key terms
Vehicles that utilize any fuel source other than gasoline or diesel fuel (eg:hybrid gas electric, fully electric, hydrogen powered, biodiesel powered, liquified petroleum gas LPG, or compressed natural gas CNG)
Alternative fuel vehicles
Large fuel tanks located on the sides of the cab of a semitrailer or heavy duty truck, usually under the driver and passenger doors
Saddle tanks
The tactics employed that inhibit the unintentional movement of the vehicle. This can include chocking the tires and/or purposefully deflating the tires.
Vehicle stabilization
What 2 ways can a combustible metals fire (such as magnesium) be extinguished?
A combustible metals extinguisher (class D)
or copious amounts of water greater than 500gpm
What can firefighters utilize to determine the hazards present in semi-truck trailers?
Placard system and the shape of the container
A vehicle that operates 100 percent on electricity (battery power)
Electric vehicle EV
Any large commercial truck that pulls a trailer; sometimes referred to as an 18 wheeler; also called a tractor trailer
Semitrailer
When fighting a vehicle fire where should the engine be placed in relation to the vehicle on fire?
Uphill and upwind
What color are wires in the high voltage system of an electric or hybrid vehicle?
Orange
What is the safest approach to search and rescue in vehicle fires
perform it simultaneously with extinguishment
Any large truck, such as a box truck, generally utilized for commercial application, but may also be used for private use.
Heavy duty truck
Vehicle airbags that utilize technology to determine if an airbag is safe to deploy. These airbags may not deploy in a vehicle crash when a small passenger is seated or there is no passenger seated.
Smart airbag systems
What can the driver do to protect firefighters from traffic?
position the apparatus to block traffic
How do smart airbags pose a hazard to firefighters during a vehicle fire?
Undeployed airbags can deploy while a firefighter is in the deployment zone.
What size handline is usually sufficient to extinguish a typical vehicle fire?
1 1/2 inch or greater
Vehicles that operate utilizing a combination of electrical (battery)power and gasoline
Hybrid vehicles
A vehicle that operates in much the same way as hybrids but has a third component that uses energy taken directly from the environment. (eg; solar power)
Tribrid vehicle
What hazard does a fire in a heavy truck present that a passenger car may not?
Hazardous materials in the trailer
What do bright yellow wires indicate in a vehicle?
Airbag system
What hazards may heavy equipment present to firefighters? (4 things)
Large tires
Large amounts of hydraulic fluid
Large equipment may rollover
Higher positioning of occupants
A subset of vehicles, generally utilized for personal use, which include cars, vans and light duty pickup trucks
passenger vehicles
Any part of a vehicle, including the mechanical and non-mechanical parts, which can be dangerous in vehicle fires
Vehicle component
What 2 things may be present at an RV fire that could be a major hazard?
LPG Liquid petroleum gas
Anhydrous ammonia which is found is some refrigerant systems
What area of the vehicle must be checked for suspicious circumstances?
The trunk or cargo area
What type of vehicle fire may require a mass casualty response?
Transportation vehicles and buses