Chapter 5 Firefighter Safety

Question 1

The guiding objective of this text is preparing the fire officer to take command at structure fires by fully using available resources in a ______________.

Answer 1

safe and effective way

Question 2

Probably the most important safety factor at the scene of a structure fires is a ____________________ based on a solid ______________ utilizing ___________. +++

Answer 2

1. well-organized operation
2. solid risk-verses-benefits analysis
3. effective tactics

Question 3

Poor ventilation combined with a _________________ is a deadly combination.

Answer 3

lack of protective hose lines

Question 4

Duties of the Incident Safety Officer include:

Answer 4

1. Report to command and confirm incident safet officer assignment
2. Determine the strategy and tactics being employed at the incident scene
3. Evaluate the operation by systematically visiting every area where FFs are deployed (start with area of greatest hazard)
4. Share safety concerns with the officer responsible for that specifc area.
5. After completing a tour, report back to the IC.
6. Continue touring the fire ground throughout the fire suggesting changes as required

Question 5

At the scene of a major and widespread fire, who is often the only person with a complete view of the fire scene?

Answer 5

The incident safety officer

Question 6

Several organizations publish fire investigation reports that analyze fires that resulted in FF fatalities (NFPA, NIOSH, USFA, and others). These reports provide information, which, if properly used and analyzed can prevent future on-duty deaths and reduce injury __________________.

Answer 6

Frequency and severity.

Question 7

Once a fire occurs in a nonresidential occupancy, the risk to FFs is ________________.

Answer 7

much greater.

Question 8

The death rate in fires at manufacturing occupancies is:

Answer 8

22.5 per 100,000

Question 9

The death rate in fires at residential occupancies is:

Answer 9

2.6 per 100,000

Question 10

Low air alarms sound at:

Answer 10

33% of the air remaining.

Question 11

A notice of _______________ is probably sufficient in a typical dwelling, but may not provide sufficient escape time when a FF is disoriented or working in larger buildings.

Answer 11

10 minutes

Question 12

Probably the most imporant element of the incident safety program is applying ________________ to fire ground operations.

Answer 12

risk management

Question 13

The single most important ability the fire officer must acquire is being skilled at ___________________. +++

Answer 13

recognizing the point at which the risk to FFs lives outweighs the possible benefits of saving lives and property.

Question 14

The first-arriving officer must consider the possibility of poeple being in the building not as a yes-or-no propositiong, but rather as a ___________.

Answer 14

degree of probability

Question 15

In the past, the time from ignition to flashover was given at 10 minutes. The actual time can vary significantly depending on a number of variables:

Answer 15

1. Compartment size
2. Available air supply (ventilation)
3. Ignition sources
4. Fuel type
5. Geometry of the enclosure
6. Distance between fuel packages
7. Location of the fuel

Question 16

In UL experiments, the time to flashover in a living room furnished with modern furniture occurred in __________, compared to ____________ for the same room furnished with legacy furniture.

Answer 16

3.5 minutes / 29.5 minutes

Question 17

Loads imposed on a building are divided into _______________ loads.

Answer 17

1. Live
2. Dead
3. Seismic
4. Wind
5. Snow
6. Ice

Question 18

The 20-minute rule states that when a heavy volume of fire is burning out of control on two or more floors for 20 minutes or longer, _________________ should be anticipates (this is based on Type III construction).

Answer 18

structural collapse

Question 19

NFPA 1500 requires dispatch to notify command every _____ minutes until the fires is knocked down, the incident becomes static, or the IC cancels the notifications.

Answer 19

10

Question 20

The fire officer should ask four important questions before assigning FFs to roof operations:

Answer 20

1. Are roof ops necessary?
2. What do I hope to gain (benefit) by opening the roof?
3. How long has the fire been impinging on the roof components?
4. What is the safest method of operating on this roof?

Question 21

What are four issues with solar panels?

Answer 21

1. Add to the roof load
2. Create a potential ignition source
3. Make roof ventilation more difficult
4. Present an electrical shock hazard that is difficult to de-energize.

Question 22

What is the most effective method of fighting a basement fire?

