Tactical Ventilation Flashcards
Why do firefighters ventilate the structure on fire?
To control the movement of fresh air into the structure and to remove the hot flammable gases within the structure.
What actions can be taken to control the ventilation within a structure?
Opening, closing or breaking windows,
Opening, closing or breaking doors,
Breaching a wall
Are you allowed to implement your own ventilation tactics on a structure?
No, only the supervisor and the IC can decide when and how to ventilate.
At what temperature does the facepiece begin to soften?
300 F 149C
What is the maximum temperature that firefighter PPE can handle?
500F 260C
Can you intentionally ventilate a structure in order to make it fuel limited and intentionally burn off all the fuels to smother the fire?
No amount of ventilation will cause the fire to become fuel-limited or prevent flashover.
Can you just use ventilation to extinguish a fire?
No, ventilation and water application are both required to extinguish any fire.
Why do gases inside the structure move outwards when ventilation occurs?
Because the hot gas is less dense and therefore it rises.
When is ventilation most effective during supression operations?
When used in conjuction with immediate water application.
What are the four effects of tactical ventilation to the conditions in the structure?
- Increased Oxygen
- Reduced toxic gases and vapors
- Reduced temperatures
- Increased visibility.
True or false. Tactical ventilation can be used to assist in the rescue of victims?
True, air can be let into the structure to provide fresh air for the victims, but only if there is a way of also redirecting the smoke.
What six factors lead to successful tactical ventilation, when used in conjuction with fire attack?
- Careful planning
- Observations communicated to IC
- Following procedures for removing contaminants
- Coordination with other fireground activities
- Recongnition that all openings in the structure contribute the the ventilation
- Recognition of environmantal factors and their effects on ventilation
In terms of situational awareness specific to tactical ventilation, what conditions require your awareness at all times?
- Location of fire
- FIre behaviour and changes to it.
- Effects that ventilation will have of the fire
- Effectiveness of the ventilation
- Locations where smoke is escaping the structure
- Building construction
- Structural integrity of building
- Building contents and their condition
- Indicators of structural collapse
- Location of powerlines and solar panels
- Two escape locations for roof crews
- Changes to roof’s integrity
- Coordination of ventilation efforts with fire attack efforts
- Wind direction and speed
What is an unplanned ventilation?
When windows break or holes appear in the wall on roof as a result of the fire.
What two assumptions should firefighters always make about any structure fire when information is limited?
- The structure is made of lightweight construction
- The fire in the structure is ventilation limited
True or false, winds as slow as 20 km/h can make the fire wind driven.
False, winds as slow as 15km/h can make a fire wind driven.
What is an exposure and how can they be affected by tactical ventilation?
There are internal and external exposures. Both are things to which the fire could spread. Internal exposures are rooms, objects and people to which the fire could spread. External exposures are things like upper floors of the building lighting on fire due to the escape and ingnition of heated gases. It can also include other buildings adjacent to the structure on fire.
True or false, you are not allowed to give your opinion on whether or not a ventilation plan is sound based on your observations?
False, if you see something that you believe makes the ventilation unsafe, you need to communicate it with the IC.
What are the five signs of roof collapse?
- Melting asphalt
- Smoke escaping through a hole in the roof
- Roof is on fire
- Heavy objects on the roof have fallen through or are sagging
- Roof feels spongy.