STRUCTURE DEFENSE

Question 1

Safety Zone

Answer 1

A preplanned area of sufficient size and suitable location that is expected to protect fire personnel from known hazards without using fire shelters.

Question 2

Temporary Refuge Area (TRA)

Answer 2

A preplanned area where firefighters can immediately take refuge for temporary shelter and short-term relief without using a fire shelter, in the event that emergency egress to an established Safety Zone is compromised. Examples: lee side of structure, inside of structure, large lawn or parking area, cab of apparatus

Question 3

WUI Placard

Answer 3

The WUI Placard (ICS 231) is designed to document property information found during structure assessment (at a specific point in time) and allow firefighters to communicate a basic assessment of conditions to other responding units.

Question 4

Structure Defense

Answer 4

The decision to engage in structure-defense operations should always be based on the determination that the structure is defendable and that risks to firefighters can be safely mitigated.

Question 5

Structure Defense Hose-Line Staffing

Answer 5

Generally, it is the District’s policy to staff two personnel on a defense hose line

Question 6

Transition to Structure Firefighting

Answer 6

When a wildland fire extends to a structure, a transition to structural firefighting may occur. In that situation, the following applies:
* Structure-defense operations may include extinguishing small fires on the exterior of the structure.
* Personnel shall commit to fire extinguishment only if no higher priority exists, it can do so in relative safety, and the goal of saving the structure can be achieved.
* Personnel committing to structure-fire extinguishment must consider whether adequate resources are available to accomplish objectives.
* If the structure is involved in its interior and an IDLH environment exists, then the situation has become a structure fire, and all standards and related policies and procedures apply.

Question 7

Structure-Fire Disengagement

Answer 7

When wildland fire extends to a structure and the structure becomes involved in over 25 percent of its area, the structure should be considered not-defendable, and personnel should disengage from the firefight unless:
* Adequate resources exist to continue the structural firefight, and
* Personnel can operate under District structural firefighting standards, and
* No other higher priority exists for operating resources at the time, and
* The efforts will reduce fire exposure to other structures not yet involved

Question 8

Non-Threatened

Answer 8

Non threatened structures may have a safety zone nearby and a TRA present at structure. They have construction features/defensible space that make the structure unlikely to ignite. Access and egress to the structure is clear. Topographic features of the terrain are neutral or are favorable to surviving fire passage through the area.

Question 9

Threatened Defensible

Answer 9

Threatened defensible structures may have a safety zone nearby and a TRA present at the structure. Access and egress to the property is sufficient for apparatus to transit. They have construction features/defensible space that may require structure-defense tactics during fire-front impact. Topographic features of the terrain are favorable or neutral related to potential fire impact.

Question 10

Threatened Non-Defensible

Answer 10

Threatened, non-defensible structures have a lack of an adequate safety zone nearby. The configuration of the property may not provide an adequate TRA. Access or egress to the structure may be poor. Defensible space may be inadequate. Topographic features of the terrain may expose the structure to high-fire impact. Construction features may present likely challenges to defending the structure against wildfire

Question 11

Check and Go

Answer 11

A rapid evaluation to check for occupants at a structure, evaluate life threat, and assist in evacuation. This tactic is used when fire-spread, intensity, lack of time, or inadequate defensible space prohibit firefighting resources from safely taking action to protect the home. Evaluate the structure for follow-up action when additional resources become available, the fire front passes, or fire-behavior intensity is reduced

Question 12

Prep and Go

Answer 12

A tactic used where predicted or actual fire intensity will make it too dangerous for fire resources to physically defend the structure, and some time exists to prepare a structure ahead of the fire. Resources should take actions that prepare the structure to stand alone. Evaluate the structure for follow-up action when additional resources become available, the fire front passes, or fire behavior intensity is reduced.

Question 13

Prep and Defend

Answer 13

A tactic used when the predicted or actual fire situation allows fire resources to remain at the structure when the fire front arrives, and adequate time exists to safely prepare a structure for defense prior to the arrival of the fire front. A TRA is present and egress is identified.

Question 14

Fire Front Following

Answer 14

“Fire Front Following” is a follow-up tactic employed when Check-and-Go, Prep-and-Go, or Bump-and-Run tactics are initially used. This tactic is used when there is insufficient time to safely set up ahead of the fire, or the intensity of the fire would likely cause injury to personnel located in front of the fire. Resources remain in a safe area and advance after the passage of the fire front to search for victims, effect perimeter control, extinguish spot fires around structures, control hot spots, and reduce ember production

Question 15

Tactical Patrol

Answer 15

Tactical Patrol can be initiated after the main fire front has passed and flames have subsided but when the threat to structures still remains. The key to this tactic is mobility and continuous monitoring of the assigned area. Resources will patrol areas downwind of ember showers and areas where the fire has passed; extinguish hot spots or secondary structure ignitions; and address safety issues such as power lines, weakened trees, and other hazards

Question 16

Bump and Run

Answer 16

“Bump and Run” is a tactic where resources typically move ahead of the fire front in the spotting zone to extinguish spot fires and hot spots to defend as many structures as possible. Bump and Run may be effective in the early stages of an incident when the resource commitment is light and structure defense is the priority. Bump and Run may also be used on fast moving incidents when there are adequate resources available but where an effort must be made to control or steer the head and shoulders of the fire to a desired end-point. Perimeter control and structure-defense preparation are secondary considerations with the Bump-and-Run tactic. Resources must remain mobile during Bump and Run and must constantly identify escape routes to Safety Zones and Temporary Refuge Areas as they move with the fire front

Question 17

Anchor and Hold

Answer 17

This tactic utilizes control lines and large water streams from fixed water supplies in an attempt to stop fire-spread. The goal of this tactic is to extinguish structure fires, protect exposures, and reduce ember production. Anchor-and-hold tactics are more effective in urban neighborhoods where the fire is spreading from house to house. Resources should be spotted in safe areas where they can safely withstand any fire situation. Resources may engage in individual structure defense actions or perimeter control and re-supply from a fixed-water source. Resources should be prepared to re-deploy to other areas, should the fire escape identified containment objective(s).