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Active vocabulary
response [rI'spPns] реакція; реагування
technique [tek'ni:k] техніка; технічне оснащення або устаткування; апаратури
alarm тривога, сигнал небезпеки, попередження про небезпеку
apparatus ["xpq'reItqs] прилад, інструмент; апарат
hazard ['hxzqd] ризик, небезпека
supply [sq'plai] запас
equipment [I'kwIpmqnt] устаткування; оснащення; спорядження
designate ['dezIgnIt] призначений, але той, що ще не вступив у посаду
burning горіння
ladder ['lxdq] сходи
volunteer ["vPl(q)n'tIq] доброволець
extinguish [Ik'stINgwIS] гасити, гасити
canvas ['kxnvqs] полотно; брезент
explosion [Ik'splqVZ(q)n] вибух; розрив
ventilation ["ventI'leIS(q)n] вентиляція, провітрювання
surrounding [sq'raVndIN] околиці
smoulder ['smqVldq] (ядушливий) дим; тліючий вогонь
overhaul ['qVvqhO:l] ретельний огляд
dispatcher [dIs'pxtSq] диспетчер
salvage ['sxlvId] порятунок майна (від вогню)
occasion [q'keIZ(q)n] випадок
tarpaulin брезент, парусина
alleyway ['xlIwei] прохід, коридор (на судні)
combustion [kqm'bAst(q)n] горіння, згоряння; запалення
Text.
Fire Fighters in Action
The response of a well-trained fire company to an alarm of fire and the techniques of fighting a fire vary little the world over. Upon receiving an alarm, a department goes into action rapidly. Putting on protective clothing- helmets, fire coats (of rubber, synthetic material, or water-resistant canvas) - the firemen board their assigned apparatus, such as a pumper or a ladder truck. In the professional service it is considered normal for the apparatus to leave the station within 30 to 45 seconds after an alarm has been received. In the volunteer service, in which men leave other activities to report to the station, many departments pride themselves on responding within three to five minutes.
While on his way to the fire the officer in command reviews his knowledge of the general location and the expected hazards. lie takes many elements into account: time of day, which indicates whether people are at home or at work and thus the extent of possible hazards to life; traffic conditions on streets leading to the site, which can affect response time and thus burning time of the fire before extinguishing civilities can begin; availability and adequacy of water supply in the area; general construction of buildings of the area, which indicates whether the fire is likely to spread quickly or slowly; and the number of men and the amount and condition of the equipment under his command.
“Size-Up" and Action. On arrival at the scene the chief officer continues what American firemen call the "size-up," or review of the conditions, to determine how serious the threat is. He makes a rapid reconnaissance of the site, assisted by his aide, by assistant chief officers, and by any company officers he designates. On the basis of his findings, the chief gives orders for department action.
The standard plan of action is to (1) find the precise location of the fire, (2) rescue any endangered occupants of the building, (3) confine the fire to the area it controls, (4) attack and extinguish the names, and (5) search out and extinguish all hidden flame before declaring the fire out.
The chief officer in command first determines whether any lives are endangered. If so, he orders rescue work to begin. Rescue is usually undertaken by personnel of a ladder (also called “truck") company and rescue company while the engine (also called "pumper") companies are stretching hose lines to the scene and hooking up their pumpers to the water supply. If rescue is necessary at elevated floors the truck companies will immediately raise their aerial ladders and elevating platforms. If a severe life hazard is present, the chief may order all or part of the engine companies to participate in rescue. On occasion, the rescue of occupants requires the combined activities of the truck and rescue personnel with ladders and axes and crowbars to force an entry, while protected by water streams from hose lines manned by engine company personnel.
When rescue has been completed, the chief officer orders engine companies to lay their lines to positions where they can confine the fire and prevent its spread. In a small fire, lines can be laid in rooms or hallways underneath, to the sides of, or above the fire, depending on the conditions. In large fires, hose streams may be set up on streets in front of or In-hind the building, in alleyways adjacent to the building, or in buildings next to the fire location.
Ventilation. Once hose lines are in place, the chief officer orders a truck company or companies to effect ventilation. At once the truck men begin one of the most misunderstood activities of fire fighters. Uninformed persons may believe that ventilation causes needless and even wanton damage, but skilled fire fighters know that it saves a building in nearly all cases.
Ventilation is accomplished- always above the level of the fire-by breaking windows or opening vents or, if there is no other choice, by cutting a large hole in the roof. These openings permit the pent-up smoke, heat, and toxic gases to escape-ejected by pressure that, if bottled up, could cause an explosion.
