Essentials of Fire Fighting , 5 th Edition

1. Essentials of Fire Fighting, 5th Edition Chapter 20 — Fire Prevention and Public Education Firefighter II

2. Chapter 20 Lesson Goal • After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to give fire prevention and public education presentations following the policies and procedures set forth by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Firefighter II

3. Specific Objectives 1. Describe a survey and an inspection. 2. Discuss the fire prevention activities of reviewing community data and code enforcement. 3. Summarize common fuel and heat-source hazards. (Continued) Firefighter II

4. Specific Objectives 4. Discuss common fire hazards and why they increase the likelihood of a fire. 5. Summarize special fire hazards in commercial, manufacturing, and public-assembly occupancies. 6. Summarize target hazard properties. (Continued) Firefighter II

5. Specific Objectives 7. Discuss personal requirements and equipment requirements for conducting inspections. 8. Discuss scheduling and conducting fire inspections. 9. Discuss the benefits of preincident planning surveys. (Continued) Firefighter II

6. Specific Objectives 10. Explain how a preincident planning survey is conducted. 11. Explain the purpose of a residential fire safety survey. 12. Summarize guidelines for conducting residential fire safety surveys. (Continued) Firefighter II

7. Specific Objectives 13. Summarize common causes of residential fires. 14. Summarize items to address when conducting residential fire safety surveys. (Continued) Firefighter II

8. Specific Objectives 15. Discuss general considerations for the preparation and delivery of fire and life safety information. 16. Discuss presenting fire and life safety education for adults. 17. Discuss presenting fire and life-safety information for young children. (Continued) Firefighter II

9. Specific Objectives 18. Discuss fire and life-safety presentation topics. 19. Discuss fire station tours. 20. Prepare a preincident survey. (Skill Sheet 20-II-1) (Continued) Firefighter II

10. Specific Objectives 21. Conduct a residential fire safety survey. (Skill Sheet 20-II-2) 22. Make a fire and life safety presentation. (Skill Sheet 20-II-3) 23. Conduct a fire station tour. (Skill Sheet 20-II-4) Firefighter II

11. Surveys • Used to gather/impart information • Used to gather information for preincident planning • If conducted while buildings are under construction, helpful in identifying certain characteristics (Continued) Firefighter II

12. Surveys • Help to familiarize firefighters with contents, manufacturing processes, layouts of buildings • What a survey includes • Voluntary residential life safety surveys Firefighter II

13. Inspections • May be made by fire inspectors or company officers and crews • Usually include enforcement of most common code requirements • May uncover more serious code violations Firefighter II

14. Fire Incident Records • Contain critical information about fire history of community • Can be helpful with fire prevention efforts Firefighter II

15. Code Enforcement Inspections • Conducted in commercial, institutional, industrial occupancies • Ensure citizens have safe physical environment in which to work, study, worship, play (Continued) Firefighter II

16. Code Enforcement Inspections • May be conducted by fire inspectors withspecial training in code requirements for various types of occupancies or by fire company personnel • Should document any unsafe conditions that are found Firefighter II

17. Fire Hazard • Condition increasing likelihood of fire starting or increasing the extent/severity of a fire if one did start (Continued) Firefighter II

18. Fire Hazard • Can be prevented by eliminating one element of fire tetrahedron • Considerations of eliminating elements Firefighter II

19. Fuel Hazards • Ordinary combustibles • Flammable, combustible gases • Flammable, combustible liquids • Chemicals (Continued) Firefighter II

20. Fuel Hazards • Dusts • Metals • Plastics, resins, and cellulose Firefighter II

21. Heat Source Hazards • Chemical heat energy • Electrical heat energy • Mechanical heat energy • Nuclear heat energy Firefighter II

22. Common Fire Hazard A condition prevalent in almost all occupancies that increases likelihood of fire starting Firefighter II

23. Be Alert to Common Hazards • Obstructed electrical panels • Poor housekeeping, improper storage of combustible materials • Defective or improperly used heating, lighting, power equipment (Continued) Firefighter II

24. Be Alert to Common Hazards • Improper disposal of floor-cleaning compounds • Misuse of fumigation substances and flammable or combustible liquids Firefighter II

25. Increasing Likelihood of Fire • Poor housekeeping • Improperly functioning components can provide ignition source for nearby combustibles • Sheer fabrics being draped over lamps as a decoration (Continued) Firefighter II

