Ch 6-8 Flashcards
(175 cards)
1
Q
What is smoke defined as in modern fire behavior?
A
Products of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis, including particulates, aerosols, and toxic, flammable gases.
2
Q
What are the four attributes of smoke?
A
Volume, velocity, density, color (VVDC).
3
Q
What is incomplete combustion in smoke production?
A
Materials on fire but not fully reduced by rapid oxidation.
4
Q
What is pyrolysis?
A
Chemical breakdown of materials by heat alone, often leading to combustion.
5
Q
What are particulates in smoke?
A
Solids like soot and ash, contributing to density and color.
6
Q
How does soot differ from ash in smoke?
A
Soot is carbon, supports flaming; ash is depleted minerals, cannot.
7
Q
What are aerosols in smoke?
A
Suspended or propelled liquids like moisture and hydrocarbons.
8
Q
Name a common gas in smoke affecting fire behavior.
A
Carbon monoxide (CO).
9
Q
Why is SCBA critical during fire suppression?
A
Smoke contains toxic chemicals like CO, HCN, and benzene, increasing cancer risk.
10
Q
What is the self-ignition temperature of acrolein?
A
450°F (232°C).
11
Q
What is a ventilation-limited fire?
A
A fire where smoke displaces air, limiting combustion.
12
Q
What triggers smoke ignition?
A
Right temperature and air mixture, with or without a spark.
13
Q
What are the six phases of a ventilation-controlled fire?
A
Ignition, initial growth, ventilation-limited, explosive growth, fully developed, decay.
14
Q
What characterizes the initial growth phase?
A
Fuel-controlled, with abundant air and upward fire spread.
15
Q
What happens in the ventilation-limited phase?
A
Open flaming decreases due to limited air, but smoke production continues.
16
Q
What is the explosive growth phase?
A
Rapid fire growth when air is reintroduced, leading to flashover or flame-over.
17
Q
Why is the explosive growth phase dangerous?
A
Flames can engulf firefighters in zero-visibility conditions.
18
Q
What is protective cooling?
A
Applying water to cool smoke and prevent ignition.
19
Q
What is the fully developed phase?
A
Total flame involvement of interior flow paths.
20
Q
What defines the decay phase?
A
Fuel consumption reduces fire intensity.
21
Q
What is a hostile fire event?
A
Sudden fire behavior phenomena like flashover, backdraft, or smoke explosion.
22
Q
What is ghosting?
A
Intermittent ignition of smoke pockets, warning of flashover or flame-over.
23
Q
What is a flame-over?
A
Ignition and sustained burning of the overhead smoke layer.
24
Q
What is a smoke explosion?
A
Split-second ignition of a smoke pocket with no sustained burning.
25
What is a flashover?
Sudden ignition of all room surfaces due to radiant heat.
26
How does a backdraft differ from explosive growth?
Backdraft is instantaneous, like a detonation; explosive growth spreads slower.
27
What is a warning sign of flashover?
Turbulent smoke filling a compartment.
28
What indicates a potential backdraft?
Yellowish-gray smoke from cracks and seams.
29
What does turbulent smoke indicate?
Impending flashover if filling a compartment.
30
What is laminar smoke flow?
Smooth flow, indicating the compartment is still absorbing heat.
31
How does smoke density affect fire spread?
Thicker smoke spreads fire events farther.
32
What does black smoke indicate?
Hotter conditions, often flame-pushed if thin.
33
What does brown smoke from structural spaces suggest?
Impending collapse in lightweight wood buildings.
34
What is 'black fire'?
High-volume, turbulent, ultra-dense, deep black smoke indicating imminent autoignition.
35
How does weather affect smoke?
Temperature, humidity, and wind can alter smoke appearance.
36
What is the ISO’s role in reading smoke?
Predict fire behavior and communicate IAP adjustments to the IC.
37
In the bedroom fire scenario, what does brown smoke from eaves indicate?
Structural collapse risk due to heated unfinished wood.
38
What action should the ISO take with turbulent smoke filling a room?
Intervene to prevent firefighters from entering.
39
How does smoke color indicate fire location?
Darker, faster smoke is closer to the fire seat.
40
What does uniform smoke from multiple openings suggest?
Fire in a concealed space.
41
Why is smoke toxicology a concern?
Thick smoke can render victims unconscious and cause cancer.
