single family dwelling fires Flashcards
private homes are responsible for __ % of annual civilian fire deaths
70 (206)
statistics are not surprising because the majority of devices likely to produce fires are located on the __ floor of homes and most victims still inside will be found in bedrooms or sleeping areas
1st
the majority of homes are wood frame or ___ construction and the fire load is relatively light, the fact that most fire deaths occur here can be attributed primarily to the 5 occupant factors
ordinary
what are the 5 occupant factors that primarily attribute to house fires
unsafe sleeping habits carelessness and indifference improper storage and house keeping complacency home repair specialists
smoke detectors, smoking in bed, overloaded outlets, improper wiring, unattended candles and cooking are examples of
carelessness and indifference
most of the private dwellings in the city of las vegas are constructed of type ___ lightweight wood frame platform
V (207)
__ __ is a wood stud framing system in which all studs are one story in height and the floors above provide inherent stopping
platform framing
platform buildings are built in attempt to confine the fire to __ floor
1
the major compromise in muli-story platform construction is the __ __
open stairway
lightweight wood construction includes the use of wood trusses and laminated wooden __-___
I-beams (208)
wood truss are engineered as complete a system which means that multiple components share and distribute the load they are supporting if any part fails what can happen
the entire system could collapse
aluminum and steel frame studs have all the dangerous characteristics of heated ___ and will begin to lose strength when heated
steel
__-__ consist of exterior walls that are constructed with Styrofoam block or steel wire panel forms that are covered or filled with concrete
poly-foam
poly foam construction use lightweight wood trusses and interior walls framed of wood making them similar to type __ construction
II
what are the 2 different codes that determine how homes are built fire safe
2009 IFC code book
las vegas city amendments
the 2009 IFC code book and las vegas city amendments regulate how structures must be built to be __ safe
fire
the 2009 international residential building code mandates how homes must be built to ensure that they are __ __
structurally sound
residential homes are required to have __ hour fire barrier between the garage and the living area
1 (209)
a fire wall is usually required to have __ hour rating
4
the actual requirement for a garage wall is called __ one hour wall which means that only 1 side of the garage wall is require to be buil in accordance with this building ordinance
modified
a modified garage fire barrier is most commonly built using 5/8 type ___ drywall on one side of the wall with a self closing solid core door and dampered ductwork
X
are there specific fire ratings required on floors walls and ceilings
no
in a platform construction each floor is supposed to be an independent ___ but breaches are often made between rooms and floors without any fire stop requirements. the most common is HVAC and duct work
compartment
fire stops are required vertically in between wall studs every __ feet
10
it is possible for fire to move laterally between studs if they have been drilled out for __ or plumbing purposes
electrical
the code requires a fire draft stop every ___ sq ft of open attic space
3000
a___ ___ is a barrier designed to slow the spread of fire in these open spaces
draft stop
a draft stop can be constructed of __ “ sheet rock plywood, particle board or OSB. it
1/2”
a draft stop extends from the ceiling of the home to the
underside of the roof decking
the fire code requires that homes be located no farther than __ ft from the nearest hydrant
300 (210)
hydrant spacing in residential area is a max of __ ft apart or 600 ft if the homes are sprinkled
500
homes are required to have interconnected battery backup smoke detectors in each __ area and common egress avenues
sleeping
are carbon monoxide detectors required per the fire code
no
residential sprinkler requirements are considered on a case by case basis. generally any home over ___ sq dt in the city of las vegas will be sprinklered along with all residential board and care facilities
5000
circumstances that may require residential sprinklers are __ and __
access and size
the access requirement mandates that if a home has access from only one direction and the street is linger that __ ft then it must be sprinklered no matter what the sixe of the house
600
if a home is more than ___ ft away from the curb (fire lane) then there is a good chance it will be required to be sprinklered
150
the size requirements are based on the fd ability to produce the fire flow necessary to extinguish the fire, since most hydrants in the city of las vegas are a minimum of ___ gpm and ___ psi, the majority of city homes are not affected by this issue
1500gpm and 20 psi
as a general rule the prevention division states that homes __ sqft or smaller will not require sprinklers unless they have an access problem or a special community development issue such as built on the top of a hill
5000
all homes 5000 sqft or larger must be reviewed by ___ __ and 90% of these are required to install sprinklers because they cannot meet the minimum fire flow requirements
fire prevention
homes that are ___ sqft or larger require a FDC to help support their sprinkler system
10000
in very large homes the FDC is located near the __ or __
curb or driveway
residential sprinkler systems are only designed to allow for occupants to ___ __; they will not extinguish a well involved fire
escape quickly
true or false residential sprinklers are like commercial sprinklers and will be installed in every part of the house
false(211)
platform frame buildings are built in an attempt to confine the fire to __ __
one floor
___ systems in a building such as plumbing, electrical and when present HVAC systems, negate the effects of a platform frame
utility
___ are framed out areas in a building that are usually above kitchen sinks and cabinets
soffits
are there fire stops in soffits
no
wood has an average ignition temperature of __ degrees
400
wood burns at a rate of 1” every __ min
40
most modern construction is not composed of 2x4 studs anymore rather they are composed of __ x __ or less
1 1/2 x 3 1/2
what are 3 indicators that a roof or floor is going to partially or full collapse
sagging or spongy sheathing distorted structural members unusual creaks or cracking noises heavy dead or impact loads improper vertical vent
according to recent test performed by the NFPA and underwriters laboratories, lightweight wood truss construction can be expected to fail without warning in as little as __ min of fire exposure
5 (212)
as a general rule once a room has ___ it can be assumed that the structural members are being compromised
flashed
most trusses are connected with sheet metal __ or __
gusset plate or gang nail
a gusset plate penetrates the wood approx. __ inch and readily pulls free when exposed to heat
1/4
__ __ __ is becoming more popular and replacing the gusset plate with a glued joint
glue fingered jointed truss
the glue in glue fingered jointed trusses starts to degrade at ___ degrees
400
one of the most significant characteristics of the truss is that each piece will simultaneously be exposed to ___
