Fire Engineering Training Community
Fireground Strategies -- Test Prep -- Multiple Choice Scenarios
For those members preparing for a promotional exam or who just want to challenge their decision-making skills. Scenarios will be posted. Answers will be provided a few days later. Discussion or arguements can follow.
Scenario #2: Multiple Dwelling Cellar Fire
You have been dispatched to 4527 Park Ave. on a reported fire. You arrive to find a serious fire in progress in the cellar of a four story multiple dwelling of ordinary construction. There are exposure buildings of similar type and construction on either side, fifteen feet away. It is 2330 hours and the temperature is 82 degrees F.
The interior cellar stairway is directly beneath the main stairs and is protected by a fire door on the first floor. The fire door has self-closing hinges. There is also an exterior basement entrance located at the front of the building. To access the basement from the front, you must descend three steps to the exterior wood door.
On arrival, heat conditions are severe, but the first floor is tenable. There are no alarms sounding. There are occupants attempting to escape the fire building via the rear fire escape. There are also many people exiting the building via the main stairwell.
Appropriate Engine Companies have secured their own water supply, and the first-due Truck has been placed directly in front of the fire building.
You arrive along with two engines and a truck company. Three firefighters and an Officer man each apparatus. All subsequent alarms will bring an additional two engines and a truck.
You are the Incident Commander.
1. Would additional alarms be necessary?
a. Yes, a second alarm is required due to the life hazard
b. No, the first alarm assignment is adequate to handle this assignment.
c. Scenario information is inadequate to make the decision. More information would be needed from interior companies.
d. Yes, special call one engine company and one Ladder company to the scene.
2. Regarding ordinary construction, what would be your major concern?
a. Collapse of the parapet wall in the initial stages of the fire.
b. Vertical extension via the interior stairs.
c. Vertical extension via the pipe chases and channel rails.
d. Horizontal extension across the basement ceiling and vertical extension via the exterior wall studs.
3. Regarding the location and extent of the fire, what is the most significant concern that will be encountered by fire forces?
a. Difficult to advance downstairs to attack fire.
b. There should be no problems at all in this type of construction and occupancy.
c. Difficult to ventilate
d. Difficult to force entry.
4. Where would you order the first engine company to position?
a. Past fire building
b. Front of fire building
c. Side of fire building
d. Position as per arrival conditions
5. Where would you order the first handline be stretched?
a. Exterior cellar window
b. Through front entrance to main hall of the first floor
c. Into cellar via exterior entrance
d. To the rear of the first floor
6. How would this first line be utilized?
a. Stretch line to exterior basement window and attack fire in basement through window.
b. Stretch to main hall of first floor to protect interior stairs and evacuation of occupants.
c. Advance via exterior basement door to confine and extinguish the fire at its level of origin.
d. Stretch into cellar via interior stairs to locate, confine, and extinguish fire.
7. Where would you order the second handline?
a. To the cellar via the exterior basement entrance
b. Stretch to the top floor
c. To the exterior basement window
d. Stretch to the main hall first floor to back up the first line as it proceeds down the basement.
8. How would this second line be utilized?
a. Protect interior stairs
b. Primary attack line
c. Protection of firefighters involved in primary search
d. Back up Engine 1 attack
9. What are your orders for Truck 1? The crew has been split
a. Primary search and rescue in cellar and first floor. Horizontally ventilate cellar at doors and windows. Open bulkhead door and other natural openings at roof level. Search top floor and floors below.
b. Conduct primary search and rescue in cellar and first floor. Horizontally ventilate first floor and cellar windows. Assist victims down fire escape in the rear
c. Conduct primary search and rescue on all floors. Vertically ventilate structure by cutting the roof. Check for fire extension.
d. Horizontally ventilate windows and doors in the cellar from the exterior. Vertically ventilate building by opening bulkhead door and all natural openings at roof level.
10. What would you stretch the third hose line?
a. Stretch and advance in unison with line from interior stairs
b. Stretch to exterior cellar entrance. Back up attack line or advance in unison as required
c. Stretch to the top floor to check for extension
d. Set up line at cellar windows in case initial lines cannot advance
11. What would be your greatest concern regarding the personnel operating the initial attack line in the cellar?
a. Collapse of cellar ceiling
b. Disorientation
c. Fatigue
d. Kinks of the hose, reducing water available
12. What measures could you take to address these concerns?
a. Instruct hose team to use as life line
b. Assign a Safety Officer
c. Relieve and rotate the attack team
d. Assign a chase man to ensure the line is stretched efficiently
Good Luck
aa
The interior cellar stairway is directly beneath the main stairs and is protected by a fire door on the first floor. The fire door has self-closing hinges. There is also an exterior basement entrance located at the front of the building. To access the basement from the front, you must descend three steps to the exterior wood door.
