Questions 201 - 225

Question 1

According to the Transfer and Mobility Policy, list the reasons permanent Officers and Firefighters may seek transfer or be transferred to other locations. (Transfer and Mobility Policy p4 of 10)

Answer 1

 6.1 Career development
 6.2 Operational capability (skills and qualifications development)
 6.3 Compassionate issues/staff welfare
 6.4 Location based transfers
 6.5 Performance / disciplinary

Question 2

According to the Firefighters Training Manual, what does the term latent heat of vaporisation refer to? (Topic 2 Section 2 Page 2)

Answer 2

 LATENT HEAT OF VAPORISATION refers to “the amount of heat required to vaporise a unit weight of the extinguishing medium.”

Question 3

According to the Firefighters Training Manual, water is drawn from various types of water mains. Name the types of mains. (Topic 2 Section 4 Page 1)

Answer 3

 Trunk mains
 Distributary mains
 Reticulation mains

Question 4

Insulated Sandwich Panels (ISPs), especially those with Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) cores can create an extremely hazardous environment for firefighters and may force adoption of a defensive strategy from an early stage.
According to SOGs, what are the reasons for this? (SOG 4.16 Buildings with ISP Guideline Support Document p2)

Answer 4

1. EPS melts and flows like a liquid. It is highly flammable, inducing rapid fire spread, which is undetectable with thermal imaging camera’s (due to insulating properties of the panles) and can spread to areas remote from the fire origin.
2. Panel delamination, where the hot metal panel skins bow and open up, rapidly increases the rate of fire spread, which heats the ceiling void, creates secondary pool fires from melted EPS, and causes panels to collapse.
3. There is an increased risk of flashover and backdraught.
4. Large volumes of toxic, thick, black, acrid smoke are produced.
5. Sudden loss of structural integrity may cause substantial building collapse.

Question 5

According to the Firefighters Training Manual, what are the main types of aircraft? (Topic 3 Section 1 Page 1)

Answer 5

 CIVIL
 MILITARY
 HELICOPTERS (civil and military)

Question 6

According to SOGs, when responding into a Rural Fire District, when are you required to send a Code 6? (SOG 2.5 Standard Radio Codes p2)

Answer 6

A code 6 must be transmitted;
 Immediately it becomes apparent to the Officer in Charge (OIC) of a FRNSW appliance that they have received a call to an incident located within a Rural Fire district, or
 With the code 1 (responding) message if it is known at the time of the call that the incident is in a Rural Fire district.

Question 7

According to Operations Bulletin 2023-02. List the risk management measures that should be taken when attending incidents involving hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV).

Answer 7

1. Conduct atmospheric monitoring with a four head gas detector for LEL’s to detect if hydrogen is leaking
2. Use a thermal imaging camera (TIC) to identify if hydrogen fire is present
3. Conduct thermal checks on the battery using a TIC to determine whether thermal runaway may be occurring within the lithium-ion battery. Increasing temperature is an indication that a thermal runaway event may be occurring. If so, use a hose stream to cool.
4. Establish an exclusion zone (minimum 15m) around any hydrogen FCEV incident.

Question 8

The operation (or non-operation) of the pressure relief valve on an LPG storage or transport container does not necessarily mean that a BLEVE is imminent. However, if the valve is operating on an LPG storage container that has no odorant and is labelled accordingly the internal pressure of the cylinder may be rising. According to the Firefighters Training Manual, what are indicators of a possible BLEVE? (Topic 3 Section 5 p6)

Answer 8

 Indicators of a possible BLEVE are;
* Any increase in the noise level from the valve; or
* Any sign of bulging or blistering on the outside of the tank or cylinder

Question 9

In accordance with SOGs, when developing objectives, strategies and tactics what should be considered? (SOG 4.1 Structure Fire Size Up p4)

Answer 9

When developing objectives, strategies and tactics, consider the following;
 The response time for requested support;
 The requirements for relief crews and refreshments; and
 Whether a change of shift might be necessary.

