Aircraft Rescue and Fire
Fighting,
5th
Edition
Chapter 4 — Safety and Aircraft
Hazards
ARFF
4–2
Chapter 4 Lesson Goal
• After completing this lesson, the student
shall be able to recognize safety and
aircraft hazards and explain appropriate
actions to take to avoid those hazards.
ARFF
4–3
Objectives
1. Discuss personal protective
equipment.
2. Recognize the importance of
firefighter safety.
3. Explain hazards associated
with aircraft rescue and fire fighting.
(Continued)
ARFF
4–4
Objectives
4. Describe hazards associated
with aircraft cargo.
5. Discuss military aircraft hazards.
6. Discuss the occurrence of
terrorist incidents at airports.
ARFF
4–5
Personal Protective Clothing
and Equipment
• Protective clothing
– Provides various types of protection
– Must fit properly
• Protective equipment
– Serves various functions
– Must be used properly
ARFF
4–6
Personal Protective Clothing
• Wear full protective clothing ensemble
and SCBA during operations
• Proximity suits — may be worn
depending upon fire conditions
ARFF
4–7
Station/Work Uniform
• Should be made of flame-
resistant materials
• Identify ARFF
• Requirements stated in
NFPA®
1975
(Continued)
ARFF
4–8
Station/Work Uniform
• Intended for use under full protective
clothing
• Not intended to be used by themselves
as protective clothing
ARFF
4–9
Structural Fire Fighting
Protective Clothing
• May respond in
structural clothing
• Consists of various
components
• Protects from all but
extreme conditions
(Continued)
ARFF
4–10
Structural Fire Fighting
Protective Clothing
• Limited in some applications
• Proximity suits — recommended for
aircraft fire fighting by NFPA®
1500
• Has both positive characteristics and
limited abilities
• Requirements stated in NFPA®
1971
ARFF
4–11
Chemical Protective Clothing
• Aircraft accidents may contain
hazardous materials
• Not all ARFF firefighters specialize in
haz-mat operations
• Requirements stated in NFPA®
472
ARFF
4–12
Proximity Fire Fighting
Protective Clothing
• Referred to as
proximity gear and
proximity suits
• Aluminized outer
shell
• One piece or multiple
pieces
(Continued)
ARFF
4–13
Proximity Fire Fighting
Protective Clothing
• Has unique characteristics
• Don’t confuse with fire entry suits
• Must wear SCBA with both proximity
clothing and fire entry suits
• Requirements stated in NFPA®
1971
ARFF
4–14
Self-contained Breathing
Apparatus (SCBA)
• Respiratory protection standards
require protection
• Respiratory protection program and fire
departments
– Adopt
– Maintain
(Continued)
ARFF
4–15
Self-contained Breathing
Apparatus (SCBA)
• Wear SCBA at ALL
aircraft fires
• Follow manufacturer’s
requirements
• Users must meet
requirements for
respiratory protection
ARFF
4–16
Personal Alert Safety Systems
(PASS)
• Must wear a PASS device in hazardous
atmospheres
• Standards are found in NFPA®
1982
• Alarm sounds when wearer is
incapacitated
(Continued)
ARFF
4–17
Personal Alert Safety Systems
(PASS)
• May have other
characteristics
• Increases chances of
being found
• Can have problems
– Dead batteries
– Not being activated
Courtesy of Doddy Photography.
ARFF
4–18
Hearing Protection
• Required because of
noise levels
• Standards — NFPA®
1500
• Should be available to
firefighters
• Establish hearing
awareness program
ARFF
4–19
Eye Protection
• Many sources of eye
injury for ARFF
personnel
• Wear safety glasses
combined with other
means of eye
protection
(Continued)
ARFF
4–20
Eye Protection
• Base on specific
hazard
• Should meet eye
protection
requirements
ARFF
4–21
Firefighter Safety
• Accidents — number ONE cause of
injuries
• Practice safety at all times
ARFF
4–22
Fire Station Safety
• Practice good housekeeping
• Keep floors and walking surfaces clean,
dry, and clear of clutter
• Ensure exit areas are lighted and free
of obstructions
• Store all hazardous materials properly
(Continued)
ARFF
4–23
Fire Station Safety
• Keep MSDSs for hazardous materials
• Use proper lifting and carrying
techniques
(Continued)
ARFF
4–24
Fire Station Safety
• Follow and post tool and equipment
safety rules
• Place portable heaters out of travel
routes/away from combustibles
• Use only portable heaters that
deactivate if knocked over
ARFF
4–25
Emergency Response
• Be properly dressed and buckled prior
to departing
• Do NOT attempt to don protective
clothing enroute
• Secure loose items in cab
(Continued)
ARFF
4–26
Emergency Response
• Driver/operators
– Select and use safest routes
– Balance vehicle speed and caution
ARFF
4–27
Scene Management
• Secure scene perimeter and limit entry
• Establish operating zones
– Hot zone
– Warm zone
– Cold zone
• Smaller incidents — cordoned area
(Continued)
ARFF
4–28
Scene Management
ARFF
4–29
Personnel Accountability
• System of accountability must track all
personnel
• Two-in/two-out policy
– All interior fire fighting operations
– Required by both OSHA and NFPA®
• Become familiar with aircraft
ARFF
4–30
Personnel Decontamination
• Accident sites contain
hazards
– Hazardous materials
– Biohazards
• Always need
decontamination Courtesy of Brian Canady, DFWIA
Department of Public Safety.
