Lesson # 2.
1
Fire Protection Devices (active and passive)
1. Passive Fire Protection
This is the use of integral, fire–resistance rated wall and floor assemblies that are used to form fire
compartments intended to limit the spread of fire, or occupancy separations or firewalls, to keep fires within
the fire compartment of origin, thus enabling firefighting and evacuation.
• Fire Exits
• Fire Door
• Fire Wall - A wall designed to prevent the spread of fire, having a fire-resistance rating of not less
than four hours with sufficient structural stability to remain standing even if construction on either side
collapse under fire condition.
2. Active Fire Protection
This is the manual and automatic detection and suppression of fires, as in using and installing a fire sprinkler
system or finding the fire alarm, or extinguishing it.
The Fire Protective and Fire Safety Devices
Any device intended for the protection of buildings or persons includes but is not limited to built-in protection
systems such as sprinklers and other automatic extinguishing systems, detectors for heat, smoke, and
combustion products and other warning system components, and personal protective equipment such as fire
blankets, helmets, fire suits, gloves and other garments that may be put on or worn by persons to protect
themselves during the fire.
a. Sprinkler System – it is an integrated network of hydraulically designed piping installed in a building
structure or area with outlets arranged in a systematic pattern that automatically discharges water when
activated by heat or combustion products from a fire.
b. Standpipe System– it is a system of vertical pipes in a building to which fire hoses can be connected on
each floor, including a system by which water is made available to the outlets needed.
c. Alarm System – buildings may also be equipped with a detection system that will transmit alarms; such
as heat and smoke detectors.
d. Portable Fire Extinguisher – it is a mechanical device that contains a chemical used to extinguish a
limited size of fire.
What is a Fire Hydrant?
A fire hydrant, also known colloquially as a fire plug in the United States, is an active fire protection measure
and a source of water provided in most urban, suburban and rural areas with water service to enable
firefighters to tap water supply to assist in extinguishing a fire.
What is Fire Safety Construction?
Refers to the design and installation of walls, barriers, doors, windows, vents, means of egress etc, integral
to and incorporated into a building or structure to minimize the danger of life from fire, smoke, fumes, or panic
before the building is evacuated.
Hose Tools and Appliances
Hose Appliances and Tools used in Structural Firefighting Operations
Structural firefighters must be completely familiar with firefighting operations involving hose layout. A
complete hose layout consists of one end of the hose connected to the water source and the other end of the
hose connected to the nozzle.
Two Categories of Devices in Hose Layout
a. Hose Appliances – Any piece of equipment used with a fire hose to deliver water. Hose appliances have
water running through them.
b. Hose Tools – Tools used with the hose line.
The Hose Tools
1. Universal Thread Adapter – This is a very useful tool for any fire vehicle. It can make a very quick
connection to damaged or unusual-sized male hose connections. On one side of the adapter is a standard 2
1/2 inches male connection with National Standards threads.
2. Hose Jackets – a hollow cylindrical or barrel-shaped device that opens lengthwise through the center on
a set of hinges. It is rubber lined to make it watertight. When the jacket is clamped around the leaking portion
of a hose or over a leaking hose connection, the water is confined by the hose jacket. This tool can prevent
the disablement of the entire hose layout. They come in 2 ½ and 3 inches sizes.
3. Hose Clamp – a tool used to stop the flow of water in a fire hose without shutting off the source of water
supply.
Types of Hose Clamps:
a. Screw-down
b. Press – down
c. Hydraulic down
4. Hose Strap – it is a 36 inches length of cloth strap with a handle on one end and a hook on the other. It is
used for moving hose layouts, usually up ladders or staircases.
5. Rope – it is a safety line used for hoisting tools for various floors of a structure and used for anchoring to
stationary objects, ladders, charged hose lines, and other accessories (consist of 100 ft. lengths of 3/4manila
hemp rope with one eye splice in one end.
6. Hose Bridge (hose ramp)–a hose tool used to prevent damage to the hose when vehicles cross a street,
or when the traffic cannot be diverted.
7. Chaffing Blocks – tools used to prevent damage to the hose where the hose is subjected to rubbing from
vibrations.
8. Rubber Mallet – a hose tool used to strike the lugs of coupling to tighten or loosen the coupling without
damaging the lugs. It is used to make a coupling completely airtight.
9. Hose Roller – these are tools used to prevent damage to hose lines when it is being dragged over sharp
objects such as roof edges and window sills.
Spanner Wrench and Hydrant Wrenches
a. Spanner wrench is used to tighten leaking connections and loosen connections that are too tight to ‘break”
with hands alone. Can be used as a wedge for prying. It has a slot for pulling nails, and a flat surface for
hammering.
b. Hydrant wrenches are used to open and close fire hydrants and to remove hydrant outlet caps. Some
are designed to tighten or loosen coupling connections. It is usually equipped with a pentagon opening in its
head that fits most standard fire hydrant opening nuts.
