What can increase ROS on a slope?

In the absence of winds, fires usually move faster uphill than downhill, so the steeper the slope, the faster a fire moves. them sooner than they would if they were on level ground. toward new fuels. Upslope fires create a draft, increasing the ROS.

When reacting to a possible hazardous materials emergency you should immediately do what?

Do approach with caution. A hazardous materials incident should be approached upwind and upgrade. Stop and check wind direction prior to getting close to the incident site. Do position yourself (and your vehicle) at least 300 feet from the scene of the incident for most cases.

What are the 5 critical fire behavior indicators?

In a structure fire, Building Factors, Smoke, Air Track, Heat, and Flame (B-SAHF) are critical fire behavior indicators. Understanding these burn indicators is important, but more important is the ability to integrate these factors in the process of reading the fire as part of size-up and dynamic risk assessment.

What is one wind indicator to be aware of that can lead to increased fire behavior?

1) Pressure gradients between air masses lead to moderate or strong wind speeds and a shift in wind direction. Strong dry winds caused by the compression of air as it flows down the lee side of a mountain range. RH usually drops. The combination of high winds and low relative humidity cause high rates of fire spread.

What will prevent or rule out direct control of the fire?

A blowup occurs when there’s a sudden increase in ROS sufficient to prevent or rule out direct control of the fire. Blowups are often accompanied by violent convection, can behave like fire storms, and will most likely set back existing suppression plans.

What causes upslope winds?

Upslope Winds. Diurnal mountain winds are produced by horizontal temperatures differences that develop daily in complex terrain. Surface heating will cause the air nearer the slope to be warmed more than air farther from the surface. As the warm air rises, it results in an upward flow of air, causing an upslope wind.

What are the three main hazards of hazardous materials?

Another system, outlined in NFPA 704: Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response,3 identifies hazards by the severity of the hazard in three principal categories (health, flammability, and instability).

What are the fire prevention measures?

Ways to prevent fire incidents:

• Avoid unattended or careless use of candles. No open flames are allowed inside any Tufts University building.
• Keep BBQ grills at least 10 feet from the house.
• Do not disable smoke or CO detectors.
• Do not smoke indoors.
• Do not leave your cooking unattended.

Which type of phenomenon occurs when the fire rapidly transitions from the growth stage to the fully developed stage?

Flashover
Flashover is the sudden transition from a developing to fully developed fire. This phenomenon involves a rapid transition to a state of total surface involvement of all combustible material within the compartment.

Which are the primary environmental factors affecting rate of spread?

moisture.

How does topography affect the wind speed and direction?

The direction and speed of the wind can be greatly affected by topography. Ridges and mountains are barriers to the horizontal movement of air. Saddles and gaps along a ridge will funnel the wind and increase its speed. Winds will also be gusty and spotting is more likely.