26. Increasing Likelihood of Fire • Floor cleaning compounds, fumigating substances, and other flammable and combustible liquids — If improperly used and stored, can provide volatile fuel source • Personal fire hazards Firefighter II

27. Special Fire Hazards in Commercial Occupancies • Lack of automatic sprinklers/other relevant fixed fire protection systems • Change of occupancy exceeding use for which permits issued • Display/storage of large quantities of combustible products (Continued) Firefighter II

28. Special Fire Hazards in Commercial Occupancies • Mixed varieties of contents • Difficulties in entering occupancies during closed periods • Illegal building additions • Illegal storage (Continued) Firefighter II

29. Special Fire Hazards in Commercial Occupancies • Storage aisles incorrect distance apart • Fire department connection obstructed • Storage obstructing sprinklers • Existence of party walls, common attics, cocklofts, other open voids in multiple occupancies Firefighter II

30. Special Fire Hazards in Manufacturing Occupancies • High-hazard processes using volatile substances, oxidizers, extreme temperatures • Flammable liquids in dip tanks, ovens, and dryers in addition to those used in mixing, coating, spraying, degreasing processes Firefighter II

31. Special Fire Hazards in Manufacturing Occupancies • High-piled storage of combustible materials • Operation of vehicles, fork trucks, other trucks inside buildings (Continued) Firefighter II

32. Special Fire Hazards in Manufacturing Occupancies • Large, open areas • Large-scale use of flammable, combustible gases • Lack of automatic sprinklers/other fixed fire protection systems Firefighter II

33. Special Fire Hazards in Public-Assembly Occupancies • Lack of automatic sprinklers, detection systems, fire notification systems • Large numbers of people present • Insufficient, obstructed, locked exits (Continued) Firefighter II

34. Special Fire Hazards in Public-Assembly Occupancies • Materials stored in paths of egress • Highly combustible interior finishes • Inadequate/inoperative fire extinguishers • Inadequate/inoperative exit lighting Firefighter II

35. Target Hazard Properties • Any structure in which there is greater-than-normal potential for loss of life/property from fire • Should receive special attention during surveys Firefighter II

36. Target Hazard Examples • Lumberyards • Bulk oil storage facilities • Shopping malls • Hospitals • Theaters (Continued) Firefighter II

37. Target Hazard Examples • Nursing homes • Rows of frame tenements • Schools • High-rise hotels/condominiums • Large public assemblies – concert halls, stadiums, etc. Firefighter II

38. Fire Inspection Requirements • Every firefighter engaged in fire prevention efforts must be capable of meeting with property owners/occupants • Firefighters who are technically competent can provide valuable service to the public (Continued) Firefighter II

39. Fire Inspection Requirements • Especially important that firefighters convey only technically accurate information during inspections • Firefighter’s ability to conduct inspections competently will improve with study, experience, and on-the-job training Firefighter II

40. Personal Requirements • Firefighters should be well-informed about fire and life safety issues • Firefighters should present a well-groomed, neat appearance • Uniforms should be clean and in good condition Firefighter II

41. Equipment Requirements • Research on occupancies • Writing equipment • Drawing equipment • Other equipment Firefighter II

42. Scheduling Fire Inspections • During normal business hours • Some scheduled by contacting business owner ahead of time (Continued) Firefighter II

43. Scheduling Fire Inspections • Scheduling allows inspections to be conducted at least disruptive time • Other inspections conducted systematically; no scheduling Firefighter II

44. Conducting Fire Inspections • Firefighter conduct • Enter premises at main entrance, contact the individual with whom inspection scheduled (Continued) Firefighter II

45. Conducting Fire Inspections • Introduce team, briefly review inspection process, answer any questions occupant may have (Continued) Firefighter II

46. Conducting Fire Inspections • Occupant or a representative should accompany the inspection team • Inspection team should ask that all locked rooms or closets be opened for inspection • Most start from outside (Continued) Firefighter II

47. Conducting Fire Inspections • Survey team moves to interior • Regardless of the type of occupancy, specific code requirements that apply, each item inspected should be explained to person accompanying inspection team (Continued) Firefighter II

48. Conducting Fire Inspections • If one or more code violations are found, plan of correction must be agreed upon between inspection team and occupant (Continued) Firefighter II

49. Conducting Fire Inspections • Form and content of plan of correction should be clearly defined in departmental SOPs covering inspection process (Continued) Firefighter II

50. Conducting Fire Inspections • In most departments, occupant or representative required to sign inspection form • Inspection team leader should thank occupant for cooperating Firefighter II