fire
__ __-__ are engineered beams formed with 2 x4 top and bottom cords and laminated plywood as a web member.
laminated I-beams
laminated I-beams will fail in as little as __ min without warning
5
adding to the fire susceptibility of engineered beams is the fact that the glue used to laminate the plywood is combustible and will cause the beam to burn __ and __
hotter and faster
the fire flow formula estimates the required gpm to darken down the fire within __ - __ seconds, so even if a large family room in a home measuring 20 x 20 that is 100% involved would only require 133 GPM to control with in the above time frame
10 -30 (213)
what are some of the benefits of single family residents
compartmentation small room size doors on rooms windows in most rooms effective ppv
what is more likely in a single family resident fire total roof collapse or single room collapse
single room collapse
what are the benefits provided by having doors on most rooms in a single family resident fire
closed doors in sleeping areas increase the chance of survival
doors create a natural fire barrier
can be closed while searching to limit fire spread
closed to create a safe refuge
having a window in a room provides at least __ means of egress
2 (214)
glass breaks at about ___ degrees
700
intentionally breaking window in rooms other than the fire room ___ the systematic removal of smoke and gasses
hinders
PPV can be very effective in single family homes unless fire ______
enters the attic space
___ ventilation should be considered if fire has extended in to the attic space
vertical
what is the primary incident priority
life safety
most fire deaths occur in
single family homes
what are some firefighting problems in single family homes
life hazard open stairways interior finishes and furnishings HVAC construction voids attic spaces dangerous roofs tile roofs excessive storage and debris
search should be focused on removing those in the area of the fire 1st then checking all other areas, beginning with
the floor above the main fire
the most severe design defect in private dwellings is the
open stairway (215)
an open staircase in a single family home acts just like a __, funneling fire and gasses upward toward occupants and exposed areas
chimney
interior doors of single family homes are usually __ __ construction
hollow core
lack of ___ controlling interior finishes in single family residences can create an extremely fast, hot fire
regulations
HVAC ventilation and ac systems create 2 primary problems what are they
HVAC duct runs throughout the house and negates the advantages of platform construction.
dangerous concentrated load above the ceiling
___ are boxed out areas commonly located above kitchen cabinets and sinks as well as above bathroom sinks and around bathtubs
soffits (216)
soffits are
construction voids
most plumbing that extends to the 2nd floor of a home will travel up the same wall creating an avenue for __ fire spread
vertical
fire discovered in the attack space must be aggressively attacked with water application from __ or from the attic vents
underneath
never place personnel on or under a roof that is unstable, that you suspect to be unstable or has already ___ itself
vented
a roof slope of __ degrees or less is relatively safe
30
any roof more than 30 and up to 45 degrees should mandate the use of a __ __
roof ladder
a roof of greater than __ degrees should not be walked on
45
any roof condition that causes a reduction in safety should require the use of
roof ladder
aerial device
before crews committing to the roof great consideration should be given to the __ __ __ of the fire
location
size
duration (217)
the lvfr policy is that we are only to ventilate on tile roofs if the order is given by __ __ after all safety factors are considered
BC
if the bc is to employ vertical ventilation on a tile roof then he must be certain that the operation can be done both __ and __
safely and effectively
what is the best method for removing concrete tiles from a roof
pull them completely our of the way and then stack them out of your cut area
___ must be considered your 1st option for ventilation on a structure with a tile roof
PPV
what is the point of entry rule of thumb
the safest most effective path of least resistance
once you have completed your situational evaluation and have decided on an offensive strategy, a basic __ model can be used on most calls
tactical (218)
what are the task that must be completed for an offensive fire
apparatus positioning water supply hose line/tools ventilation utilities entry search extinguish salvage/overhaul
ideally if your engineer can drive just past the involved structure, this will give you __ views of the house before you exit the engine
3
the front of the structure should be left open for the __
truck
the engine should park __ to the curb closest to the involved structure as long as you are not in the collapse zone or a potential exposure area
adjacent
the 1st rescue should also respond directly to the incident and position themselves close enough to the residence to provide immediate support as __ __ or IRIT, but be careful not to block access to other units
fire medical
if you have an obvious working fire, then you are responsible for adequate uninterrupted
water supply
1 3/4” line of sufficient length will be pulled and flaked to the point of entry with at least __’ of anchor at the entry point
50 (219)
what tools should be brought forward
haligan
flat head axe
6’ pike pole or rubbish hook
in order to be safe an effective with our interior operations the heat and smoke must begin to be ____. it is critical that this be coordinated with fire attack
released from the residence
if __ is established to early then we may intensify the fire and risk losing a savable life.
