Safety Emergency Response 1 Flashcards

During a high-rise evacuation, the FLSD learns that three mobility-impaired occupants are waiting in Areas of Rescue Assistance on floors 18 and 24. What is the FLSD's primary duty regarding these individuals?

Answer: Record their exact locations and floor numbers and relay that information to FDNY upon arrival

The FLSD must maintain a real-time log of occupants sheltering in Areas of Rescue Assistance and provide that information to the FDNY incident commander so firefighters can prioritize rescue. Unauthorized attempts to carry occupants down stairs can cause injury and create additional hazards.

A fire alarm activates in a 35-story high-rise. Using the voice communication system, what is the correct initial announcement protocol under NYC high-rise fire procedures?

Answer: Broadcast an alert tone and evacuation instruction on the fire floor and the floors immediately above and below, while placing all other floors on standby alert

Standard NYC high-rise protocol calls for an initial selective announcement targeting the fire floor plus the floors directly above and below, where risk is highest. Other floors receive a standby alert. This staged approach prevents unnecessary mass panic while ensuring threatened floors evacuate promptly.

When the FLSD activates Phase I Emergency Recall of elevators, what is the expected behavior of all elevators in the building?

Answer: All elevators return to the designated recall level (typically the lobby), doors open, and the cars remain out of service for occupant use

Phase I recall brings every elevator car to the primary recall level — usually the lobby — where doors open and remain open, taking the elevators out of normal service. This prevents occupants from inadvertently riding into a fire floor and readies the cars for Phase II firefighter operation.

A hazardous material spill is reported on the street directly outside the building's main entrance. FDNY has not yet arrived. Which action best demonstrates correct FLSD emergency decision-making?

Answer: Initiate shelter-in-place procedures, shut down HVAC air intakes, seal gaps under exterior doors, and await FDNY guidance

An outdoor hazmat release calls for shelter-in-place, not evacuation through the contaminated area. Shutting down HVAC prevents outside contaminants from being drawn into the building. The FLSD should act immediately to protect occupants, then coordinate with FDNY when they arrive.

After a complete building evacuation to the designated assembly area, what is the FLSD's most important life-safety function before FDNY clears the building for re-entry?

Answer: Coordinate with floor wardens to compile floor-by-floor headcounts and immediately report any unaccounted persons to FDNY incident command

Accurate headcounts compiled through the floor warden network allow the FLSD to tell FDNY exactly who may still be in the building. This information directly shapes the firefighter search-and-rescue priorities and can save lives.

A floor warden calls the fire command station reporting that heavy smoke has banked down to knee level in the stairwell on the 31st floor, making descent extremely dangerous. The FLSD should:

Answer: Direct occupants to re-enter the 31st floor, close the stairwell door, and await further instructions while immediately reporting conditions to FDNY

When stairwell conditions become untenable, the safest immediate action is to move occupants back onto a floor behind a closed fire door, which provides a defensible position and buys time. Propping the stairwell door open would spread smoke further, and using elevators during a fire emergency violates fire code.