Wind Driven Fires

Question 1

“Wind impacted “ fire shall used to describe…

Answer 1

fire in which wind has POTENTIAL to , or is ALREADY CAUSING, a dramatic sudden and unexpected increase in fire, heat and smoke conditions
upon arrival:
-conditions appear routine
-within seconds, fire, heat and smoke changed without warning, “routine to life threatening”
-an operating 2 1/2” line had little or no effect on the heat
-directly attacking these fires with one or two 2 1/2” lines proved ineffective

Question 2

_____is the appropriate description of what will occur when fire conditions are impacted by wind conditions..

Answer 2

BLOWTORCHING

Question 3

When wind impacted fire conditions exists in FPMD, IC shall notify the ______so this can be relayed to ALL incoming units..

Answer 3

BOROUGH DISPATCHER

Question 4

Following 5 conditions must be present for wind impacted fire to occur…

Answer 4

1. WIND
2. Fire in apartment
3. Failed or opened window in the fire room
4. FIRE APT. DOOR leading to the public hallway LEFT OPEN or NOT FULLY CLOSED
5. An area of low pressure such as an OPENED STAIRWELL door, or an OPENED APT. DOOR on the OPPOSITE side of the public hallway from the fire apt…FLOW PATH

FLOW PATH: movement of fire, heat, and smoke from an area of HIGH PRESSURE (fire area) to an area of LOW pressure (all other areas other than fire area)

Question 5

Impact of the wind will be affected by the ….

Answer 5

1. size of the window opening
2. fuel load
3. stage of fire

bluff answer : (size of apt?)

Question 6

Key to preventing a fire in FPMD, becoming wind impacted…

Answer 6

ELIMINATING FLOW PATH, by keeping doors closed.

factor that can’t be controlled: occupant opening their apt. door, on other side of public hallway

Question 7

Size up begins by observing wind and weather conditions..

Answer 7

BEFORE TOUR STARTS /Weather discussed at roll call

Question 8

DIRECTION and SPEED of wind at street level is …

Answer 8

NOT a reliable indicator of wind conditions above street level

• wind behavior unpredictable
• can occur on upper or lower floors
• building height, size, shape and location of adjoining buildings, adjacent add to unpredictability
• it does not take high winds to dramatically increase fire conditions

Question 9

FIRE OR SMOKE visible inside the fire apt. that is not venting out of open or failed window is the CLASSIC VENTILATION PROFILE OF WIND IMPACTED FIRE..

Answer 9

-when fire and smoke pulse outward from the window, condition in interior will temporarily subside, giving FALSE sense that interior conditions improved.

Question 10

FF’s observing wind impacted fire conditions from outside..

Answer 10

IMMEDIATELY TRANSMIT THIS INFO TO IC AND OFFICER

Question 11

CONTROL of STAIRWELL DOOR IS CRITICAL..

Answer 11

-maintain closed as much as possible

Question 12

ROOF FF in apt. above may provide following info..

Answer 12

1. size and layout of apt.
2. visible fire or smoke from apt.
3. by keeping ap.t door OPEN AND OPENING WINDOW, simulate wind conditions

Question 13

Deployment of KO CURTAIN will…

Answer 13

• immediate reduction of HEAT and INTENSITY of fire
• reduction of visibility due to increase smoked condition
• deployed window MUST Be CLOSED, after deployment
• fire may vent around sides and top of curtain

Question 14

An EXTERIOR stream..

Answer 14

must be directed at CEILING of main fire area

-all members on fire floor must be accounted for and in a safe location before exterior stream is applied

Question 15

FLANKING..

Answer 15

• application of water from inside fire building to control main body of fire via NON FRONTAL ATTACK.
• small opening is made in the adjoining wall to the fire room, AS CLOSE TO EXTERIOR WALL as possible., so as not to create a flow path
• initially hole is large enough for MST to be played into the opening , allowing stream to be directed at CEILING OF FIRE ROOM

Question 16

FLANKING attack when door to fire apt. is left OPEN…

Answer 16

• -based on LOCATION of fire apt., LOCATION OF STAIRWAY closer to selected apt. , interior hallway condition
• access to adjoining apt. , door to that apt. MUST REMAIN CLOSED
• HOSELINE STRETCHED TO ADJOINING APT. VIA APT. BELOW, VIA EXTERIOR WINDOW USING UTILITY ROPE

Question 17

FLANKING attack when door to fire apt. is CLOSED…

Answer 17

• enter adjoining apt.

- hoseline stretched VIA FIRE FLOOR PUBLIC HALLWAY into adjoining apt.

Question 18

Determined that smoke and heat in the hallway is due to wind impacted fire with fire apt. door left OPEN, operate as follows..

Answer 18

a. LCO ensure all members exit public hallway IMMEDIATELY, notify IC and ENGINE OFFICER
b. IC will implement strategies to gain control of fire area (WCD, high rise nozzle)
c. hose line stretched and CHARGED IN ATTACK STAIRWELL–door to stairwell remain CLOSED
d. KO CURTAIN/window blanket deployed or exterior stream /high rise nozzle/flanking (most cases, KO CURTAIN)
e. after alternate strategy successfully implemented, APPROVAL to enter public hall by IC, operations section chief, fire sector sup.
f. LADDER OFFICER AND ONE MEMBER/other member remains on hallway side of door/ENGINE OFFICER on stairwell side of door.
g. LCO gains control of door…engine company will advance CHARGED LINE to fire apt. door, also, other truck member should advance to fire apt. door.
h. LCO will relay conditions found, decisions made to enter fire apt. by IC AND /OR FIRE SECTOR SUPERVISOR, with ENGINE COMPANY entering FIRST–ENGINE OFFICER WILL CONTACT ROOF FOR REPORT

Question 19

Door to fire apt. found CLOSED, WINDOW FAILURE HAS OCCURRED , reports that wind is impacting the fire..

Answer 19

• -door to fire apt. remain closed
• hoseline can be advanced to fire APT. DOOR AND THEN CHARGED
• alternate strategy implemented (door remain closed)
• LCO communicate conditions , decision made to enter apt. by IC/FIRE SECTOR
• ENGINE ENTERS FIRST/ENGINE OFFICER gets report from roof

Question 20

Door to fire apt. is CLOSED, window failure has NOT OCCURRED , but size up indicates WIND CONDITIONS…, OFFICERS must still evaluate…

Answer 20

• -hoseline advanced to apt. door AND CHARGED
• WCD in position
• prior to opening door to fire apt. LCO can get report from members operating outside and roof ff
• LCO and one member (standard search) can enter first, other member in apt. door control
• generally charged hose line should not be advanced until location of fire determined

Question 21

KNOWN LIZE HAZARD..

Answer 21

• -notify IC
• attempt rescue while alternate strategy is implemented
• ic NOTIFIED PRIOR TO RESCUE ATTEMPT AND OF STAIRWAY RESCUE IS BEING ATTEMPTED
• if open fire apt. door is being found in close proximity to rescue, attempt to CLOSE DOOR
• NOTIFY IC when victim is removed ..