BASIC FIRE FIGHTING TRAINING COURSE REPORT

SUBMITTED TO

GROUP LEARNING DEPARTMENT NNPC TOWERS ABUJA

BY SALAWU ISAAC ITOPA (ID NO: 20277)

HEALHT SAFETY AND ENVIROMENT (HSE)

JUNE-SEPT, 2011

ACKNOWLEDGMENT Glory, honour and majesty are unto God through Jesus Christ for the success he granted me throughout the course of my study in basic firefighting training at federal fire service in Lagos. I wish to express my profound gratitude to the NNPC, Group Learning Dept. HSE Dept. Instructors of the Federal Fire Service, who has imparted into me. I also express my sincere gratitude to my colleagues in the office both senior and junior staff for their best wishes throughout the period of my training

ABSTRACT This report is aim to express the experience acquired over the period of JUNE-SEPTEMBER at The Federal Fire Service Training School, Suru-lere Lagos, on basic professional firefighting.The summary of the training is as follows: Morning section between the hours of 7am -8:30 am Squad drill: It is a fire service exercise in which men are move in orderly manner in response to an order Between the hours of 8:30-9:00am break time Class activities from 9am -12noon Afternoon section Fire drill: Fire drill is a fire service exercise and established firefighting method which must be done with speed and accuracy without endangering yourself. Daily Lectures includes: Squad drill Fire drill Basic fire fighting First aid

 Knots tying Pump and primers Ropes and lines. Breathing apparatus (BA)

TABLE OF CONTENT 2.0 Discipline5 6 2.1 Chemistry of combustion..6 2.2 Fire ..6----8 2.3 Fire protection.9 2.4 Glossary of appliance.9---11 2.5 Ladder 12 2.6 Chemistry ...12 2.7 Building construction..12--13

2.8 Means of escape.13--14 2.9 First aid 14 3.0 Foam and foam making..15 3.1 Portable fire extinguisher16---17 3.2 Knot tying.. 18---19 3.3 Pump .19---20 3.4 Rope and line20--21 3.5 Inspection and Treatment21 3.6 Knowledge acquired.22 3.7 Conclusion .22

CHAPTER TWO BASIC PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTING 2.0 DISCILINE Discipline is an act training which affects the behavior of every individual to obey instruction and order of the constituent authority without fear or favor. A house divided against oneself cannot stand; therefore, start from home. Good home training is the beginnings of discipline. There are three type of discipline: 1. Self-discipline: it is an act of training oneself on good behavior towards fellow citizen. 2. Group discipline: it is where people are bounded together, work together, and achieve good result for the benefits of their town or country. 3. Leadership discipline: it is as essential as self or individual discipline. The self-discipline of a leader will make him understand his group, and work together towards a better result. Offences committed in fire service Disobedience: this means disobedience or failure without sufficient excuse to carry out any lawful order without written or verbal. Neglect of duty: failure without sufficient cause to attend or carry out duty promptly and diligently; or carelessness to cause any loss, damage or injury to occur to any person or property; or leaving the station or place of duty without permission or sufficient cause; or failure to make an entry

which is the duty of member of the brigade to make in any book or document. Insubordination: this means an act of insubordination in ward, act or demeanor to an officer superior in rank to the defaulter. Absence from duty: absence without reasonable excuse from duty or lateness for any parade, drills or other similar occasion. Drunkenness: being unfit to perform his duty as a result of drunkenness or reporting drunk to duty.

Punishment against discipline

Being required to resign forthwith or at such date as may be specified as alternative to dismissal.

Reduction in rank or grade. Fines. Reprimand. Stoppage of increment. 2.1 Chemistry of combustion

Chemistry of combustion is the scientific study of combustion and its reaction under certain condition. Combustion can be defined as a self-sustaining chemical reaction yielding energy and product that causes further reaction of the same kind. It is an exothermic reaction that is a reaction that releases or produces heat energy to the surrounding.