42
What is the role of NIST in fire behavior studies?
Researches modern fire dynamics to improve safety.
43
What is a flow path?
Avenues for heat, smoke, flames, and air movement in a building.
44
Why is the four-phase fire growth model outdated?
It assumes fuel-controlled fires with ample air.
45
What is a proactive solution for explosive growth?
Protective cooling to quench moving smoke.
46
What does high smoke velocity indicate?
Heat-driven pressure, often turbulent.
47
How does container size affect smoke?
Small spaces fill faster, increasing pressure.
48
What is the significance of ghosting?
Warns of impending flashover or flame-over.
49
Why is reading smoke a developed skill?
It predicts fire behavior beyond simple observations.
50
What is a ventilation-controlled fire?
A fire limited by air availability, producing explosive smoke.
51
How does smoke density relate to decontamination?
Thick smoke requires gross decontamination to reduce cancer risk.
52
What is the ISO’s advantage in reading smoke?
Ability to roam and observe smoke from multiple angles.
53
What does tan smoke from structural spaces indicate?
Mid-stage heating of unfinished wood.
54
How does wind affect smoke appearance?
Can disperse or concentrate smoke, altering velocity.
55
What is the role of UL in fire behavior research?
Conducts studies to develop tactical solutions.
56
What is a warning sign of a smoke explosion?
Trapped smoke in a dead-end hallway.
57
Why is smoke velocity compared across similar openings?
To accurately locate the fire seat.
58
What does slow, laminar smoke suggest?
Smoke has traveled far or the compartment absorbs heat.
59
How does firefighting effort influence smoke?
Ventilation and water application can alter smoke attributes.
60
What is the explosive growth phase’s impact on hand lines?
Heat release can surpass cooling capabilities.
61
What does white smoke indicate in early heating?
Moisture release from materials.
62
Why is smoke considered explosive?
Contains flammable gases like CO and HCN.
63
What is hazardous energy?
Unintended release of stored or potential energy causing harm.
64
Name four forms of hazardous energy.
Electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic.
65
What is ground gradient?
Electrical energy energizing the ground through a path.
66
What is step potential?
Voltage difference between a person’s feet near a ground gradient.
67
What hazard do UPS systems pose?
Stored electrical energy can discharge unexpectedly.
68
How can electrical shock hazards be detected?
Using voltage detectors or observing arcing.
69
What is the first action for hazardous energy threats?
Awareness communication.
70
Name two common utility gases.
Natural gas and propane.
71
What is a BLEVE?
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion from a pressure vessel rupture.
72
What is a PUVCE?
Percussive Unconfined Vapor Cloud Explosion from ignited gas vapor.
73
What hazard does utility water pose?
Flooding or pressure surges during firefighting.
74
Name a mechanical hazardous energy source.
Moving machinery like conveyor belts.
75
What are vehicle hazardous energy sources?
Airbags, hybrid batteries, compressed gas struts.
76
What weather factor most affects firefighting?
Wind, influencing fire behavior.
77
How does humidity affect firefighters?
Low humidity causes dehydration; high humidity increases thermal stress.
78
What is a sign of a weather shift?
Sudden 180-degree wind direction change.
79
What is a hazard of large-animal rescues?
Unpredictable behavior from spooked animals.
80
What hazardous energy is found in medical facilities?
MRI magnets, compressed gases, laser tools.
81
What is a no-entry zone?
Area off-limits to all responders due to danger.
82
What is a hot zone?
IDLH area requiring full PPE and RIC standby.
83
What color tape marks a warm zone?
Yellow.
84
How is a cold zone used?
For command post and equipment staging.
85
What is lock-out/tag-out (LOTO)?
Safeguards to prevent unintended equipment activation.
86
When is protective cooling used?
To prevent rupture of heated pressure vessels.
87
In the substation fire case, what was a hazardous energy form?
Burning transformer and overhead power lines.
88
What safety issue was addressed before the substation fire attack?
Verifying the grid was deenergized.
89
How was the substation fire’s stability categorized?
Unstable-May require attention.
90
What is a wind-driven fire hazard?
Can create untenable conditions with temperatures up to 2,000°F.
91
How should ISOs monitor weather?
Study local patterns and daily forecasts.
92
What is a sign of a potential tornado?
Wall or shelf cloud at a cumulonimbus base.
93
How is lightning distance calculated?
