CFS NOTES (50) Flashcards
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1
Q
RECEO
A
RECEO = the CFS Structure Fire Management Acronym
- R = RESCUE
- E = EXPOSURES
- C = CONTAIN
- E = EXTINGUISH
- O = OVERHAUL
2
Q
UN HAZCHEM NUMBERS & CODES (3YE etc)
A
All industrial chemicals have a unique UN number which tells you what it is, and a 3 character code giving basic fire and emergency instructions:
The first character is a number which indicates the FIREFIGHTING MODALITY:
- = WATER JET
- = FOG
- = FOAM
- = DRY AGENT
The Second character is a letter which indicates the PPE REQUIRED
- PRWX = full chemsuit
- STYZ = BA (hence Petrol*, 3YE, needs BA)
- There may be a third character:
- V = may react violently
- E = consider evacuation
Note: Petrol is now 1203, not 1270, which is obsolete, but still used
3
Q
“GET OUT NOW” SIGNAL AT STRUCTURE FIRES?
A
- unlike the continuous yip of the burnover warning, the structure fire warning is 3 yips, repeating, to help distinguish it from incoming vehicle sirens
4
Q
FIRE CLASSES: ABCDEF
A
- CLASS A = ordinary combustibles, wood, paper etc
- CLASS B = flammable liquids
- CLASS C = flammable gases
- CLASS D = flammable metals
- CLASS E = live electrical equipment
- CLASS F = fat fires
5
Q
EXTINGUISHER TYPES BY COLOUR
A
It is the BAND, not the body that indicates colour
- RED = Pressurised water
- BLUE = Foam
- WHITE = Dry Chemical Powder
- BLACK = CO2
- YELLOW = Vaporising liquid (eg BCF, for live electrical equipment)
- OATMEAL = Wet Chemical (for fat fires: works by Saponification)
6
Q
AFFF vs BFFF
A
- AFFF = AQUEOUS FILM FORMING FOAM : best for making foam blankets for Class B (flammable liquid) fires, typically in 3-6% concentration
- BFFF = BUSHFIRE FIGHTING FOAM : a surfactant which helps water penetrate into Class A fuels, typically in a 0.5% concentration
7
Q
USE OF CLASS B FOAMS IN TRUCK MOUNTED PROPORTIONERS
A
- Class B (AFFF) foams are chemically incompatible with Class A foams and should not be run through the trucks plumbed proportioner
- always make Class B foam by drawing directly from the drum with a foam branch
8
Q
HOW MUCH STEAM DOES 1 LITRE OF WATER MAKE?
A
- one litre of water makes 1700 litres of steam
9
Q
STANDARD LAYFLAT FIREHOSE LENGTHS & CHARGED WEIGHTS
A
Std layflat firehoses are 30m (100ft) long and their charged wts are:
- 25mm (1 inch) = 20kg
- 38mm (1.5 inch) = 45kg
- 64mm (2.5 inch) = 120kg
10
Q
FIREHOSE COUPLING TYPES, USAGE AND FEATURES
A
the 3 common types in Australian use are:
- LONDON ROUND (aka SAMFS) = the old style male/female coarse screw fittings
- STORZ = unisex, 1/4 turn, internal lug couplings, widely used by metropolitan fire services
- WAJAX (aka FORESTRY) = unisex, 1/4 turn external lug couplings, preferred by rural agencies as they are dirt resistant, and the 25 & 38mm couplings are interconnectable
Australian fire services are slowly standardising on
- FORESTRY couplings for 25 & 38mm hoses
- STORZ for 64mm, and all suction hoses
11
Q
WHAT DOES ‘ROLLED ON THE BIGHT’ MEAN
A
- a layflat hose that is rolled upon itself from the middle
12
Q
HOSE REEL DIMENSIONS
A
- the standard building hosereel has 36m of 19mm (3/4 inch) hose
- Echunga 34 has 2 reels each with 60m of 25mm hose
- Echunga 14 has one 30m, 25mm hosereel (check)
13
Q
TYPICAL MAINS PRESSURE = ?
A
- standard mains pressure = 500-600kPa, ie a bit less than optimum branch pressure
14
Q
OPTIMUM BRANCH WORKING PRESSURE
A
- Branches are optimised to work at 700kPa (100psi), and the flow settings are calibrated to that pressure
15
Q
FIREHOSE SAFE WORKING PRESSURE
A
- Large layflats (38 & 64mm) are rated to 1500kPa, ie a bit over twice optimal branch pressure
16
Q
PUMP REVS REQUIRED TO RUN THE HALO?
