Fire Fighter Safety Quiz Fire Fighter Safety Quiz

By: Gary EdwardsBy: Gary Edwards

QUESTIONQUESTION

To minimize risk of injury to To minimize risk of injury to fire fighters when fighting fire fighters when fighting structure fires, fire structure fires, fire departments should:departments should:

1.1. Conduct pre-incident planningConduct pre-incident planning

2.2. Ensure the incident commander conducts a Ensure the incident commander conducts a risk-versus-gain analysis risk-versus-gain analysis

3.3. Make sure that all fire fighters are equipped Make sure that all fire fighters are equipped with a portable radio that can talk to the with a portable radio that can talk to the incident commander incident commander

4.4. All of the above All of the above

SUMMARYSUMMARY On February 18, 2004, a 40-year-old male fire fighter (the On February 18, 2004, a 40-year-old male fire fighter (the

victim) was fatally injured in a restaurant structure fire. The victim) was fatally injured in a restaurant structure fire. The victim, providing mutual aid, had been searching for the seat of victim, providing mutual aid, had been searching for the seat of the fire with two volunteer fire fighters from another the fire with two volunteer fire fighters from another department. When one of these fire fighters lost the seal on his department. When one of these fire fighters lost the seal on his SCBA face piece, the fire fighter immediately abandoned the SCBA face piece, the fire fighter immediately abandoned the nozzle position and retreated out of the closest door along with nozzle position and retreated out of the closest door along with his backup partner. In the black smoke and zero visibility, the his backup partner. In the black smoke and zero visibility, the fire fighters were unaware that the victim was still inside the fire fighters were unaware that the victim was still inside the structure. Soon after, the Incident Commander (IC) ordered an structure. Soon after, the Incident Commander (IC) ordered an emergency evacuation because of an imminent roof collapse, emergency evacuation because of an imminent roof collapse, and an air horn signal was sounded. Personnel accounting and an air horn signal was sounded. Personnel accounting indicated that a missing fire fighter (the victim) was still inside indicated that a missing fire fighter (the victim) was still inside the building when the roof partially collapsed. After several the building when the roof partially collapsed. After several search attempts, the victim was found in a face-down position search attempts, the victim was found in a face-down position with his mask and a thermal imaging camera cable entangled with his mask and a thermal imaging camera cable entangled in a chair. His facemask was dislodged and not over his mouth. in a chair. His facemask was dislodged and not over his mouth. He was pronounced dead on scene. He was pronounced dead on scene. The coroner listed cause of The coroner listed cause of death as smoke inhalation. An independent toxicology report listed death as smoke inhalation. An independent toxicology report listed the victim’s carbon monoxide level at 51% saturation. There was no the victim’s carbon monoxide level at 51% saturation. There was no notable trauma.notable trauma.

ANSWERANSWER NIOSH investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar NIOSH investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar

occurrences, fire departments should:occurrences, fire departments should:

conduct pre-incident planning and inspections to facilitate conduct pre-incident planning and inspections to facilitate development of a safe fire ground strategydevelopment of a safe fire ground strategy

review, revise where appropriate, implement, and enforce review, revise where appropriate, implement, and enforce written standard operating guidelines (SOGs) that specifically written standard operating guidelines (SOGs) that specifically address: incident command (IC) duties, emergency evacuation address: incident command (IC) duties, emergency evacuation procedures, personnel accountability, rapid intervention procedures, personnel accountability, rapid intervention teams (RIT) and mutual aid operations on the firegroundteams (RIT) and mutual aid operations on the fireground

train on the SOGs, the incident command system, and lost fire train on the SOGs, the incident command system, and lost fire fighter procedures with mutual aid departments to establish fighter procedures with mutual aid departments to establish interagency knowledge of equipment, procedures, and interagency knowledge of equipment, procedures, and capabilitiescapabilities

ANSWERANSWER ensure that the IC maintains the role of directing ensure that the IC maintains the role of directing

fireground operations for the duration of the incident fireground operations for the duration of the incident or until the command role is formally passed to or until the command role is formally passed to another individualanother individual

ensure that the IC conducts a risk-versus-gain ensure that the IC conducts a risk-versus-gain analysis prior to committing fire fighters to the interior analysis prior to committing fire fighters to the interior and continually assesses risk versus gain throughout and continually assesses risk versus gain throughout the operationsthe operations

consider appointing a separate, but systematically consider appointing a separate, but systematically integrated incident safety officerintegrated incident safety officer