2.2 Fire Fire is a product that results from the rapid combination of two or more substances in the presence of oxygen with the production of heat and light. It is a product of combustion. Fire starts when a flammable and/ or a combustible material with an adequate supply of oxygen or another oxidizer are subjected to enough heat and is able to sustain a chain reaction. This is commonly called the fire tetrahedron. Fire cannot exist without all of these elements being in place, it can be extinguished by removing any one of the element of the fire tetrahedron. Elements of fire Fire is made up of three (3) elements namely: 1. Oxygen 2. Heat 3. Fuel These element forms the triangle of fire

HEAT

FUEL

OXYGEN

HEAT Heat is a form of energy which is radiated from a source, hence is the element that energizes fire. Oxygen or oxidizing agent Oxygen is one of the constituent of air. It is an element that accelerates and support combustion, while oxidizing agent are materials that yield oxygen or other oxidizing gases during the cause of chemical reaction. FUEL (or reducing agent): Fuel is any free combustible material which could either be in solid, liquid, or gaseous .fuel is the material or substance being oxidized or burned in combustion process .in scientific term, the fuel in a combustion reaction is known as the reducing agent. CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE: These are class of fire that involves ordinary combustible solid materials such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, plastic, nylon, etc. The most effective extinguishing agent suitable for class A fire is generally WATER in form of spray or jet. CLASS B FIRE: These are fire that involves flammable liquid of liquefiable solid. For for the purpose of choosing effective extinguishing agent DRY CHEMICAL POWDER OR FOAM COMPOND. CLASS C FIRE: These are fire involving flammable gases or liquefied gases in form of liquid spillage e.g. methane, ethane, propane, acetylene gas etc. the best extinguishing agent is CO2 (carbon dioxide), WATER in form of spray.

CLASS D FIRE: These are fire that involves metallic materials e.g. sodium, iron, copper, zinc, aluminum, tin, etc. The most effective extinguishing agent are DRY CHEMICAL POWDER (DCP), CARBON DIOXIDE. Causes of fire Carelessness Willful act Accident 2.3 FIRE PROTECTION: Fire protection can be defined as the actual provision, installation and good arrangement of first aid firefighting equipment in building or premises. These include: Extinguisher of various kind Hose reel Automatic sprinklers Fire hydrant Rising main Fire blanket etc. FIRE PREVENTION: Fire prevention is the act of educating /creating awareness to the public of ways of preventing the occurrence of the fire outbreak in our homes, offices, work places through hint like:

Do not smoke in areas designated NO SMOKING

 Do not be in a place designated DANGER KEEP OFF Do not over load electrical circuit Do not carry naked flame to a place designated HIGHLY FLAMMABLE Dispose used matches, ashes, and cigarette stub in ash trays or trash cans. 2.4 GLOSSARY OF APPLIANCE The ward glossary of appliance is a technical ward under which, firefighting appliance are group or classified. These are equipment usually carried in fire appliance and they are used to facilitate such task of their profession. They include: 1. Breaking in tools: these are equipment used in breaking part of the building to effect entry e.g. axes, hammer, crowbars and various kinds of door breakers. 2. Cutting away tools: these are types of equipment use for cutting e.g. cut-lasses, knifes, axes of various kind, various type of saws. 3. Rescue gears: these equipment that are used for rescue operation e.g. rubber hand gloves, rugger sandals shoe, flood light, breathing apparatus.
4.

Light of various kind: they are usually, used along with breathing apparatus e.g. the gas light, carbide light, touch light, search light

5. Turn over tools: they are equipment use for turning over particles after an outbreak of fire had been subdued.e.g. Ceiling hook, spade, small axe and cutlass.
6.

