part d: vehicle fire, confined enclosures, wildland fires
TRANSCRIPT
Part D: Vehicle Fire, Confined Enclosures, Wildland Fires
Vehicle fires Attack line should be at least 1 ½ inch
hoseline Fire should be attacked from the
upwind/uphill side Backup line should be deployed as soon as
possible Full PPE including SCBA
Trash containers Contents may be hazardous
materials, plastics, batteries or aerosol cans
Size of fire determines size of hoseline
Protect exposures to fire scene Full PPE including SCBA
Recognition of inherent hazards of the confined space Atmospheric conditions Limited means of entrance and
egress Cave-ins or unstable support
members Deep standing water or other
liquids Utility hazards
Establishing Command Post and Staging Area Staging area
Near entrance, but not obstructing it Supplied with personnel and equipment to
be used Safety Officer stationed at entrance to keep
track of personnel and equipment entering and leaving
Firefighters do not enter until IC gives orders
Must wear SCBA Lifeline should be tied to each rescuer Communication system must be established
between inside and outside members O.A.T.H. method (using rope)
O = OK, 1 tug on rope A = Advance, 2 tugs on rope T = Take-up, 3 tugs on rope H = Help, 4 tugs on rope
Air monitoring Atmospheric monitoring systems used to
determine: Whether rescuer(s) may enter confined space What type and level of PPE is required Likelihood of finding viable victims
AMS should be removed and re-calibrated on schedule determined by AHJ
Using the probe for initial monitoring within a confined space. Figure 8. (Bottom) Different levels within a confined space. Monitoring will have to be completed by entrants.
Accountability Checked and recorded by
Safety Officer Member His/her mission His/her tank pressure Estimated working time
Fire attack time Heat and exhaustion limits
firefighter time
Large campaign ground fires classified by fuels: Subsurface fuels
Roots Peat Duff Other partially
decomposed organic matter that lie under the surface of the ground
Surface fuels Needles Twigs Grass Field crops Brush up to 6 feet in height Downed limbs Logging slash Small trees on or adjacent
to surface of the ground
Aerial fuels Suspended and upright fuels
(brush over 6 feet Leaves and needles on tree
limbs Branches Hanging moss Physically separated from the
ground surface to the extent that air can circulate freely between them and the ground
Parts of wildland fires Origin Head Finger Perimeter Heel Flanks Island Spot fire Green Black
Fuel Small or light fuels burn faster Tightly compacted fuels (subsurface or surface)
burn slower than the aerial types Fire spreads faster when fuels are close together,
but fire spreads unpredictably when fuels are patchy
Amount of fuel determines fire’s intensity and amount of water needed for extinguishment
Moisture content of fuel determines ignition factor and intensity of burn
Uniform Fuels
Patchy Fuels
Vertical Arrange-ment of Fuels
Weather Wind
Fans flames and supplies fresh air Some medium and large sized fires can product
their own winds
Fire Before Cold Front Passage
Fire After Cold Front Passage
Examples of Foehn Winds
Foehn Winds: A dry wind with strong downward components, characteristic of mountainous regions.
Foehn Winds: A dry wind with strong downward components, characteristic of mountainous regions.
Thunderstorm
Produces strong, gusty surface winds affecting direction of fire spread.
Downdraft winds will be erratic but always away from the thunderstorm.
Thunderstorms also produce lightning which can be dangerous.
Clouds grow vertically and smoke rises to great heights
Cumulus type clouds
Gusty winds
Good visibility
Dust devils and firewhirls
Visual Indicators of Unstable Air
Dust Devils
Visual Indicators of Stable AirCloud in layers, no vertical motion
Stratus type clouds
Smoke column drifts apart after limited rise
Poor visibility in lower levels due to accumulation of haze
Fog layers
Steady winds
Temperature Effects wind Closely related to relative humidity Affects the fuels as a result of long-term drying Relative humidity: impacts fuels with no
moisture content of their own Precipitation:
Dead flashy fuels dry out more quickly Large dead fuels retain more moisture and burn
slower
Temperature/Relative Humidity Chart
Noon Midnight Noon
Topography Steepness of slope affects rate and direction of
wildland fires Aspect:
Determines effects of solar heating Southern exposures (north of equator) receive more of
sun’s heat and burn faster Local terrain feature
Obstructions (ridges, trees and large rock outcroppings) may alter airflow and cause erratic fire behavior
Drainages Create turbulent updrafts causing a chimney effect.