The Hose Appliances
1. Valves – these controls the flow of water in hose lines, hydrants, and pumpers.
Types:
• Ball valves – these are valves used in pumper discharges, gated wyes, and fire piping systems.
• Gate valves – used in a fire hydrant
• Butterfly valves – it is used on the large pump intake
• Clapper valves – it is used in Siamese appliances that allow only one intake hose to be connected and
charged before adding more hoses.
2. Valve devices – these are hose appliances that increase or decrease the number of hose lines being
used during the firefighting operation.
Types:
• Gated wyes – these are used to divide a line of the hose into two or more lines. The most common type’s
uses are the following.
• Siamese – appliances that have two or more female inlet connections and one male discharge connection.
• Fittings – these are appliances used to close off, change water flow direction, or connect hoses of different
sizes and thread types.
• Intake devices–these are appliances attached to the drafting end of a suction hose to keep foreign objects
which wou
Ladder and ladder operations
What is a ladder?
➢ A ladder is a structure consisting of a series of bars or steps between two upright lengths of wood,
metal, or rope, used for climbing up or down something.
➢ a portable framework of wood, metal, rope, etc, in the form of two long parallel members connected
by several parallel rungs or steps fixed to them at right angles, for climbing up or down
What is the function of a ladder?
➢ A ladder is used to climb up and down.
Types of Ladder
a. Ground Ladder
b. Aerial Ladder
Uses:
1. for rescue
2. To stretch line into a fire building
3. Provide ventilation by giving access to ports, scuttles, windows, roofs, or other places hard to reach.
1) Wall ladder – this type of ladder is best used in rescue where a ladder in place already falls short of
the endangered person. It allows the user to climb up or down, one story at a time.
2) Extension ladder – it consists of a bed and one or more fly ladders. The fly ladder slides through
guides on the upper end of the bed ladder.
3) Straight ladder – this is a type of ladder that contains only one section.
4) Attic ladder – it provides means of reaching through an opening into attics, lofts, and other areas that
are somewhat difficult to reach without a special ladder. It can be folded and collapsed for a small
room or closet work.
5) Bangor ladder – an extension ladder that is extended to more than 35 feet.
6) Arial ladder – this type of ladder that is mounted on a turn table capable of extending up to 30.5 meters
may have three or four fly sections of a ladder that can be raised or lowered by hydraulically controlled
cables.
Ladder Terminology
a. Bed Ladder – the lower section of an extension ladder.
b. Fly ladder – the top section of an extension ladder
c. Butt – the bottom end of a ladder.
d. Heel – the part of the ladder that touches the ground
e. Halyard – a rope or cable used to raise the fly ladder.
f. Pawl or Dog – the mechanism located at the end of the fly ladder that locks to the bed ladder.
g. Rung – the cross member of a ladder that is used for climbing
h. Top or Tip – it is the top part of a ladder
i. Hooks – part of a ladder that is used to hook over a roof peak,
j. Stops – made of metal or wood blocks used to prevent the fly or extension ladder from
extending out further from the ladder.
k. Guides – light metal strips of an extension ladder that guide the fly
What do you call the vehicles of BFP?
• All vehicles of BFP (fire Truck) are called fire Fighting Apparatus
• If the fire Fighting Apparatus carries below 750 gallons of water – Fire engine
• If the fire Fighting Apparatus carries 750 gallons of water & above - the fire Truck
Lesson # 2.2 Natural cover fires
What is a Natural Cover Fire?
Natural cover fires are fires involving grasses, weeds, forest fires, or any other plant life. The most dangerous
of all natural cover fires is the forest fire.
The great majority of natural cover fires are caused by:
• man, as the result of his carelessness.
• The natural elements, such as lightning, the sun, and the wind, are responsible for the insignificant
remainder.
Types of Natural Cover Fires
Natural cover fires are divided into four distinct types. Each of these types of fire is subject to variation in
speed of the propagation; size, type, and quantity of the fuel involved; and the procedure required in the
extinguishments.
1) Ground fires (undergrowth fires or duff fires) – ground fires travel at ground level or below the surface.
Dry leaves, humus, peat, and other organic materials have become part of the soil.
2) Surface fires – surface fires burn over grass, weeds, grain, and shrubs. This type of fire travels rapidly
if the wind is high and when the fuel is abundant. The heat is intense but short-lived because of the
quick burning characteristics of the fuels.
3) Crown fires–crown fires are on the top of the trees and in the high brush. A crown fire is the most
feared of all-natural cover fires.
4) Spot fires – spot fires are started in advance of the heads by windblown sparks or bits of burning
material. They are capable of creating a very dangerous situation. Several spot fires may merge and
create a new head in advance of the main fire.