Transport tools: these are equipment use for minor repairs on vehicles or appliances.E.g.A bag which contain spanner

box, tiers, jacks, oil filters, pliers, screws drivers, batteries etc. 7. Miscellaneous and special equipment: this are various items or equipment of small gears carried out in appliance e.g. wire set, telephone sets, hose ramps, hose beckets, extinguishers of various kind breathing apparatus. ADAPTOS Adaptors are fittings used for the purpose of connecting hose or suction coupling of different sizes together. They are divided in to four: Delivery hose adaptors Suction hose adaptors Hydrant adaptors First aid or hose reel adaptors. BRANCH A branch is a tempering fitting employed or used at the delivery end of a line of hose in order to increase the velocity of water as it approaches the nozzle, there by producing an effective firefighting jet. Branch is divided in to three: Diffuser branch Hand control branch Foam making branch. STRIANERS Strainers are equipment use for prevention of dirt or debris from entering in to the pump casing. This is an equipment that is use to prevent pump damage. They are four types:

 Low level strainer Conical strainer Basket strainer Metal strainer HOSE A hose is a flexible tube or tubing made up of either rubber or canvas which is use to convey water from place to another for fighting fire purpose. They are two Types of hose: Suction hose Delivery hose SUCTION HOSE: A suction hose convey water from the dam or an open water to feed the pump (feeder).it is used at the pump inlet or suction side of a pump where water is passing through it, is a pressure either below or above that of the atmosphere. It is specially designed or constructed to with stand external pressure .it has a length of about 8ft, 10ft and 12ft.suction is divided in two: Partially embedded Smooth bore DELLIVERY HOSE: Is use at the deliver side of a pump where water is passing through it, is a pressure above that of the

atmosphere. It is specially design or constructed to withstand both internal and external pressure. It has a length of about 75ft long. They are two types: Lined Unlined type 2.5 LADDER Ladder is an equipment use to gain access to an upper floor; roofs of building and also lower in to the basement. Ladders are very useful to fire service in carrying their duties and functions. Ladder is divided in to two: Common ladder Special ladder

2.6 CHEMISTRY Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the study of matter, it also has to deal with composition, properties and the uses matter. IMPORTANCE OF CHEMISTRY TO A FIRE MAN: It helps the fire man to know the reaction of water and the material on fire e.g. In the case of metals and other materials that react with water violently. It also helps the fire man to check the spread of fire by knowing chemistry of the material that is burning. It helps the fire man to know the extinction method to be applied.

 It helps the fire man know the presence of poisonous element when water is applied.

2.7 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Building construction was introduced in to federal fire service because a large percentage of fire occurs in a building. It is therefore necessary that afire man should have a good knowledge of the element of the structure and the behavior of all the materials involved when there is a fire outbreak. Some material weaken in heat, some remove from the joint, some fall without warning when water jet are applied to them in high pressure. Therefore to enable the fire man knows the dangerous development in the building. AIMS OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION To check the spread of fire. To help the fire man on duty to extinguish the fire To enable him know the area and where it is safe to position his men to work To enable him detect dangerous development in the building Help in discovering the seat of fire Enable the fire man know the easiest entrance to a building

CAUSES OF COLLAPSE

 Burning away of floor and cross walls leaving high walls with no support. Expansion of steel beams build in to the walls pushing the walls outwards and so throwing it out of perpendicular. Disintegration of joint. Swelling of certain commodities due to water absorption. Wrong application of water jet on the walls in high pressure. 2.8 MEANS OF ESCAPE Means of escape is defined as a structural means where by a safety rule is provided for a person to escape in case of fire from any part of the building to a place of safety without any external assistance. There three rule governing means of escape in a building It must be close to each other. It must not be expose to fire It must be free Factors required when designing a means of escape in a building: Time of evacuation. Travel distance Number of occupants Calculation of Exit Widths Calculation of minimum Number of Exits.

2.9FIRST AID First aid treatment as a course is important to firemen because they the first line of help or call during any need for rescue. In any fire accident, firemen, they are the one going into the scene to bring out any trapped person & admit first aid before the arrival of an expert. Note: nobody does until the air way (from nose-lung & lung-nose) is block. Hence, in lot and never allow the tongue of a patient drops or his/her drops down. Aims and objective of first of first aids To save life To promote quick recovery To prevent condition from been worse.