A
- PLENTY! enough to make at least 1000kPa
17
Q
EXTINGUISHERS SUITABLE FOR LIVE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT?
A
- (YELLOW Banded) Vaporising Liquid types are best
- DRY CHEM & CO2 are acceptable
18
Q
EXTINGUISHERS SUITABLE FOR CLASS D (METAL) FIRES
A
- NONE really, and certainly not water, you need specialty ‘DRY AGENTS’ which are NOT the same as DRY CHEMICAL POWDER
19
Q
CFS RADIO SYSTEMS & CHANNELS (GROUND)
A
The CFS uses 3 separate radio systems, GRN, VHF & UHF
-
GRN - is for talk between the base controlling the incident and the fireground, typical TGs are
- 124 to Adelaide Fire
- 128/129 to Heysen Stations or the Group base
- 136 for Lofty Grp (Mylor)
- VHF - is for talk around the fireground, typically on Channel 087
-
UHF CBs - these are small unofficial handheld walkie talkies for non operational housekeeping at incidents, typically on
- Ch 11, or
- 9, 19 or 29 for farm units
20
Q
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE GRN BEFORE ISOLATING THE BATTERY?
A
- Otherwise the Network will not know the radio is off, and will keep looking for it
- (Nobody bothers with this)*
21
Q
RADIO COMMS WITH CFS AIR ASSETS?
A
- INITIAL contact with incoming bombers is on the Regional Air Ops G__RN (108 for Echunga), then switching to VHF for tactical operations, typically VHF 56 for Echunga
- these will be paged out with the response page
22
Q
DESCRIBING FIRES TO AIR SUPPORT
A
Use
- POI
- Head
- L flank
- R flank
not compass points
23
Q
WHO TO CALL IN A MAYDAY SITUATION ON THE FIREGROUND?
A
- First choice is a MAYDAY call on the local fireground VHF channel, or failing that, the local GRN talkgroup (they are the only ones close enough to visualise your problem and provide immediate help)
- 2nd choice is to press the ORANGE Mayday button*, but this will only notify ADELAIDE fire, who are unlikely to be able to offer immediate help
* NOTE, the new Digital VHFs also have the Orange Mayday button
24
Q
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE (CFS) GRN MAYDAY BUTTON IS PUSHED ?
A
- It sets off an alarm at ADELAIDE FIRE, denoting the source of the call, and, with Digital Systems* the GPS location of the radio.
- The Radio switches to the emergency TG (115) and Adelaide fire calls you.
* in Region 1, VHF is now digital, but GRN is not yet
25
HOW TO RESET THE GRN MAYDAY BUTTON
1. notify Adelaide Fire the button was pushed in error
2. hold the ORANGE button down until one long beep is heard
26
RADIO CALL USED TO DENOTE
## Footnote
*"IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOLLOWING, ALL OTHERS LISTEN"?*
* check, check, check
27
HOW TO UNLOCK A GRN OR VHF HANDHELD WHICH HAS HAD THE KEYPAD LOCK ENGAGED?
* Move the _rotary collar_ to 'B', it must have inadvertently been set to A or C.
28
ACTION TAKEN ON GRN RADIO GIVING A 'BUSY' SIGNAL?
* Release PTT and retry shortly
29
WHAT ARE THE GRN 'MULTI-AGENCY TALKGROUPS'?
* most GRN talkgroups are agency specific and can only be reached on their own radios
* GRN 17-36 are _multiagency talkgroups_ which can be reached on any GRN radio (but need to be centrally patched together).
30
CFS FUEL CARD PIN
* = the Region number (1) plus the 3 numbers of the registration plate
31
DRIPTORCH FUEL MIXTURE ?
* 2 DIESEL : 1 PETROL
32
CFS HLO DUTIES
* contact _SAAS EOC_ (aka 5FT) enroute to scene on _TG 20_ to advise ETA of HLO to scene, using the callsign [Incident location]-HLO (eg 'Flaxley HLO')
* on arrival, _select suitable site_, at least 50m dia (day) or 75 (night). If at night, marked by crossed headlights pointing _into_ wind.