Question 10

You are the Officer in Charge at a hazardous materials incident, and the site manager is failing to cooperate. You advise the site manager of your authority to enter and operate under the FRNSW Act, what does it state? (Part 3 Fighting and Preventing fires and dealing with hazardous material incidents Division 1 Powers at fires and hazardous material incidents Section 12 Investigation of reported fires and hazardous material incidents)

Answer 10

Part 3 Division 1 Section 12 states;
12 Investigation of reported fires and hazardous material incidents
(1) The officer in charge may, with or without members of a fire brigade, enter any place—
(a) in respect of which an alarm of fire is raised to ascertain whether there is a fire at the place, or
(b) in respect of which a report of a hazardous material incident has been made to ascertain whether there is any hazardous material at the place that is, or is about to be, the subject of a hazardous material incident.
(2) Reasonable force, whether by breaking down gates or fences or breaking open doors or otherwise, may be used to gain entry.

Question 11

According to the Toolkit - Conduct - Respectful Workplaces, Clear communication is one of the best ways to build a respectful workplace and to avoid conflict. What is the tool that will help employees to communicate clearly when addressing difficult topics.

Answer 11

 Straight Talk
* Straight Talk is a tool that will help employees to communicate clearly when addressing difficult topics.
* It takes a simple and structured approach to preparing for and having difficult conversations.
* It consists of six easy steps that help us say what we need to say and listen to what others need to say – all without falling into the trap of unprofessional or disrespectful behaviour.

Question 12

According to the Toolkit - Mental fitness- What program offers an external service that provides professional and confidential counselling/coaching to help you with challenges, issues or concerns that may be affecting you at work or home.

Answer 12

 The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers an external service that provides professional and confidential counselling/coaching to help you.
 Converge International – service provider

Question 13

According to SOGs - During the de-escalation of an incident, at what stage is command terminated? (SOG 1.8 Escalation and De-escalation 3 De-escalation Principles p3)

Answer 13

 Command is only terminated when the last resource leaves the incident.

Question 14

What are principles of situation evaluation in incident management? (SOG 1 Incident Management – Situation Evaluation Guideline Support Document p27)

Answer 14

1.The IC must identify a set of critical factors and process them into an IAP.
2.The IC can only deal with **3-7 critical factors at any one time. If there are more than this, consider expanding the incident structure so that delegation can occur.
3.Collecting and evaluating info may start before arriving on scene.**
4.Once on scene, further info is collected and rapidly evaluated via an initial size up
from the vehicle. Whenever possible, 360 size up.
5.Critical factors must be communicated to FireCOM.
6.The IC should continually collect info during the incident from commanders and other external sources such as onsite experts, BOM and other agencies.
7.Critical factors may change rapidly as the incident evolves. The IAP must be modified as these change.
8.The IC’s initial size up and decision-making about critical factors may need to be rapid. Once the incident is contained, the IC should take a more deliberate approach.
9.Situation evaluation only ends when command is terminated.
10.Anyone at the incident may collect info regarding critical factors. These need to be communicated to the IC. Critical safety concerns can be addressed immediately if required, before informing the IC.

Question 15

According to Recommended Practice, state why the thermal imaging camera may or may not be suitable for use in a flammable atmosphere. (Fire and Rescue NSW Thermal imaging camera Recommended practice, page 8.)

Answer 15

 TICs are not intrinsically safe. Do not use these tools in potentially flammable atmospheres.

Question 16

According to SOGs - A major goal for the IC is to develop an Incident Action Plan for the incident. What is an incident action plan? (SOG 1.4 Incident Action Planning p1)

Answer 16

 The IAP is developed to manage the incident.
 The IAP describes, at any point in time;
* the risk assessment,
* strategy and objectives,
* incident structure,
* layout of the incident, and
* any other relevant information

Question 17

According to SOGs - What are the terms used in an initial radio report, to indicate the size of a structure at a fire incident. (SOG 1 Incident Management – Incident Communications Guideline Support Document p47)

Answer 17

 Small – one hose lay can cover the entire structure.
 Medium – one hose lay can cover 75% of the structure.
 Large - one hose lay will cover 50% of the structure.
 Very large - one hose lay will cover 25% of the structure.
 Mega - one hose lay will cover 10% of the structure.
 NOTE ; hose lay is considered to be 50m – i.e. two 30m lengths of hose which includes 10m from the entry point.