3.0 Foam and foam making Foam can be defined as an aqueous solution of a substance, which has been converted into mass of bubbles by vigorously mixing air. FACTOR TO BE CONSIDERED TO WHEN FOAM IS PRODUCED 1. Expansion: volume of air mixed with each volume of foam concentrates.
2.

CONCENTRATION: The quantity of foam concentrates added.

3. SIZE-BUBBLE: This is determined only by specialized photographic. Functions Foam is a heavy organic or chemical latherwhich when correctly applied to the surface of a burning flammable liquid will extinguish the fire by: 1. Cooling the temperature of burning fuel 2. Isolation of the fuel from oxygen of the air 3. Dilution of the air with water from evaporation foam

Types of foam compound There are five (5) types of foam compound:

 Protein foam compound (PF) Fluoro chemical compound (PF) Fluoro protein compound (FP) Synthetic compound Alcohol resistant foam compound. 3.1 PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Extinguishers are first aid firefighting equipment used to fight or attack fire at the initial or early stage. There are divided into two categories: The hand or portable extinguisher and the bigger one which are larger models they are called Trolley unit or chemical engine extinguisher. OPERATION All extinguishers are operated by one or two methods: 1. By pumping eg. Carbon tetra chloride (ctc) 2. By air or gas pressure Under gas we have Nitrogen (N) and carbon dioxide (co2), they are both used as expellant. GROUP OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Fire extinguishers are grouped under four (4) main heading according to their suitability for use on types of fire. Group A Water Group B Foam Group C Vapouring liquid e.g. co2 Group D Dry chemical powder (DCP)

Group A. Water type Extinguishers This simply means, those that expel or dilute chemical solution under water type, we have the compressed gas water and stored air pressure water types. Group B: Foam Extinguishers These are the extinguishers that expel foam. There are two types of foam extinguishers namely: Chemical foam or turn-over extinguishers Mechanical foam or air foam extinguisher. This is a foam making branch (FMB). They are both for class B fires.

Group c: vaporing liquid extinguisher

These are the one that expel vapor foaming liquid or gases. They change from liquid to gaseous form when in operation such as: BCF- Boron-chloride (content-liquefied (BCF) MB- methyl-bromide (content-liquefied MB) Co2- Carbon-dioxide (content-liquefied co2) Group D: Dry Chemical Powder Extinguishers These are the types that expel powder and they are of two types: Stored pressure nor pressurize type. Co2 Gas cartridge type. Types of powders in use Sodium bicarbonate powder (commonest) Talc powder Graphite powder

Asbestor powder

Tenary Eutectic chloride (T.E.C) Powder Monex powder Sawdust stearate powder

3.1Knot Tying What is knot? A knot is a twisted portion of a line used for a particular purpose

Qualities of a good knot It must be easy to tie It must be easy to untie It must not damage the line It must carry out the purpose for which it is employed. Types of knot 1. Securing knot 2. Stop knot 3. Rescue knot 4. Joining knot

Securing e.g.

Half hitch: is the basis of number of knot used extensively in conjunction with other knot for securing suction, hoisting up a branch etc.

Glove hitch: it is used to secure a line to any round object Stop knot e.g.

Stop knot are divided into two parts e.g. Overhand knot and figure of eight knot.

Overhand knot: sometime known as a thumb knot, used as simple stopper and tied at each end in length of burst hose when laid out Figure of eight knot: used as a stopper e.g. to prevent a linerunning through a sheave. Rescue knot e.g. Chair knot: used as a sling to lower insensible person from the upper floor. Parachute knot: also known as baluster knot used as a sling to lower sensible person into a basement or well Joining knote.g. Reel knot: is used to join line of equal thickness or sizes Double sheet bend: it is the more secure version of single thickness or sizes. 3.2A pumpis a machine driven by eternal power for

transmitting energy to fluid or water. The first types of manually operated pumps are hand and stirrup although, there are types of pumps, but one particular one has come to regarded as the best for fire service work which is centrifugal pumps . The pump is the type most widely used for firefighting and has been adopted as standard by the fire service all over the word.

