Ventilation

Question 0

KNOWN LIFE HAZARD

Answer 0

• A victim can be seen by the rescuer
• A victim can be heard by the rescuer
• A member has information from a credible source or a person at the
  scene indicating the location of the life hazard.

Question 1

VENTILATION: KEY POINTS

Answer 1

• Ventilation is the controlled and coordinated removal of heat and
  smoke from a structure, replacing the escaping gases with fresh air.
• The exchange is bi-directional with heat and smoke exhausting at the
  TOP and air flowing in towards the fire at the BOTTOM.
• Flow path is the movement of heat and smoke from the HIGHER
  PRESSURE within the fire area towards the LOWER PRESSURE areas
  accessible via doors, window openings and roof structures.
• Increased heat releases of modern fires create CONVECTIVE heat
  along with the flow path from the fire area.
• Fire and smoke should be venting OUTWARDS and UPWARDS. If
  smoke and fire are venting downward, horizontally or pulsing from an
  opening in the building, this indicates the fire conditions may be wind
  impacted.
• Any unusual ventilation profile must be immediately communicated to
  the LADDER OFFICER INSIDE THE AREA TO BE VENTED.
• Any change to the fire conditions as the incident progresses or as a
  result of vent tactics performed by members must be communicated
  to the LADDER OFFICER INSIDE THE FIRE AREA TO BE VENTED
  AND THE INCIDENT COMMANDER.
• With modern content fires, heavy flames out the window are usually
  an indicator of high heat and smoke conditions within the interior,
  including areas remote from the fire.
• ALL HORIZONTAL VENTILATION TACTICS, whether Ventilation for
  Extinguishment or Ventilation for Search, require communication with,
  and coordination by THE LADDER COMPANY OFFICER OPERATING
  INSIDE THE FIRE AREA TO BE VENTED.
• If the Officer encounters high heat and smoke condition, he shall
  immediately exit and isolate the area. A charged hose line is needed
  to provide the required cooling of the area or extinguishment of the
  fire.
• Initial vertical ventilation tactics must be communicated to and
  coordinated by the Ladder Company Officer operating inside the fire
  area to be vented.
• No vertical ventilation shall be performed unless the Roof FF directly
  communicates with and receives approval from the Ladder Company
  Officer (With 2 exceptions below)

- Roof FF hears a radio transmission that
  #1 = The interior team has door control on fire floor
  #2 = A charged hose line is advancing into the fire apartment 

• Note: This is for NFP BUILDINGS ONLY.
  In FPMDs, the IC controls ALL VERTICAL VENTILATION
• Note: In HROB, the IC controls ALL ventilation (both horizontal and
  vertical)

Question 2

STAGES OF FIRE GROWTH

Answer 2

TRADITIONAL FIRE DEVELOPMENT CURVE:

• Incipient
• Growth (Rollover occurs during this stage)
• Fully developed (Usually occurs after flashover)
• Decay

MODERN CONTENT FIRES DEVELOPMENT CURVE:

• Incipient
• Rapid Growth Stage which consumes available O2 very quickly.
  (Rollover occurs during this stage)
• Early Decay Stage
• If additional oxygen is added to fire area, a more rapid and intense
  2nd Growth Stage may occur. This may be followed by a ventilation
  induced flashover and transition into the Fully Developed Stage.
• A 2nd Decay Stage will occur as the fuel load is depleted or the fire is
  extinguished.
• NOTE: When ROLLOVER is observed and members are not operating
  under the protection of a charged hose line, they shall
  immediately leave and isolate the fire area.