ANSWERANSWER ensure that all fire fighters are equipped with radios capable of ensure that all fire fighters are equipped with radios capable of

communicating with the ICcommunicating with the IC

ensure personnel accountability reports (PAR) are conducted in ensure personnel accountability reports (PAR) are conducted in an efficient, organized manner and results are reported directly an efficient, organized manner and results are reported directly to the ICto the IC

revise and enforce policies and guidelines regarding activation revise and enforce policies and guidelines regarding activation of personal alert safety systems (PASS) devicesof personal alert safety systems (PASS) devices

ensure that fire fighters train with thermal imaging cameras (TIC) ensure that fire fighters train with thermal imaging cameras (TIC) and they are aware of their proper use and limitationsand they are aware of their proper use and limitations

ensure that individual fire fighters are trained and aware of the ensure that individual fire fighters are trained and aware of the hazards of exposure to carbon monoxide and other toxic fire hazards of exposure to carbon monoxide and other toxic fire gases gases

QUESTION 2QUESTION 2

Fire fighters that are exposed Fire fighters that are exposed to electrical hazards during to electrical hazards during wildland fire operations should wildland fire operations should keep a minimal distance from keep a minimal distance from downed power lines equal to:downed power lines equal to:

1.1. The span of two polesThe span of two poles

2.2. The length of their fire apparatusThe length of their fire apparatus

3.3. 100 feet100 feet

4.4. A 50 foot section of hose A 50 foot section of hose

SUMMARY:SUMMARY: Among the various hazards fire fighters face are Among the various hazards fire fighters face are

electrical hazards during wildland fire electrical hazards during wildland fire suppression activities. The National Fire suppression activities. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that 10 Protection Association (NFPA) reports that 10 fire fighters died from contact with electricity fire fighters died from contact with electricity during wildland fires between 1980 and 1999 during wildland fires between 1980 and 1999 (this figure does not include lightning strikes) (this figure does not include lightning strikes) [NFPA 2001]. As part of the National Institute for [NFPA 2001]. As part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, NIOSH investigated two separate Program, NIOSH investigated two separate incidents in 1999 in which fire fighters died or incidents in 1999 in which fire fighters died or were seriously injured from exposures to were seriously injured from exposures to electricity while fighting wildland fires [NIOSH electricity while fighting wildland fires [NIOSH 1999a,b].1999a,b].

ANSWERANSWER Fire departments should do the following:Fire departments should do the following:

Keep fire fighters a minimum distance away from downed Keep fire fighters a minimum distance away from downed power lines until the line is de-energized. This minimum power lines until the line is de-energized. This minimum distance should equal the span between two poles. distance should equal the span between two poles.

Ensure that the Incident Commander conveys strategic Ensure that the Incident Commander conveys strategic decisions related to power line location to all suppression decisions related to power line location to all suppression crews on the fireground and continually reevaluates fire crews on the fireground and continually reevaluates fire conditions. conditions.

Establish, implement, and enforce standard operating Establish, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) that address the safety of fire fighters procedures (SOPs) that address the safety of fire fighters when they work near downed power lines or energized when they work near downed power lines or energized electrical equipment. For example, assign one of the electrical equipment. For example, assign one of the fireground personnel to serve as a spotter to ensure that the fireground personnel to serve as a spotter to ensure that the location of the downed line is communicated to all fireground location of the downed line is communicated to all fireground personnel. personnel.

Do not apply solid-stream water applications on or around Do not apply solid-stream water applications on or around energized, downed power lines or equipment. energized, downed power lines or equipment.

ANSWERANSWER Fire departments should do the following:Fire departments should do the following:

Ensure that protective shields, barriers, or alerting techniques Ensure that protective shields, barriers, or alerting techniques are used to protect fire fighters from electrical hazards and are used to protect fire fighters from electrical hazards and energized areas. For example, rope off the energized area. energized areas. For example, rope off the energized area.

Train fire fighters in safety-related work practices when Train fire fighters in safety-related work practices when working around electrical energy. For example, treat all working around electrical energy. For example, treat all downed power lines as energized and make fire fighters downed power lines as energized and make fire fighters aware of hazards related to ground gradients. aware of hazards related to ground gradients.

Ensure that fire fighters are equipped with the proper personal Ensure that fire fighters are equipped with the proper personal protective equipment (Nomex® clothing compliant with NFPA protective equipment (Nomex® clothing compliant with NFPA standard 1500 [NFPA 1997], leather boots, leather gloves, standard 1500 [NFPA 1997], leather boots, leather gloves, etc.) and that it is maintained in good condition. etc.) and that it is maintained in good condition.

Ensure that rubber gloves and dielectric overshoes and tools Ensure that rubber gloves and dielectric overshoes and tools (insulated sticks and cable cutters) for handling energized (insulated sticks and cable cutters) for handling energized equipment are used by properly trained and qualified equipment are used by properly trained and qualified personnelpersonnel. .