Slope Winds
SOUTHSOUTH
NORTHNORTH
AspectHeavy fuelsShadeMoist
Light fuelsSunnyDry
Steep Slopes Cause Rapid Fire Spread
Convection and Radiant Heat
Flame is closer to fuel
Position of Fire on Slope
FIRE NEAR TOP OF SLOPE
FIRE NEAR BOTTOM OF SLOPE HAS RAPID SPREAD UPSLOPE
SLOPE
Box Canyon & Chimney Effect
Radiant Heat Across Narrow Canyon
Spotting Across Narrow Canyon
Lateral Ridge to Canyon
Mountains Cause Channelling of Wind
Valley Winds
Elevation
SEA LEVEL
GRASS
SHRUBS
TREES
Revolve around perimeter control Control line may be established to
completely encircle the fire with all fuels inside rendered harmless At burning edge of fire Next to burning edge of fire Considerable distance from fire
Direct attack Action taken directly against flames at its edge or
closely parallel to it Indirect attack
Line is constructed some distance from fire’s edge and unburned intervening fuel is burned out.
Size up must be continued during fire due to fire due to fire unpredictability and adjustments made.
MATCHING:
18. Wear full ___.
19. Use at least a ______.
20. Use _____ for small engine-compartment fires.
21. Extinguish _____ around or under vehicle first; then attack remaining fire in vehicle.
22. Avoid standing in front of potentially ______ on newer vehicles.
a) 1½-inch hoseline
b) explosive front shock absorber bumpers
c) ground fires
d) PPE
e) portable extinguishers
23.___ Can act as an ignition source to grass and other fuels under vehicle
24.___ Most are plastic and give off toxic gases
25.___ Could deploy from steering wheel, dashboard, or floor of vehicle
26.___ May become a projectile and be shot from vehicle with great force
a) Air bag (SRS or SIPS) b) Catalytic converter
c) Interior components d) Shock-absorber-type bumpers
27.___ May become a projectile and be shot from vehicle with great force
28.___ May become a projectile and be shot from vehicle with great force
29. ___ May blow as a result of pressure buildup
30.___ May carry munitions or other hazardous cargo
a) Hollow driveshafts b) Hatchback supports c) Military vehicle d) Tires
Select facts about fires and emergencies in confined spaces. Write the correct letters on the blanks.
31. What is the single most important factor in safely operating in confined spaces?
a. Recognition of physical and atmospheric hazards b. Ability to remain calm and to control panicky feelings
c. Pre-incident planning d. Control of utilities and power equipment
32. What is one method of signaling between a firefighter in a confined space and someone monitoring the firefighter?
a. O-A-T-H b. O-A-K-E c. R-O-T-E d. O-A-T-S33. Firefighter A says that when using an atmospheric monitoring
device, firefighters should first check the atmosphere for carbon monoxide.
Firefighter B says that the atmosphere should be monitored before entering and as long as rescuers or victims remain in the space.
Who is right?a. Firefighter A b. Firefighter B C. Both A and B D. Neither A nor
B
Select facts about fires and emergencies in confined spaces. Write the correct letters on the blanks.
34. Who is responsible for keeping records of firefighters who enter a hazardous area?
a. Incident commander b. Rapid intervention crew leader C. Fire officer d. Safety officer
35. Why may firefighters tire more quickly and use their positive-pressure SCBA air supply faster in a confined space incident than in a structural or wildland emergency?
a. Confined spaces are often oxygen deficient b. SCBA operates less efficiently in confined spaces.
c. Body and fire heat are confined. d. Controlled breathing techniques for confined spaces
require more energy
Select facts about wildland fires. Write the correct letters on the blanks.
36. What are surface fuels?a. Roots, peat, and duff b. Needles, twigs, grass, field crops, and small
treesc. Underground oil, gas, and other hydrocarbons d. Spilled liquid
hydrocarbon fuels37. Firefighter A says that tightly compacted fuels burn more quickly than
do surface fuels. Firefighter B says that relative humidity impacts greatly on aerial fuels. Who is right?a. Firefighter A b. Firefighter B c. Both A and B d. Neither A nor B38. Under which slope aspect (north of the equator) do wildland fires
typically burn the fastest?a. a) Eastern exposures b. Western exposures b. c. Southern exposures d. Northern exposures39. How do local terrain features such as ridges, large trees, and large rock
outcroppings often affect wildland fire behavior?a. They provide natural fire barriers.b. They slow the spread of fire because of their density or absence of fuel.c. They serve to confine the fire to specific, predictable areas.d. They affect air movement and cause turbulence and erratic fire
behavior.
40. What are the three most important factors that affect wildland fire behavior?
a. Fuel, weather, topography b. Weather, ignition source, geographyc. Ignition source, fuel, season of year d. Time of day, fuel, topography41. What are subsurface fuels?a. Twigs, leaves, and needles b. Roots, peat,
and duffc. Suspended fuels around which air can circulate freely d. Spilled liquid
hydrocarbon fuels42. Which of the following is not a factor that directly affects the burning
characteristics of a wildland fuel?a. Fuel size b. Continuity c. Absorbency d. Volume43. Firefighter A says that an indirect wildland fire attack involves trying to cut
the fire’s progress by removing the fuel sources. Firefighter B says that a direct wildland fire attack involves taking action
against the flames at its edge. Who is right?a. Firefighter A b. Firefighter B c. Both A and B d. Neither A nor B
a. Fingerb. Flankc. Headd. Heele. Spot Fire
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