0. Essentials of Fire Fighting, 5th Edition
Chapter 15 — Fire Control
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1. Chapter 15 Lesson Goal
After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to attack Class B fires and coordinate interior attacks following the policies and procedures set forth by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
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2. Specific Objectives
1. Summarize considerations for hoseline selection.
2. Discuss stream selection.
3. Discuss suppressing Class B fires.
4. Explain why bulk transport vehicle fires are difficult incidents.
(Continued)
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3. Specific Objectives 5. Discuss control of gas utilities.
6. Discuss command at structural fires.
7. Extinguish an ignitable liquid fire. (Skill Sheet 15-II-1)
(Continued)
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4. Specific Objectives
8. Control a pressurized flammable gas container fire. (Skill Sheet 15-II-2)
9. Establish Incident Command and coordinate interior attack of a structure fire. (Skill Sheet 15-II-3)
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5. Hoseline Selection Factors
Fire conditions
Fire load, material involved
Volume of water needed
Stream reach needed
(Continued)
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6. Hoseline Selection Factors
Number of firefighters available to advance hoselines
Need for speed, mobility
Tactical requirements
Ease of hoseline deployment
Potential fire spread
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7. Stream Selection
Dictated by fire situation, capabilities of nozzle being used
Solid-stream nozzle projects water in more-or-less solid mass
(Continued)
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8. Stream Selection
Combination (fog) nozzles project water in range of patterns
Straight and solid streams
Combination fog nozzles
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9. Converting Water to Steam
Critical to heat absorption
Excess steam production can obscure vision, inflict steam burns
Appropriate water application methods critical
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10. Class B Fires
Those that involve flammable and combustible liquids, gases
Flammable liquids — Flash points less than 100ºF (38ºC)
(Continued)
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11. Class B Fires
Combustible liquids — Flash points higher than 100ºF (38ºC)
Divisions of flammable, combustible liquids
Hydrocarbons
Polar solvents
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12. Actions and Precautions
Avoid standing in pools of fuel/runoff water because there may be fuel floating on top of water
PPE soaked with flammable/combustible liquids must be removed from service until cleaned
(Continued)
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13. Actions and Precautions
Unless leak can be stopped, do not extinguish fires around relief valves/ piping
Try to contain pooling liquid until flow can be stopped
(Continued)
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14. Actions and Precautions
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE)
Applying foam is most often used for flammable liquid fires
(Continued)
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15. Actions and Precautions
Class B fire fighting techniques also needed for fires in gas utility facilities/highway incidents involving fuel tankers
Water can be applied in several forms
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16. Using Water to Control Class B Fires
Water alone ineffective extinguishing agent
Using water as cooling agent
Using water as mechanical tool
Using water as crew protection
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17. Bulk Transport Vehicle Fires
Follow preincident plans
Techniques of extinguishment similar to fires in flammable fuel facilities
Major differences in vehicles transporting flammable fuels, storage facilities
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18. Traffic Guidelines
Close at least one lane of traffic in addition to incident lane during initial emergency operations
Avoid using road flares because of possible ignition
(Continued)
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19. Traffic Guidelines
When law enforcement personnel unavailable, firefighters should be assigned to direct traffic, control scene access
(Continued)
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20. Traffic Guidelines Position fire apparatus uphill, upwind (Continued)
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21. Traffic Guidelines
Exit apparatus, work from the side away from traffic as much as possible
Turn wheels of vehicles parked to protect firefighters so apparatus cannot be pushed into them if struck by another vehicle
(Continued)
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22. Techniques Be aware of possibility of vehicle tires failing
Know status/limitations of water supply
Protect trapped victims with hose streams until rescue
Determine exact nature of cargos
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23. Control of Gas Utilities
Firefighters should have working knowledge of hazards, correct procedures for handling incidents involving natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas
(Continued)
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24. Control of Gas Utilities
Natural gas or LPG used for cooking, heating, industrial processes
Natural gas used as fuel for buses, motor vehicles
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25. Natural Gas In pure form is methane; flammable, nontoxic
When delivered to customers, may contain trace amounts of ethane, propane, butane, pentane
Lighter than air
(Continued)
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26. Natural Gas Nontoxic, but an asphyxiant
No odor of its own, but odor added
Distributed from gas wells to point of use by pipes
Explosive between 5-15 percent in air
