Private Dwellings

Question 0

Avenues of vertical fire extension in a Queen Anne

Answer 0

Open stairs in living room from 1st floor to 2nd floor
Narrow rear or side stair that connects 1st, 2nd & 3rd floors
Hot air ducts
Dumbwaiter shafts
Boxed in voids around fire places
Pipe recesses
Ballon construction

Question 1

What is considered the major weakness for a firefighting and fire protection standpoint in a PD fire

Answer 1

The open unenclosed stairway

Question 2

What may be an indication that a peak on the front of a PD may actually be a flat roof structure

Answer 2

The absence of a window in the peak

Question 3

When do you charge the line in a PD fire

Answer 3

Before you enter the dwelling (outside)

Question 4

What should an engine officers primary consideration be when determining placement of the 1st hose line at a PD fire

Answer 4

Through the front door to protect both the interior stairs and members searching upper floors

Question 5

The following signs may indicate a cellar fire

Answer 5

Smoke pushing from a chimney during warm weather
Hight heat and heavy smoke with no visible fire on the 1st floor
Very hot floorboards on the 1st floor
Smoke from attic windows or louvered vents

Question 6

An exterior stream may be operated into a cellar window on orders from the

Answer 6

IC only if there are no members in the cellar and members operating above are either protected with a charged line or secure an area of refuge near a means of egress

Question 7

When an engine is faced with a delay in applying water to a cellar fire through the interior because they can’t locate the interior cellars stairs and now want to reposition the hose line to an exterior entrance. What are the rules

Answer 7

The engine can only reposition this line if the is no other hose line available. This decision to reposition this hose line can only be be made by a CHIEF OFFICER. If possible primary searches on the floors above should be competed before proceeding.

Question 8

When repositioning the 1st line from the 1st floor to an exterior entrance into the basement and no other line is available what needs to be done

Answer 8

1) IC who is a CHIEF must ok
2) For safety the members operating on the 1st floor must be withdrawn before the hose line is moved and members operating on upper floors may need to be repositioned to a safe area near a means of egress.

Question 9

When repositioning the 1st hose line from the interior to an exterior entrance the IC should

Answer 9

Activate the EAB and transmit an URGENT message that the 1st hose line is being repositioned

Question 10

If the 1st engine advances the hose line down the interior cellar stairs the 1st truck is responsible to perform a primary search on

Answer 10

Both the 1st floor and the cellar

Question 11

The IC at a private dwelling fire should consider ordering an exterior hose line to be opened into a cellar window to allow for a quick knockdown when there will be a delay in applying water from the interior. Some examples are as follows

Answer 11

• Unable to gain entry to or advance the hose line to the cellar level
• Unable to locate the interior cellar entrance
• A serious or advanced cellar fire

Question 12

In a fully involved private dwelling fire the 1st engine should consider

Answer 12

Dropping 2 hose lines in front of the building

Question 13

In a fully involved private dwelling fire the units in the scene shall maintain the front of the fire building accessible for

Answer 13

Tower Ladder Placement

Question 14

At fully involved private dwelling fires engine companies should operate the hose line on the

Answer 14

Exterior of the building to protect exposures before entering the building

Question 15

Private dwellings that are fully involved in fire have an

Answer 15

Increased collapse potential and require a complete evaluation by the IC before entering.

Question 16

Wood frame private dwelling that appear to be fully involved may only

Answer 16

Have their exterior siding burning

Question 17

What are the ladder company responsibilities when the 1st engine does not advanced down the interior cellar stairs

Answer 17

• The 2nd arriving ladder company will assume responsibility for the primary search of the cellar
• The 1st arriving ladder company inside team will assume responsibility for the primary search and examination of the 1st floor and the floors above

Question 18

Floor coverings found in lightweight construction are not a substantial as found in ordinary construction. These materials may give firefighters the false impression that they will provide enough support to operate above the fire. What are these type of floor coverings

Answer 18

• Cement board
• Single thickness plywood or OSB
• Lightweight concrete
• Tile
• Nylon pile carpet

Question 19

The IC shall ensure all members on the scene are made aware of the presence of lightweight construction. Once discovered this information shall also be

Answer 19

Transmitted to the borough dispatcher in the preliminary and/or progress reports so that it can be relayed to responding units

Question 20

Unless the fire is minor or confined to a small area the primary emphasis for a fire in a lightweight building UNDER CONSTRUCTION is that of an

Answer 20

Exterior attack. Exterior streams should be positioned and operated from safe areas outside the collapse zone

Question 21

When operating in a private dwelling fire built with lightweight construction the following tactics will be applied

Answer 21

• When lightweight construction is suspected the 1st arriving ladder company will make an inspection hole in the ceiling from a safe area to determine the type of support system
• Members shall not be permitted to operate on the roof when during a top floor fire there are indications of extension to the attic
• Under NO circumstances shall the roof be cut in any peaked or flat roof building of lightweight construction

Question 22

Key size up indicators for the IC in lightweight constructed buildings

Answer 22

• Extent of fire (light, medium, heavy)
• Location of the fire (top floor, cellar, void spaces, etc)
• Volume of smoke and fire (light, medium, heavy)
• Smoke action (pushing, twisting, rolling under pressure)