Questions 50-75

Question 1

According to the Fire ePermit policy, what aspect of the planned fire does the permit take into account.

Answer 1

• A fire permit takes into account only the safety aspect of the planned fire.

Question 2

According to STP (STP18 – Fire Suppression and Detection Systems – Slide 33) - Where should Warden Intercom Points be in a building?

Answer 2

• At EICIE (Chief Wardens Handset) (Emergency Intercom Control & Indicating Equipment)
• Within 4m of exit within each emergency zone
• Within 4m of exit on each storey
• Within emergency lift shafts
  Adjacent to FDCIE if remote from EICIE (Fire Detection Control & Indicating Equipment)

Question 3

According to STP (STP Support Document for STP Drill 18 Fire Detection & Suppression Systems), name the components in an AS 2118.1 sprinkler alarm valve room.

Answer 3

1. Main stop valve
2. Test drain
3. Sprinkler test facility
4. Sprinkler alarm valve
5. System pressure gauge
6. Deluge valve
7. Water supply with water supply pressure gauge

Question 4

According to STP (STP32 Electricity and Fires Involving Electrical Hazards)s), there are two control measures when dealing with live power at an incident. List and describe them.

Answer 4

• Turning Off Power – firefighters can turn off the main switch, removing fuses and switching off circuit breakers at the switchboard
• Isolating Power – Energy Authority disconnect power from the network

Question 5

According to STP (STP32 Electricity and Fires Involving Electrical Hazards) - Firefighters can ‘turn off’ a solar power system to stop electricity feeding into the structure’s circuits or back to the electricity network if configured to do so. State the recommended procedure.

Answer 5

1. Determine if it’s best to turn solar power off.
2. Assume switchboard is live. Don correct PPE.
3. Turn off the “Solar Supply Main Switch” or A.C. Isolator
4. Turn off the “PV Array D.C. Isolator” located at the inverter
5. Isolate power if required by electricity authority.

Question 6

According to STP (STP32 Electricity and Fires Involving Electrical Hazards) -When a battery energy storage system is present at a residence, there should be an indicator to alert you to this. What is an example of an indicator, located outside the switchboard.

Answer 6

• When a battery energy storage system (BESS) is present at a residence, there should be an indicator, for example, an ES STICKER – outside the switchboard. There should also be data sheets or further info about this type of system.

Question 7

Operations Bulletin 2023-01- Lists operational actions to follow when dealing with Lithium-ion battery failure in small devices. List these actions.

Answer 7

Use caution when approaching the device as thermal runaway and vapour release may occur without warning. If the device is connected to mains electricity (eg charging) ensure that electricity is switched off prior to applying water.
* Knock-down any fire using copious amounts of water.
* Cool the battery with a cooling stream of water.
* Submerge the device in a suitable container of water if safe to do so. Use a tool such as a long-handled shovel to move the device.
* If unable to submerge the device, continue cooling and conduct thermal checks every 15
minutes until ambient temperature is maintained for 60 minutes. Note: an increasing
temperature is an indication that a thermal runaway event is occurring.
* Ensure that all cells are accounted for by searching the area around the device. Failure to
account for all cells may lead to a secondary fire event.

Notify FireCOM that the incident involves a lithium-ion device. FireCOM will send a notification to FIRU.

Question 8

According to STP (STP32 Electricity and Fires Involving Electrical Hazards) - If solar panels, or the attached isolators, are on fire, in addition to the considerations with turning off an alternative power source what actions should firefighters take?

Answer 8

• Conduct firefighting from the ground or an aerial appliance.
• Do not get onto the roof to extinguish the fire.
• Do not put a ladder against the roof as the gutter may be electrified.
• Extinguish the fire with a spray nozzle, using a pulse spray in a dispersed pattern.
• If the solar panel is at ground level, consider using CO2 to extinguish the fire, ensuring that there is at least 250 mm air gap between the CO2 extinguisher nozzle and any electrified components.

Question 9

According to STP (STP15C Salvage and Overhaul) - Overhaul is a procedure we follow after we attend an incident and extinguish the fire. For your safety during overhaul what is it essential for you to do?

Answer 9

1. Wear SCBA and a full set of firefighting clothing.
2. Perform atmospheric monitoring using a gas detector.

Question 10

According to STP (STP23 Bushfire – Equipment, Extinguishment, Safety and Control) - What is the minimum PPE that can be worn at a bush fire?

Answer 10

• LEVEL 2 PPE – MINIMUM
• Multi-purpose helmet
• Goggles
• Multi-purpose jacket
• GP Gloves
• Firefighting gloves (direct attack)
• Duty wear trousers
• FF boots
• P2 mask

Question 11

According to STP (STP23 Bushfire – Equipment, Extinguishment, Safety and Control) - Property protection is the act of protecting property from the impact of a wildfire. At a major wildfire, FRNSW crews generally engage in property protection roles. We generally have 3 strategies for carrying out property protection. Name and describe them.

Answer 11

1. LINE DEFENCE – conditions would normally allow an offensive attack but there are not enough resources to mount an offensive attack in time. It involves preventing the approaching line of fire from closely approaching the property.
2. EMBER DEFENCE – an ember defence is used when the approaching fire is too intense to be supressed by offensive means and is producing significant ember attack. It involves extinguishing small fires that occur in and around buildings as they occur. Operations from safe positions behind suitable shields and pull back to safer refuge if needed.
3. BACKSTOP DEFENCE – used when there is no safe defensible space around the buildings and/or the approaching fire is so intense that FF’s cannot safely protect the buildings during the impact of fire. FF’s withdraw temporarily a short distance away to a suitable refuge with the intention of coming back after the fire front passes, extinguishing any property fires, saving saveable structures.

