PART G - GENERAL PROCEDURES TO EXTINGUISH A FIRE
Sound the alarm.
Call the fire department.
Determine the class of fire (A, B, C, D).
Select the appropriate fire extinguisher.
Stand upwind so that the flames and smoke blow away from you.
Point the fire extinguisher nozzle at the base of the fire.
Move the nozzle from side to side until the fire is extinguished.
PART H - FIRE FIGHTING TOOLS
There are several types of tools used to fight ground cover fires.
Rakes - Rakes are used to rake ground cover and dirt, and to chop light growth. The types of rakes used
are as follows:
McLeod.
Council.
Rich Tool.
Fire Swatters - The fire swatter, or flapper, is used to beat the flames out. It may be effective on small
fires, but could cause a fire to spread due to flying embers.
PART I - FIRE FIGHTING SAFETY TECHNIQUES
The following techniques are used when fighting a ground cover fire:
Always know the current escape routes.
Safety may be gained by moving into the burned area (as a last resort only).
Always work a fire on a slope from below.
Always work downwind of a fast-moving fire.
Use caution in felling or cutting trees.
Pace yourself; ground cover fires usually require long periods of hard work.
Stay with your crew.
When working on the fire line, stay 10-15 feet from the nearest co-worker.
Post a lookout to watch for a change in the fire's behavior.
Work as a crew; this is not a contest to see who can cut the most line.
PART J - HEALTH HAZARDS
Dusts. Dust results from the grinding, scraping, sanding, or sandblasting of tanks especially in the case of
tanks that have held leaded fuels. Lead dust can also result from burning sludge taken from leaded gasoline
dust that is poisonous to the body. Silica dust resulting from the operation of grinding and polishing
machines or sanding and sandblasting operations can be fibrous producing, causing injury to the lungs.
Nuisance dusts may cause inflammation and respiratory ailments.
Gases and Vapors. The terms "gas" and "vapor" are often used to mean the same thing, although there
is a difference. A gas exists as a gas at ordinary temperature and pressure. A vapor is a gas-like form of a
substance that is ordinarily a liquid. Gasses and vapors are divided into four groups. Poisonous or toxic
gasses and vapors have various effects on the body. They may injure or destroy the visceral organs, the
blood-forming system, tissues, or bones. Examples of poisonous gasses or vapors are hydrogen sulfide
found in crude oil of high sulfur content and tetraethyl lead vapor from leaded gasoline. You must avoid
exposure to them at all times. Simple asphyxiates are gasses and vapors that keep the lungs from getting
air. In other words, they replace oxygen that is in the air. Anesthetic gasses and vapors have a narcotic
effect, depressing the central nervous system to the point where respiratory failure may occur. All
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