NFPA Firefighter I flashcards
NFPA Firefighter I · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Fire tetrahedron
- The four components needed for combustion are fuel, oxygen, heat, and an uninhibited chemical chain reaction; removing any one stops the fire.
- Flash point
- Lowest temperature at which a liquid releases enough vapor to form an ignitable mixture near its surface, but combustion does not continue.
- Fire point
- Temperature at which a liquid releases vapors fast enough to sustain continuous combustion after ignition; it is slightly higher than the flash point.
- Class A fire
- Fire involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, and plastics; water and ABC dry chemical are effective extinguishing agents.
- Class B fire
- Fire involving flammable or combustible liquids and gases; foam, carbon dioxide, and dry chemical can smother or inhibit combustion.
- Class C fire
- Fire involving energized electrical equipment; de-energize the circuit when possible, then use a nonconductive extinguishing agent such as carbon dioxide.
- Class D fire
- Fire involving combustible metals such as magnesium or sodium; use a compatible dry powder and avoid water, which can react violently.
- Class K fire
- Fire involving cooking oils or fats in commercial cooking equipment; wet chemical agent saponifies the fat and cools the surface.
- PASS technique
- Extinguisher operation sequence: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep the nozzle side to side.
- Four-to-one ladder rule
- Place the base of a ground ladder one foot from the building for every four feet of vertical height, producing about a 75-degree angle.
- Roof ladder extension
- For roof access, extend a ground ladder three to five rungs above the roof edge so firefighters can step safely onto the roof.
- Primary search
- Rapid, systematic search for victims in the immediate fire area and likely exit paths, often conducted before fire control is complete.
- Thermal layering
- Hot combustion gases collect at the ceiling while cooler air remains near the floor; firefighters stay low to avoid high heat and smoke.
- Backdraft
- Explosive ignition of heated, fuel-rich gases when oxygen suddenly enters a confined space; indicators include heavy smoke and inward air movement.
- Vertical ventilation
- Opening the highest point of a structure while providing a lower inlet; hot smoke and gases escape upward and conditions improve inside.
- Water-to-steam expansion
- One gallon of water converted to steam expands to about 1,700 gallons, absorbing large amounts of heat from the fire.
- Two-in/two-out rule
- At least two firefighters enter an IDLH atmosphere together while two trained and equipped firefighters remain outside ready to rescue them.
- Incident command system
- Standardized management framework using command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance sections to coordinate emergency incidents and resources.
- Transfer of command
- Formal process in which the incoming incident commander receives a briefing on conditions, actions, resources, and safety before assuming command.
- Needed fire flow
- Iowa formula estimates required flow as length times width times number of floors, divided by three, in gallons per minute.
- Type I construction
- Fire-resistive construction with structural members protected from fire, usually providing the highest collapse resistance and longest fire resistance.
- Type V construction
- Wood-frame construction with combustible walls, floors, and roof; common in residential buildings and prone to rapid fire spread.
- Wet-pipe sprinkler system
- Automatic sprinkler system with water under pressure in the pipes; each head opens individually when its heat-sensitive element activates.
- Dry-pipe sprinkler system
- Automatic sprinkler system holding compressed air in the pipes; when a head opens, air escapes and water enters the system.
- Deluge sprinkler system
- System with open sprinkler heads; activation of the control valve discharges water simultaneously from all heads over the protected area.
- Preaction sprinkler system
- System using closed heads and a separate detection circuit; water fills the pipes only after detection and then a head opens.
- Photoelectric smoke detector
- Detector that responds to visible smoke particles by light scattering; it is generally more sensitive to smoldering fires.
- Ionization smoke detector
- Detector that responds to invisible combustion products using a small radioactive source; it is generally more responsive to flaming fires.
- Aqueous film-forming foam
- Class B foam that forms a thin aqueous film on hydrocarbon fuels, suppressing vapor and excluding oxygen from the fuel surface.
- Positive pressure ventilation
- Ventilation method using a blower to force fresh air into a structure while an opposite opening allows smoke and heat to exit.
- Rapid intervention team
- Standby crew of at least two firefighters with rescue tools, air supply, and search equipment, deployed specifically to rescue trapped firefighters.
- Mayday LUNAR report
- Distress radio report giving Location, Unit, Name, Assignment, and Resources or air status so rescuers can locate and assist the firefighter.