FDNY Firefighting Operations and Equipment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The FDNY's standard operating procedure for a 'surround and drown' tactic is most appropriate for which type of fire?
- High-rise office building fires
- Large commercial or warehouse fires with no life hazard (Correct answer)
- Residential apartment fires with trapped occupants
- Vehicle fires in underground garages
Correct answer: Large commercial or warehouse fires with no life hazard
Surround and drown is a defensive strategy used when a structure is untenable and the priority shifts to preventing fire spread, typically in large commercial buildings.
Question 2: A '2½-inch line' is preferred over a '1¾-inch line' primarily because it:
- Is easier to maneuver in tight spaces
- Delivers significantly higher gallons per minute for large fires (Correct answer)
- Requires less pump pressure to operate
- Can be operated by a single firefighter
Correct answer: Delivers significantly higher gallons per minute for large fires
A 2½-inch handline can deliver 250+ GPM compared to roughly 150-180 GPM for a 1¾-inch line, making it essential for high-volume fire control.
Question 3: When using a roof rope to lower an unconscious firefighter, the rope should be attached to the SCBA harness at:
- The waist belt only
- The shoulder straps and waist belt together (Correct answer)
- The cylinder valve
- The face piece straps
Correct answer: The shoulder straps and waist belt together
Securing the rescue rope to both shoulder straps and the waist belt distributes the load and keeps the firefighter in a safe upright position during lowering.
Question 4: Which extinguishing agent is most effective against a Class D (combustible metal) fire?
- Dry chemical (ABC)
- Water fog
- Foam
- Dry sand or dry powder (Met-L-X) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Dry sand or dry powder (Met-L-X)
Class D fires involving combustible metals like magnesium or titanium require dry sand or specialized dry powder agents; water can violently react with burning metals.
Question 5: In FDNY operations, the term 'pushing the fire' refers to:
- Using excessive water flow to control a fire
- Hoseline streams inadvertently driving fire into unaffected areas (Correct answer)
- Advancing the hoseline too quickly toward the seat of the fire
- Using high-pressure streams to penetrate walls
Correct answer: Hoseline streams inadvertently driving fire into unaffected areas
Pushing the fire occurs when improper hose stream direction or ventilation causes fire gases and flames to spread into uninvolved areas of the building.
Question 6: What is the maximum operating pressure for a standard FDNY 1¾-inch attack hoseline at the nozzle?
- 50 PSI
- 75 PSI
- 100 PSI (Correct answer)
- 125 PSI
Correct answer: 100 PSI
FDNY standard nozzle pressure for 1¾-inch lines is 100 PSI, providing adequate flow and reach while remaining manageable for the nozzle team.
Question 7: During a structure fire, 'thermal imaging camera (TIC)' readings should be interpreted understanding that:
- White areas always indicate the hottest temperatures
- TICs can see through walls and floors
- TIC images can be affected by reflective surfaces giving false readings (Correct answer)
- TICs work only in complete darkness
Correct answer: TIC images can be affected by reflective surfaces giving false readings
Reflective surfaces such as mirrors and metal can bounce infrared energy and create false hot or cold spots on TIC displays, potentially misleading the user.
FDNY Firefighting Operations and Equipment 3
The FDNY's standard operating procedure for a 'surround and drown' tactic is most appropriate for which type of fire?