ARFF
4–31
Critical Incident Stress
Management (CISM)
• Aircraft incidents can be more stressful
– Hazardous conditions
– Large number of injuries/fatalities
• AHJ teams assist in debriefing
• Know when to ask for help
ARFF
4–32
Critical Incident Stress
Debriefing (CISD)
• Peer-group or professional interaction
immediately after incident
• Should begin as soon as fires
extinguished at major fatality incidents
• Participation should NOT be optional
(Continued)
ARFF
4–33
Critical Incident Stress
Debriefing (CISD)
• Process should sometimes start before
firefighters enter scene
• Defusing — done at end of shifts of
major operations
• Participate in a full debriefing within 72
hours
ARFF
4–34
Aircraft Fire Fighting Hazards
• Accidents should be treated as potential
hazardous materials incidents
• Military incidents involve hazardous
materials
• Enormous quantities of fuel
(Continued)
ARFF
4–35
Aircraft Fire Fighting Hazards
• Use proper PPE and decontaminate
• Other hazards in accidents
– Agricultural spraying
– Maintenance facilities
– Hazardous cargo
ARFF
4–36
Hazardous Conditions at the
Emergency Scene
• Wreckage of the aircraft
• Confined space hazards
• Heat stress
• Fuel hazards
ARFF
4–37
Hazardous Aircraft
Components and Materials
• Jet fuel
• Landing gear
• Energized electrical lines
• Hydraulic and pneumatic lines
• Oxygen systems
(Continued)
ARFF
4–38
Hazardous Aircraft
Components and Materials
• Composite fibers
• Biohazards
• Pitot tubes
• Air bags
ARFF
4–39
Engine Hazards
• Reciprocating engine hazards — can
restart if propeller is moved
(Continued)
ARFF
4–40
Engine Hazards
• WARNING! Even if a propeller has
stopped, do not move it under any
conditions. Piston engines that have
recently stopped can sometimes cycle,
violently rotate, or restart if the propeller
is moved.
(Continued)
ARFF
4–41
Engine Hazards
• Jet engine hazards — pose serious
threat to personnel
ARFF
4–42
Helicopter Hazards
• Approach with caution
• Rotors present greatest hazard
• Pilot must signal safe for approach
• Never approach from rear
(Continued)
ARFF
4–43
Helicopter Hazards
• Approach and leave helicopter
– In a crouched position
– In view of pilot
• Carry all equipment and tools
– Horizontally
– Below the waist
(Continued)
ARFF
4–44
Helicopter Hazards
• Secure loose articles
• Locate suitable
landing area
(Continued)
ARFF
4–45
Helicopter Hazards
• WARNING! Firefighters should wear
eye protection, hearing protection, coat
or jacket, bright colored or reflective
clothes, and helmets ANY TIME they
are around helicopters with running
engines, regardless of circumstances.
ARFF
4–46
Ballistic Recovery Systems
(BRS)
• Used in general aviation aircraft, ultra-
lights, and experimental aircraft
• Designed to rapidly deploy a parachute
that stabilizes aircraft
• Save lives but also present hazard to
ARFF personnel
(Continued)
ARFF
4–47
Ballistic Recovery Systems
(BRS)
• Composed of
several components
• Deflated parachutes
can re-inflate in
winds
(Continued)
ARFF
4–48
Ballistic Recovery Systems
(BRS)
• WARNING! Ballistic recovery
parachutes can be fired vertically or
horizontally and are not always readily
visible on the aircraft or location from
where they are fired. Do not use
ordinary bolt cutters or side cutters to
cut the activation housing.
ARFF
4–49
Air Cargo Transport
• Transport of cargo
– Large companies
– Commercial flights
• Cargo
– Often harmless
– Also frequently classified as hazardous or
dangerous
(Continued)
ARFF
4–50
Air Cargo Transport
• Any aircraft crash could be considered
to involve dangerous goods
• Use proper procedures to protect from
effects of dangerous goods
ARFF
4–51
Air Cargo Transport — Laws
and Regulations
• Highly regulated
• Air carriers inspect
packages and
documents
• “Undeclared”
shipments of
hazardous
materials occur (Continued)
Courtesy of John Demyan, LVI
Airport.