* Monitor TG 20 for incoming helo, then relay landing instructions, wind direction and speed
* if at night, on Helo approach, ensure _all high beams and beacons are extinguished_: just use amber flashers and low beams\*
## Footnote
*\*same same for runway aprons, and yes, this is often neglected at primaries, but the pilots would like it*
33
FIRE RISK V RELATIVE HUMIDITY?
RH is a major determinant of fire behaviour: as a general guide:
* \> 30% = fires are easily manageable
* 15-30% = fires become increasingly difficult to control
* \< 15% = fires are generally uncontrollable
* \< 10% = CATASTROPHIC conditions
34
FDI SCALES
* \< 12 = LOW - MODERATE
* 12 - 24 = HIGH
* 25 - 49 = VERY HIGH
* 50 - 74 = SEVERE = _TOBANS_
* 75 - 99 = EXTREME
* \> 100 = CATASTROPHIC
35
STANDARD CFS RESPONSE LEVELS TO RURAL FIRES DURING THE FIRE DANGER SEASON?
During the _FIRE DANGER SEASON_, but not on a TOBAN day:
1. Initial response = _1st ALARM_ = 2 Tankers\*
2. Next level = _2nd ALARM_ = 2 more Tankers
3. Next level = _3rd ALARM_ = 2 more Tankers
4. Next level = STRIKE TEAMS via REGION
On a _TOBAN day_
1. Initial response = _1st ALARM_ = 4 Tankers + 1 BWC
2. Next level = _2nd ALARM_ = 4 more Tankers
3. Next level = _3rd ALARM_ = 4 more Tankers
4. Next level = _STRIKE TEAMS_ via REGION
*\* = at least a 24, or sometimes 2x 14/QRVs*
36
CFS RECOMMENDED IDLE SPEED FOR TANKER ENGINES ON THE FIREGROUND?
* 1300 RPM!
37
CFS STANDARD RCR RESPONSE LEVELS
* _Standard RCR response_ = 1 Rescue + 1 Tanker
* _Heavy rescue_ = 2 Rescue + 2 Tankers
* + an extra Tanker if Helicopter _landing site_ reqd
38
THUNDERSTORM METEOROLOGY
* _UNSTABLE_ atmospheric conditions\* may allow warm moist air at lower levels to ascend to great heights, 60,000 ft or more
* the moist air _cools as it rises_, producing first rain drops (and CUMULUS CLOUDS) then hail
* _Strong turbulence_\*\* within the cloud causes collisions between hail particles, creating electric fields, causing _lightning_ to jump within the cloud, between clouds, and to the ground
* repeated rise and fall within the cloud can produce very large raindrops or hailstones which may fall violently to earth, accompanied by strong local winds.
## Footnote
* \* = those conducive to large vertical movement of air masses*
* \*\* this is why thunderstorms are dangerous to fly through*
39
WHAT IS THE C-HAINES INDEX?
the _C-Haines index_ is a is a measure of _atmospheric instability_, which is an important\* predictor of fire behaviour, because increasing instability favours generation of _convection columns_ which _increase local winds_
* _0-4_ = _stable_, fires easily controlled, models over predict fire behaviour
* _4-8_ = _becoming unstable_, fires becoming difficult to control: models are good predictors
* _8-10_ = _unstable_: fires are difficult to control, models under predict
* _\>10_ = _very unstable_, fires uncontrollable, models dramatically under predict
*\* albeit not part of traditional models*
40
WHAT ARE PYRO-CUMULUS CLOUDS?
* these are high white _cumulus clouds_ which develop _above the smoke column_ at a big fire: they are a _RED FLAG MARKER OF ATMOSPHERIC INSTABILITY_, and of severe and unpredictable fire behaviour
41
CFS BA CYLINDER CAPACITY
* CFS uses _9 litre, 300 bar fibreglass cylinders_ with a maximum capacity of 2700 litres
42
MINIMUM BA CYLINDER PRESSURE FOR BUILDING ENTRY?
* 170 BAR
43
WHEN DOES THE CABA WHISTLE SOUND?