Answer 22

From the exterior of the building

Question 23

Various tactics have been used to fight basement fires. Probably the most often used, and the most difficult and dangerous, is _______________________.

Answer 23

advancing a hose line down the interior stairway from the first floor to the basement.

Question 24

Firefighters are at significant risk of injury or death when fighting fires in basements or floors below grade level. The increased risk is due to:

Answer 24

1. Limited entry and egress
2. Working above the fire
3. Weakened floor structures in the fire’s flow path
4. Unknown fire load
5. Ventilation issues
6. Utility panels
7. Hanging wires
8. Utility meters
9. Appliances

Question 25

Basement fires are often confined to:

Answer 25

Clothes dryers or HVAC equipment

Question 26

Standard on-scene measures used by FFs to test a floor for structural stability (sounding the floor, thermal imaging, and floor sag) provide some indication of an impending collapse but are ____________________.

Answer 26

very late indicators that are not entirely reliable.

Question 27

What is a major concern when combating a basement fire?

Answer 27

Floor collapse

Question 28

Several on-duty death reports revealed that...

Answer 28

1. There were savable occupants or reports of occupants in the fire building upon arrival 2. FFs did not know the fire was in the basement 3. Visual clues of fire were absent or indicated a minor fire 4. There was unknown direct access to the basement at grade level at the rear or side 5. Floors were supported by dimensional wooden beams

Question 29

Several factors must be taken into consideration in evaluating the collapse potential of a building that is under fire attack. These factors fall into two general categories:

Answer 29

Building prefire conditions Current fire conditions

Question 30

Prefire Conditions include:

Answer 30

1. The type of construction 2. The Weight (live and dead loads) 3. The type, location, and arrangement of combustible/flammable fuel loads inside the building 4. Damage to the building's structural support system (previous fires, weather, partial collapse) 5. Building renovations 6. Buildings or areas in poor repair (including vacant structures) 7. Buildings with long spans 8. Roofs and floors supported by trusses, wooden I-beams, C-channels, and other lightweight construction

Question 31

Signs of structural collapse include:

Answer 31

1. Bulging, cracked, or unsupported walls 2. Walls leaking water or smoke 3. Falling bricks 4. Floors holding large volumes of water or stock soaked with water 5. Movement in floors or the roof 6. Any other signs of sctructural movement, including unusual noises 7. Vertical structural members that are out of plumb

Question 32

A wide area beyond the working zones is known as the ________________?

Answer 32

Fire perimeter

Question 33

How far beyond the building on fire in all directions is a good general rule for the fire perimeter?

Answer 33

Two blocks

Question 34

Any FF who discovers or suspects an electrical shock hazard should take immediate action to warn others.

Answer 34

1. Immediately warn others using an urgent or priority radio message 2. Act as guard or sentry to warn others until the IC can assign resources 3. Use a box light, lantern, or other scene light to illuminate the hazard at night 4. Flag the area as a no-entry zone using red-and-white diagonal-striped barrier tape 5. For overhead power pole fires or hanging wires, clear a zone equal to the distance between two poles 6. Ensure that the local power company has been notified to respond

Question 35

What is the minimum clear zone for grounded electrical hazards? (safe distance from downed power lines)

Answer 35

10 feet (3 meters), greater when wet

Question 36

What are the different phases of a fire?

Answer 36

1. Ignition phase 2. Growth phase 3. Fully developed phase 4. Decay phase

Question 37

Fires involving the contents of the building are known as what?

Answer 37

Building Fires

Question 38

Fires involving actual structural members are considered what?

Answer 38

Structure fires

Question 39

Preburn time is what?

Answer 39

From ignition until the fire is reported to the public safety answering point

Question 40

Dispatch time?

Answer 40

From public call until fire units are notified. (NFPA: 64 to 106 seconds)

Question 41

Turnout Time?

Answer 41

From when fire units are notified until apparatus leaves the station (NFPA: 80 seconds)

Question 42

Travel Time?

Answer 42

From when first engine leaves the station until they arrive at the scene. (240 seconds for first arriving engine)

Question 43

Setup Time?

