Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Fire Officer Principles and Practices 4th JBL > Ch 13-14 > Flashcards

Ch 13-14 Flashcards

(100 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Why is fire cause determination important?

A

To understand past fire causes for prevention and establish responsibility for criminal acts or negligence.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who is responsible for NFIRS reporting?

A

The Incident Commander, who may delegate to the first-arriving company officer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

When is a formal fire investigation required?

A

For fires with serious injuries, fatalities, suspected arson, or per AHJ criteria.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What standard defines fire investigator qualifications?

A

NFPA 1033, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What guide governs fire investigations?

A

NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the fire officer’s role in fire cause determination?

A

Document conditions, preserve evidence, note unusual situations, and report findings.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

When should overhaul be delayed?

A

If a fire requires a fire investigator or is a possible crime scene to preserve evidence.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Which fires typically don’t require an investigator?

A

Minor accidental fires, scalding burns, minor car fires, or juvenile-caused fires.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What incidents require a fire investigator per Phoenix SOP?

A

First alarm structural fires, serious injuries/fatalities, attempted arsons, bombings, explosions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the scientific method in fire investigation?

A

Recognizing a problem, collecting data, analyzing data, testing hypotheses, selecting a final hypothesis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the first step in fire cause determination?

A

Identifying the area of origin where a heat source and fuel first interacted.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How is the area of origin determined?

A

By examining fire patterns, witness accounts, fire physics/chemistry, and electrical arcing locations.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a fire pattern?

A

Physical marks like V- or U-shapes indicating fire movement or intensity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What does a V-shaped fire pattern indicate?

A

The base typically points to the fire’s origin.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is an intensity pattern?

A

Shows how much heat was transferred, indicating areas of greatest heat production.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is char in fire investigation?

A

Burned or pyrolyzed carbonaceous material with a blackened appearance.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How does char depth help in fire investigation?

A

Deeper char often indicates longer burning, closer to the area of origin.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the three steps to determine fire cause?

A

Identify ignition source, material first ignited, and circumstances bringing them together.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is a competent ignition source?

A

One that generates, transmits, and sustains enough heat to ignite fuel.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the difference between type and form of material?

A

Type is the material’s nature (e.g., cotton); form is its use (e.g., cloth).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Why is fuel configuration important?

A

It affects ignition ease, like wood shavings igniting faster than a beam.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is failure analysis?

A

Systematic examination to identify causes and consequences of device or system malfunctions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is fire analysis?

A

Determining origin, cause, development, responsibility, and failure analysis of a fire.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How should interviews be conducted?

