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Questions and Answers
What did the restaurant manager do upon seeing the smoke near the grease vent duct?
What did the restaurant manager do upon seeing the smoke near the grease vent duct?
Where did the first arriving ladder captain and forcible entry team go as directed by the manager?
Where did the first arriving ladder captain and forcible entry team go as directed by the manager?
Why did the captain order a firefighter to open up the ceiling with a 10-foot pike pole?
Why did the captain order a firefighter to open up the ceiling with a 10-foot pike pole?
What is the design purpose of the sheet metal duct mentioned in the text?
What is the design purpose of the sheet metal duct mentioned in the text?
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What is the heaviest part of a suspended ceiling?
What is the heaviest part of a suspended ceiling?
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What may happen if a firefighter is caught below a collapsing suspended ceiling?
What may happen if a firefighter is caught below a collapsing suspended ceiling?
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What happened to Firefighter Kevin Kane of FDNY, Ladder Company 110?
What happened to Firefighter Kevin Kane of FDNY, Ladder Company 110?
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What are the three common types of suspended ceilings mentioned in the text?
What are the three common types of suspended ceilings mentioned in the text?
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What may happen after a suspended ceiling collapse?
What may happen after a suspended ceiling collapse?
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What is the potential outcome for firefighters pinned by the ceiling or trapped inside a sealed void?
What is the potential outcome for firefighters pinned by the ceiling or trapped inside a sealed void?
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What is the part of a suspended ceiling that traps or pins a firefighter inside a burning building?
What is the part of a suspended ceiling that traps or pins a firefighter inside a burning building?
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What is the potential danger for a firefighter who breaks through a plaster or panel ceiling?
What is the potential danger for a firefighter who breaks through a plaster or panel ceiling?
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What did the firefighter use to remove a section of tin ceiling in the restaurant kitchen?
What did the firefighter use to remove a section of tin ceiling in the restaurant kitchen?
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Where did the firefighter find the fire to have extended?
Where did the firefighter find the fire to have extended?
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What happened when firefighters pulled down the tin ceiling inside the restaurant?
What happened when firefighters pulled down the tin ceiling inside the restaurant?
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What happened to the chauffeur of the ladder company and another firefighter when they forcibly entered the locked adjoining store?
What happened to the chauffeur of the ladder company and another firefighter when they forcibly entered the locked adjoining store?
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What did the trapped firefighter manage to do in the ceiling?
What did the trapped firefighter manage to do in the ceiling?
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What happened when the trapped firefighter attempted to move toward the store front?
What happened when the trapped firefighter attempted to move toward the store front?
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What did the trapped firefighter feel, indicating a dangerous event?
What did the trapped firefighter feel, indicating a dangerous event?
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Where did the trapped firefighter move to, knowing he was moving away from potential rescue?
Where did the trapped firefighter move to, knowing he was moving away from potential rescue?
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What did the trapped firefighter hear, indicating the presence of his colleagues?
What did the trapped firefighter hear, indicating the presence of his colleagues?
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What did the trapped firefighter call for as his colleagues realized he was trapped?
What did the trapped firefighter call for as his colleagues realized he was trapped?
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What is often misattributed as the cause of death for firefighters in ceiling collapses?
What is often misattributed as the cause of death for firefighters in ceiling collapses?
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What type of ceilings are found in older buildings and collapse in small pieces?
What type of ceilings are found in older buildings and collapse in small pieces?
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What can cause sudden collapses in directly affixed ceilings?
What can cause sudden collapses in directly affixed ceilings?
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Which type of ceilings pose a risk of serious head or neck injury to firefighters in older structures?
Which type of ceilings pose a risk of serious head or neck injury to firefighters in older structures?
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Where are suspended ceilings commonly found?
Where are suspended ceilings commonly found?
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What are suspended ceilings designed to do in renovated buildings?
What are suspended ceilings designed to do in renovated buildings?
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What happens when the vertical supports of a suspended ceiling are destroyed by flames?
What happens when the vertical supports of a suspended ceiling are destroyed by flames?
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What should be considered in firefighting operations to mitigate risks related to ceiling collapses?
What should be considered in firefighting operations to mitigate risks related to ceiling collapses?
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How can understanding the potential hazards of different ceiling types help improve firefighter safety?
How can understanding the potential hazards of different ceiling types help improve firefighter safety?