Answer 43

From when fire units arrive at the scene until fire units take effective action (2 minutes)

Question 44

NFPA 1221 requires dispatch answer a call within the following time limits.

Answer 44

1. Time to answer ≤ 15 secs 90%, ≤ 20 secs 95% 2. Event processing ≤ 60 secs 90%

Question 45

NFPA Turnout time requirements

Answer 45

1. 80 seconds for Fire 2. 60 seconds for EMS

Question 46

NFPA travel time requirements

Answer 46

1. 240 seconds or less for first arriving engine 2. 360 seconds or less for second arriving company (with a minimum of 4 people) 3. For other than high-rise: 480 seconds for full alarm assignment 4. For high-rise: 610 seconds for full alarm assignment

Question 47

Ordinary solid materials must be preheated to the point at which vapor is released. This process is called what?

Answer 47

Pyrolysis

Question 48

What tends to be the initial most critical problems encountered at a working fire in a small-volume compartment?

Answer 48

Flashover or backdraft

Question 49

SOPs general call for PARs in the following situations:

Answer 49

1. Whenever the IC or safety officer think it's needed 2. When the IC changes from an offensive to a defensive attack 3. When sudden changes occur, such as backdraft, flashover, or collapse 4. When the fire is extinguished

Question 50

Studies determined that rescue of a downed FF will require at least _________.

Answer 50

12 FFs

Question 51

Tools commonly carried as part of a RIT:

Answer 51

1. Air cylinder 2. Rescue ropes, search ropes, guideline ropes 3. TIC 4. Patient carrier, webbing, or harness 5. Collapsible ladder for above- and below-grade rescues 6. Forcible entry tools 7. Wire cutters and other hand tools 8. Lighting equipment

Question 52

When notified that a FF needs assistance the RIC must:

Answer 52

1. Locate 2. Extricate 3. Remove/Assist 4. Provide medical attention for FF trapped inside

Question 53

Safe interior operations include the following:

Answer 53

1. Maintaining crew integrity 2. Controlling and coordinating ventilation 3. Providing hose line protection 4. Providing a means of communication to the exterior and among units working in an area 5. Maintaining contact with the hose when operating a hose line 6. Maintaining contact with the wall or rope when operating without a hose line 7. Placing a FF, signal light, or audible signal at the area leading to the room where FFs are working

Question 54

FF transmitting a Mayday should include the following info:

Answer 54

L - Location U - Unit N - Name A - Assignment/Air R - Resources

Question 55

At near flashover temps, a thermal protective performance (TPP) of 35 only provides against second-degree burns for approximately _____________.

Answer 55

17.5 seconds

Question 56

FFs should wipe down _____, _____, and _____ with body wipes as soon as possible to remove contaminants from these susceptible areas.

Answer 56

Face, neck, and groin

Question 57

Some of the toxins emitted by common household furnishings and structural components include:

Answer 57

Arsenic Benzene Carbon Monoxide Formaldehyde Phenols Hydrochloric acid Hydrogen Cyanide Formic acid

Question 58

Rehabilitation can be divided into three phases:

Answer 58

1. Preincident hydration and preparation 2. Incident rehabilitation 3. Postincident recovery

Question 59

What is a sign of mild dehydration?

Answer 59

Thirst

Question 60

Members should prehydrate by drinking how many ounces of water every 6 hours plus liquids that are ingested with meals?

Answer 60

6 to 8 ounces

Question 61

Rehab efforts should include:

Answer 61

Relief from climate conditions Rest and recovery Active and/or passive cooling or warming Rehydration Calorie and electrolyte replacement Medical monitoring Member accountability Release

Question 62

NFPA 1584 stipulates that rehab should be provided after what scenarios?

Answer 62

1. Depletion of 2 30- or 45-minute bottles 2. Depletion of a single 60-minute bottle 3. 40 minutes of strenuous work without SCBA

Question 63

Minimum vital signs to be checked in rehab:

Answer 63

Pulse Respiration Temperature

Question 64

What is set up time?

Answer 64

The time necessary to position the Apparatus, advance the first hose line into an attack position, and apply water.

Question 65

What is the key to successful positive pressure venting?

Answer 65

Control outlet openings