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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