Visual 2.1 Unit 2: Fire Safety

Visual 2.2 Introduction and Unit Overview The role of CERTs in fire safety:  Put out small fires.  Prevent additional fires.  Shutoff utilities.  Assist with evacuations where necessary.

Visual 2.3 Unit Objectives  Explain the role of CERTs in fire safety.  Identify and reduce potential fire risks in the home and workplace.  Conduct a basic sizeup for a fire emergency.  Understand basic safety precautions.  Identify hazardous materials in the home and community.  Extinguish small fires using a fire extinguisher.

Visual 2.4 The Fire Triangle  Fuel  Oxygen  Heat

Visual 2.5 Fire Chemistry Classes of fire:  A: Ordinary combustibles  B: Flammable and combustible liquids  C: Energized electrical equipment  D: Combustible metals  K: Cooking K

Visual 2.6 Reducing Fire Hazards in Home and Workplace  Avoid the “electrical octopus.”  Don’t run cords under carpets.  Replace broken or frayed cords.  Maintain appliances.  No unattended candles

Visual 2.7 Reducing Fire Hazards in Home and Workplace  Locate and label gas shutoffs.  Natural gas  Propane  Oil Furnace

Visual 2.8 Shutting of the Gas Meter

Visual 2.9 Reducing Fire Hazards in Home and Workplace  Read labels.  Use L.I.E.S. storage procedures  Limit  Isolate  Eliminate  Separate

Visual 2.10 Reducing Fires During the 72 Hours Exposure to generator exhaust Fires from cooking oil Unattended camp fires Malfunction from old grills still in use

Visual 2.11 Fire Size Up Answer these questions:  Can my buddy and I fight the fire safely?  Do we have the right equipment?  Are there other hazards?  Is the building structurally damaged?  Can we escape?

Visual 2.12 Size Up 1.Gather Facts. 2.Assess Damage. 3.Consider Probabilities. 4.Assess Your Situation. 5.Establish Priorities. 6.Make Decisions. 7.Develop Plans of Action. 8.Take Action. 9.Evaluate Progress.

Visual 2.13 Firefighting Resources Resources available:  Portable fire extinguishers  Wet standpipes  Confinement  “Creative” resources

Visual 2.14 Wet Standpipes  Interior standpipes are usually in commercial and apartment buildings and consist of:  100ft of 1.5” hose  3/8” nozzle  125 gpm discharge  Always work in teams of three.

Visual 2.15 Confinement  In interior spaces, it is possible to confine and restrict the spread of smoke and heat by closing doors and windows to rooms and hallways.  Fires involving cooking materials can be confined using a pan top.

Visual 2.16 Creative Resources Garden Hose Water Buckets Dirt Baking Soda

Visual 2.17 Extinguisher Rating and Labeling  Fire extinguishers must be rated and approved by the State Fire Marshall and Underwriters Laboratories. They are rated according to their effectiveness on the different classes of fire. Their strength and capability must also be labeled by the manufacturer.

Visual 2.18 Types of Fire Extinguishers Water ExtinguisherDry Chemical Carbon Dioxide Specialized Fire Extinguishers

Visual 2.19 Water Extinguisher “the can”  Capacity: 2.5 gallons  Range: feet  Pressure: 110 p.s.i.

Visual 2.20 Dry Chemical Extinguisher  Capacity: second discharge time  Range: 8-12 feet  Pressure: p.s.i.  Dry chemical extinguishers have a sodium bicarbonate base and are effective on class B and C fires.  Multipurpose dry chemical extinguishers have a monoammonium phosphate base and effective on class A, B and C.

Visual 2.21 Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher  Capacity: lbs.  Range: 3-6 ft  Pressure: “High”, no gauge  Caution: Cone will freeze when in use. Make sure you wear hand protection!

Visual 2.22 Specialized Extinguishers K-Extinguisher Halon Extinguisher D-Extinguisher

Visual 2.23 Components of a Fire Extinguisher A: Cylinder B: Trigger C: Hose D: Agent E: Label F: Gauge F

Visual 2.24 P.A.S.S  Pull  Aim  Squeeze  Sweep Safety Tip: Test the extinguisher before approaching any fire.

Visual 2.25 Aim at the Base AIM and SWEEP at the base of the flames. Why?? Your goal is to cool and/or smother the burning material. The flames and smoke are bi-products of combustion.

Visual 2.26 Offensive or Defensive Attack?

Visual 2.27 Fire Suppression Safety Do:  Use safety equipment.  Work in a buddy system.  Have a backup team.  Have two ways to exit.  Maintain a safe distance.  Overhaul the fire.

Visual 2.28 Fire Suppression Safety DON’T  Try to suppress large fires.  Get too close.  Fight it alone.  Enter smoke-filled areas.

Visual 2.29 Fire Extinguisher Rating  Extinguishers are rated for the size (sq. ft) of fire the lay person can handle.  Class A: 1 to 40  Class B: 1to 640  Class C: no rating  Class D: must match the type of metal A label may read as: 2A:10B:C

Visual 2.30 Question ? How do you know if a material is hazardous?

Visual 2.31 Hazardous Materials...  Corrode other materials  Explode or are easily ignited  React strongly with water  Are unstable when exposed to heat or shock  Are toxic to humans, animals, or the environment

Visual 2.32 Identifying Stored Hazardous Materials

Visual 2.33 Identifying Stored Hazardous Materials in Fixed Facilities  NFPA 704 Diamond is an identification system instituted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The placard identifies hazards associated with specific materials. The placard is found on fixed facilities.

Visual Diamond Usage

Visual 2.35 Placard Color Differentiation

Visual 2.36 NFPA 704 Placards should be treated as a “stop sign” for CERT members. CERT members will evacuate occupants of placarded buildings to an uphill and upwind location!

Visual 2.37 Identifying Hazardous Materials in Transit OrangeRed WhiteRed Red & White Red & White BlueYellow White Yellow & White Black & White DOT Placards

Visual 2.38 Chemical Classes “Every good firefighter owns pretty rotten cars” E- Explosives G- Gases F- Flammable liquids F- Flammable combustible O- Oxidizers P- Poisons R- Radioactive C- Corrosives

Visual 2.39 DOT Placards Name Chemical Class Symbol Chemical Number Chemical Class Symbol

Visual 2.40 UN and NA System

Visual 2.41 Placards  Hazardous material shipments are marked using either:  DOT placards  United Nation system  North American warning placards Being phased out. Generally, seen on materials from Canada. NO placard is required for < 1,000 lbs

Visual 2.42 Dealing With The Unknown  Treat any unknown situation as a hazardous materials incident.  Err on the side of safety. Do not assume that, because there is no placard, no hazardous materials are present.  Talk with the driver  Ask for a manifest or bill of lading

Visual 2.43 Fire Extinguisher Exercise