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.

Thunderstorm u Produces strong, gusty surface winds affecting direction of fire spread. u Downdraft winds will be erratic but always away from the thunderstorm. u 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 Air Cloud 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 MidnightNoon

 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

SOUTH NORTH Aspect Heavy fuels Shade Moist Light fuels Sunny Dry

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-S 33. 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 commanderb. 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 trees c. Underground oil, gas, and other hydrocarbons d. Spilled liquid hydrocarbon fuels 37. 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 B 38. 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 exposures 39. 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, geography c. Ignition source, fuel, season of year d. Time of day, fuel, topography 41. What are subsurface fuels? a. Twigs, leaves, and needles b. Roots, peat, and duff c. Suspended fuels around which air can circulate freely d. Spilled liquid hydrocarbon fuels 42. 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. Volume 43. 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.Finger b.Flank c.Head d.Heel e.Spot Fire