Question 12

Operations Bulletin 2023-01- Lists the hazards and risks at incidents involving Lithium-ion batteries in small devices. List all as stated in the bulletin.

Answer 12

• Thermal Runaway
• Extreme fire behaviour
• Release of toxic vapour and gases
• Hazardous materials and leaked electrolytes
• Stranded energy
• Projectiles
• Secondary ignition

Question 13

As described in STP (STP20 Tactical Ventilation) - When conducting ventilation using a fan, what is the most effective inlet/outlet ratio?

Answer 13

• The most efficient ratio is 1:4 (outlet is 4x larger than inlet).

Question 14

According to SOGs (SOG Section 10 Hazardous Materials 10.10 LPG) - When an LPG container is involved in fire, what area of the container is considered most crucial and a high priority area for cooling?

Answer 14

• The container’s VAPOUR SPACE (area above the liquid) is most crucial and is to be considered a high priority area for cooling. Cool all containers by using sprays in preference to jets of water.

Question 15

As recommended in STP (STP20 Tactical Ventilation) - When conducting ventilation with a fan, the fan should be set back approximately how far from the door.

Answer 15

• The fan should be set back approximately the height of the door.

Question 16

According to Work Instruction- “Bagging contaminated gear” What equipment is required for bagging contaminated gear (not PPC) at an incident to minimise the risk presented by hazardous contaminants during storage or transport?

Answer 16

• The appropriate bag for the type of contaminant;
• Asbestos containment bags where asbestos is a suspected contaminant.
• Yellow clinical waste bages for waste produced from providing first aid.
• Clear contaminated gear bags for other contaminants, including smoke.
• Cable ties or strong tape to seal bags.
• A contaminated equipment tag to attach to the bag with relevant details.

Question 17

You are responded to a bushfire with four Fire Rescue NSW pumpers two RFS tankers and one inspector, according to SOGs what class is the fire? (SOG’s Section 3 Bushfires – Guidline Support Document)

Answer 17

• CLASS 1 – A fire under the control of the responsible fire authority, whether or not incidental/low level assistance is provided by other agencies.

Question 18

According to the guideline support document for electricity SOGs (Section 14 Utilities Guideline Support Document p.30) - Electrical transformers in high density areas of cities maybe situated in underground vaults, if a fire occurs in one of these vaults, CO2 can be injected via a wall mounted or footpath CO2 connection box. What does the number on the connection box indicate?

Answer 18

• The number on the connection box indicates the number of CO2 cylinders required to be injected into the underground vault.

Question 19

According to the guideline support document for electricity SOGs (Section 14 Utilities Guideline Support Document p.11) - What factors affect voltage gradient at wires down?

Answer 19

• Composition of the ground, e.g. concrete, road surface, soil
• Moisture content
• Voltage of the electrical source

Question 20

According to the guideline support document for electricity SOGs (Section 14 Utilities Guideline Support Document p.14) - Conductors allow electricity to easily pass through them. List five conductors.

Answer 20

1. Metals – copper, aluminium, steel e.g. ladders, fences, guttering
2. Human body
3. Timber and trees
4. Flame and dense smoke
5. Vehicle tyres
6. Water
7. Wet or dirty rope

Question 21

According to the guideline support document for electricity SOGs (Section 14 Utilities Guideline Support Document p.15) - Name four measures to control the risks associated with electricity.

Answer 21

1. Stay away from the hazard. Always regard it as live until you know otherwise.
2. Assess the risks from at least 8m away from the hazard.
3. Have the electricity company isolate the power.
4. When leaving the incident site, if possible, provide information to the owner or other responsible person on the hazards still present at the site and the control measures in place.

Question 22

As listed on the SIMS Worksheet: Electrical safety kit - State the inventory stored in the green canvas bag of the electrical safety kit.

Answer 22

• 1 x pair of insulating gloves
• 1x pair of leather over gloves
• 2x non-contact AC voltage detectors, either Modiewark Rescue or GLM Mini Rescue
• (1x electrical safety kit bag)

Question 23

According to Recommended practice (Personal protective clothing, equipment and uniform p.32) - When using the gloves from the electrical safety kit, what is the correct donning sequence?

Answer 23

1. Put on insulating electrical gloves first.
2. Put over gloves on over the electrical gloves to protect the electrical glove from damage.
3. The cuff of the electrical glove must extend beyond the cuff of the over glove.
4. The cuff of the electrical glove must be above the cuffs and sleeves of your PPC.

Question 24

According to SOGs (Section 1 – Incident Management 1.15 Inter-Agency Notifications) - FRNSW has an interagency notification policy, list the reasons NSW Police are required to be notified.

Answer 24

• Possible terrorist attack
• Crime investigation
• Site, crowd, traffic and evacuation management
• Rescue incidents

Question 25

You are responded to fire in a Correctional facility, centre or complex operated by government agencies or private contractors. As stated in FRNSW SOGs (Section 8 – Special Incidents 8.3 Correctional Facility Incidents) on arrival what actions should be taken?

Answer 25

• Identify and liaise with the Emergency Coordinator
• While waiting to enter, start developing the IAP by accessing information – e.g. pre-incident plans, SOG’s and utilities.
• Where entry to the facility is delayed, nominate a staging area and advise FireCOM to inform the responding resources. Remain in the staging area until met by the Emergency Coordinator. Notify FireCOM if entry is delayed.
• ALWAYS REMAIN OUTSIDE FACILIY ON STANDBY IF IT IS UNSAFE TO ENTER
• At the main entry, access the Red Fire Emergency Plan Box containing the FRNSW pre-incident plan, safety data sheets folder, site plans, and Local Emergency Plans (LEP’s) and brief crew about the facility.
• Prepare the appliance and secure equipment before entering the facility. List all the equipment to be taken in.