F89 Non-Fire Emergencies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the FLSD's primary responsibility during a biological or chemical threat in the building?
- Investigate the substance personally
- Isolate the affected area, initiate appropriate evacuation or shelter-in-place, and coordinate with FDNY HazMat and NYPD (Correct answer)
- Wait for the fire department before taking any action
- Evacuate the entire building immediately in all cases
Correct answer: Isolate the affected area, initiate appropriate evacuation or shelter-in-place, and coordinate with FDNY HazMat and NYPD
The FLSD must isolate the affected area, determine whether to evacuate or shelter-in-place, and coordinate with specialized response teams.
During a biological or chemical threat, the FLSD must isolate the affected area, determine the appropriate protective action, shut down HVAC systems to prevent spread, call 911, account for exposed individuals, direct them to a designated holding area, and communicate clear instructions to building occupants.
Question 2: How should the building's EAP address an active shooter situation?
- Active shooter situations are not included in building emergency plans
- The EAP should include Run-Hide-Fight guidance, lockdown procedures, and coordination protocols with law enforcement (Correct answer)
- The FLSD should attempt to confront the shooter
- Only the police department prepares active shooter plans
Correct answer: The EAP should include Run-Hide-Fight guidance, lockdown procedures, and coordination protocols with law enforcement
The EAP should incorporate active shooter response procedures including the Run-Hide-Fight framework, lockdown capabilities, and communication protocols.
Active shooter preparedness should incorporate the Run-Hide-Fight framework, building lockdown capability, training for occupants, communication procedures with coded or plain-language alerts, a reunion and accountability point, and coordination with law enforcement.
Question 3: What procedures should the FLSD implement for a natural gas leak in the building?
- Open all windows and continue normal operations
- Evacuate the affected area, prohibit ignition sources, shut off gas if safe, ventilate, and notify the gas utility and fire department (Correct answer)
- Only evacuate if the gas odor is very strong
- Natural gas leaks are handled exclusively by the utility company
Correct answer: Evacuate the affected area, prohibit ignition sources, shut off gas if safe, ventilate, and notify the gas utility and fire department
A gas leak requires immediate evacuation, elimination of ignition sources, and notification of the gas utility and fire department.
The FLSD must evacuate the affected area, prohibit any ignition sources including electrical switches and cell phones in the immediate area, shut off the gas supply if safely accessible, ventilate the area, call 911 from outside the affected area, notify the gas utility, and prevent re-entry until the area is declared safe.
Question 4: What is the FLSD's role during a water intrusion or flooding event in the building?
- Water events are purely a maintenance issue
- The FLSD must assess life safety impacts including electrical hazards, structural concerns, and effects on fire protection and egress systems (Correct answer)
- Only the building engineer responds to water events
- The FLSD should wait for the situation to resolve naturally
Correct answer: The FLSD must assess life safety impacts including electrical hazards, structural concerns, and effects on fire protection and egress systems
The FLSD must evaluate how flooding affects life safety systems, electrical safety, structural integrity, and evacuation routes.
Water intrusion creates multiple life safety concerns: electrical shock hazards, potential structural compromise, impairment of fire protection systems, compromise of egress routes, elevator safety concerns, and environmental hazards. The FLSD must assess these impacts and modify evacuation plans if egress routes are affected.
Question 5: How should the EAP address a prolonged power outage lasting several hours?
- Send everyone home immediately
- Implement phased response including emergency lighting verification, system monitoring, occupant communication, and potential orderly evacuation (Correct answer)
- Wait for power restoration without taking action
- Only the building engineer needs to respond
Correct answer: Implement phased response including emergency lighting verification, system monitoring, occupant communication, and potential orderly evacuation
A prolonged outage requires a phased response including verifying emergency systems, monitoring generator capacity, and potentially initiating evacuation.
The FLSD must implement a phased response: verify emergency generator activation and life safety systems, monitor generator fuel levels, assess whether to maintain occupancy or evacuate, and remember that emergency lighting batteries typically last only 90 minutes.
Question 6: What considerations must the FLSD address for extreme heat events affecting building occupants?
- Extreme heat has no impact on building emergency planning
- The FLSD must monitor building conditions, ensure cooling/ventilation, identify vulnerable occupants, and have procedures for HVAC failure during heat events (Correct answer)
- Only outdoor workers are affected by heat events
- The FLSD should simply open windows
Correct answer: The FLSD must monitor building conditions, ensure cooling/ventilation, identify vulnerable occupants, and have procedures for HVAC failure during heat events
Extreme heat can create dangerous conditions inside buildings, especially if HVAC fails.
The FLSD must monitor indoor temperatures, identify vulnerable occupants, establish cooling stations, have procedures for HVAC failure during heat events, know when conditions require evacuation, and communicate proactively with occupants. The EAP should include heat emergency response procedures with specific temperature thresholds.
F89 Non-Fire Emergencies 2
What is the FLSD's primary responsibility during a biological or chemical threat in the building?