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What is a common misconception about the cause of death for firefighters in ceiling collapses?
What is a common misconception about the cause of death for firefighters in ceiling collapses?
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What is the risk associated with older structures having thick, heavy plaster ceilings?
What is the risk associated with older structures having thick, heavy plaster ceilings?
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What is the main danger posed by suspended ceilings in firefighting scenarios?
What is the main danger posed by suspended ceilings in firefighting scenarios?
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What is a procedure used by FDNY firefighters to prevent wire entrapment?
What is a procedure used by FDNY firefighters to prevent wire entrapment?
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What type of ceiling collapse is killing New York City firefighters?
What type of ceiling collapse is killing New York City firefighters?
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What may happen if a firefighter is caught in wire after a ceiling collapse?
What may happen if a firefighter is caught in wire after a ceiling collapse?
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What is the risk associated with the wood grid suspended ceiling collapse?
What is the risk associated with the wood grid suspended ceiling collapse?
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What should a firefighter do when the stability of a suspended ceiling is in question?
What should a firefighter do when the stability of a suspended ceiling is in question?
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What should be done if firefighters are trapped in shelters or voids at the rear of a store beneath a collapsed suspended ceiling?
What should be done if firefighters are trapped in shelters or voids at the rear of a store beneath a collapsed suspended ceiling?
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What should the officer in command do to maintain control of a rescue attempt after a collapse?
What should the officer in command do to maintain control of a rescue attempt after a collapse?
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In what situation should hoselines be positioned into adjoining stores?
In what situation should hoselines be positioned into adjoining stores?
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What should a firefighter do when a fire is suspected in the space above a suspended ceiling?
What should a firefighter do when a fire is suspected in the space above a suspended ceiling?
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What can happen if the officer in command does not limit the number of firefighters participating in a rescue attempt after a collapse?
What can happen if the officer in command does not limit the number of firefighters participating in a rescue attempt after a collapse?
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What should be used to penetrate partition walls separating stores in a large one-story building?
What should be used to penetrate partition walls separating stores in a large one-story building?
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What is the recommended action when attempting entry into a store beneath a ceiling collapse?
What is the recommended action when attempting entry into a store beneath a ceiling collapse?
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What is a procedure used by FDNY firefighters to prevent wire entrapment?
What is a procedure used by FDNY firefighters to prevent wire entrapment?
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What type of ceiling collapse is killing New York City firefighters?
What type of ceiling collapse is killing New York City firefighters?
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What is the main danger posed by suspended ceilings in firefighting scenarios?
What is the main danger posed by suspended ceilings in firefighting scenarios?
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What happens when a ceiling collapses in one large section?
What happens when a ceiling collapses in one large section?
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What should a firefighter do if the stability of a suspended ceiling is in question?
What should a firefighter do if the stability of a suspended ceiling is in question?
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Where should rescue attempts be made if firefighters are trapped in shelters or voids at the rear of a store beneath a collapsed suspended ceiling?
Where should rescue attempts be made if firefighters are trapped in shelters or voids at the rear of a store beneath a collapsed suspended ceiling?
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What should the officer in command do to maintain control of a rescue attempt after a collapse?
What should the officer in command do to maintain control of a rescue attempt after a collapse?
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What should be used to penetrate partition walls separating stores in a large one-story building?
What should be used to penetrate partition walls separating stores in a large one-story building?
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What is the potential outcome for firefighters pinned by the ceiling or trapped inside a sealed void?
What is the potential outcome for firefighters pinned by the ceiling or trapped inside a sealed void?
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In what situation should hoselines be positioned into adjoining stores?
In what situation should hoselines be positioned into adjoining stores?
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What is the risk associated with the wood grid suspended ceiling collapse?
What is the risk associated with the wood grid suspended ceiling collapse?
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What is the design purpose of the sheet metal duct mentioned in the text?
What is the design purpose of the sheet metal duct mentioned in the text?
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What is the crucial first step to rescue trapped firefighters in a store fire with a collapsed ceiling?
What is the crucial first step to rescue trapped firefighters in a store fire with a collapsed ceiling?
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What should firefighters do if rescue attempts are made without extinguishing the fire?
What should firefighters do if rescue attempts are made without extinguishing the fire?
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What should firefighters do when operating at a serious building fire with the possibility of a suspended ceiling collapse?
What should firefighters do when operating at a serious building fire with the possibility of a suspended ceiling collapse?
