| Question | Answer |
| What is the most dependable water source | Fire hydrant |
| What can cause a failure or reduction in water supply volume or pressure from hydrants | Damaged hydrant valves, connections, water mains
Demand on system is to high for capabilities
Dead end hydrant
Closed isolation valve
Restricted mains
Frozen pipes/hydrants |
| What are fire hydrant bonnets, barrels, and foot pieces made of generally | Cast iron |
| What are hydrants interior parts usually made of | Bronze |
| What can valve facings be made of | Rubber
Leather
Composite materials |
| When are a hydrants discharge outlets considered standard | At least one large outlet 4-4.5 inch diameter
Two hose outlets 2.5 inch diameter |
| What do hydrants specific involving a valve opening for standard three way hydrants | A 5 inch opening |
| What specification does a hydrant have involving the connection to the water main for a standard three way hydrant | 6 inch connection |
| What NFPA standard sets standards on threads per inch for fire hydrant connections | NFPA 1963 |
| What actions should be taken when a hydrant is taken out of service | Place out of service tag or device in hydrant
Notify fire personnel of OOS
Notify hydrant repair personnel |
| What has happend if water is seen bubbling up out of the ground at the base of a dry hydrant when it is fully open | There is a broken component in the hydrant barrel |
| What are some reasons a hydrant can be out of service | Damage to hydrant, water system, or pump supporting it
Repairs or upgrades on the water system
Obstructions places within hydrant
Frozen hydrant |
| What are examples of fire hydrant connection tools | Spanner wrenches
Hydrant wrench
Rubber mallet
Gate valve
Hydrant valve |
| What are the four main functions of a hydrant valve | Allow additional hoselines to be laid to the hydrant
Connect a supply pumper
Boost the pressure in the original supply line
Allow original supply line to be connected and chargedearly |
| How often should a hydrant be inspected and or operated | At least once a year |
| What should be done to prevent damage to fire hose, hydrants, and other equipment or firefighters | Open and close hydrants slowly |
| What can happen if you open a hydrant to fast | Hose lines flail uncontrollably |
| What can happen if you close a hydrant to fast | Surge of pressure to water supply system which can damage water supply equipment and lines |
| What should be felt if the hydrant is draining | A slight vacuum in the hydrant |
| What NFPA standard involves specifications for rural water supply operations | NFPA 1142 |
| What is a static water supply source | Source of water that can be accessed through drafting |
| What are some examples of a static water supply source | Lakes and ponds
Rivers and streams
Swimming pool
Any other agricultural tank
Portable water tanks |
| What is an intake strainer designed to do | Keep debris from entering the apparatus or pump |
| How should I take strainers sit in water | Off of the bottom |
| What are the three key components to water shuttle operations | Dump site at fire
Fill site at water source
Mobile water supply apparatus |
| What are the two types of portable tanks standardly used | Collapsible/folding tank
Self supporting tank with a floating collar |
| What should be done before deploying a portable tanks | Put a tarp or salvage cover on the ground to prevent damage |
| Where should a drain be located on a portable tank when using them | On the downhill side and away from the drafting tank if possible |
| How can portable tanks be interconnected | Their drain fittings or a jet siphon |
| What are the four basic methods to unload water out of an apparatus | Gravity dumping
Jet assist dumps
Apparatus mounted pumps
Combination |
| How should fill and dump site be arranged in an ideal situation | To allow the minimum amount of backing and maneuvering |
| What are the 3 things hose rollers are used for | Edge protection
LDH drainage
Hose collection |
| What do hose bridges/Ramps prevent | Damage to the hose from vehicles driving over them |
| What is the purpose of chafing blocks | Protect fire hose from abrasions from vibration or rubbing of hose on surfaces/objects |
| What is a secondary use for a hose bridge/ramp | A chaffing block |
| What is a hose appliance | Any hardware used with fire hose to control the flow of water and create pathways for water through hose lays |
| What are the 4 basic types of hose appliances | Valves
Valve devices
Fittings
Intake strainers |
| When is a ball valve used | Pumper discharges
Gated wyes |
| When is a ball valve opened or close | Opened when handle is in line with hose
Closed when handle is out of line with hose |
| When is a butterfly valve used | Large pumper intakes |
| What does a butterfly valve use | Flat baffle that turns 90 degrees |
| When is a clapper valve used | Siamese appliances
FDC’s |
| What does a clapper allow | Water to flow in one direction only |
| What is a gate valve used for | Control the flow from a hydrant |
| How does a gate valve work | A baffle is lowered into the path of the water by turning a screw type handle |
| What does a wye appliance do | Divides a single hoseline into two or more lines |
| How is a wye appliance configured | One female inlet
Multiple male outlets |
| What is the purpose of a Siamese appliance | Combine multiple line into one line |
| What does a Siamese appliance consist of | Two female inlets
Center clapper or two clappers
One male outlet |
| What does a water thief look like | A wye appliance but there is an inlet and outlet of matching size combined with smaller outlets that steak water from the main line |
| What does a large diameter hose appliance do | Allow water to be distributed at points along the main supply line |
| What does an LDH manifold typically consist of | One LDH inlet
Three 2.5 inch valve controlled make outlets |
| What is the purpose of a fitting | Connect hose and outlets of different diameter and thread types |
