Planning for Community Fire Protection

1. Planning for Community Fire Protection Class #4 Chapters 18,19,20,21, and 22

2. Fire Prevention • Most States have offices oversee certain phases of fire prevention. • The organization of the state fire marshals officer differ from state to state. • Ill. tbl.18.1 pg 308 tbl.18.2 pg 310

3. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Training is a challenge for nearly every organization, including fire and emergency services. It is a sigh of commitment of that organization to provide quality service and to ensure the health and safety of their employees.

4. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Effective training achieves • Services that meet professional benchmarks and standards • Efficient performance • Effective use of technology • Safe operations • Quality customer service • NFPA 1500 requires training

5. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Training vs. Education • Training is the process by which vocational skills and knowledge are delivered. • Explains what to do • Is anchored in past experience • Encompasses job skills

6. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Encompasses practical skills • Involves application • Results in specific outcomes • Is know • Education is the process by which academic subjects are delivered

7. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Explain what to do • Is geared to the future • Encompasses life skills • Encompasses cognitive skills • Involves theory • Results in general outcomes • Is unknown

8. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Training programs • Pre-employment • Recruit • In service • Reasons to conduct in service training • 1. meets mandatory requirements • 2. helps ensure good customer service

9. Training Fire and Emergency Services • 3. prevents skills degradation • 4. introduces new technology • 5. introduces new skills • 6. expands service • 7. introduces policy changes • 8. develops teamwork skills • 9. ensures operability of equipment

10. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Ongoing training should be carefully planned, evaluated and revised as needed. • Areas to address when planning training • 1. Dept. goals and objectives • 2. mandated training requirements

11. Training Fire and Emergency Services • 3. continuing edu for certifications • 4. infrequently used KSAs • 5. procedures with high consequences • 6. experience from incidents critiqued • 7. scheduling • 8. Learning & learning methodologies • 9. Available inside and outside resources • 10. labor management issues

12. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Staff development training. • Many fire officials say a lack of staff development is a big problem, is it? • Training programs should attempt to broaden the base knowledge and experiences of aspiring officer and current officers

13. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Issues in staff development training • Dept goals and objectives • Quality customer service • Applicability and accessibility of training • Prerequisites • Access to learning resources • Finance and Resource sharing • Certifications and equivalency

14. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Mentoring programs can be helpful in staff development • Some FDs require officer candidates to have earned higher education degrees before being eligible for promotion

15. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Special operations training • Training for these infrequent and highly technical events can be very challenging and expensive to a training program. • Post incident analysis in training is a useful tool if done right.

16. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Designing effective post incident analysis • Dept goals and objectives • Defined roles of participants • Nonthreatening environment • Adequate time and resources • Defined time frame

17. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Site visit if possible • Record of session and recommendations • Follow-through to develop training and modify behavior • Follow-through to develop and modify policies and procedures • Training record importance

18. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Training resources • Training centers (more next chapter) • Staff; the most valuable and expensive resources for any project are the personnel who do the work. It takes special people with a special level of expertise and education (motivation and a desire for excellence) to plan, direct, and deliver quality training.

19. Training Fire and Emergency Services • State training resources • Federal training • Fire service organizations • IAFC • IAFF • IFSTA • ISFSI • NFPA • NVFC • Private sector organizations

20. Training Fire and Emergency Services • Successful training takes • Planning • Safety • Training Standards, Testing and Certification; local state federal NFPA • “training in context” to your situation

21. FD Facilities • Fire stations • One of the most important elements of a firehouse is whether it represents a safe and efficient place for people to use. • It is very important when designing a FH that a clear understanding between designers and the FD be established in the conceptual design phase.

22. FD Facilities • Site selection • Driven by response (time) goals • Response Analysis a must • Should be preemptive to growth • May consider secondary route location if main travel route locations are not practical or too expensive

23. FD Facilities • Planning for building functions • Proximity of personnel to apparatus is important (get out time) • No pole if possible stairs are better • The structure should be framed and built stronger than regular buildings ensuring the building will not fail or become un-operable.

24. FD Facilities • Typical station spaces • Apparatus floor • Sleeping area • Personal accommodations, washroom, showers, personal space, men 7 women • Watch room • Kitchen • Living areas • Decon area

25. FD Facilities • EMS supply room • Laundry • Training area • Offices • Shop area • Hose cleaning and drying • And plenty of storage

26. FD Training Facilities • One of the most complex operations in the construction field. • Design team members must have a training background because the architects and engineers may not be familiar with training needs.

