Preventing Firefighter Disorientation Ch5 Hard
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Questions and Answers

What was observed about the disorientation fires in the 'U.S. Firefighter Disorientation Study 1979—2001'?

  • They were all built during the same era
  • They all occurred in high-rise buildings
  • They were all of fire-resistive construction
  • They did not seem to have anything in common initially (correct)

    • What is a common characteristic of the structures in which disorientation occurred?

  • They were all built during the same era
  • They varied in terms of occupancy and construction type (correct)
  • They were all of unprotected noncombustible construction
  • They were all high-rise apartment buildings

    • What type of construction was most common among the structures where disorientation occurred?

  • Unprotected noncombustible construction (correct)
  • Heavy timber construction
  • Fire-resistive construction
  • Protected wood-frame construction

    • What was observed about the overall structural size of the structures where disorientation occurred?

    <p>It varied widely</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary cause of firefighter disorientation in the examined cases?

    <p>Exposure to flashovers, backdrafts, wind-driven fires, or collapses of floor or roofs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of structures lacked a functioning sprinkler system?

    <p>88%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the distance range at which disorientation occurred from the point of entry?

    <p>10 ft., 10—20 ft., 25 ft., and 30—40 ft.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of fire rendered activating sprinkler heads ineffective in one case?

    <p>High-rise hallway fire with high winds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the common factor in the disorientation sequences observed?

    <p>A chain or sequence of events identified in each incident causing firefighters to become disoriented</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of firefighters depleted their air supply while attempting to evacuate?

    <p>(65%)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what percentage of structures was there no sprinkler system or the system failed to operate?

    <p>(88%)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What caused a film of 'blinding soup' that covered personal protective equipment?

    <p>Water spray from activating sprinkler heads mixed with suspended powder from a dye-processing operation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    • The structural analysis involved 17 buildings, including a 20-year-old single-family dwelling, a thrift store built in the 1940s, and a 98-year-old warehouse built in 1905.
    • Half of the structures were occupied during the fire, half were unoccupied, and one was vacant, despite being thought to be occupied.
    • Disorientation occurred in structures with various sizes, heights, types of occupancy, and construction.
    • Structure analysis revealed that 100% of the structures had an enclosed design.
    • Arriving firefighters encountered smoke conditions ranging from nothing to heavy densities in 94% of the cases.
    • In all cases, firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack to locate and extinguish the fire.
    • Prolonged zero visibility conditions (PZVCs) occurred in 100% of the cases.
    • Handline separation or entangled handlines were experienced in 100% of the cases, causing confusion and injuries.
    • Company integrity was lost in 100% of the cases, often due to the force of flashovers or backdrafts.
    • During the course of the study, disorientation incidents continued to occur nationally in enclosed structures and spaces, highlighting the significance of these findings.

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    Test your knowledge about the U.S. Firefighter Disorientation Study from 1979 to 2001 and the causes of disorientation in structure fires.

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