Townhouse manual

Question 1

This term refers to a townhouse consisting of two or more occupancies under one roof that are connected by a common wall.

Answer 1

back to back

Question 2

A________ is the material covering the area where the first-floor floor joists meet the exterior wall.

Answer 2

Band board

Question 3

A ________is a round or square, thin-walled structural steel column used to support beams or timbers stretching over long spans.

Answer 3

Lally column

Question 4

– An ___________ townhouse consists of two stacked dwellings (one over the other).
These usually involve a 2-level occupancy over 1-level occupancy with entrances on opposite sides,

Answer 4

over–under

Question 5

Consists of two stacked Dwellings each with a separate entrance and address. Share common floor separated by firewall.

Answer 5

Piggy back

Question 6

A multi story dwelling attached to at least two other dwellings. May or may not be separated by firewalls. Typically will have a common cockloft under a flat roof.

Answer 6

row house

Question 7

Two dwellings under one roof sharing a common wall.

Answer 7

duplex

Question 8

This term refers to a void space created between the top-floor ceiling and the
building’s roof decking.

Answer 8

cockloft

Question 9

A multistory dwelling normally attached to several other units.
Typically, adjacent occupancies have fire-rated floor and wall assembly separation.

Answer 9

townhouse

Question 10

also called a “stacked townhouse,” is a 4-story townhouse with two separate addresses and entrances. One address occupies the first two floors, and the second address occupies the third and fourth floors

Answer 10

two over two

Question 11

Four Dwellings connected together under one roof with separate addresses. Each occupying a different quadrant.

Answer 11

Quadplex

Question 12

A building construction style that can be inclusive of various types of townhouse styles under one roof. Page 9

Answer 12

hybrid

Question 13

What style construction is usually found in duplexes and row houses?

Answer 13

Ordinary construction pg. 11

Question 14

Wood-framed townhouses built prior to the 1930s may have utilized

Answer 14

Balloon frame construction

Question 15

What are the two basic roof types of town houses?

Answer 15

Light weight using trusses and woodframe using rafters to a ridge pole

Question 16

What do many townhouse is constructed during the 1980s have for roof sheathing?

Answer 16

fire retardant (FR) plywood sheathing roof deck. (should question the integrity even before fire occurs)

Question 17

What are the two types of firewalls typically found in town houses?

Answer 17

Masonry or gypsum

Question 18

What is the most common style of window used to town houses today?

Answer 18

Double hung, sliding sash pg 14

Question 19

Per the manual what are the two standard locks on exterior doors?

Answer 19

mortise and rim

Question 20

Zero clearance chimneys are also known as what?

Answer 20

Metal flue or pre-fabricated chimney

Question 21

What is the fire flow estimate for a townhouse?

Answer 21

10gpm per 100 ft.² of involved area.

Question 22

If units encounter delays in responding and need to change the arrival order, Affecting assignments, what channel should it be addressed on?

Answer 22

On the tactical channel so all incoming units are made aware.

Question 23

The following townhouse fire situations should cue the IC to request a second alarm

Answer 23

 known rescues,
 fire in two separate occupancies,
 fire on more than one level of the townhouse, and
 fire in attic space.

Question 24

refers to the accumulation of a large number of belongings that
have little-to-no apparent value.

Answer 24

Compulsive hoarding disorder

Question 25

Notable challenges to mitigating incidents involving hoarding conditions may include, but are not limited to

Answer 25

 access and egress issues,
 increased fire load,
 collapse concerns due to weight and load shifting,
 delays in extinguishment and rescue operations, or
 long burn times and vent-limited fires.

Question 26

Where should the first engine position for a townhouse fire?

Answer 26

In a position to allow rapid hoseline advancement, but leave priority position for the truck. In most cases the first engine pulls past or stops short two addresses past involved unit depending on the trucks travel direction.

Question 27

The first engine should communicate what information?

Answer 27

Layout, on scene, size up, 360, situation report.

Question 28

If there is no rear access, how should the third engine position?

Answer 28

at the end of the row closest to the involved unit to ensure hose lines can be placed to the rear. Allow space for the second truck

Question 29

Where should the second truck position if there is no access to the rear?

Answer 29

Side alpha in front of the uncovered exposure. Ladders and truck operations in the rear are the priority.

Question 30

Where should the first truck position?

Answer 30

the most strategic location for rapid ladder placement and entry into the
structure. Crews should anticipate using the aerial and should position the turntable either directly in front of the involved unit or upwind from it.

Question 31

Five conditions must exist for a wind-driven fire to occur:

Answer 31

 fire in the structure,
 a failed or opened window or exterior door in the fire area,
 wind on the structure’s exterior,
 a secondary failed or opened window or door remote from the fire area, and
 an unobstructed flow path from the fire area to the secondary failed or open window or door.

