Responding to Routine Emergencies Flashcards
When responding to an odor of smoke in a commercial occupancy, a telephone exchange, or a building that houses a transformer, what hazard may be present in the burning insulation?
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
At an odor of smoke call, a flickering, dim, or nonfunctioning fluorescent lamp can indicate that the __________ is heating up.
Ballast
It is possible, in ballast devices manufactured before 1979, that the capacitor contains a small amount of __________-contaminated dielectric fluid.
PCB
True or False:
Removing a fluorescent lamp smaller than 8 feet will stop the flow of electricity.
False
Underwriters Laboratories didn’t require thermal protection for approved recessed lighting until what year?
1982
Since the smell of overheating rubber mimics that of an electrical problem, you should consider checking __________ at an electrical odor call.
The belts of major appliances.
If you suspect that ignited lint is the source of a smoke condition, you’ll have to check both the clothes dryer itself and the entire run of the __________.
Vent Duct
True or False:
A loose wire in a junction box may cause overheating in another box, provoking a fire remote from the cause.
True
A noninvasive way to check behind a wall for hot wires, smoldering beams, or active flaming is to use a __________.
Thermal Imaging Camera
Should the fire department open sealed electrical boxes?
No. Curtail the power by using the main shutoff instead.
In a residential building, will opening the main switch necessarily cut off all power to the home?
No. It’s possible that power is being pirated into the building, bypassing both the meter and the main shutoff.
True or False:
Some new meters may be removed w/o interrupting the flow of electricity into the building.
True
Does aluminum siding pose a threat of shock hazard?
Yes
Name 4 dangers associated with spraying water on a burning pole-mounted transformer.
- Explosion
- PCB Contamination
- Downed Wires
- Electrocution
Treat all wires as if they were __________.
Live
Is it entirely safe to use a rope or wooden pike pole to remove a downed power line from a vehicle?
No. Even a seemingly dry rope or pike pole can contain contaminants that might conduct electricity.
When power lines are down, the danger zone s/b at least __________ in either direction of the fault.
One Span
If, at the request of the utility company, the decision is made to flood an electrical manhole, the proper procedure you should follow is to __________.
Tie off the open butt of a hoseline near the opening, then withdraw all personnel to a safe distance before turning on the water.
The major problem experienced with electrical manholes in the Northeast is deterioration due to __________.
Salt
The gases generated by burning wiring are not only noxious and deadly, they are also __________ and __________.
Flammable and Explosive.
The author recommends that you routinely test for dangerous levels of __________ at every manhole incident.
CO
Who should pull the cover off a smoking manhole?
Appropriately trained utility personnel.
The most common home heating fuels are __________ and __________.
Oil and Natural Gas
Based on its viscosity, fuel oil is separated into how many grades?
6
The capacity of a fuel tank in a private dwelling is typically __________ gallons.
275
To ignite the fuel oil in the combustion chamber of an oil burner, the fuel is __________, this increasing its surface area.
Atomized
Safety devices allow an oil burner pump to operate for no more than about __________ seconds if no flame is present.
90
This oil burner emergency occurs when unburned atomized fuel is ignited at the start of the burn cycle, resulting in an explosion.
Delayed Ignition (Puffback)
The burning of pooled oil in the combustion chamber after the burner has shut down is known as __________.
Afterfire
This condition occurs when the flame repeatedly jumps away from and then returns to the burner nose cone.
Pulsation
Since the White Ghost is a potentially explosive situation, you should treat it as a __________.
Gas Leak
On arrival at an oil burner emergency, should you close the furnace door if you find it open?
No. Closing the furnace door can cause severe pulsation.
After shutting down the power and the fuel supply valve, what is the proper way to extinguish a fire in the combustion chamber of an oil burner?
Let it burn out on its own.
If smoke is filling the burner room accompanied by an oily odor, suspect __________.
A blocked or disconnected flue or chimney.
The primary threat of an oil spill in a basement is that the vapors will __________.
Make the occupants of the building sick.
Typically, on residential water heaters, the temperature-pressure valve will function if the water reaches __________ or if the pressure exceeds __________.
210 Degrees
150 psi
Name 2 symptoms of a defective temperature-pressure valve.
Steam or hot water discharging from the temp-pressure valve, or steam rather than water discharging from an opened hot water faucet.
Name 2 symptoms of a defective low-water cutoff.
A red-hot water heater and the smell of hot metal.
When the homeowner reports having heard a loud whooshing sound prior to noticing fire near the gas water heater, what problem is usually indicated?
Delayed Ignition
The natural gas intended for domestic use contains 70 to 90 percent __________, with __________ making up most of the remainder.
Methane
Ethane
Although natural gas is nontoxic, it can cause death by __________.
Asphyxiation
Typically, the odorant added to natural gas is __________.
Mercaptan
Natural gas is about __________ as dense as air.
2/3
High pressure gas transmission lines can be pressurized to as much as __________.
350 psi
Each end user has a gas regulator installed to lower the pressure down to a usable pressure of about __________.
1/4 psi
The main danger of having water in a gas line is that it can __________ in the same way that an air slug would.
Cause flameout
For every increase in temperature of 459 degrees F, the volume of air __________.
Doubles
To some extent, odorants can be absorbed by iron gas pipe, but only when the pipe is __________.
New
What device enables you to determine not only that natural gas is present, but also its concentration and whether or not it is within its flammable range?
Digital Flammable Gas Detector
Name 2 probable results of excessive gas flow to an appliance.
- The gas flame can either be blown out l, possibly resulting in a gas leak.
- The flame may grow, possibly to dangerous heights.
Blocked burner ports, accumulated dirt, and low gas pressure can all result in __________.
Delayed Ignition
Don’t extinguish a gas fire until you __________.
Shit off the escaping gas
Could keying the mic on a potable radio be enough to set off an explosion at a response to an interior gas leak?
Yes
When responding to an interior gas leak, you should position apparatus defensively against __________ and __________.
Explosion and Structural Collapse
True or False:
The hazards associated with a propane gas leak are different from those of a natural gas leak.
True
In the case of a slight leak, is a gas indicator likely to give accurate results if you slip the probe underneath the door of a locked apartment? Why?
No, because the gas has probably accumulated near the ceiling.
The shutoff found on the supply side of a gas meter is known as a __________.
Meter Quarter-turn Wingcock
True or False:
Since metal pipe is conductive, gas leaking from a metal pipe poses a static electricity hazard.
False. Plastic pipe, specifically because it is non-conductive, will allow a static charge to build up as gas flows freely through a break in the pipe. No static charge will build up on a conductive metal pipe.
Is it possible to stop the flow of gas from a small plastic pipe by folding the pipe over on itself?
Yes, but you must consider static electricity as a possible source of ignition and take proper precautions.
Freshwater weighs approximately __________ pounds per cubic foot at 40 degrees F.
62.4 pounds
By weight, how much water will be on a 30- by 45-foot roof if the water level is 3” deep?
30’ x 45’ = 1350 sq. ft.
1350 x 0.25’ (depth) = 337.5 cubic ft.
337.5 x 62.4 lbs = 21,060 lbs.
When siphoning water off a roof, the author recommends that you use a length or two of 1” rubber booster line since it will __________.
Resist kinking