A

Separately with individuals to avoid influence, using open-ended questions initially.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What should be documented from interviews?
Notes, handwritten statements, or audio/video recordings of witness accounts.
26
What percentage of vehicle fires have no determined cause?
23% of highway vehicle fires, per National Fire Data Center.
27
What is a common cause of vehicle fires?
Mechanical failure or malfunction, accounting for 45% of determined causes.
28
How are vehicle fire origins traced?
By identifying areas of most and least damage, looking for V-shaped patterns.
29
What indicates arson in vehicle fires?
Removed valuable items, accelerant use, loosened fuel lines, or swapped tires.
30
What environmental factors influence wildland fires?
Topography, fuel load, wind, weather, humidity, and terrain slope.
31
How does a wildland fire’s origin appear on a hill?
Likely on the lower slope, with faster upward and slower downward spread.
32
What evidence might indicate a wildland fire’s cause?
Campfire remains, lighters, lightning strike marks, or fallen power lines.
33
What are the four fire cause classifications?
Accidental, natural, incendiary, undetermined.
34
What is an accidental fire cause?
A fire not involving intentional human acts, like unattended cooking.
35
What is the leading cause of home structure fires?
Unattended cooking, followed by smoking materials and heating.
36
What is pyrolysis?
Chemical decomposition by heat, often preceding combustion, like wood near a flue pipe.
37
What is a common electrical fire cause?
Misuse like overloaded circuits or lightweight extension cords.
38
What is a natural fire cause?
Fires without human intervention, like those from lightning or earthquakes.
39
How can lightning cause fires?
By sending voltage through wiring, igniting combustibles via conduits like plumbing.
40
What is an incendiary fire?
A fire intentionally ignited where it should not be, not always arson.
41
What is arson?
The crime of maliciously, intentionally, or recklessly starting a fire or causing an explosion.
42
What are the six arson motives?
Profit, crime concealment, excitement, spite/revenge, extremism, vandalism.
43
What indicates an incendiary fire?
Disabled fire protection, delayed notification, accelerants/trailers, multiple origins, tampered equipment.
44
What is an accelerant?
A fuel or oxidizer, often ignitable liquid, used to initiate or spread a fire.
45
What is a trailer?
Solid or liquid fuel used to spread fire, like paper towels or gasoline.
46
Why are multiple points of origin suspicious?
They suggest intent to maximize fire growth or block exits.
47
What is the NFIRS reporting system used for?
Documenting fires to identify risks, trends, and resource needs.
48
What should a preliminary investigation report include?
Alarm receipt, response details, scene accessibility, fire suppression, civilian contacts, scene integrity.
49
What is the role of an expert witness?
To provide specialized knowledge to help judges/jurors understand evidence.
50
How should a fire officer testify in court?
Be prepared, honest, concise, courteous, and use clear language.
51
What is the National Response Framework (NRF)?
A national, all-hazards approach to domestic incident response, detailing authorities and best practices.
52
What is the National Incident Management System (NIMS)?
A consistent template for managing incidents, required for Stafford Act funding eligibility.
53
What are the five components of NIMS?
Preparedness, communications/information management, resource management, command/management, ongoing management/maintenance.
54
What is the Stafford Act?
Legislation providing federal disaster assistance to state/local governments, tribes, nonprofits, and individuals.
55
What does the Stafford Act cover?
All hazards, including terrorist events and natural disasters, to supplement state/local efforts.
56
What is an Incident Action Plan (IAP)?
A plan outlining strategic objectives and how emergency operations will be conducted.
57
When is a written IAP required?
For large or complex incidents with extended duration.
58
Who are the command staff in ICS?
Incident Commander, Safety Officer, Liaison Officer, Public Information Officer.
59
What is the Safety Officer’s role?
Monitor hazards, ensure safety procedures, and stop unsafe operations.
60
What authority does the Safety Officer have?
To stop or suspend operations for safety, per NFPA 1500, 1521, and 1561.
61
What is the Liaison Officer’s role?
Serve as the IC’s point of contact for outside agencies, exchanging information.
62
Where should the liaison area be located?
Adjacent to, but not inside, the command post.
63
What is the Public Information Officer’s role?
Gather and release incident information to media and agencies.
64
Where should media briefings occur?
At a location separate from the command post.
65
What are the four ICS general staff components?
Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Administration.
66
What does the Operations Section do?
Manages tactical actions like firefighting, rescue, and patient treatment.
67
When is an Operations Section Chief assigned?
For complex incidents, allowing the IC to focus on overall management.
68
What is the Planning Section’s role?
Collect, evaluate, and disseminate incident information, updating the IAP.
69
What subunits can the Planning Section include?
Resources, situation, documentation, demobilization units, and technical specialists.
70
What does the Logistics Section provide?
Supplies, services, facilities, and materials, like fuel or food.
71
What are the Logistics Section’s branches?
Support (supply, facilities, ground support) and Service (communications, medical, food).
72
When is the Finance/Administration Section activated?
For large-scale or long-term incidents needing fiscal management.
73
What does the Finance/Administration Section handle?
Accounting, financial aspects, and legal issues of an incident.
74
What subunits can Finance/Administration include?
Time, procurement, compensation/claims, and cost units.
75
What are divisions in ICS?
Geographic operations, like a floor or side of a building.
76
What are groups in ICS?
Functional operations, like ventilation or search and rescue.
77
What is a unit in ICS?
A generic term for geographic or functional components, often used in complex incidents.
78
What is a branch in ICS?
A supervisory level in operations or logistics to manage span of control.
79
What does a Division/Group/Unit Supervisor do?
Supervise resources, monitor progress, ensure safety, and report to the IC.
80
How do division and group supervisors coordinate?
They communicate directly, as neither reports to the other.
81
What is staging in ICS?
Managing uncommitted resources at a designated location, awaiting IC instructions.
82
What is Level I staging?
Later-arriving units stop short of the scene, awaiting assignment.
83
What is Level II staging?
Units report to a designated stand-by location for greater alarm incidents.
84
Who manages the staging area?
A Staging Officer, using the 'staging' radio designation.
85
What is a task force?
Two to five dissimilar resources assembled for a specific task, led by a Task Force Leader.
86
What is a strike team?
Five units of the same type, like engines, led by a Strike Team Leader.
87
How are strike teams used in wildland fires?
To manage multiple companies efficiently, often with a battalion chief as leader.
88
What are greater alarm responsibilities?
Reinforcing fire attack, relieving crews, performing support tasks, or maintaining reserves.
89
Why do small fire departments need extra supplies?
Due to limited infrastructure, requiring self-sufficiency for water and food.
90
What hazards are common in single-family dwellings?
Faulty wiring, structural changes, hoarding, or non-code-compliant renovations.
91
What is balloon frame construction?
Pre-1930s homes with void spaces in walls, floors, and ceilings, enabling rapid fire spread.
92
What characterizes mid-rise multifamily dwellings?
Type V wood-frame with lightweight trusses, often podium construction.
93
Why are mid-rise apartments at risk during construction?
Lack of completed sprinklers/standpipes, leading to total losses.
94
What makes high-rise fires complex?
Require extensive personnel, expanded ICS, and careful coordination.
95
What is the role of the Lobby Control Officer?
Control entry/exit, manage elevators, and oversee building systems.
96
What does the Stairwell Support Group do?
Move equipment and hoses up/down stairwells, often every third floor.
97
Why are residential high-rise fires dangerous?
Wind-driven fires have killed first-arriving crews since 1983.
98
What is the purpose of postincident analysis?
To serve as an educational/training tool, not to assign blame.
99
Who prepares information for a multicompany review?
Often a company officer, delegated by the IC or battalion chief.
100
What should a postincident critique evaluate?
Strategy, command structure, resource allocation, SOPs, and unusual problems.

Fire Officer Principles and Practices 4th JBL (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions