58 Questions
What is the size of the fire building?
60x75 feet
Where did the captain see light smoke drifting from?
Between an ornamental stamped tin ceiling and the vent exhaust duct
What material is the kitchen ceiling made of?
Decorative tin
What did the captain order a firefighter to use to open up the ceiling?
10-foot pike pole
What is the heaviest part of a suspended ceiling that can trap or pin a firefighter inside a burning building?
The metal grid system
What may happen if a firefighter is caught below a collapsing suspended ceiling?
All of the above
What type of suspended ceiling did Firefighter Kevin Kane of FDNY encounter when he was caught and trapped by a collapsing ceiling?
Metal grid with a permanently affixed ceiling
What can happen after a suspended ceiling collapse?
There is often a subsequent rapid fire increase
What part of a suspended ceiling traps or pins a firefighter inside a burning building?
The metal grid system
What happened to Firefighter Kevin Kane of FDNY when he broke through the collapsing ceiling framework?
He was engulfed in flame and killed
What are the three common types of suspended ceilings mentioned in the text?
Wood grid, metal grid with a permanently affixed ceiling, and lightweight metal grid system with a permanently affixed ceiling
What may happen to firefighters pinned by the ceiling or trapped inside a sealed void after a suspended ceiling collapse?
They can be burned to death or asphyxiated by the toxic smoke
What tool did the firefighter use to remove a section of tin ceiling in the restaurant kitchen?
A pike pole
What did the captain call for as the fire was found to have extended into an adjoining store?
Additional lines
What happened when firefighters pulled down the tin ceiling inside the restaurant?
They exposed more flames
What happened to the chauffeur of the ladder company and another firefighter when they forcibly entered the locked adjoining store?
The suspended ceiling collapsed on the chauffeur
What did the trapped firefighter do when he managed to create a hole in the ceiling?
He saw the fire trucks outside but was forced back by the heat
What happened to the trapped firefighter when he attempted to move toward the store front?
He became wedged between the ceiling and the floor
What did the trapped firefighter feel before realizing he was trapped and may not escape?
The heat of a flashover
Where did the trapped firefighter move to after feeling the heat of a flashover?
The cooler rear of the store
What did the trapped firefighter realize when he moved to the cooler rear of the store?
He was moving away from potential rescue
What did the trapped firefighter hear before calling for help?
Muffled voices of his colleagues coming from the front of the store
What did the firefighters realize when the trapped firefighter called for help?
He was trapped and they needed to get the hoseline in to rescue him
What is often misattributed as the exact cause of death for firefighters in ceiling collapses?
Burns
Which type of ceilings, found in older buildings, collapse in small pieces and usually cause minimal injury?
Directly affixed ceilings
What can cause sudden collapses in directly affixed ceilings?
Water absorption into plaster from hose streams
Which type of ceilings pose a risk of serious head or neck injury to firefighters in older structures?
Thick, heavy plaster ceilings
Where are suspended ceilings commonly found, presenting the most dangerous collapse hazard?
Top floors of multiple dwellings
What are suspended ceilings designed to do in renovated buildings?
Cover old ceilings
What happens when the vertical supports of a suspended ceiling are destroyed by flames?
The entire grid framework collapses
What should be considered in firefighting operations to mitigate risks related to ceiling collapses?
The type of ceiling and its collapse characteristics
How can understanding the potential hazards of different ceiling types help improve firefighter safety?
By enabling better risk assessment during rescue operations
What is the most dangerous collapse hazard according to the text?
Suspended ceilings
What is often underestimated as a structural hazard during firefighting according to the text?
Ceilings
What are the two categories of ceilings mentioned in the text?
Directly affixed and suspended
What procedure do FDNY firefighters use to prevent wire entrapment?
Simultaneously open both buckles of a mask
What type of ceiling collapse is killing New York City firefighters?
Wood grid suspended ceiling
What happens immediately after a wood grid suspended ceiling collapses?
Rapid increase in fire in the space directly over the fallen ceiling
What happens to the air space below and above a fallen wood grid suspended ceiling?
Momentary compression below and vacuum above
What should a firefighter do to be ready to rescue a trapped firefighter in case of a ceiling collapse in a multiple dwelling or renovated building?
Remain at the turntable of a ladder
In case of firefighters being trapped in shelters or voids beneath a collapsed suspended ceiling in a store, where should rescue attempts be made from?
Adjoining stores
What action should the officer in command take to limit the risk of crushing firefighters trapped below a fallen ceiling?
Limit the number of participating firefighters in the rescue attempt
What should be done when the stability of a suspended ceiling is in question before entering a room?
Make an inspection opening in the ceiling with a pike pole near the entrance
What should be considered to prevent fire spread in case of a ceiling collapse in a store?
Position hoselines into adjoining stores
What can be used to gain access to a store beneath a ceiling collapse?
Entry into a store beneath a ceiling collapse can sometimes be achieved from below
What should be checked for before entering a room with a questionable suspended ceiling?
Fire in the space above the suspended ceiling
What should be done to have a better chance of escape if the ceiling suddenly collapses?
Make an inspection opening in the ceiling with a pike pole near the entrance
What is the crucial first step to rescue trapped firefighters in a store fire with a collapsed ceiling?
Sweeping the collapse area with a hoseline to knock down flames
What should firefighters be near to serve as shelters or voids in case of a serious building fire with the possibility of a suspended ceiling collapse?
Large pieces of furniture or stock
What can contribute to a collapse if the suspended ceiling's vertical hanger strips have been weakened by flames?
Hose streams directed into a concealed space to extinguish a spreading fire
What should be practiced to temporarily shore up weakened ceilings, especially during overhauling?
Shoring techniques
What is crucial to prevent a fire-weakened suspended ceiling from collapsing?
Proper methods of opening a ceiling with a pike pole
What should be used to open up the ceiling to prevent a fire-weakened suspended ceiling from collapsing?
Pike pole
What should firefighters attempt to stay near in case of a suspended ceiling collapse in a serious building fire?
Large pieces of furniture or stock
What should be ready at every fire to rescue trapped victims or firefighters suddenly trapped by ceiling collapse and fire?
A ladder
What should firefighters be trained to recognize in occupancies with dangerous suspended ceilings?
Occupancies with dangerous suspended ceilings
What should be examined and communicated before committing firefighters to a serious fire in a large-area occupancy?
The type of ceiling in a structure
What can help firefighters examine areas below quickly and protect against fire increase after a suspended ceiling collapse?
Tunneling beneath collapsed ceilings with portable ladders
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.
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.
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