* Whistle time = out time = _50 Bar_ = 10 mins air left
44
ECO DUTIES
The ECO controls the entry of BA operators into incidents
1. don _ECO vest_ & set up ENTRY CONTROL POINT at a suitable site near incident entry point
2. lay out _Green & Red & tarps_ for full & empty cylinders
3. _collect TAGS_\* from waiting operators, record cylinder pressure, confirming \>_170 bar_
4. upon doffing, _calculate out time_ from starting pressure
5. ensure team\*\* out on time, or send rescue crew in\*\*\*
* \* removing this tag from the DSU activates it*
* \*\* a team = 2 operators*
* \*\*\* always aim to have the next team ready to go in*
45
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ROOFTOP SOLAR & BATTERY STORAGE
1. Solar Panels produce _DC current_ and feed it to an _INVERTER_ which converts it to _240V AC_ for immediate use, export to the GRID, or storage in a BATTERY system
2. Homes with solar panels have a _PV_ (Photovoltaic) _sticker on the fusebox_, and those with Batteries have an _ES_ (Energy storage) sticker
3. Traditional Batteries were LEAD-ACID arrays, but _Lithium_ types are proliferating, and can can melt down violently if pierced or overheated.
4. _EMERGENCY ACTION_ in the event of a house fire or battery emergency:
* Turn off all switches in the fusebox
* Treat battery leakage as HAZMAT
* Cool overheated Li-Ion batteries with FOG only *(jets risk electrocution)*
* Allow battery fires to _burn out_ whilst protecting exposures
46
ELECTRIC CAR INCIDENTS AND FIRES
* Electric vehicles currently lack a universal 'number plate flag' and may need to be identified individually
* EVs have 2 battery systems:
* A conventional _12V battery_ which runs the traditional accessories
* A larger, _high voltage battery_ which powers the electric motor.
* In case of _crash_:
* EVs have crash sensors which should disconnect the high voltage battery, but ensure this by _disconnecting the 12V battery leads_ and pulling the _'first responder plug'_ if present (usually in engine bay)
* Identify the _ORANGE high voltage cables_ and avoid cutting during rescue
* Treat high voltage battery leak as caustic
* In case of High voltage battery _fire_:
* SCBA mandatory
* use high volumes of water (\>20,000l) to extinguish and cool
* _quarantine for 48h_: can reignite later*\**
47
WHO TO NOTIFY HOW WHEN RESPONDING TO AN INCIDENT (2016)
1. ack to _Adelaide Fire_ by phone on arrival at station
2. notify _Adelaide Fire_ when _mobile_, arrived, clear, returned etc, using _K codes_ on 128
3. notify _HEYSEN DUTY OFFICER_ when mobile on _12__8_ (Heysen Duty does not see K codes)
4. upon _arrival_, send _HEYSEN DUTY_ initial sitrep on 128 as:
1. Echunga 34 arrived incident number..
2. the _incident name_ is....
3. the _incident commander_ is...
4. the initial SITREP is....
5. Notify HEYSEN DUTY when _complete_ on 128
48
CFS PRIORITY ONE\* DRIVING RULES
* Don't exceed speed limits by \>20 kmh
* Stop before disobeying a RED light
* Don't disobey train signals unless directed by a rail worker
* You must use BOTH Lights & Sirens at all times
* Don't exceed 60kmh on the freeway downtrack
*\* P1 = Emergency driving, P2 = normal*
49
ECHUNGA PRIMARY SCHOOL FIRE SYSTEM
* Echunga Primary School has no fixed alarms or sprinklers, but it does have 4 'mains pressure' water points:
* 2 _hydrants_, one at each end of the main school carpark
* 2x _36m reels_, one on the external wall midway between the hydrants, and another inside the same building
* These are _fed at 600kPa_ from 2x 60,000L tanks and an autostart\* diesel pump adjacent the school crossing. A _booster cabinet_ alongside the pumphouse allows the system to be pressurised by an appliance in the event of pump failure.
* _Initial actions upon arrival_
1. Locate 34 in the main carpark and commence work using 64mm layflats direct from each hydrant
2. Establish BA Entry control point
## Footnote
*\*but not autostop: shut down via buttons in the booster cabinet or pumphouse.*
50
BEST EXTINGUISHER FOR GUARD DOGS?
* CO2, sprayed directly on the nose through the fence at initial contact
51
HOW TO STOP A CHARGING DOG
1. Do not run
2. Face the dog and loudly tell it to GO HOME - most will hesitate at this .. if so, reinforce by advancing.
3. If not, '_become a tree_' ... stand immobile, no eye contact, ignore, even if nipped
52
TYRE PRESSURE IN SAND
* As a general guide, begin by halving the normal pressures, eg to 50 psi, but can go lower