Question 18

As stated in SOGs - Example -Initial radio report - The initial radio report (IRR) is sent by the first arriving officer to FireCOM. It time-stamps command, confirms and identifies the IC, and records initial details about the incident. It should be in Conditions, Actions, Needs (CAN) format and should include -
(SOG 1 Incident Management – Incident Communications Guideline Support Document p49)

Answer 18

 Confirmation of address
 Conditions – Brief description of the incident, obvious critical factors including hazards.
 Actions – Initial Incident Action Plan (IAP), assumption of command and naming of the incident, strategy.
 Needs – Increase of alarm level as per the Alarm Response Protocol (ARP), or, in areas where this does not operate , request for particular resources as per local arrangements (FIRECOM will confirm the availability of requested resources).

Question 19

According to Standing Orders - The Community Activities Reporting System (CARs) is the platform for reporting community activities engaged in at a station level and by our other specialist units. Who is authorised to enter completed activities in CARs. (Standing Orders Community Activity Reporting System p389)

Answer 19

 5 Who can submit a CARS report
* Any member of the crews participating in the activity can complete the report, provided they have direct knowledge of the information they are submitting.
* Only one report is required per activity attended, even where multiple stations were involved.

Question 20

According to FRNSW Cyber Security policy - Employees are responsible to protect the information they use and manage as part of their daily job. Employees are expected to complete Cyber Security Awareness Training how often? (Cyber Security Policy p6 of 10)

Answer 20

 “Each employee must complete annual Cyber Security Awareness Training.”

Question 21

According to the Bushfire Hazard reduction procedure - There are two types of broad area prescribed burns. What are they? (Bushfire Hazard Reduction Procedure p3 of 16)

Answer 21

 SIMPLE prescribed burn; is characterised by low risk, low intensity, small area, low potential impact on assets, completion in one shift and minimal variation of fuel and terrain.
 COMPLEX prescribed burn; is characterised by moderate to high risk, a range of fire intensity, medium to large areas, significant potential impact on assets and involve a variety of fuels and terrain.

Question 22

According to the Bushfire Hazard reduction procedure - Pile burns may be carried out by FRNSW to dispose of vegetation resulting from what activities? (Bushfire Hazard Reduction Procedure p4 of 16)

Answer 22

 Pile burns may be carried out by FRNSW to dispose of vegetation resulting from the following activities:
* removal of bushfire fuels
* bush regeneration/weed removal from authorised activities eg Landcare on behalf of local council
* agricultural activities.

Question 23

According to the Bushfire hazard reduction policy - List occasions when prescribed burning conducted by FRNSW is not permitted in a fire district. (Bushfire Hazard Reduction Policy p5 of 11)

Answer 23

 Burning is not permitted in a fire district on days when;
* There is a total fire ban (TOBAN)
* The EPA has issued a No-Burn Notice (unless prior exemption has been granted)
* The Fire Behaviour Index (FBI) is greater than 23*
* * NOTE; the RFS allows burning on days with FBI greater than 23. If FRNSW is assisting RFS with a prescribed burn, they may be required to continue assisting on these days.

Question 24

According to CASE STUDY 2023-06 on the Intranet, four firefighters injured by unauthorised equipment - During 2020-2021, four firefighters required treatment in hospital after being injured by unauthorised equipment that had been brought into FRNSW workplaces. What is FRNSWs definition of unauthorised equipment as described in the case study? (Case Study 2023-06 p2)

Answer 24

 Unauthorised equipment is any item which is purchased, introduced, or used within a FRNSW workplace that has not first met the requirements of the Procurement Manual.
 This includes equipment which has not been obtained via the Electronic Supply Catalogue (ESCAT), or through an approved Request Purchase Order (RPO).