ANSWERANSWER Fire fighters should do the following:Fire fighters should do the following:

Assume all power lines are energized and Assume all power lines are energized and call the power provider to de-energize the call the power provider to de-energize the line(s). line(s).

Wear appropriate personal protective Wear appropriate personal protective equipment for the task at hand—Nomex® equipment for the task at hand—Nomex® clothing compliant with NFPA standard 1500, clothing compliant with NFPA standard 1500, rubber gloves, and dielectric overshoes and rubber gloves, and dielectric overshoes and tools (insulated sticks and cable cutters). tools (insulated sticks and cable cutters).

Do not stand or work in areas of dense Do not stand or work in areas of dense smoke. Dense smoke can obscure energized smoke. Dense smoke can obscure energized electrical lines or equipment and can become electrical lines or equipment and can become charged and conduct electrical current.charged and conduct electrical current.

QUESTIONQUESTION

When conducting When conducting extinguishment efforts for extinguishment efforts for residential basement fires it is residential basement fires it is most important to:most important to:

1.1. Have total lighting in place before entering Have total lighting in place before entering the basementthe basement

2.2. Cut a hole in the floor above the fire for Cut a hole in the floor above the fire for ventilationventilation

3.3. Secure a detailed floor plan that includes Secure a detailed floor plan that includes the basementthe basement

4.4. Ensure that ventilation is closely Ensure that ventilation is closely coordinated with fire attack coordinated with fire attack

SUMMARYSUMMARY November 29, 2003, a 31-year-old male fire fighter (the November 29, 2003, a 31-year-old male fire fighter (the

victim) died while fighting a residential basement fire. The victim) died while fighting a residential basement fire. The victim and another fire fighter were in the basement applying victim and another fire fighter were in the basement applying water to the fire on the ceiling. A Deputy Chief in the water to the fire on the ceiling. A Deputy Chief in the basement reported to I.C. that the fire was knocked down and basement reported to I.C. that the fire was knocked down and requested ventilation. A positive pressure ventilation fan requested ventilation. A positive pressure ventilation fan (PPV) was started at the front door as the basement windows (PPV) was started at the front door as the basement windows were vented. Suddenly, thick black smoke filled the entire were vented. Suddenly, thick black smoke filled the entire basement area as the hoseline became covered by debris basement area as the hoseline became covered by debris falling from shelving in the basement. The Deputy Chief called falling from shelving in the basement. The Deputy Chief called for a Mayday as he was running out of air just after he told the for a Mayday as he was running out of air just after he told the crew to exit the basement. He was assisted from the crew to exit the basement. He was assisted from the structure, fell unconscious, and was rushed to a hospital. The structure, fell unconscious, and was rushed to a hospital. The victim’s rescue, however, was hampered by the heightened victim’s rescue, however, was hampered by the heightened fire conditions. The victim was recovered approximately 1 ½ fire conditions. The victim was recovered approximately 1 ½ hours later and transported to a local hospital where he was hours later and transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. pronounced dead. CAUSE OF DEATHCAUSE OF DEATH

The medical examiner reported the cause of death as smoke The medical examiner reported the cause of death as smoke and soot inhalationand soot inhalation

ANSWERANSWER NIOSH investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar NIOSH investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar

occurrences, fire departments should:occurrences, fire departments should: develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs)

addressing emergency scene operations, including specific addressing emergency scene operations, including specific procedures for basement firesprocedures for basement fires

ensure that ventilation is closely coordinated with the fire attackensure that ventilation is closely coordinated with the fire attack

ensure that a Rapid Intervention Team is in place before conditions ensure that a Rapid Intervention Team is in place before conditions become unsafebecome unsafe

develop and coordinate pre-incident planning protocols with mutual develop and coordinate pre-incident planning protocols with mutual aid departments aid departments

implement joint training on response protocols with mutual aid implement joint training on response protocols with mutual aid departments departments

ANSWERANSWER Additionally,Additionally,

Municipalities should establish one central dispatch Municipalities should establish one central dispatch center to coordinate and communicate activities center to coordinate and communicate activities involving units from multiple jurisdictionsinvolving units from multiple jurisdictions

Municipalities should ensure that companies Municipalities should ensure that companies responding to mutual aid incidents are equipped responding to mutual aid incidents are equipped with mobile and portable communications with mobile and portable communications equipment that are capable of handling the volume equipment that are capable of handling the volume of radio traffic and allow communications between of radio traffic and allow communications between all responding companies within their jurisdictionall responding companies within their jurisdiction