Parts of Natural Cover parts
1) Head – is the point where the fire line is progressing faster. A natural cover fire may have several
heads, depending on the type abundance, and location of the fuel.
• Fire heads generally travel with the wind; the stronger the wind, the greater the spread of the
fire.
• Because of frequent directional changes of the wind, varying types and quantities of fuel, and
topographic conditions, natural cover fires have irregular perimeters, making control difficult
and often dangerous.
2) Tail – it is the windward or upward portion of the fire.
3) Flank – all portions of the fire line between the tail and the various heads and those slower burning
areas between the heads.
Natural cover fire Pre–fire Planning
Natural cover fires or fires, like each of the other types of fires, present some unusual problems to the
firefighter. The tremendous areas involved and the number of men needed to combat this type of fire make
it impossible to develop completely an adequate pre-fire plan.
Hand tools and manpower rather than motor vehicles are the backbones of natural cover firefighting. Size-
up the most important consideration in fighting a natural cover fire is to choose the proper point from which
to begin the attack.
Steps in the Size–up of Natural Cover Fire
1. Determine the size of the fire.
2. Check the wind direction
3. Find out what kind of fuel the fire is burning and toward what kind of fuel it is headed.
4. See if there are any natural barriers nearby to help stop the fire, such as:
• Stream
• Roads
• Plowed fields
• Burned out areas
5. Locate the hotspots, where the fire is burning most intensity, and estimate when and where it may
jump or throw sparks into a new supply of fuel;
6. Set – up personnel evacuation procedures.
Attack – the initial attack aims to stop the spread of the fire as quickly as possible.
What to do in combating this type of fire?
1. Never attempt to control a running fire from the uphill direction.
2. Men or equipment should never approach the head of fire when the approach necessitates travel in
a draw, valley, or canyons.
The correct point to begin control is at the tail on the upward side of the fire line, or the head of the fire when
it reaches a crest and starts its slower, downhill burning.
Method for Controlling and Extinguishing Various Types of Natural Cover Fires
1. Sectional Method – the sectional method consists of placing a unit on a specific section of the fire line.
Its mission is to stop the progress of the fire, extinguish it at the fire line and execute mop–up patrol work.
This method is best used against a slow-moving fire.
2. One-Lick Method – it is the fastest and easiest method to use on a running fire. A firefighting team is
placed at the location designated as the fire line and ordered to work in a specific direction.
Method of Natural Cover Fire Control
1. Direct Method Control – this method is very effective against natural cover fires but can be used only on
moderately hot fires. Either the sectional or the one-lick attack may be used.
2. Indirect Method of Control– this natural cover fire control method entails the use of fire breaks or barriers,
natural fire barriers consist of lakes, rivers, creeks, and deserts. These barriers will stop a natural cover fire
if they are wide enough to prevent the spread of spot fires. Natural barriers may be augmented by artificial
fire breaks such as roads, highways, or cleared areas.
Lesson 2.3 History of Firefighting Service
Marcus Licinius Crassus – created the first Roman fire brigade. He took advantage of the fact that Rome
had no firefighters
Emperor Nero - in AD 60, formed a group of firefighters called the Vigiles to combat fires using water buckets
and pumps. The Vigiles patrolled the streets of Rome to watch for fires and served also as a police force.
When there was a fire, the firefighters would line up to the nearest water source and pass buckets hand in
hand to the fire.
Hans Hautsh – a German inventor who improved the manual pump by creating the first suction and force
pump and adding some flexible hoses to the pump.
Jan Van Der Heyden – a Dutch inventor who invented the fire hose in 1672. Constructed from flexible leather
and coupled every 50 feet (15 meters) with brass fittings, the length connections remained the standard up
to this day.
Richard Newsham – a native of London further developed the fire engine in 1725, which pulled as a cart to
the fire scene, these manual pumps were manned by teams of men and could deliver up to 160 gallons per
minute at up to 120 feet (40 meters).
Governor John Winthrop – Boston’s Governor who outlawed wooden chimneys and thatched roofs in 1631.
Governor Peter Stuvvesant – New Amsterdam Governor who in 1648, appointed four men to act as fire
wardens; they were empowered to inspect all chimneys and to fine any violators of the rules.
Rattle watch – the City Burghers appointed eight prominent men, these men volunteered to patrol the streets
at night carrying large wooden rattles. If a fire were seen the men spun (spin) the rattles then directs the
responding citizens to form bucket brigades.
In 1666 The Great Fire of London changed things and helped to standardize firefighting. It set in motion
changes that laid the foundations for organized firefighting.