Types of pump Positive displacement pump Ejector pump Centrifugal pump Positive displacement pumps, as already described, are

capable of pumping both gas and liquids. Hence, before a centrifugal pump can be got to work from open water the air in the suction hose and pump casting must expelled so the atmospherics pressure will force the water up into the pump. This process is called priming. 3.3 ROPE AND LINES Rope: It is a manufacturing product normally made in length not exceeding 120 fathoms or 720 feet or219 meters, 51mm (2inch). It consists of six or more strands i.e. not less than two yarn are taken and twisted together to form a Strained strand, and of these three or are taken and laid together to form a rope. LINE: It is a term applied to cordage cut to specific length for a particular purpose e.g. lowering line, belt line etc. USES OF LINE IN FIRE SERVICE: cordage forms an essential part of fire service equipment. There is hardly an operation in firefighting whether it is affecting a rescue, getting a length of

hose up a building, strengthen a ladder, or making fast the suction when working from open water, which does not call for the use of a rope or line. The line mention below will be found in general used.
1.

RESCUES LINES: These are special extra-long lines, use for effecting rescue work with turntable ladders.

2.

Lowering line: A high quality line used for rescue work the length of this line varies in different qualities, but usually specified as not less than 30ft.

3.

Long line: these are general purpose line of 100ft in length and 21inch in circumference. They are used for variety of purpose and the most common being use to haul a length of hose aloft, roping off street or areas on the fire ground to hold back spectators.

4.

Escape line: an escape line is a line between 15ft in length secured to the top round of an extension ladder by means of a running eye. The fire end of which is taken into the building to assist men to find their way back to window from smoke laden room. 3.4 INSPECTION AND TREAMENT OF ROPES
a.

Ropes and treated monthly, b. after use at fire and other incident

Wash dirty ropes

 Do not store on the floor keep dry when not in use store in cool, dry place No heavy weight should be placed on them.

KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED

How to fight fire with use of firefighting equipment Know how to generate foam compound and how to use various types of extinguishers.

Knowing the various types of equipment used in fighting and its function.

The uses of ladder, including climbing, descending and rescuing from upper floor

Jumping yourself.

from

first

upper

floor,

without

injure

How to rescue victim from danger with safety rules & regulation applied The duties and qualities of fireman, as well as responsibilities of team leader

How to relate with people especially in public when it comes to enquiring the cause of the incident etc.

3.5 CONCLUSION Federal fire service training school is an arm of federal fire service commissioned in 1980 which has the sole responsibility of training personal on basic and advanced professional course for different government organization. For all l have learned so far, l will concluded by saying, if these technique are consistently applied the incident of fire, loss of lives and properties will be drastically reduced and prevention will be excellent.

PPMC
INTERNAL MEMORANDUM
To: DEPOT MANAGER SULEJA From: HSE O. C Ref: PPMC/SUL/HSE/018 Date: 10thOctober, 2011

REPORT ON ACCIDENTED TANKER TRUCK

On the 2nd Oct, 2011 about 10:00am a tanker with Reg No. had an accident near Federal Government Academic College along Maje- Dikko road, Suleja Niger State. The truck is loaded with PMS of 33000 litres. The report about the incident got to us in safety office and immediately the safety officers on duty rushed to the scene

with three (3) drums of foam compound to blanket the spills and also to be on standby as well as to determine the direction of flow of product. One and a half drums of foam compound were used and the remaining one and half were returned back to the depot together with the empty drums. No injury or death was observed. Attached herewith are photographs of the incident.

Galadima H. HSE OFFICER

PPMC
INTERNAL MEMORANDUM
To: DEPOT MANAGER SULEJA From: HSE STAFF SULEJA DEPOT Ref: PPMC/SUL/HSE/19961 Date: 10th October, 2011

AUTHORITY TO TRAVEL Kindly approve authority to travel to Corporate Headquarters, Group Learning Department from 12th to 13th October, 2011 to submit Basic Fire Training Report.

IBRAHIM, H.