Firefighter Certification flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Two-in/two-out rule

At least two firefighters enter an IDLH atmosphere together while two others remain outside ready to rescue, unless a known life hazard justifies immediate entry.

LUNAR mayday report

A radio format for a firefighter mayday that gives Location, Unit, Name, Air supply remaining, and Resources needed so command can act quickly.

PASS device

A Personal Alert Safety System sounds a loud alarm when a firefighter is motionless for about 30 seconds or manually activates it, helping rescuers locate a downed member.

Fire tetrahedron components

The four elements required for combustion are fuel, oxygen, heat, and the chemical chain reaction; removing any one of them extinguishes the fire.

Flashover

The transition to total surface involvement within a compartment, with ceiling temperatures near 1,100 degrees F and simultaneous ignition of all combustible contents.

Backdraft conditions

A smoke explosion caused by sudden oxygen introduction into an oxygen-starved, high-heat space; indicators include pressurized smoke and air drawn inward at openings.

Type V construction

Wood-frame construction with combustible walls and structural members, common in residential occupancies and prone to rapid fire spread and early collapse.

Class I standpipe system

A standpipe with 2.5-inch connections intended for fire department use, typically installed in tall buildings to supply hose lines on upper floors.

Dry pipe sprinkler system

A system whose pipes normally hold pressurized air so water enters only after a sprinkler activates and the air escapes, protecting unheated spaces from freezing.

SCBA low-air alarm

An audible and visual warning that activates when the cylinder reaches roughly 25 percent of capacity, signaling the wearer to exit the hazard area.

SCBA cylinder hydrostatic test

Self-contained breathing apparatus cylinders are requalified by hydrostatic testing every five years to verify they can still safely hold their rated pressure.

NFPA 1981

The standard covering open-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus for emergency services, specifying performance, testing, and certification requirements for SCBA.

Vehicle extrication stabilization

Securing a vehicle with cribbing, chocks, and struts before patient access, preventing movement while tools and rescuers work on the vehicle.

Trench spoil pile placement

Excavated soil must be placed at least two feet back from the trench edge to reduce the likelihood of the lip collapsing onto rescuers below.

Airbag capacitor discharge wait

After the 12-volt battery is disconnected, responders wait several minutes for backup capacitors to discharge before cutting near undeployed airbags.

Positive pressure ventilation setup

A PPV fan is placed at the inlet blowing inward, and the exhaust opening should be roughly one and a half to three times the fan area.

Vertical ventilation purpose

Releasing hot smoke and gases through a roof opening improves interior visibility and temperature, but only after a charged hoseline is ready.

Through-the-lock forcible entry

Removing a lock cylinder and using a key tool to operate the internal mechanism, commonly used on commercial doors that resist conventional prying.

Ground ladder angle

Place ground ladders at about 75 degrees from horizontal, with the base one-quarter of the working length away from the building.

Ladder above roofline

Extension ladders should extend three to five rungs above a roof edge, or about two rungs above a window sill being used for entry.

Primary search

A rapid, systematic search for life begun immediately on arrival, often before fire control, covering the most threatened and likely occupied areas first.

Handline nozzle pressure

Standard fog and smooth-bore handlines operate at 100 psi nozzle pressure to deliver their designed flow without excessive nozzle reaction.

Hose friction loss formula

Friction loss equals the hose coefficient times the flow in hundreds of gallons per minute squared times the hose length in hundreds of feet.

Drafting lift limit

Drafting is practical only about 20 to 25 feet above the water surface, because atmospheric pressure cannot lift water higher at sea level.

V-pattern fire indicator

Charring that forms a V shape on a wall points upward from the origin, with the apex marking the lowest point of the burning region.

Overhaul objective

Opening concealed spaces and wetting hot spots after fire control to find hidden fire and prevent rekindle before the scene is released.

Fire cause classifications

Causes are classified as accidental, natural, incendiary, or undetermined; undetermined applies when evidence is insufficient to assign a definite cause.

Initial isolation distance

For an unknown hazardous materials release, responders establish initial isolation of at least 150 feet in all directions and approach from upwind.

ERG color-coded sections

Yellow pages list chemicals by name, blue pages list them by identification number, orange pages give response guides, and green pages give isolation distances.

DOT hazard class 3

Flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline and alcohol, identified by red placards or labels bearing a flame symbol.

Span of control

One supervisor can effectively manage roughly three to seven subordinates, with five considered optimal in most incident command structures.

EDITH fire safety message

Exit Drills In The Home: occupants should identify two ways out of every room and practice an escape plan with a meeting place.