On arrival, heat conditions are severe, but the first floor is tenable. There are no alarms sounding. There are occupants attempting to escape the fire building via the rear fire escape. There are also many people exiting the building via the main stairwell.
Appropriate Engine Companies have secured their own water supply, and the first-due Truck has been placed directly in front of the fire building.
You arrive along with two engines and a truck company. Three firefighters and an Officer man each apparatus. All subsequent alarms will bring an additional two engines and a truck.
You are the Incident Commander.
1. Would additional alarms be necessary?
a. Yes, a second alarm is required due to the life hazard
b. No, the first alarm assignment is adequate to handle this assignment.
c. Scenario information is inadequate to make the decision. More information would be needed from interior companies.
d. Yes, special call one engine company and one Ladder company to the scene.
2. Regarding ordinary construction, what would be your major concern?
a. Collapse of the parapet wall in the initial stages of the fire.
b. Vertical extension via the interior stairs.
c. Vertical extension via the pipe chases and channel rails.
d. Horizontal extension across the basement ceiling and vertical extension via the exterior wall studs.
3. Regarding the location and extent of the fire, what is the most significant concern that will be encountered by fire forces?
a. Difficult to advance downstairs to attack fire.
b. There should be no problems at all in this type of construction and occupancy.
c. Difficult to ventilate
d. Difficult to force entry.
4. Where would you order the first engine company to position?
a. Past fire building
b. Front of fire building
c. Side of fire building
d. Position as per arrival conditions
5. Where would you order the first handline be stretched?
a. Exterior cellar window
b. Through front entrance to main hall of the first floor
c. Into cellar via exterior entrance
d. To the rear of the first floor
6. How would this first line be utilized?
a. Stretch line to exterior basement window and attack fire in basement through window.
b. Stretch to main hall of first floor to protect interior stairs and evacuation of occupants.
c. Advance via exterior basement door to confine and extinguish the fire at its level of origin.
d. Stretch into cellar via interior stairs to locate, confine, and extinguish fire.
7. Where would you order the second handline?
a. To the cellar via the exterior basement entrance
b. Stretch to the top floor
c. To the exterior basement window
d. Stretch to the main hall first floor to back up the first line as it proceeds down the basement.
8. How would this second line be utilized?
a. Protect interior stairs
b. Primary attack line
c. Protection of firefighters involved in primary search
d. Back up Engine 1 attack
9. What are your orders for Truck 1? The crew has been split
a. Primary search and rescue in cellar and first floor. Horizontally ventilate cellar at doors and windows. Open bulkhead door and other natural openings at roof level. Search top floor and floors below.
b. Conduct primary search and rescue in cellar and first floor. Horizontally ventilate first floor and cellar windows. Assist victims down fire escape in the rear
c. Conduct primary search and rescue on all floors. Vertically ventilate structure by cutting the roof. Check for fire extension.
d. Horizontally ventilate windows and doors in the cellar from the exterior. Vertically ventilate building by opening bulkhead door and all natural openings at roof level.
10. What would you stretch the third hose line?
a. Stretch and advance in unison with line from interior stairs
b. Stretch to exterior cellar entrance. Back up attack line or advance in unison as required
c. Stretch to the top floor to check for extension
d. Set up line at cellar windows in case initial lines cannot advance
11. What would be your greatest concern regarding the personnel operating the initial attack line in the cellar?
a. Collapse of cellar ceiling
b. Disorientation
c. Fatigue
d. Kinks of the hose, reducing water available
12. What measures could you take to address these concerns?
a. Instruct hose team to use as life line
b. Assign a Safety Officer
c. Relieve and rotate the attack team
d. Assign a chase man to ensure the line is stretched efficiently
Good Luck
aa
Moises Valdes
In my humble opinion, though the heat is a concern, it would not be the "greatest" concern. We don't know how long the fire has been burning and therefore how long the support structure of the ceiling/floor has been exposed and weakened. To me, that would be the greatest comcern. And that's not to say I wouldn't relieve/rotate the attack team just that I would want to monitor conditions...
Apr 11, 2008
Anthony Avillo
Apr 11, 2008
Moises Valdes
Apr 11, 2008