transfer precautions.
Safety measures should be taken when working in the hazard zone of a flammable liquid spill?
Wear full PPE including SCBA with face piece on. Unless absolutely necessary, personnel shall not work in a spill area. When necessary, the spill must be covered with foam and all possible precautions against ignition must be taken, and the area shall be monitored with a combustible gas indicator.
Role of Car 99 in handling fire code violations related to flammable liquid incidents.
Dispatched to investigate fire code violations take appropriate action.
How should smaller spills of flammable liquids be handled?
Smaller spills, which cannot be picked up with a tanker, must be absorbed if it has not already evaporated. Special Ops carries small amounts of absorbent, but the most often used and preferred method is using sand delivered by the Streets Dept.
Response required for large quantity spills of flammable liquids.
Large quantity spills require the response of a unit from the Haz Mat Response Team in addition to Car 957.
Characteristics of natural gas.
Methane is extremely flammable, lighter than air, colorless, and odorless. Mercaptan is added to help indicate its presence, resulting in an odor like rotten eggs.
Flammable range of natural gas by volume?
4% LEL to 15% UEL by volume.
How should fires involving natural gas be controlled?
Stopping the flow of gas. In most cases, burning natural gas should not be extinguished.
Role of Combustible Gas Indicator in evaluating the presence of natural gas.
Presence of natural gas in its flammable range can be evaluated with the use of a Combustible Gas Indicator, typically done by Haz Mat Response Teams (HMRT) and/or the appropriate utility company.
Approach should be used in managing incidents involving natural gas?
Risk management profile and strategic decision-making model (M.P. 201.01C), while also applying good judgment and experience.
Potential hazards associated with natural gas leaks above ground versus below ground.
Above ground are much easier to manage than below ground leaks. Confined natural gas has the potential for a catastrophic explosion.
204.05
Natural Gas Emergencies
Importance of remaining vigilant in responding to natural gas emergencies?
Prevent complacency due to the extreme flammability and potential hazards associated with natural gas.
Actions of the first arriving unit (non Haz-Mat) in a natural gas emergency.
Scene size up, establish command, attempt to locate the homeowner/RP, evacuate the area, isolate the scene, deny entry, and ensure personnel safety practices are in place.
Actions of the first arriving Haz-Mat unit in a natural gas emergency?
Assign Hazard Sector, ensure FF safety practices, contact initial crews and RP for information, reevaluate the Hot Zone using metering devices, and gather necessary tools and equipment.
Define the term ‘Hot Zone’ in the context of a natural gas emergency.
Area where the natural gas leak is present, requiring specific safety measures and equipment for personnel working within it.
How should the first arriving unit handle a situation that could become dangerous due to gas migration in a natural gas emergency?
Consciously avoid committing apparatus or personnel to the dangerous situation and attempt to gather information while working towards an ‘All Clear’ of the immediate area.
Specific response to incidents involving a reported gas leak with no fire or explosion?
Range from minor to potentially hazardous situations and require appropriate assessment and action.
Safety practices for personnel working in the Hot Zone during a natural gas emergency.
Appropriate PPE with SCBA, having a charged hose line in place, and ensuring personnel safety practices are followed.
First arriving Haz-Mat unit if gas company personnel are needed to assist with mitigation efforts in a natural gas emergency?
Ensure that they are dressed in appropriate PPE, including SCBA’s, and gather necessary tools and equipment.
How should the first arriving unit handle a natural gas emergency if the incident is determined to be a natural gas leak?
Ensure that personnel safety practices are in place, establish a water supply, and have a charged hose line in place, which must be attended when Haz-Mat crews or gas company personnel are securing the leak.
Approach to uncontrolled flammable gas leaks in the context of natural gas emergencies.
Appropriate size up, establishing and controlling the perimeter, and hazard mitigation to ensure safe and effective operations.
Recommended action for the first arriving unit if gas company personnel are on the scene of a natural gas emergency?
Make contact with the on-scene gas company personnel to determine needs.
How should the Haz Mat Response Team obtain gas concentration readings in a natural gas emergency?
Using various tools, including combustible gas indicators, for Command to evaluate the hazard and take appropriate action.
Role of non-tech fire crews in a natural gas emergency involving a SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING.
Attempt to locate the source of the gas and any shutoff devices available, and if the source of the leak can be identified, it would be appropriate to secure the gas to the appliance/meter if needed.
Recommended for a natural gas emergency in a COMMERCIAL OCCUPANCY OR OTHER LARGE OCCUPANCY?
Refrain from attempting to secure the natural gas unless there is an immediate life hazard, as securing the gas main is often difficult to accomplish due to the size.
Best practice for handling a natural gas leak in an apt complex.
Try and determine the source of the leak and isolate it at the appliance or bank of meters. Evacuation, isolation, and denial of entry should be implemented until Haz-Mat crews arrive on the scene.
What should be done if the source of a gas leak within a building is unknown or uncontrolled?
Gas supply should be shut off at the meter, but only in coordination with on-scene HazMat units, C957, or Gas Company representative.
First arriving Haz Mat Response Team (HMRT) proceed in a gas leak situation?
Assigned Hazard Sector and initiate metering the area to re-evaluate the established Hot Zone boundaries. They should assess their ability to mitigate the leak and work with utility companies to secure ignition sources.
Role of the Hazard Sector in handling a gas leak situation.
Assessing the ability to mitigate the leak, working with utility companies to secure ignition sources, and obtaining sufficient gas concentration readings if the leak has not been identified.