The Great Fire started at the bakery of Thomas Farriner on Pudding Lane, shortly after midnight on Sunday,
2 September through until Wednesday 3rd September 1666.
Nicholas Barbon - After the Great Fire, in 1667 established the first fire insurance company called the “Fire
Office”. His Fire Brigade employed small teams of Thames watermen as firefighters.
Bucket Brigade – first known firefighting unit organized thousands of years B.C.
1824 - The first organized municipal fire brigade in the world was established in Edinburgh, Scotland, when
the Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment was formed, led by James Braidwood.
James Braidwood – the first Fire Chief London Fire Engine formed in 1833.
Molly Williams - the first known female firefighter who took her place with the men on the drag ropes during
the blizzard of 1818 and pulled the fire water pump to the fire through the deep snow.
Paul Hodge – designed and built the first steam-powered fire engine in New York in 1840.
Mosses Latta – built a fire engine in 1852 that was successfully put into service during the Cincinnati, Ohio
fire on January 01, 1853.
Regimen De Pompier – firefighting unit organized in France during the First World War.
National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) – organized in 1896 to set standards on fire prevention and
firefighting procedures.
The great triangle Fire – occurred in 1911 in New York which led to the adoption and promulgation of Fire
Codes.
Manila Fire Department – the first organized fire department in the Philippines, established on August 6,
1901, with Captain F. R. Hodge as its first chief.
Captain Jacinto Lorenzo – first Filipino appointed as fire chief on October 19, 1935, before the inauguration
of the Philippine Commonwealth Government. He also reduced the schedule of duties of firemen from 4
straight day’s service with 7 hours of a day off and 15 hours of a night off to 48 hours of duty and 24 hours of
off duty.
Presidential Decree (PD 765) –signed on August 8, 1975, by then President Marcos establishing the
Integrated National Police integrating all local police and fire forces into one national organization.
Presidential Decree (PD) 1185 – the first known fire code of the Philippines, signed into law by then
President F. Marcos on august 26, 1977.
Principle of Firefighting
• Fire Control – an act or process of preventing the fire from spreading, thus preventing further damage.
• Fire suppression – act or process of lowering the intensity of heat.
Ten Phases of Firefighting Operation
1. Pre–Fire Planning
• To know the problem which may be encountered and what to do at the fire ground in case of
fire starts in a particular building.
• Gather information about existing conditions in the vicinity of the building or area which is
subject to planning.
• Conduct fire company inspection
2. Sizing – up
• Mental evaluation by the Ground Commander w/c enables him to determine his course of
action
• To estimate the situation
• Begin after the alarm is received.
3. Rescue
• Any action taken by firefighters to remove occupants or person’s from a burning building or
hazards to a safe place.
4. Cover Exposure
• To prevent the fire from extending /spreading to other involved buildings
• It is an action taken by the firefighters to cover or secure other buildings, and people from
exposing themselves near the affected area or danger from fire.
5. Confinement
• To prevent the fire from extending to the other portion of the burning building
6. Ventilation
• It is a method used for clearing the building of smoke and gases to localize the fire and reduce
the smoke and forcible entry damage.
Two types of Ventilation
• Vertical ventilation – mean the opening of the roof or existing roof openings to allow heated
gases and smoke to escape into the atmosphere.
• Horizontal ventilation – is the venting of heat, smoke, and gases through wall openings,
windows and doors
Advantage of Ventilation
a. Aids rescue operation – proper ventilation simplifies and expedites the rescue of victims by removing
smoke and gases that endanger occupants trapped or unconscious, and making the conditions safer
for firefighters.
b. Speeds attack and extinguishment – the removal of smoke, gases, and heat from the building permits
the firefighters to move rapidly and locate the area and proceed with extinguishment. It will also reduce
the danger of asphyxiation.
c. Reduces property damages – Rapid extinguishment of fire reduces property damage.
d. Reduces mushrooming – when sufficient heat is confined in the area, the temperature of combustible
materials rises to their ignition points. These materials will not ignite, however, unless a sufficient
amount of oxygen is available to support combustion.
7. Extinguishment
• To put out the main body of the fire
• Direct attack - if the fire is limited and approachable. Applying a solid stream directly to the
base of the fire.
• Indirect attack - if the fire involves a large area and is confined by locating the hottest portion
and applying a stream over the hottest portion.
• Combination attack – if the whole building is already involved by the fire and entry is difficult.
8. Salvage
• An action taken by the firefighters in preventing excessive damage by fire, smoke, and water
with the use of salvage cover or by removing materials from the burning building.
Types of salvage
• Removal
• covering
9. Overhauling
• A complete and detailed check of the structures and materials involved in the fire to make sure
that every spark and ember has been extinguished and to have assurance against re-ignition.
10. Post Fire Analysis
• To conduct a critique of what was done during the fire operation.
• Is a cooperative discussion of the personnel about all phases of fire from the time the alarm
was received until the return to the station.