(Continued)
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27. Natural Gas
May be compressed, stored, shipped in cylinders marked as compressed natural gas (CNG)
Shipped, stored as liquid (LNG) and subject to BLEVE in this form
Emergencies involving natural gas
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28. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
Bottled gas
Refers to fuel gases stored in liquid state under pressure
Two main gases in this category —Butane and propane
Propane
(Continued)
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29. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
About 1.5 times as heavy as air
Explosive in concentrations between 1.5 and 10%
Shipped from distribution point of usage in cylinders and tanks on cargo trucks
(Continued)
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30. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
Stored in cylinders, tanks near point of use
Supply of gas may be stopped by shutting valve at tank
(Continued)
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31. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
LPG leak will produce visible cloud of vapor that hugs ground
Cloud of unburned gas may be dissipated by fog stream
All LPG cylinders, tanks can BLEVE
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32. Flammable Gas Incidents
Incidents involving both CNG, LPG distribution systems most often caused by excavation equipment striking underground pipes, causing a break
Contact utility company immediately
(Continued)
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33. Flammable Gas Incidents
Approach from, stage on upwind side even if gas not ignited
First concerns are evacuation of area immediately around break, evacuation of area downwind, elimination of ignition sources
(Continued)
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34. Flammable Gas Incidents
Check surrounding buildings for odor of gas because service connections near break may have been damaged
Follow departmental SOPs regarding crimping off gas line to stop leak
(Continued)
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35. Flammable Gas Incidents
If gas is burning, flame should not be extinguished
If necessary, use hose streams to protect exposures
(Continued)
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36. Flammable Gas Incidents
In many structure fires, an important task is locating gas meter and turning off gas supply to involved building
In some industrial, institutional occupancies, critical equipment and processes depend on uninterrupted supply of natural gas
(Continued)
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37. Flammable Gas Incidents
In most homes and businesses, meter is located outside building and often visible from street
If the gas meter involved in fire, firefighters assigned to turn off gas should be protected by hoseline set on wide fog pattern
(Continued)
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38. Flammable Gas Incidents
Flow of gas into building can be stopped by turning cutoff valve to closed position, which is set at right angle to pipe
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39. Company-Level Fire Tactics
Standard tactical priorities — Life safety, incident stabilization, property conservation
Order of priorities same, but actions taken on fireground may/may not be performed in that order
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40. Command — First Due Engine Company
Company officer will conduct rapid initial assessment of situation
Assessment determine further actions taken by first-due engine company
(Continued)
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41. Command — First Due Engine Company
If by taking immediate action company can save 1+ lives, will do so even if not enough firefighters on scene to form rapid intervention crew (RIC)
(Continued)
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42. Command — First Due Engine Company
If no obvious, immediate life-safety concerns, and fire threatening to extend to another nearby structure, officer may order lines pulled to apply water to exposure
Officer may call for more resources
(Continued)
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43. Command — First Due Engine Company
Given a small interior fire, company officer usually assumes Command of incident
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44. Command — Other Companies
Second-due engine company
Fireground support company
Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC)
Chief Officer/Incident Command
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45. Summary
Attacking fires early in their development is an important aspect of a successful fire fighting operation. Likewise, selecting and applying the most effective fire attack strategy and tactics are also important.
(Continued)
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46. Summary
Failing to do any of these things can result in a fire growing out of control, an increase in fire damage and loss, and possibly in firefighter injuries.
(Continued)
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47. Summary
Firefighters need to know how to use the fire fighting tools and techniques adopted by their departments.
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48. Review Questions
1. What are three factors to consider in hoseline selection?
2. When would combination fog nozzles be used?
3. What is a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE)?
(Continued)
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49. Review Questions
4. What are the major differences in fires in vehicles transporting flammable liquids and fires in storage facilities?
(Continued)
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50. Review Questions
5. What questions does the company officer of the first-due engine company ask when conducting a rapid initial assessment of the situation?
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