ventilation
use of vertical ventilation in the initial phases of an offensive attack in a private residence may be lass of an effective tactic than ___
PPV
the ___ division or __ __ group must verify that there is an exhaust hole for PPV prior to opening a door and turning the fan.
interior division or fire attack group
if there is not an adequate __ __ then PPV will not work and is potentially dangerous
exhaust opening
discipline yourself and do not enter the residence until ___ is effectively ventilating the structure
PPV
___ should be placed at the point of entry, turned away and started
positive pressure fan
ff should follow the point of entry rule of thumb when making an entry which states
entry should be executed utilizing the safest most effective path of least resistance
initial overhaul and checking for extension should be conducted immediately after ___
knockdown
when doing overhaul and checking for extension existing openings in construction should be checked ___, including vents, light fixtures, pipe chases, electrical outlets, and switch plates
1st
when should salvage begin
as soon as personnel are available to address it
life safety is our primary goal and until we have an all clear, life search must be part of our __ __ __
IAP
what 2 things are interior crews searching for
life and fire
you must get sufficient ___ on the fire to extinguish it and aggressively overhaul the fire
GPM
by definition an offensive attack is an __ operation
interior (221)
this division is responsible for extending hose lines into the structure to support the primary search, extinguish the fire and check for extension. during their advance, they are responsible for searching for life and fire
interior
what information should be communicated to command from interior division
personnel in structure water on fire knockdown primary all clear CAAN reports
the ic should always plan to support the initial attack with a __ __ unit
back up
__ __ is responsible for protecting the interior divisions primary egress, assisting with the completion of the primary search and helping check for extension. they can also apply additional water flow if needed
back up unit
in a 2 story home with fire on the 2nd the back up unit should protect the ___ while completing a primary search and checking for extension on the 1st floor
stairwell
____ is the most common form of ventilation for single family residents
PPV (222)
PPV without an adequate ___ ___is not acceptable and does not constitute proper ventilation
exhaust opening
the ventilation group must anticipate and prepare for ___ ventilation prior to the order
vertical
when going to the roof for ventilation a __ __ -__ should be completed and communicated to command
roof size-up
offensive operations will be conducted meeting the __ -_/__-__ requirement by conducting fire attack while being accompanied by one of their ff; the other ff and engineer should remain outside
two in/two out
IRIT should operate on the __ only
exterior
it is highly recommended to assign an ISO at any structure fire. if available a member of the ___ team will respond and operate as the ISO
overhead
the ISO should constantly evaluate the operation and provide input to command. the ISO must immediately report any unsafe conditions to ___ and immediately halt any unsafe acts
command (223)
per ICS if you don’t delegate an ISO , then the __ retains those responsibilities
IC
some form of rehab should be established at any working fire t/f
true
protecting exposures can be made given to any unassigned crew or made up from __-__ engineers
non pumping
rescue can be conducted simultaneous with fire attack if enough personnel are on scene, or ___ to any fire attack if you are by yourself
prior
when in a defensive strategy at a private residence our goal is to stop the spreading of the fire to the rest of the neighborhood. this is done by prioritizing the exposures and assigning __ to support them
divisions (224)
what is the primary cause of exposure fires
radiant heat
in a defensive strategy select a position for your unit where you can accomplish___protection and alternatively hit the fire
exposure
in a defensive fire all apparatus must be placed outside of the ___ zone and in such a manner that they will not become an exposure to radiant heat
collapse
if you have a large amount of smoke and fire upon your approach and you are considering a defensive strategy, then it is probably a good idea to secure
your own water supply (225)
what are the 2 basic options a company has when starting defensive operations
protect the most threatened exposure
attack the fire building
when operating defensively at a single family residence fire, you have already written off the initial building. your ___ objective is to not let the fire spread to any other homes or exposures
strategic
who is ems group for
civilians
when switching from an offensive to a defensive strategy you must be sure that it is communicated effectively to all operating crews. __ __ will be utilized for any changes of strategy to ensure all personnel are aware of the change
emergency traffic
upon receipt of an emergency traffic withdraw order the company officer shall
acknowledge the withdraw order assemble their crews promptly exit to a safe location account for all crew members notify command of par standby for new orders
__ should be an organized, rapid exit, generally with your equipment
withdraw
__ __ __ action should be used when an immediate exit of interior personnel is paramount to safety
abandon the building
dispatch will send an abandon the building order the radio by sounding a high low tone for 5 seconds and all apparatuses will sound their horns for __ seconds
15
when will an abandon the building order be given
building collapse
possible explosion
other hazardous conditions or changes that dictate an immediate exit
upon notification of an abandon the building order crews will immediately do the following
exit to a safe area
conduct a PAR
report the location and status of crew