Question 32

What may be considered to complete the 360° lap for middle unit townhouse?

Answer 32

Enter through the bravo or Delta exposures to view side Charlie.

Question 33

What is the purpose of the initial attack line?

Answer 33

To protect occupants, the interior stairway, and advance to the seat of the fire for confinement and extinguishment if possible.

Question 34

If personnel on the attack line do not need support from the second line, then the second line may be used as

Answer 34

The line above the fire (command must be informed)

Question 35

Where is the best location for the second line to ensure the safety of the search crew above?

Answer 35

At the base of the stairs on the fire floor to prevent fire from spreading up the stairs.

Question 36

How is the soffit attack carried out?

Answer 36

By matching the stream with the angle or pitch of the roof and flowing through the soffit into the attic for an unvented fire. A 2 1/2 inch smooth bore provides effective reach in penetration from the exterior.

Question 37

What are the two key characteristics that make basement fires particularly challenging?

Answer 37

1. Limited access points. 2. Potential for immediate, unimpeded fire impingement on the structural support for the floor above.

Question 38

Fires in ___________ basements have unimpeded access to the structural supports of the floor above.

Answer 38

unfinished

Question 39

The initial handline for a basement fire may be deployed to

Answer 39

 an exterior basement entrance, if present, for fire attack or
 the front door, utilizing the fire stream reach to protect the interior stairs and upper floors.

Question 40

If there is no exterior access to the basement, how can you attack the fire?

Answer 40

Apply fire stream through window opening,
remove band board on the exterior and apply stream,
extend a window cut through the band board,
deploy bresnan distributor nozzle through a hole over the immediate fire area.

Question 41

If the basement door cannot be closed or is nonexistent how can you prevent vertical fire spread?

Answer 41

Use a narrow fog pattern aimed at the ceiling over the stairs to contain the fire.

Question 42

If there is no exterior basement entrance or openings, what most the officer consider before attacking via stairs?

Answer 42

structural stability,
life hazard,
fire and heat conditions at the top of the basement stairs.

Question 43

What should be done early for balloon frame construction?

Answer 43

Remove the siding and deploy hand lines to upper floors to check for vertical extension

Question 44

What is the most effective method for extinguishing in attic fire?

Answer 44

Placing a hose line at the level of the fire in the attic.

Question 45

How many handlines are sufficient to handle a cockloft fire?

Answer 45

One line. Unless the void space is several feet

Question 46

What wind speed can cause wind driven fire?

Answer 46

As low as 10 to 20 mph

Question 47

Five conditions must exist for a wind-driven fire to occur

Answer 47

 fire in the structure,
 a failed or opened window or exterior door in the fire area,
 wind on the structure’s exterior,
 a secondary failed or opened window or door remote from the fire area, and
 an unobstructed flow path from the fire area to the secondary failed or open window or door.

Question 48

What are alternative tactics for wind driven fires?

Answer 48

 elevated master streams through the fire room window,
 handlines to upper floor windows via portable ladders, and
 large-caliber handlines positioned with the wind to the back of the hose crew.

Question 49

What should not be performed on wind driven fires?

Answer 49

Horizontal ventilation until directed by command

Question 50

What should the first engines tactics be on a large volume of fire in a townhouse that is spreading to adjoining exposures

Answer 50

Perform a holding action or a quick knock down on the townhouse of origin using a master stream or 2 1/2 inch hose line. Page 40

Question 51

Where should the second hose line be stretched on a large volume of fire in a townhouse?

Answer 51

To the most severely threatening exposure, likely downwind.

Question 52

Personnel should remain cognizant that forcible entry is ________ and can adversely impact the fire’s path and intensity.

Answer 52

ventilation

Question 53

_________ on the fireground can be one of the most dangerous and most important tasks performed by firefighter

Answer 53

Ventilation

Question 54

What are considered the most critical areas to search?

Answer 54

Means of egress and sleeping areas

Question 55

What areas are considered the most dangerous to be searched?

Answer 55

Area closest to the fire on the fire floor and the area directly above the fire.

Question 56

What should support the primary search?

Answer 56

Ladders to upper story windows and hoseline engaged on the fire.

Question 57

What are the two reasons for ventilation

Question 58

Before any ventilation takes place, the ventilation team must answer the following questions

Answer 58

 What is the location of the fire?
 What is the current ventilation status?
 Will adding ventilation openings affect fire conditions?
 Where is the hoseline?

Question 59

________involves applying heavy-caliber streams to the fire side of the firewall to
prevent horizontal spread of fire to the attached exposure.

Answer 59

Defending a firewall