TB 179 - Residential Garage Fires Flashcards
It is imperative that first-in Company Officers conduct a 360° survey of the involved garage to communicate:
-TYPE of garage (attached vs detached) and USE
-Fire involvement
-Exposures
-Unusual hazards
-Rescue problems
Both attached and detached garages have the potential to have been converted for residential use or for other purposes.
The Los Angeles City “________” prescribes standards governing residential CONVERSIONS.
“Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance”
Both legal and illegal garage conversions may be difficult to recognize from the exterior.
While a legitimate conversion will feature inspected framing, utilities, and protective drywall, an illegal conversion may lack certain safety features.
Residential CONVERSIONS complicate fire operations by ___________.
increasing the likelihood of a potential LIFE HAZARD
A reliable method to identify CONVERTED garages:
-lack of garage door
-presence of additional address numbering (1/2 addresses)
(If present, these indicators should be communicated over the radio to improve the situational awareness of all members.)
While detached garage fires may expose and threaten adjacent structures, overhead electrical wires, or other objects, attached garages fires may also spread into the residential portion of the structure.
This may occur as the result of:
-open connective door
-through the attached attic space.
True or False?
Fire sprinklers and smoke detectors are not generally required by the Fire Code in UNFINISHED and/or DETACHED garages
True
In an effort to develop situational awareness for responding companies, the first arriving resource must:
- Give an initial size-up to Metropolitan Fire Communications (MFC), informing all incoming resources of their findings.
- Upon gathering more situational awareness, Officers should announce any additional pertinent findings or needs found during the 360° survey, in an updated (comprehensive) sizeup.
The decision to initiate an interior attack on a garage fire, or to support it with vertical ventilation, should be made only after completing a RISK ANALYSIS and addressing factors including, but not limited to:
-Garage type and occupancy status
-Fire involvement and burn time upon arrival
-Likelihood of occupants, and consideration of survivability based on observable conditions
-Fire load and presence of known or observed excessive storage or hazardous materials
-Priority of exposure protection, search and rescue, or other functions, based on findings
During the size-up, particular attention should be paid to indicators of a garage residential CONVERSION.
Information gathered will help to inform __________.
-priorities
-strategy
-tactics
Responsible officers must ensure that the line selected will be sufficient to adequately reduce British Thermal Units (BTU) and extinguish the fire.
The _______ and ______ upon arrival should determine firefighting line selection.
volume of fire and extension
Attached garage fire:
It is imperative that the residential ______ be checked for extension as soon as practical.
attic space
While many garages have been converted into living spaces (both legally and illegally), firefighters must realistically consider whether to operate in Rescue, Property, or Exposure Profile, and whether to commit to an Offensive or Defensive Mode.
Alternative tactics such as Transitional Attack combined with ______ ventilation should be considered whenever possible.
horizontal ventilation
Attached garage fire:
A search of both the garage and the attached residence should be a primary, especially if the garage has been converted into living quarters.
Early deployment of _______ to the residence may limit smoke damage inside, and assist with search efforts.
blowers
A “row” of residential garages (not to be confused with covered carports) is often associated with ________.
These enclosed structures generally stand alone, separate from the residential structure or structures
apartment complexes and bungalow-style developments
Row of residential garages construction features that contribute to fire extension:
-interior walls lack fireproofing between the individual garage spaces
-may feature either a common attic or an open space toward the tops of these dividers
(Although horizontal spread is a concern, vertical ventilation tactics should only be utilized after careful CONSIDERATION to the CONSTRUCTION style and CONDITION of these STRUCTURES.)
Roof operations on a garage fire should ONLY be conducted when conditions allow for a SAFE and EFFECTIVE EXECUTION.
A RISK ANALYSIS must be performed, and vertical ventilation on a garage fire should be _________.
the EXCEPTION, not the rule.
Creating a desired horizontal opening in a wood, fiberglass, or lightweight metal garage door may be accomplished with __________.
either a chainsaw or rotary saw.
Members should avoid making assumptions regarding garage occupancy or conversion, and instead rely on _______ to determine the appropriate Operational Mode, and whether vertical ventilation is warranted.
observations
(Do a 360 survey)
Common garage door styles are:
-sectional
-roll up
-tilt up
-swinging
-sliding/barn
Officers are reminded that fire ground “activities that present a significant risk to the safety of members shall be limited to situations where there is a potential to ________.”
save endangered lives
Garages, by their very nature, are hazardous under fire conditions.
The following make them hazardous:
-housing an automobile
-presence of flammable liquids, pesticides, fertilizers
-interior unfinished
-additional storage located above open or plywood-decked ceiling joists/collar beams
-roofs may be constructed with small dimensions of lumber
-newer garages may have lightweight truss roofs
Horizontal ventilation of a converted garage may be accomplished by opening or cutting the garage door. This helps in providing:
(1) effective ventilation
(2) improved visibility
(3) access to the seat of the fire
(4) greater survivability for occupants
(5) improved conditions for personnel.
DETACHED Garage Fire
The fire attack company should consider developing their INITIAL hose lay to ____________.
reach the FARTHEST portion of the involved garage, as well as any immediate EXPOSURES that may take precedence IF the garage is WELL INVOLVED upon arrival
The decision to engage in offensive fire attack and perform search and rescue must be based on __________.
-observed CONDITIONS
-INFORMATION gathered
-potential for SURVIVABILITY