Seconds between flash and thunder divided by five (miles).
94
What hazard does deep snow pose?
Hides trip hazards and stresses structures.
95
Why is wind critical in structural fires?
Can accelerate fire spread through open vents.
96
What is a microburst?
Straight-line wind from a thunderstorm, up to 100 mph.
97
How does humidity affect smoke?
High humidity keeps smoke from dissipating.
98
What is a weather spotter guideline?
Watch the sky for cloud patterns and wind activity.
99
Why are large-animal rescues technical?
Require specialized training and veterinary assistance.
100
What is the ISO’s role in hazardous energy?
Identify, assess stability, and implement control measures.
101
How are control zones marked?
With color-coded barrier tape or physical barriers.
102
What factors determine control zone size?
Height, wind, flammability, and protective barriers.
103
What is a hazard of MRI equipment?
High-energy magnets disrupting communications.
104
Why communicate hazardous energy threats?
Prevents unintentional contact and injuries.
105
What is a climatic hazardous energy example?
Thunderstorm downdrafts.
106
How does temperature affect firefighters?
Extreme temperatures outside norms increase injury risk.
107
What is a PUVCE hazard example?
Ignition of a propane vapor cloud.
108
Why use a sentry in LOTO?
To deter activation when locks/tags are impractical.
109
What is a wind speed concern for structural fires?
10-20 mph can influence fire behavior.
110
How does ice buildup affect firefighting?
Can sag wires or collapse structures.
111
What is the ISO’s role in weather shifts?
Advise the IC on potential IAP adjustments.
112
Why is acclimation important?
Firefighters unaccustomed to extreme temperatures are at risk.
113
What is a miscellaneous hazardous energy form?
Flowing water in streams or storm drains.
114
How does wind affect ventilation?
Can defeat positive-pressure ventilation efforts.
115
What is the purpose of zoning?
Achieve hazard avoidance through defined areas.
116
What is a hazard of steam locomotives?
Scalding vapors and explosive ruptures.
117
Why is weather training recommended?
Helps ISOs predict and mitigate weather-related risks.
118
What is a collapse zone?
A no-entry zone based on structure height plus 50%.
119
How does low humidity affect fire spread?
Accelerates spread in wood products.
120
What is the ISO’s communication method for imminent threats?
Urgent or priority radio message.
121
Why are control zones critical?
Protect responders from hazardous energy exposure.
122
What is a hazard of hybrid vehicle batteries?
High-voltage electrical shock risk.
123
How does wind influence attack point decisions?
Can trap firefighters if attacking from downwind.
124
What is the role of NOAA in weather education?
Provides free training and resources for weather spotting.
125
What is the difference between dangerous and risky?
Dangerous refers to inherent threats in the fire scene environment, while risky describes the act of firefighting, where firefighters make choices about facing those dangers.
126
What does NFPA 1561 require of the ISO regarding risk?
NFPA 1561 requires the ISO to monitor conditions and determine if operations fall within acceptable risk criteria defined in the department’s risk management plan.
127
What is the first NFPA risk management principle (NFPA 1500)?
Activities presenting significant risk to members shall be limited to situations with potential to save endangered lives.
128
What is the second NFPA risk management principle (NFPA 1500)?
Activities to protect property involve inherent risks, and actions shall be taken to reduce or avoid those risks.
129
What is the third NFPA risk management principle (NFPA 1500)?
No risk to members is acceptable when there is no possibility to save lives or property.
130
What is the fourth NFPA risk management principle (NFPA 1500)?
When risks to members are excessive, activities shall be limited to defensive operations.
131
How can NFPA risk principles be paraphrased?
There are 4:
1. Risk a life to save a known life.
2. Act predictably to save unknown lives or valued property.
3. Take no risk for what’s lost.
4. Default to defensive tactics when risks are excessive.
132
What is an imminent threat to firefighter survival per NFPA?
Excessive risks or rapidly deteriorating conditions that warrant withdrawal to defensive positions.
133
What is valued property?
Physical property whose loss causes harm to the community, e.g., hospitals, major employers, or historical sites.
134
What is a key risk management criterion for an IAP?
Routine evaluation of risk in all situations.
135
What is another IAP risk management criterion?
Well-defined strategic options that guide operations.
136
What is an example of an IAP risk management criterion?
Full use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by all responders.
