Search Operations Flashcards
The movement of heat and smoke from high to lower air pressures within a buildings fire area, both in and outside fire involved structure
Flow path
It is ____ for a ventilation opening in a fire building (window/door) to act simultaneously as an inlet for fresh air and as an exhaust vent for product of combustion
Common
With two way flow path what goes at top?
Heat, smoke and fire to vent out of the fire area
New flow paths are created and existing paths ___ with every opening made in a structure during operations
Impacted
By practicing ___ firefighters can isolate the fire area and close off potential flow paths
Door control
Firefighters must refrain from venting windows ___ or in a manner that is not coordinated with fire attack or vent plan
Indiscriminately
The rate at which energy (heat) is released by the burning of a fuel and oxygen mixture
Heat release rate
A fire in which the HRR or growth rate of the fire is slowed due to a limited supply of fresh air and oxygen
Vent limited fire
Four facts of HRR
Rate at which energy (heat) is released by the burning of a fuel and oxygen mixture, providing oxygen to a vent limited fire will increase the HRR, oxygen is introduced each time a door or window is opened, an increase in HRR will result in increased heat and smoke production within the fire area and in all flow paths
Modern hydrocarbon based products burn at a rate that is ___ legacy fuels and produce ___ smoke
2-3 times , 4-10 times
Fireground tactics associated with a firefighter entering a fire involved structure through a vent opening with the intent of conducting a search
VEIS
Rapid, systematic, and thorough search and should be conducted with due regard for personal safety
Primary search
Typically primary search will be completed by
Interior team of first due truck company
Depending on circumstances of the incident the primary search may be conducted ahead of the hose line or prior to ___
Application of water
Secondary search covers all areas not done by primary and can include
Shafts and elevators
A targeted search for a victim and the location can come from dispatch reports, occupant or bystander reports, visitation of a fire victim at the window, or ___
Reports of FF mayday
Other reasons for targeted search can include occupancy type, building layout, location of bedroom windows or
Audible cues from victim calling out or sound of pass device
The use of search tools and or techniques that keep a search team oriented within the structure they are searching
Oriented search
Door control is important for two reasons
Isolate the fire area limiting fire spread to uninvolved areas of structure and to eliminate flow paths that aren’t part of vent plan
Primary mission of PFR
Protect and save civilian lives
How does PFR save lives
Aggressive fire attack, applying appropriate vent tactics and by conducting safe and systematic and aggressive search operations
A careful size up, establishing a search plan, and ___ amongst crew members involved in the search are essential elements of a successful operation
Coordination
In residential occupancies the size up should include __ sides of structure should be viewed prior to initiating search
Two
Members must include ____ as part of their size up
Buildings interior configuration
In multi family consider conducting a survey of ___ to determine interior hallway layout
Floor below
The rescue profile is first determined by considering all critical size up info followed by applying a members ___
Judgement and experience
Three PFR rescue profiles
No rescue, possible rescue, confirmed rescue
Fire and smoke conditions indicate that the interior environment is incompatible with human life of structural integrity of the building is compromised beyond the point of mounting reasonable interior search
No rescue
There is little reason to believe a rescue situation exists
Possible rescue
Does OSHA two/two apply to possible rescue?
May or may not. When operating under this profile search is conducted but the aggressiveness of the search is somewhat restrained
In this profile, all efforts on the fireground are in support of the search effort
Confirmed rescue
In this profile, firefighters are operating with information that suggests an occupant or firefighter is in need of rescue
Confirmed rescue
Searching ahead of the hose line and VEIS tactics ___ ___utilized when operating in possible rescue mode
May be
(Possible rescue) ____ conditions as well as overall circumstances surrounding the incident will ultimately determine the appropriate search tactic
Smoke and fire
If the search plan involves splitting the crew this information must be
Communicated to command
The basic elements of search plan include:
Method of orientation, individual member roles and responsibilities, equipment assignments, and the area of structure to be searched
Communication with command will either be officer or ___
B team member
Communication may include
Calling out doors and windows (means of egress or area of refuge), avoiding scene hazards, calling out victims or conducting all quiets
Four communications that must go to IC
Changes in smoke or heat conditions, changes in location, completion of search or location of victim, if you split company to different floors
Firefighters that __ will become a liability to the incident and draw resources away from civilian rescue efforts
Overextend
A search team must stay within ___ at all times
Voice, visual or touch contact
An oriented search will include maintaining contact with
A wall, search rope and or hose line
___search team members need to work to maintain situational aware but it is primary responsibility of ___ FF
All, oriented
Four things oriented FF must focus on
Monitor changing heat/smoke/fire conditions, monitor radio traffic, ensure safe means of egress, ensuring search continuity
Search rope facts
150 feet in rit bag with series of knots every 20 feet
Most common oriented search for single family
Left or right hand search
In right hand search it is critical firefighters avoid ___ switch of hand
Inadvertently
For the majority of residential occupancies use of __ is not recommended
Search rope
If search rope is utilized the oriented FF will be assigned to rope bag and will function as __search team member
Trailing
When a search rope is tied off on hose line it is tied off
At end of hose line
Four positions of large area search
Lead FF, officer, wing FF, oriented FF
A four person search team with a search rope is recommended in a ___ scenario due to the amount of EQT and personnel necessary for extrication
RIT/ May Day
Team work, coordination, and discipline are critical for this technique to be successful
Large area search
It’s critical engine companies focuses on ___. It is proven to save civilian lives and protect search crews
Proper positioning of their hose lines to contain and extinguish the fire
First areas to be search
Fire floor and floor above
Most fire victims found during primary search are found
Within area of fire origin, path from fire room to exit, in apartment or occupancy directly above fire
Adult victims are found
In beds or normal paths of egress
Teenage victims found
Beds, normal paths of egress, or bathrooms
Children found
Cribs, under beds in closets
In single family right hand search and ahead of hose line, they should work to isolate __, and notify fire attack team, then initiate search for victims
The fire
If conducting search above fire, it is important to have someone
At top of stairs watching conditions
Oriented FF above fire may be required to
Move between top of stairs and fire room to watch conditions
Oriented FF on center hallway should be
Just inside doorway and close door
When victim had been located conduct quick search of area around and under victim because
Parents often shelter children
When searching bathroom
Also search tub
A locked bathroom door usually means
Someone is inside
Make sure to search all walls of closet
Kids often his deep in closets or toy chests
Sweep beds and couches from ___ to ___
Front to back
Try to avoid ___ furniture
Moving
When forcing door if night latch is hooked
Likely victims present