ARFF
4–52
Air Cargo Transport — Laws
and Regulations
• Hazardous materials may be involved in
any crash
• CFR Title 14 Part 139 requires training
ARFF
4–53
Classification of Dangerous
Goods
• Class 1 — Explosives
• Class 2 — Gases
• Class 3 — Flammable liquids
• Class 4 — Flammable solids
• Class 5 — Oxidizing substances
(Continued)
ARFF
4–54
Classification of Dangerous
Goods
• Class 6 — Poisonous
(toxic) and infectious
substances
• Class 7 — Radioactive
materials
• Class 8 — Corrosives
• Class 9 —
Miscellaneous
dangerous goods
Courtesy of Doddy Photography.
ARFF
4–55
Shipment of Dangerous Goods
• Usually placed in
containers called unit load
devices
• Devices are then loaded
onto aircraft
• Certain dangerous goods
must be accessible to crew
(Continued)
ARFF
4–56
Shipment of Dangerous Goods
• Undeclared dangerous cargo may be
encountered in various forms
ARFF
4–57
Product Identification
• May be difficult in air transport
situations
• Several means of identifying dangerous
goods
• Documentation varies with carrier
(Continued)
ARFF
4–58
Product Identification
• Shipper responsible for identification
• Federal law requires “pilot in command”
be provided with shipping papers
ARFF
4–59
Verification
• Multiple sources
• Errors can be critical
• Use at least three sources
ARFF
4–60
Information Gathering
• Product must be researched to
determine hazards
• Helps develop mitigation plan
• Consult at least three sources
ARFF
4–61
Personal Protective Equipment
• Be familiar with PPE used
• AHJ ensures NFPA®
1500 compliance
• Select PPE based on several factors
– SOPs
– Nature of incident
– Resources available
(Continued)
ARFF
4–62
Personal Protective Equipment
• Personnel should NOT be assigned
tasks for which they
– Do not have adequate training
– Do not have adequate PPE
• ARFF role may be limited in situations
involving unknown materials
ARFF
4–63
Dangerous Goods Operations
• First responsibility of units responding
to dangerous goods incidents
– Isolate the scene
– Deny entry
(Continued)
ARFF
4–64
Dangerous Goods Operations
• Personnel should
– Secure the area
– Establish control zones
– Exclude nonessential personnel
(Continued)
ARFF
4–65
Dangerous Goods Operations
• ARFF personnel trained as technicians
or specialists on hazmat operations
should NOT be engaged in
– Rescues
– Body recoveries
ARFF
4–66
Lavatory Waste Spills
• Waste tanks have a wide range of
capacity
• Spills may occur in various areas
– Aircraft ramp
– Enroute to disposal
ARFF
4–67
Agricultural Application
• Chemicals range from relatively
innocuous fertilizers to highly toxic
pesticides
• Applied with fixed-wing or rotary-wing
aircraft
(Continued)
ARFF
4–68
Agricultural Application
• Usually have support vehicles
• Must be applied at low altitudes
• Often fly close to obstructions
• Crash sites difficult to reach
• No indication of what is being carried
(Continued)
ARFF
4–69
Agricultural Application
• Perform work upwind
• Wear proper protection
• Decontaminate victims, personnel, and
equipment
• Contain runoff
(Continued)
ARFF
4–70
Agricultural Application
• Most likely a problem
away from airports
• First responders likely
volunteer structural
firefighters
Courtesy of Paul Pestel.
ARFF
4–71
Special Hazards Associated
With Military Aircraft
• Chaff
• Flares
• Pyrotechnics
Courtesy of LCPL Andrew Williams
(USMC), Defense Visual Information
Center (DVIC). (Continued)
ARFF
4–72
Special Hazards Associated
With Military Aircraft
• Jet assisted take-off (JATO) systems
• Increased fuel capacity
• Composite wings and body
ARFF
4–73
Emergency Ejection Systems
• Accidentally activating ejection seats
and canopies may be extremely
dangerous
• Personnel must know how to safely
secure or avoid
• NEVER jettison indoors
ARFF
4–74
Ejection Seats
• Rocket- or gas-powered
• Fired in different manners
• Crew members fire seats
• Opening a hatch could cause seat to
fire
(Continued)
ARFF
4–75
Ejection Seats
• Civilian ARFF personnel should not
attempt to disarm system
• Military personnel must be contacted to
disarm systems
(Continued)
ARFF
4–76
Ejection Seats
• WARNING! Safetying an ejection
system is a hazardous operation.