| What is an adapter | Fitting that connects hose couplings with similar threads and the same inner diameter |
| What is a reduced | Fitting used to connect a smaller diameter hose to a larger diameter hose |
| What can happen when a section of hoseline bursts | Water can stop flowing or water pressure can decrease |
| What is the quickest and easiest way to advance a charges hose line at ground level | Working line drag |
| What should yo I do when advancing a hoseline into a burning structure | Check/remove kinks
Open nozzle fully
Select desired pattern
Personnel on same side of the hose
Check for heat using TIC |
| What should be done when conditions allow for advancing a hoseline up a grade/level | Advance it uncharged |
| When ascending a stairwell where should excess hose be deployed | On the stairs to the floor above |
| When descending a stairwell where should excess hose be deployed | Outside the stairwell (hallway, room, landing) |
| What can be a cause of obstructed or out of service stand pipes | Construction
Demolition
Tampering
Natural disaster |
| When can an outside stretch for improvising a standpipe be used | When going to lower level floors |
| What is a labor intensive task used in stairways that have an open shaft or stairwell in the center | Interior stairway stretch |
| What is the safest way to advance fire hose up a ladder | Uncharged |
| What factors can affect a hose stream | Velocity of water/ wind
Flow rate of water
Gravity
Operating pressure
Air friction
Nozzle design
Condition of nozzle opening |
| What determines the quantity of water flowing from a nozzle | Size of the nozzle opening
Nozzle pressure |
| What does the size of the nozzle opening also effect | Reach/distance of a stream |
| Why are some reasons water is very valuable for fire extinguishment | Readily available
Relatively inexpensive
Has a great heat absorbing rate
When converted to steam it absorbs more heat
Can be applied in a variety of ways |
| How much does water expand at 212 degrees | 1700 times original volume |
| What stream of water has a smaller surface area and absorbs heat less efficiently | Solid stream |
| What effects waters ability to absorb heat | Surface area exposed to heat |
| What are the three main functions any nozzle performs | Controlling water flow
Creating reach
Shaping the hose stream |
| What are some characteristics of a smooth note nozzle | Operate at low pressure
Less prone to clogging
Can apply compressed air foam
Can link easily due to low pressure
Can’t change stream pattern |
| What are some characteristics of fog nozzles | Adjustable discharge patterns
Provide protection with a wide fog pattern
Can be used for a variety of applications
Offer a variety of nozzle choices
Can be used to apply certain types of foam |
| What are the four types of fog nozzles | Basic
Constant gallonage
Constant pressure
Constant/select gallonage |
| What is a basic fog nozzle | Nozzle with an adjustable pattern that the rated/ideal discharge amount is give at a specific pressure |
| What is a constant gallonage fog nozzle | Nozzle with an adjustable pattern that discharges a specific amount no matter the pattern at a specified pressure |
| What is a constant pressure fog nozzle | Adjustable pattern nozzle that the pressure remains the same no matter the discharge rate |
| What is a constant/select gallonage fog nozzle | Adjustable pattern nozzle with a constant discharge rate that can be adjusted while flowing |
| When should nozzles be inspected | After each use and at least annually |
| What GPM is a low volume stream flowing | A stream with a discharge of less than 40 GPM |
| What GPM is a handline stream flowing | 40 to 350 |
| What GPM is a master stream flowing | Above 350 |
| What hose feeds a low volume stream | .75 to 1.5 inch hose |
| What hose feeds a handline stream | 1.5 to 3 inch house |
| What hose supplies a master stream | Two 2.5 inch hoses or 1 LDH hose upto 5 inches |
| What must effective hose stream meet or exceed | The critics flow rate |
| What must occur for a hose stream to qualified as effective | Steam does not lose its continuity until it reaches the point where it loses forward momentum
Cohesive enough to maintain its original shape and required height |
| What can fog stream be used for | Hydraulic ventilation
Vapor dispersion
Expose maximum water surface area |
| What are some disadvantages of fog streams | Have shorter reach
May disturb thermal layering
May intensify the fire by pushing fresh air in
More affected by wind |
| When are the times one firefighter controls a small hose line | Small NCF
Vehicle fire
Rekindle during overhaul
Rubbish/trash fire
Outbuilding fire |
| What is the minimum amount of firefighters required for handling hose interior | Two |
| When is the only time a single firefighter may be able to operate a large hoseline | During exposure protection or overhaul |
| What is friction loss | Total water pressure lost while forcing water through pipes, fittings, hose, and appliances |
| What conditions can increase friction loss | Rough linings of hose
Sharp bends in hose
Length of hose
Damaged couplings
Number of adapters
Hose diameter |
| How is friction loss overcome or reduced | Increasing hose size
Increasing pump pressure
Adding parellel lines
Removing kinks and bends |
| When are master stream usually deployed | When the fire is beyond the effectiveness of handlines or there is a need for hose streams in areas that are unsafe for firefighters |
| How should firefighters a a masterstream | So that it enters the structure at an upward angle |
| What can the accumulation of water cause in a structure | Added weight effecting structural integrity and collapse potential |
| After a master stream is placed what should happen with the firefighters that placed it | At least one firefighter should stay at the master stream unless in a dangerous area |
| What is a critical flow rate | Minimum flow rate at which extinguishment can be achieved |