27. FD Training Facilities • Facility design • Site selection • Clear conceptualization • Space required • Access • Environment • Public perception/support • Design consideration • Layout of various components

28. FD Training Facilities • General building considerations • 100 students in classroom and 100 students outside training takes about a 15 acres of space • Main structures • Classrooms • Training tower • Live fire areas • Simulators

29. FD Training Facilities • Auto extrication • Crash fire rescue • Drafting and pump test area • Driver training • Storage • Rehab area • Special Rescue areas • All should have safety design features built in, enough area, and support

30. FD Communications • No two communities are exactly alike. It is important to conduct evaluation of needs (in new or existing systems. NFPA 1221 should always apply. • Any communication system should have a center point for all functions

31. FD Communications • Design considerations • Location, Seismic stability, Security, Emergency electric power NFPA 111, Wiring access, Lighting, AC for computers and people, AC backup, Work-station layout (OHSA, ADA, efficiency), Console arrangement, Acoustics, Restrooms, Kitchen, Interior design, Rest areas, Dormitories, Emergency rations and supplies, Alternate/backup location

32. FD Communications • Radio Systems • Bands VHF, UHF; both have + & -’s • Which band? Frequency availability, area coverage, terrain, number of radio units, frequencies in use near-by, mutual aid, type of operation, and use of EMS radio systems • Radio System Operation pg 349, 350

33. FD Communications • Mobile Radios • Should be able to • 1. communicate to communication center over an assigned channel(s) • 2. communicate with other units on a assigned tactical channel(s) • NFPA 1221 requires 1 spare radio for every 20 in use

34. FD Communications • Portable radios • At least one on each vehicle • One for each member of the company is desirable for safety • Portables should be checked at least twice a 24hr shift (battery and function) • Portable radios should allow for ease of operation with gloved hands • EMS communications see pg 352

35. FD Communications • Communications personnel • No “system” is better than its operators • Good training a must • Should have complete understanding of all agency operations and procedures • NFPA 1061 Standard for professional qualifications • Consolidation of Comm. Centers • Joint powers (independent agency) • Multi jurisdictional contracting

36. FD Communications • Processing communications • Data collection • incident related • Operations related • Reports • Receipt of alarm • Recording and reproducing • Running card • Status keeping

37. FD Communications • Computer – Aided Dispatch • Three types • Class 1 most sophisticated tracts status recommends dispatch • Class 2 uses computer to support all operation • Class 3 uses desktop computer technology to support the dispatcher

38. Apparatus and Equipment • NFPA 1901 deals with design, performance, functions and components of most types of fire apparatus • NFPA minimums for pumper 750 gpm and at least 300 gal tank • Aerial ladders and elevated platforms see page 360 • Quints and special vehicles

39. Apparatus and Equipment • Apparatus engines, brakes, weight • 35 mph in 25 seconds • Maintain top speed of 50MPH • 20MPH up 6% grade • Stopping 20MPH to 0 in 35feet required by NFPA and Federal code • See pg 361 for weight info and important definition on pg 362

40. Apparatus and Equipment • Apparatus must comply with government standards and should comply with NFPA in these areas • Safety audible and visual warning devices • Steps and surfaces • Mounting of equipment • Cab ergonomics • Pump panel layout

41. Apparatus and Equipment • Other items to consider • Electrical power to apparatus • Type and configuration of pump • Hose carrying capability and access • Water tank • Doors and cabinetry • Size of cabinets and compartments • Ease of operation • Etc.

42. Apparatus and Equipment • Aerial ladders • Common sizes 75,85,100, 135 • Height is measured plumb line from top rung to ground fully extended max elevation • Min rated capacity 250lbs. • 18 in wide at narrowest point • Stable to 1 ½ times capacity at tip

43. Apparatus and Equipment • Elevated Platforms • 3 basic designs, page 367 • Available in heights up to 200ft • Two sets of controls platform & ground • Water Towers • Designed to discharge a minimum of 1000 gpm @ 100 psi • Heights of 50 to 75 feet

44. Apparatus and Equipment • Other types of apparatus • Foam units • CFR vehicles • Communication and chief vehicles • Specialty team • Air and fan units • Fire boats, grass trucks • etc

45. Apparatus and Equipment • Required equipment NFPA apparatus standards include sections on recommended equipment and appliances. • Apparatus procurement pg 371

46. Apparatus and Equipment • Lease or buy outright? • Should consider plus & minus of each • Maintenance • Liability • Repair costs • Funding • Average front line life expectancy • Engines 10-15 yrs extreme 7-9 yrs • Trucks 12 -15 yrs extreme 9-11 yrs

47. Apparatus and Equipment • Maintenance • NFPA 1915 PM and NFPA 1071 technician qualifications are important to follow • Service tests annually and after big repair for all pumps NFPA 1911 • Inspections of aerial apparatus NFPA yearly inspection and specific nondestructive testing (welds, bolts, cracks etc) not exceeding 5 yr intervals

48. Apparatus and Equipment • Refurbishing apparatus • Level I; new frame, cab, front axle, steering and suspension components minimum all must comply with current NFPA 1901 • Level II; not as extensive as Level I must comply only with standard in effect when vehicle was originally manufactured.

49. Apparatus and Equipment • Ground Ladders • NFPA 1931 standard on design • NFPA 1932 use, maintenance, testing • Annual testing or as indicated • Hose and Nozzles • NFPA has standards for each and should be followed