Building Construction
Garden Style Apartments built after 1980 are typically constructed of what type of material?
Lightweight wood framed
What is the standard startup pressure for an FDC?
150 PSI
3rd due Engine
Position for 2nd Water supply (opposite 1st Engine, or end of row closest)
Check Side C/report findings
Line to floor above or...
Advance exposure line if requested
Master stream devices are very effective on large volume fires in garden apartments, but what must be done prior to using them?
Evacuate the involved area and account for all personnel
When ventilating a roof, what size hole should be cut?
At least a 4x4 foot hole
What type of vent allows fire issuing from windows to extend into the attic area?
Soffit vent
What is the fire flow estimate for a garden apartment?
Relatively low fire loads, 10 GPM per 100 square feet
1 3/4 attack lines sufficient
2nd due Truck
(opposite 1st Truck or end of row closest)
Ladders, ventilate, outside utilities on assigned side of building
Possible roof ops
Search/check for extension upper floors & attic
In situations where there is fire involvement in the living room and kitchen, what is an effective tactic for searching bedrooms?
VEIS
vent, enter, isolate, search
What are some common causes of fires originating in attics/cocklofts?
lightning strikes, electrical malfunctions, bird nests, roofers and plumbers
Firewalls are constructed of what two types of material?
Masonry or gypsum board
Particularly on a Garden Style Apartment what is a major hazard when stretching a handline?
Parked Cars
1st Due Engine
Lay supply line
Pull past or stop short for truck
On-Scene report, 360 Recon, side C report, retain/transfer command, Ops mode, "Init 2 out"
Identify correct apartment/advance initial attack line
Where should ladders be thrown first, and why? Where else is the next best place to throw ladders on a Garden Style Apartment?
Bedrooms, because FFs are searching these areas and are most likely to become trapped or cut-off from the main exit out of the apartment. Should be thrown to the front and rear of all floors at and above the level of fire involvement, priority going to the fire side. Balconies
If an engine arrives without a specialty unit, what tools should be considered?
Along with a set of irons, hydraulic-style door forcing tools
What hazards are typically located on the ground level or basement level in Garden Style Apartments?
Laundry/Storage rooms, electrical rooms, hair salons, etc.
Fire in the attic or multiple apartments in a garden style apartment warrants what?
Second alarm
Where should the 1st due Truck position and why?
At the most strategic location that will allow for rapid placement of ladders, access to the roof, and entry into the structure. Fire side of the building or side A if nothing evident. They would like to be able to scrub an entire side of a building if possible.
On rapidly spreading attic fires, what can be done on the roof to get ahead of them?
Trench cut, officers must evaluate whether FFs can get far enough ahead of the fire, complete the trench cut and return safely to the ground.
Name some of the Garden Style Apartments in our First-Due?
Off City Center: Stanford Square, Parc Dulles, Windmill Parc
Off GW: River Ridge Terrace, Bar Harbor Terrace, Bles Park Dr, Beechwood Ter
Reserve Falls (Reserve at Town Center)
Ashburn Meadows Off Tillman Terrace
What is a primary means by which fire extends in garden apartments?
Vertical voids such as pipe chases in kitchens and baths.
Need to open up floors, ceilings, and walls if this happens.
When could vertical ventilation be warranted?
Stairwell becomes charged with high heat and smoke, fire on the top floor, or fire has entered the attic/cockloft
The run order for Garden Apartment structure fire?
4 Engines
2 Trucks
1 Rescue
1 BLS
2 Battalion Chiefs
1 EMS Supervisor
1 SAFETY
Reports of an attic fire, what are things a first-in engine should be doing or considering when arriving onscene?
Line to the top floor, hooking ceiling and directing stream from below into the attic area, wide fog into an access hole if the fire has not self-vented (mass steam production)
What is the difference between an attic and a cockloft?
Attic - space under a pitched roof
Cockloft - space under a flat roof