151 - Brush Fire Ops.

Question 1

General

1.1

Answer 1

• Can occur at any time during year but more frequent during favorable weather conditions & dependent upon fire- susceptible herbaceous stage of vegetation.
• May reduce fire protection in any area of city to level requiring resources from other boros.
• Term used on Nat’l level= Wild Urban Interface (WUI) fire = when BF takes place close to homes or bldgs endangering life & property.

Question 2

Anticipated Critical Areas

2

Answer 2

Found in all 4 boros EXCEPT Manhattan!!

Question 3

Preplanning

Staten Island

3

Answer 3

• Incidence of BF usually greatest during Spring & Fall
• BFU’s assigned to SIBC staffed independently on 9x6 tours, March 17 thru April 30 AND Oct. 17 thru Nov. 30
• Actual brush seasons do not always conform to these dates & vary w/weather conditions
• Time & dates extended as necessary on recommendations of C of Dept OR C of Ops. w/Approval of Fire Commissioner
• BFU’s assigned to units other than those in SIBC NOT activated in Spring & Fall but can be activated independently ONLY upon direction of C of Dept OR C of Ops.
• Bn advise Div of local conditions that may require activation of BFU’s at other than dates & hours listed above

Question 4

Weather is the controlling factor affecting severity & incidence of BF.

Serious BF conditions occur when the following weather conditions are present:

3.2.1

Answer 4

Low humidity

Winds in Excess of 15 mph

Little or no rainfall for preceding 3 days or more. The longer the period w/o rain, the greater the hazard.

Question 5

Preplanning

Weather info.

3.2

Answer 5

• OEM received Red Flag alert from Nat’l Weather Service (NWS) when severe risk of BF’s. This info rec’d by FDOC & disseminated to field units.
• Weather Info obtained via FDOC on ATS/SP at start of each tour
• Also obtained via NWS using dept computer
• Based on weather info, C of Dept order activation of BFU’S, reserve pumpers, &/or order relocation of units into areas of greatest potential fire dange

Question 6

Head of fire

3.3.1

Answer 6

Leading edge of a moving fire

Question 7

Rear of fire

3.3.2

Answer 7

Side opposite the head

Question 8

Looking at the fire from the REAR OF THE BLACKENED AREA, the sides are called?

3.3.3

Answer 8

Left side = Left flank

Right side = Rig flank

Question 9

What are the “Fingers”?

3.3.4

Answer 9

Strips of long, thin sections of fire extending outward from the main blackened fire area

Question 10

What are “Spot Fires”?

3.3.5

Answer 10

Isolated small fires downwind from main fire that are caused by brands carried in the wind

Question 11

Types of BF’s

3.4

Answer 11

“CBS”

Crown

Bog

Surface

Question 12

Surface Fires

3.4.1

Answer 12

• Burn grass, weeds, small trees, leaves on ground, etc….
• Fast moving
• Most common type in NYC

Question 13

Bog Fires

3.4.2

Answer 13

• Start on surface & burn downward into soft spongy ground
• Burn slowly & can burn for extended periods of time w/ops sometimes extending days or even weeks
• Common in dried out swamp or marshlands
• Generally smolder underground with no obvious extension hazards and slower ops can be undertaken
• Require burrowing holes in bog, inserting homeliness & flooding, using large amts. of water BEYOND SATURATION

Question 14

Crown Fires

3.4.3

Answer 14

• Burn along tops of trees, extending by direct flame contact & heat waves
• Rarely occur in NYC

Question 15

All Engine co’s assigned to S.I. Shall carry:

4.1.1

Answer 15

2 Indian Pumps

4 Fire Brooms

1” Forestry hose

Question 16

All eng co’s assigned to respond OR relocate to S.I. On boxes 100D-400D OR on 2nd or greater alarms for BF’s on S.I. Shall carry a minimum of:

4.1.2

Answer 16

2 Indian pumps

4 fire brooms

Question 17

All ladder co’s assigned to S.I. Shall carry a minimum of:

4.1.3

Answer 17

4 Indian pumps

4 fire brooms

6 lengths of 1-3/4” hose

Question 18

Div. 8 Unit breakdown of tools & equipment for engs/lads assigned or responding/relocating to S.I.

4.1

Answer 18

Always 4 fire brooms

Eng = 2 Indian pumps

Lad = 4 Indian pumps

Eng assigned to S.I. ONLY = 1” Forestry hose

Question 19

Water Supply

4.4

Answer 19

• Hydrants are best positive water source
• Drafting from streams & ponds - may be ltd by access & water depth
• Portable pumps operating from streams, ponds, SWIMMING POOLS
• Indian pumps
• Relaying water from distance
• Booster tanks on pumpers & BFU’S
• Designate an eng OR BFU to refill Indian pumps close to pt of operation
• Utilizing multiple pumpers to shuttle water to single stationary operating pumper to continuously refill booster tank & sustain continuous ops
• Satellite units to provide lg diameter hose used to supply water to remote areas as well as a portable manifold

Question 20

Water Supply

When operating in areas w/o hydrants:

4.4.7

Answer 20

Have pre-positioned lines stretched close to pt of operation to refill booster tanks/Indian pumps to reduce turnaround time

Question 21

BFU’s - # & Equipment

4.5

Answer 21

• 8 BFU’s for use at non- structural ops and other types of emergencies

Equipped with:
Booster tank
Pump
Hose
Fittings
Medical equipment
Portable de-watering pump
Chain saw

• Especially suitable for ops on fires remote from roadway or sources of water supply

Question 22

Assignment of personnel to BFU’s

4.5.1

Answer 22

Bn’s wherein BFU’s quartered shall provide assignment of FF’s

Div’s provide for officer assignments

Question 23

BFU’s assigned to SIBC staffed independently as directed by D-8 as per following:

4.5.2

Answer 23

• BFU’s staffed by Lt & 2 FF’s from 0900-1800 hrs March 17 thru April 30 AND Oct. 17 thru Nov. 30 ON MMOT BASIS
• Exceptions due to inclement weather that wold decrease probability of BF
• Times & dates extended as necessary on recommendations of C. Of Dept OR C. Of Ops. W/approval of Fire Commissioner
• Surplus FF’s and SA Officers may be used to staff BFU’S WHEN ACTIVATED BEYOND HOURS & DATES DEFINED ABOVE
• BFU’S should be operated by trained M’s from their assoc. eng co.
• FF’s and/or Officers of units quartered with BFU’S may be detailed to BFU’s IF IN OPINION OF BC HAVING JURISDICTION, it will maximize operating efficiency of concerned units
• BFU Chuaffeur = M trained from assoc. eng
• If necessary, trained M from assoc eng detailed to BFU and OT M utilized to back fill assoc. eng
• This procedure may also be used when OT personnel provided for staffing during anytime of year
• “OOS” not used when BFU unstaffed
• BFU’s ALWAYS I/S And can be special called to ANY incident.
• When BFU required during periods when BFU not independently staffed, assoc. eng or another trained eng assigned to respond with and staff BFU.
• IC may request an eng still responding to scene to be redirected to p/u and respond with BFU if practical.