FCTC Knowledge 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a pre-incident plan?
- To assign firefighter shifts
- To document building layout and hazards for emergency response (Correct answer)
- To record maintenance schedules
- To log equipment purchases
Correct answer: To document building layout and hazards for emergency response
Pre-incident plans document building layouts, hazards, utilities, and access points to help firefighters respond more effectively and safely.
A pre-incident plan (also called a pre-fire plan) is a document created by fire department personnel that records critical information about a specific building or location. It includes floor plans, utility shutoff locations, hazardous materials storage, access points, water supply sources, and occupancy details. Having this information available before an incident helps incident commanders make faster and safer tactical decisions.
Question 2: Which class of fire involves energized electrical equipment?
- Class A
- Class B
- Class C (Correct answer)
- Class D
Correct answer: Class C
Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment. Water should not be used on Class C fires due to the risk of electrical shock.
The NFPA fire classification system designates Class C fires as those involving energized electrical equipment such as wiring, motors, switchboards, and appliances. The key factor is that the equipment is energized — once power is removed, the fire may reclassify as Class A or B. Water and conductive agents must be avoided; CO2, dry chemical, or clean agent extinguishers are appropriate.
Question 3: What does the acronym 'PASS' stand for when using a fire extinguisher?
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (Correct answer)
- Push, Aim, Spray, Swing
- Pull, Activate, Squirt, Scan
- Point, Arm, Start, Spray
Correct answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side.
PASS is the standard mnemonic for fire extinguisher operation: Pull the safety pin from the handle; Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, not the flames; Squeeze the handle to discharge the agent; Sweep the nozzle from side to side covering the base of the fire. Aiming at the base is critical because it attacks the fuel source rather than the flames themselves.
Question 4: What is the recommended minimum distance from a structure fire that firefighters should establish the Incident Command Post?
- 10 feet
- 25 feet
- At a safe distance upwind and away from the hazard zone (Correct answer)
- Directly adjacent to the structure entrance
Correct answer: At a safe distance upwind and away from the hazard zone
The Incident Command Post should be established at a safe distance upwind and away from the hazard zone to allow effective command without exposure to hazards.
NIMS and ICS guidelines specify that the Incident Command Post should be positioned upwind and uphill from the incident when possible, at a location that provides a good vantage point while remaining outside the hot and warm zones. There is no single fixed distance; the location is chosen based on incident size, wind direction, potential for explosion or structural collapse, and the need for the incident commander to observe operations effectively.
Question 5: Which hose load is best suited for areas where space is limited and allows for a straight pull deployment?
- Flat load
- Horseshoe load
- Minuteman load (Correct answer)
- Triple layer load
Correct answer: Minuteman load
The Minuteman load allows a single firefighter to deploy the hose with a straight pull and is well-suited for tight spaces and narrow corridors.
The Minuteman load (also called the Accordion load in some departments) is designed for one-person deployment in confined or limited-access areas. The hose is stacked so that a firefighter can shoulder the load and walk forward, allowing the hose to pay out behind them. This is particularly useful in high-rise buildings, apartment corridors, and areas where a traditional drag would be obstructed.
Question 6: What is the function of a water thief appliance on a fire hose?
- Increases water pressure
- Allows one supply line to feed multiple attack lines (Correct answer)
- Reduces friction loss
- Connects two hoses of different diameters
Correct answer: Allows one supply line to feed multiple attack lines
A water thief is a hose appliance that allows one supply line to supply two or more attack lines simultaneously.
A water thief is a gated wye with one large inlet and multiple (typically two or three) smaller gated outlets. It allows a single large-diameter supply line to be split into multiple smaller attack lines, each of which can be controlled independently with gate valves. This is useful when multiple hand lines are needed but only one supply line is available from a hydrant or pumper.
FCTC Knowledge 2
What is the primary purpose of a pre-incident plan?