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What is essential before committing firefighters to a serious fire in a large-area occupancy?
What is essential before committing firefighters to a serious fire in a large-area occupancy?
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What can contribute to a collapse if the suspended ceiling's vertical hanger strips have been weakened by flames?
What can contribute to a collapse if the suspended ceiling's vertical hanger strips have been weakened by flames?
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What is crucial to prevent a fire-weakened suspended ceiling from collapsing?
What is crucial to prevent a fire-weakened suspended ceiling from collapsing?
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What should be practiced to temporarily shore up weakened ceilings, especially during overhauling?
What should be practiced to temporarily shore up weakened ceilings, especially during overhauling?
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What can help firefighters examine areas below quickly and protect against fire increase after a ceiling collapse?
What can help firefighters examine areas below quickly and protect against fire increase after a ceiling collapse?
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What should be used to penetrate partition walls separating stores in a large one-story building?
What should be used to penetrate partition walls separating stores in a large one-story building?
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What should firefighters do to prevent wire entrapment?
What should firefighters do to prevent wire entrapment?
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What should be done to prevent a firefighter from breaking through a plaster or panel ceiling?
What should be done to prevent a firefighter from breaking through a plaster or panel ceiling?
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What should be used by firefighters to prevent wire entrapment?
What should be used by firefighters to prevent wire entrapment?
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Study Notes
Firefighter Ceiling Collapse Hazards
- A firefighter becomes trapped under a collapsed ceiling during a fire rescue operation
- Ceilings are often underestimated as a structural hazard during firefighting
- The exact cause of death for firefighters in ceiling collapses is often misattributed to burns or smoke inhalation
- Ceilings are categorized as directly affixed or suspended, with different collapse characteristics
- Directly affixed ceilings, found in older buildings, collapse in small pieces and usually cause minimal injury
- Water absorption into plaster from hose streams can cause sudden collapses in directly affixed ceilings
- Older structures with thick, heavy plaster ceilings pose a risk of serious head or neck injury to firefighters
- Suspended ceilings, commonly found in stores, top floors of multiple dwellings, and renovated buildings, present the most dangerous collapse hazard
- Suspended ceilings are designed to cover old ceilings, insulate top floors, and conserve energy in renovated buildings
- When the vertical supports of a suspended ceiling are destroyed by flames, the entire grid framework collapses, posing a serious hazard
- The type of ceiling and its collapse characteristics should be considered in firefighting operations to mitigate risks
- Understanding the potential hazards of different ceiling types can help improve firefighter safety during rescue operations
Fire Safety Precautions for Suspended Ceilings
- When a suspended ceiling collapses during a fire, a rush of fresh air mixes with superheated gases, potentially causing an explosive fire increase.
- A collapsed ceiling with a wood framework can fuel the fire, giving firefighters trapped below very little time to be rescued before the fire and smoke reach them.
- Sweeping the collapse area with a hoseline to knock down flames is the crucial first step to rescue trapped firefighters in a store fire.
- A ladder should be ready at every fire to rescue trapped victims or firefighters suddenly trapped by ceiling collapse and fire.
- If rescue attempts are made without extinguishing the fire, trapped firefighters may succumb to the products of combustion before being reached.
- Firefighters should be trained to recognize occupancies with dangerous suspended ceilings, such as stores, top floors of multiple dwellings, and renovated buildings.
- Proper examination and communication of the type of ceiling in a structure is essential before committing firefighters to a serious fire in a large-area occupancy.
- Hose streams directed into a concealed space to extinguish a spreading fire can contribute to a collapse if the suspended ceiling's vertical hanger strips have been weakened by flames.
- Proper methods of opening a ceiling with a pike pole are crucial to prevent a fire-weakened suspended ceiling from collapsing.
- Firefighters operating at a serious building fire with the possibility of a suspended ceiling collapse should attempt to stay near large pieces of furniture or stock that can serve as shelters or voids.
- Shoring techniques should be practiced to temporarily shore up weakened ceilings, especially during overhauling.
- Tunneling beneath collapsed ceilings with portable ladders can help firefighters examine areas below quickly and protect against fire increase.
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Description
Test your knowledge of firefighter safety in relation to ceiling collapse hazards with this quiz. Learn about the specific risks and characteristics of directly affixed and suspended ceilings, and how to mitigate these dangers during firefighting operations.