From experience as well as from scientific knowledge, firemen are aware of the chain of hazards created by the burning of a building and its contents. First, there is smoke, created because combustion is incomplete except in a few very unusual cases. Second, there is heat, which can increase quickly to a point where human beings cannot five in the atmosphere surrounding the fire. Third, toxic gases develop-notably, carbon monoxide arising from incomplete combustion and other gases created when various materials are burned.
The fire also creates a pressure as the light combustion products rise with the heat. This pressure draws air currents toward the fire and adds oxygen to it. As the rising combustion products and heat hit obstructions such as a ceiling or roof, the pressure sends them outward in all directions until stopped by walls or other obstructions. The movement then begins to "bank" downward as the combustion products and heat build up. Fire fighters call this "mushrooming" and treat it as a serious hazard. For instance, home basement fires can mushroom up to attics without attacking any floors in between; the rising column of heat, which may exceed l.000F, readily ignites any wood, paper, or doth it touches.
What fire fighters call "back draft" can cause explosions in unventilated or improperly ventilated buildings. A fire burns with open flames in a tightly closed area only until the oxygen supply is nearly depleted. The flames then die down, but smouldering fire remains as incomplete combustion continues. Great volumes of carbon monoxide and other toxic and explosive gases may be produced. If there is no escape for these explosive products of combustion, the building becomes a potential bomb endangering unwary or inexperienced fire fighters or civilians. Competent fire officers and fire fighters recognize the condition by the color of the smoke and by the evidence of the pressure behind it-combustion products are forced out under roof lines or side walls and at window tops in a peculiar spurting action. A door or window opened below the fire at this time could provide sufficient oxygen to create an explosion. If it is obvious that a back draft is not likely, the truck men will open up the roof, if required, or open windows on the Boor above the fire and then on the fire floor to relieve the pressure, smoke, and heat. At once the men of the engine companies will move in through the doors and hallways and “knock down” the flames by playing hose streams directly on them.
Overhaul. After no visible flame remains, the fire fighters begin the work known as "overhaul." The engine men and truck men work together to sift thoroughly through the burned material to make certain the fire is out. Charred material is taken out of the building for disposal. Some men check to make certain that the fire has not extended behind walls or up shaft ways and pipe openings. At a small fire other men remove water with mops and rubber squeegees to clean up the premises as much as possible before leaving the scene. At a large fire a major cleanup effort would unnecessarily delay the fire fighters from returning to quarters in readiness to answer other calls, so responsibility for cleanup is left to the owner and his insurers. At residences and small businesses, most fire departments also close up a building before leaving the scene. Windows that had to be broken for ventilation or were broken by heat are covered with plastic sheeting or tarpaper, and roof holes are closed with heavy canvas tarpaulins, or tarpaper. This action helps protect the site from the weather until repairs can be made. But if the damage is extensive the responsibility for further protection belongs to the owner and his insurers. The men assigned to these duties usually begin in the room under the fire scene by stretching heavy waterproof tarpaulins (called "covers") over stock and furniture to protect them from water used in the extinguishing actions. If large quantities of water are used, the runoff water from the covers is channeled out of doors or to drains that carry it off without further damage.
After the fire is out, the salvage men renovate the fire location as much as possible. Readily appreciated by a distraught owner, good salvage work has proven to lie one of the best public relations efforts of the fire service.
Return to Service. Fire companies ready to respond to an alarm are said to be “in service.” When responding to or actively engaged in fire duties they are "out of service." Following the chief officer's declaration that a fire is out, the responsibility for the building scene reverts to the owner. Hose lines arc disconnected and placed on the apparatus, and the companies return to quarters. If a unit is able to respond to other alarms it notifies the dispatcher by radio that it is "in service-on the air," meaning that while on its way back to quarters it can answer radio calls to a fire.
In progressive departments the company officer writes a complete report of the company's action for transmittal through his commanding officer to the chief of department. When this report is finished and the general clean up has been accomplished, the company is called together by the officer, who reviews its actions at the fire. Unusual conditions noted at the scene are pinpointed. If new or additional training of the men is required, notes are made for action by the training division. These company post fire sessions may lead to the development of new techniques and sometimes result in ideas for improved equipment.
Answer the questions
1. Do techniques of firefighting very greatly in different countries?
2. What is considered normal for the apparatus to leave the station after an alarm has been received?
What about volunteers?
3. What does the office in command do on his way to the site (fire)?
4. What affects response time?
5. Who does a reconnaissance of the site?
Who helps him?
6. What is the standard plan of action?
7. What are the duties of different companies on the site?
8. What does the chief officer order when rescue has been completed?
9. Who effects ventilation?
10. Why is ventilation of paramount importance? How is it accomplished?
11. What is known “back draft” and “knock down” among firefighters?
12. When does “overhaul” take place?
13. Why is if necessary?
14. Who carries it out?
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