Rescue personnel should not attempt to
safety an ejection system if they do not
have the proper training and equipment
necessary for the specific model of
aircraft.
ARFF
4–77
Canopies
• Canopy — encloses the cockpit
• Designed to protect the pilot and crew
• Three main types
– Clamshell
– Sliding
– Hinged
(Continued)
ARFF
4–78
Canopies
• Clamshell and sliding — most common
• Sliding — easier to operate during
rescues
• Actuated in various ways
(Continued)
ARFF
4–79
Canopies
• Some are disintegrated with explosives
built into the shell or along frame
• Most have an external means of
jettisoning
• Should be jettisoned only if absolutely
necessary
ARFF
4–80
Propellant Actuating Devices
• Canopy removers
• Initiators
• Rotary actuators
• Thrusters
• Explosive squibs
• Seat catapults
Courtesy of SSgt Bennie J. Davis III
(USAF), Defense Visual Information
Center (DVIC).
ARFF
4–81
Other Emergency Systems
• Emergency power unit (EPU)
• Fire protection/detection systems
• Emergency doors/hatches
ARFF
4–82
Military Weapons and Weapon
Systems
• Carry a broad range of weapons and
explosives
• Unless external may not know if
weapons are on board
• Primary effort in a fire
– Quick knockdown of fire
– Cooling of munitions
(Continued)
ARFF
4–83
Military Weapons and Weapon
Systems
• In a fire, weapon or explosive may
detonate within 45 seconds to 4 or 5
minutes
(Continued)
ARFF
4–84
Military Weapons and Weapon
Systems
• WARNING! Do not attempt to fight a
fire in which a weapon is involved if it is
not possible to extinguish the fire
quickly. Because of the likelihood of
detonation, all firefighters should
withdraw at least 2,000 feet (600 m). If
a rescue is in progress, continue to
apply water in copious amounts until
rescue is complete.
ARFF
4–85
Types of Weapons on Military
Aircraft
• High explosive
(HE)
• Ammunition
• Rockets and
missiles
• Gravity bombs
• Nuclear weapons
Courtesy of SrA Sean Sides (USAF),
Defense Visual Information Center
(DVIC).
ARFF
4–86
Terrorist Incidents
• Airports are prime targets for terrorist
acts involving CBRNE weapons of
mass destruction
• Need to be trained and prepared to
respond
ARFF
4–87
Indications of Terrorist Incident
• Explosions that disperse liquids, mists,
vapors, or gas
• Explosions that only destroy a package
or bomb device
• Unscheduled and unusual
dissemination of aerosol sprays
(Continued)
ARFF
4–88
Indications of Terrorist Incident
• Abandoned spray devices or
unexplained odors
• Mass casualties without obvious cause
or trauma
(Continued)
ARFF
4–89
Indications of Terrorist Incident
• Definite pattern of casualties and
common symptoms
• Civilian panic in a high-profile target
area
ARFF
4–90
Signs and Symptoms of Agents
• Nuclear and biological agents —
appear hours to days after incident
• Chemical agents — rapid onset of
symptoms in minutes or hours; easily
observed indicators
ARFF
4–91
Types of Chemical Agents
• Blister agents
• Blood agents
• Choking agents
• Nerve agents
ARFF
4–92
ARFF Responsibilities
• Provide detailed report on conditions
• Follow procedures outlined in local
emergency response plans
ARFF
4–93
Summary
• To be able to perform their jobs safely,
airport firefighters should be trained in
the types and uses of personal
protective equipment.
(Continued)
ARFF
4–94
Summary
• Firefighters should be thoroughly
familiar with firefighter safety while at
the fire station, responding to, and at
the scene of an emergency.
(Continued)
ARFF
4–95
Summary
• ARFF personnel should be well versed
in the general hazards associated with
ARFF and the specific hazards aircraft
pose to the airport firefighters.
(Continued)
ARFF
4–96
Summary
• ARFF personnel should have working
knowledge of military aircraft hazards.
Finally, airport firefighters should be
able to identify and respond to terrorist
incidents.
ARFF
4–97
Review Questions
1. When does wicking occur?
2. Who should be allowed into the
hot zone?
3. When should critical incident
stress debriefing (CISD) begin?
4. How might the instability of
wreckage affect normally ordinary
tasks?
(Continued)
ARFF
4–98
Review Questions
5. When is it acceptable to
approach a helicopter from the rear?
6. What is the purpose of a
ballistic recovery system (BRS)?
7. What are unit load devices?
(Continued)
ARFF
4–99
Review Questions
8. What is the first responsibility of
units responding to dangerous goods
incidents?
9. How do flares work on military
aircraft as countermeasures to heat
seeking missiles?
10. What are explosive squibs?

Chapter 04 Safety and Aircraft Hazards