Question

Which of the following statements concerning ventilation of a gothic church fire is FALSE?

1. Gothic churches often have high ceilings and large stained-glass windows, which can make them difficult to ventilate.
2. It is important to ventilate a Gothic church fire to remove smoke and heat, and to allow firefighters to access the fire.
3. One way to ventilate a Gothic church fire is to create openings in the roof, such as by cutting holes with a chainsaw.
4. It is important to be careful when ventilating a Gothic church fire, as the structure may be weakened by the fire.
5. It is all right to send firefighters on steep sloped roofs, as long as they operate safely.

Answer 1

The false statement is that it is safe to send firefighters on steep sloped roofs if they operate safely. Gothic church fires pose significant challenges for ventilation due to their architectural features such as high ceilings and large stained-glass windows. The weakened structure from the fire also requires caution during the ventilation process.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement concerning ventilation of a Gothic church fire which is FALSE is: "It is all right to send firefighters on steep sloped roofs, as long as they operate safely." This statement is incorrect because steep sloped roofs, especially those compromised by fire, can be extremely dangerous and may collapse, posing serious risks to firefighters.

In Gothic architecture, churches have high ceilings and large walls of stained-glass windows created to display colors from streaming sunlight; these design elements can indeed complicate ventilation during a fire. The complexity of ventilation is also exacerbated by the structures such as ribbed vaults and flying buttresses designed to support the high walls and expansive windows.

Creating openings in the roof, such as cutting holes with equipment like a chainsaw, can be an effective method for smoke and heat egress, provided it's done with respect to the integrity of the architectural structure, which may be weakened by the fire. Therefore, careful planning and execution are critical to avoid exacerbating the damage or endangering lives.