137
Why is effective incident command structure important for IAP?
It ensures organized risk management and safe operations.
138
What is situational awareness (SA)?
The degree of accuracy to which one’s perception of the current environment mirrors reality.
139
What factor reduces situational awareness?
Insufficient communication among responders.
140
How does fatigue affect situational awareness?
Fatigue and stress reduce the ability to accurately perceive the environment.
141
What is task overload in the context of SA?
Having too many tasks to accomplish, leading to reduced awareness.
142
What is task underload’s impact on SA?
Overly routine tasks or boredom can cause lapses in attention.
143
How do group mindsets reduce SA?
Biases like 'We always do it this way' can blind responders to new risks.
144
What is the 'press-on' philosophy’s effect on SA?
A 'Cowboy up!' attitude overrides prudent judgment, reducing awareness.
145
What are rapidly degrading conditions?
Quickly worsening incident conditions that challenge accurate perception.
146
What are the three levels of situational awareness?
CC
CS
PF
1. Capturing current cues and clues.
2. Comprehending the situation.
3. Predicting the future.
147
How can mental state improve SA?
Through physical fitness, adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and stress reduction.
148
How does training enhance SA?
A career-long commitment to learning and practicing new skills improves awareness.
149
What improves experience for better SA?
Actual incident handling, vicarious learning, and recognition-primed decision making (RPD) exercises.
150
How can personal values strengthen SA?
Education, injury reduction commitment, and consensus risk values enhance judgment.
151
What is recognition-primed decision making (RPD)?
A mental model where quick decisions use templates from past experiences matching current conditions.
152
How can RPD be improved?
Through incident handling, full-scale drills, and professional shadowing with other departments.
153
What is vicarious learning?
Observing others to develop knowledge, skills, or experience, e.g., reading LODD reports.
154
What is the first step of the ISO read-risk model?
Collect SA cues: read the building, smoke, and firefighter actions.
155
What is the second step of the ISO read-risk model?
Analyze: define hazards, judge survivable spaces, compare rate of change, and determine gains.
156
What is the third step of the ISO read-risk model?
Judge risk: acceptable (monitor and advise IC) or unacceptable (intervene or suggest changes).
157
What are the three survivability levels for a space?
High (go), marginal (go with caution), zero (no go).
158
What indicates high survivability?
Known victims with conditions suggesting a good chance of rescue.
159
What is marginal survivability?
Known or unknown victims where conditions suggest possible survival, but caution is needed.
160
What defines zero survivability?
Conditions like heavy smoke, fire, or collapse indicate no victim is likely alive.
161
What is the U.S. Coast Guard SPE model?
A risk assessment model multiplying severity (1-5), probability (1-5), and exposure (1-4) for a score of 1-100.
162
What does an SPE score of 51-80 indicate for known victims?
Marginal risk, requiring close monitoring.
163
What does an SPE score over 80 suggest for known victims?
Prepare for rapid withdrawal due to high risk.
164
What is the SPE score range for acceptable risk with no victims?
1-20 indicates acceptable risk for operations.
165
What SPE score suggests defensive operations with no victims?
51-100 indicates unacceptable risk, requiring defensive tactics.
166
What should an ISO do for imminent unacceptable risks?
Immediately stop, alter, or suspend operations and possibly withdraw crews.
167
How should an ISO handle non-imminent unacceptable risks?
Discuss risk-reduction solutions with the IC.
168
What should an ISO do if risk is acceptable?
Communicate with the IC, confirm their thoughts, and monitor ongoing risks.
169
What factor reduced SA in the 2013 apartment fire case?
Insufficient communication, as the redundant search wasn’t communicated to the fire ground.
170
What else reduced SA in the 2013 case?
Confusion at the command post regarding command and safety officer roles.
171
Using the SPE model, what severity score fits the 2013 case?
5 (potential death), due to collapse and heavy fire conditions.
172
What probability score applies to the 2013 case?
4 (likely), given lightweight construction and prior fires.
173
What exposure score fits the 2013 case?
4 (exceeds protection), as crews entered during defensive operations with master streams.
174
What SPE score results for the 2013 case?
80 (5×4×4), indicating marginal risk for known victims, but unacceptable for redundant search.
175
Which ISO read-risk factor was missed in the 2013 case?
A. Rating survivable spaces, as the redundant search ignored zero survivability conditions.