Actions should be taken if there is an indication of gas accumulating within a building?
Occupants should be evacuated, the area should be isolated, and re-entry should be denied. If there is an imminent life safety concern, appropriate actions following the Risk Management Plan should be taken.
Precautions to be taken when attempting to secure ignition sources in a gas leak situation.
Turning off power to avoid explosion, securing electricity at a remote location, and considering natural ventilation and/or intrinsically safe equipment.
What should be done if gas company personnel are actively securing the leak in the Hot Zone?
FD crews should provide stand-by protection with a charged hand line and a minimum of 2 FFs in appropriate PPE with SCBA, face piece donned, and breathing air.
Signs that units arriving at the scene of a structural explosion should consider as possible indicators of a natural gas cause.
Debris field, structural damage, and potential odorless gas due to migration and scrubbing of Mercaptan.
Key actions that the first arriving crew should perform at the scene of a potential gas explosion?
Perform effective size up, determine presence and condition of victims, identify immediate hazards, and develop an IAP.
Concept of a Hazard Sector in the context of a natural gas emergency response.
Established by the IC to designate Hot, Warm, Cold, and No-Entry Zones as necessary, based on gas concentration readings and potential sources of ignition.
How should the IC approach the evacuation of civilians and emergency personnel in the area of a potential natural gas emergency?
Evacuate all civilians, minimize the number of emergency personnel in the area, and establish a Hazard Sector with Hot, Warm, Cold, and No-Entry Zones.
Potential challenges in determining the cause of an explosion in a structure not served by natural gas, where underground gas migration has occurred.
Gas may be truly odorless due to Mercaptan scrubbing, making the cause of the explosion difficult to determine.
Considerations should be made when developing an IAP at the scene of a potential natural gas emergency?
Need for rescue, structural integrity, Tx, fire control, and accomplishment of an ‘All Clear’ on involved and surrounding structures.
Importance of securing all possible sources of ignition in the affected area of a natural gas emergency?
Prevent further explosions or fires, especially if gas concentration is encountered inside or adjacent to any building.
Use of combustible gas indicators in natural gas emergencies.
Check suspected areas for detectable gas concentrations, starting outside the explosion area and moving in until readings indicate the presence of gas.
Role of ground probes in evaluating potential underground gas leaks during natural gas emergencies?
Essential for evaluating potential underground leaks, but in extraordinary circumstances, such as gas migration in a sewer system, other detection devices may be required.
How should command ensure effective interaction between gas company & FD during natural gas emergencies?
Provide for effective interaction as gas company personnel are responsible for locating and eliminating gas system leaks and can provide valuable assistance in handling incidents.
204.06
Monitoring Atmospheric Conditions
Role of TRT and specialty resources in natural gas emergencies where further collapse is possible.
Where further collapse is possible and a life safety hazard exists, TRT and other specialty resources should be called to provide structural stabilization and additional appropriate resources as needed.
204.07
Clandestine Drug Laboratories
204.08
Confined Space Rescue
Purpose of the policy and procedure for monitoring atmospheric conditions.
Establish the highest level of accuracy for atmospheric monitoring instruments to ensure safety for all personnel.
Responsibilities for using atmospheric monitoring instruments?
Members to span and/or calibrate the instruments before entering contaminated atmospheres, suspected oxygen-deficient atmospheres, or atmospheres that may suddenly become contaminated.
How is the spanning and calibration of atmospheric monitoring instruments tracked according to the procedure?
Using a Control Log called the ‘Meter Calibration and Span Control Log,’ which documents weekly calibration and spanning and is completed on a monthly basis.
Define the term ‘spanning’ as used in the procedure for monitoring atmospheric conditions.
Process of calibrating the instrument on the proper calibration gas, hose, and regulator to ensure it is in proper operating condition.
Frequency for calibration of all instruments?
Required on a weekly basis to ensure proper maintenance is being performed according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
Scope of the FD involvement in clandestine drug laboratory investigations.
Provides limited support for police departments and other agencies at sites of clandestine drug labs, including research and information on chemicals, remote exterior air monitoring, and decon of police entry personnel.
What are some hazards associated with clandestine drug labs?
Substitution of proper equipment with unsafe items, potential generation of toxic levels of phosphine gas, and the presence of booby traps and explosive devices.
How does the FD assist in clandestine drug lab investigations?
Support such as research on chemicals, remote exterior air monitoring, and decontamination of police entry personnel when requested by law enforcement agencies.
Indicators of potential clandestine drug labs.
Unusual odors like ether, acetic, solvents, and other chemical odors.
How should personnel respond to potential clandestine drug labs when providing emergency services?
Aware of indicators such as unusual odors and exercise extreme caution, avoiding touching or moving anything in the laboratory, whether operational or abandoned, to prevent triggering booby traps or explosive devices.
Procedure for handling personnel showing signs of chemical exposure during or after an incident involving a lab or suspected lab.
Personnel showing signs of chemical exposure should be Tx and TRx to Poison Control if the exposure is not life-threatening. Critical injuries require TRx to the closest hospital. Potentially exposed personnel and equipment must be decon, and exposed personnel should complete a Haz Mat Exposure Report Form.
Law enforcement agency entry ops into suspected and unsecured clandestine drug labs?
Personnel will not participate in such operations unless the area has been secured by the PD Bomb Squad and S.A.U. teams, and the building has been searched for explosive devices.
