Chapter 3 Public Fire Protection

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Chapter 3Public Fire Protection
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Introduction

• The only creature in the world that has learned
  how to initiate and utilize fire is man
• When people first learned to use fire, culture
  and society changed dramatically
• Later, people used fire to make tools,
  implements, and pottery, which could be used to
  store foodstuffs
• Three causes of hostile fires

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Learning Objectives 1 and 2 Origins and Evolution
of Fire Protection

• ORIGINS OF FIREFIGHTING
• First recognized firefighting force organized in
  Rome
• Emperor Augustus in A.D. 6
• Corps of Vigiles
• Buckets and axes
• Patrolled the streets
• Fought fires
• Performed fire prevention duties

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Learning Objectives 1 and 2 Origins and Evolution
of Fire Protection

• EVOLUTION OF FIRE PROTECTION
• 1608 Conflagration destroys colonists homes
• 1647 Stuyvesant draws up building codes
• 1666 Great fire of London
• 1679 First publicly funded fire department in
  America
• 1736 Union Volunteer Fire Company in
  Philadelphia
• 1853 Cincinnati is first city with fully paid
  fire department

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Learning Objective 3 Demise of Volunteer Fire
Companies in Cities

• VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES
• Membership a great source of
• pride for many Americans
• Adventurous young men wanted to join
• After Revolutionary War, concept of volunteer
  fire companies spread across the nation
• Competition
• See who could claim first water

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Learning Objective 3 Demise of Volunteer Fire
Companies in Cities

• FIRE DEPARTMENTS EXPANDED ROLE IN THE U.S.
• Modern fire department is proactive in the
  community
• Routinely provides fire prevention and education
• Public shows appreciation
• for firefighters
• More involved in medical aid
• Demand has fueled the evolution of the fire
  service

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Learning Objective 4 Identify the U.S. Fire
Problem

• NATIONAL FIRE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM
• NFPA collects data to develop a snapshot view of
  the U.S. fire problem
• Examples of fire data
• Third leading cause of accidental death in the
  home
• Cooking is leading cause of home fires and
  injuries
• U.S. fire service responds to a fire every 17
  seconds

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Learning Objective 4 Identify the U.S. Fire
Problem

• EFFECTS OF FIRE ON CITIZENS
• Familys belongings are destroyed and
  unrecoverable
• Irreplaceable photos and heirlooms
• Business fires mean lost jobs and tax revenue
• Must rebuild and regain previous customers
• Few businesses reopen
• Negative impact on community

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Learning Objective 4 Identify the U.S. Fire
Problem

• WILDLAND FIRES
• In national forests, lightning is the cause for
  many fires
• Effects of wildland fires
• Vast areas of natural resources are lost
• Animals are killed
• Valuable watersheds are destroyed
• May take over one hundred years to return to
  previous condition

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Learning Objective 5 Responsibilities of the
Modern Fire Service

• MANAGING COMMUNITY RISK
• Limiting probable loss to the community
• Weighing cost versus benefit
• Providing emergency medical services
• Having hazmat response teams
• Engaging in public education, prevention, and
  code enforcement

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Learning Objective 5 Responsibilities of the
Modern Fire Service

• EMERGENCY RESPONSE AS ESSENTIAL SERVICE
• Ready to respond and carry out life-saving
  functions
• Must be managed in a cost-effective manner
• SAVING PROPERTY
• Salvage work became a fire department
  responsibility
• SAVING LIVES
• Capability has been enhanced by improved
  equipment

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Learning Objective 5 Responsibilities of the
Modern Fire Service

• PREVENTING FIRES
• Involved in design process of new buildings
• Periodically make inspections to ensure
  compliance
• EDUCATING THE PUBLIC
• Not limited to fire safety child
  passenger-safety seats
• INVESTIGATING ARSON
• Gathering evidence to prosecute criminals

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Learning Objective 6 Evolution of Modern
Firefighting Equipment

• FIRE APPARATUS
• Hand-pumped engines
• First known pump, a siphona, fourth century B.C.
• Most effective designs
• used the principle of siphona
• First hand pumpers discharged
• through a mounted nozzle on top
• Cont.

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Learning Objective 6 Evolution of Modern
Firefighting Equipment

• FIRE APPARATUS
• Hoses
• First hoses were of sewn leather
• Today synthetic hose is used
• Hose companies
• Carried hose on a wheeled carriage
• Steamer
• Could pump as long as there was coal available
• Cont.

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Learning Objective 6 Evolution of Modern
Firefighting Equipment

• FIRE APPARATUS
• Ladder company
• Needed a way to effect rescues from windows
• Evolved into forcible entry, rescue, and
  ventilation
• Extension ladders
• Evolved into spring assist, compressed air, and,
  finally, hydraulics
• Cont.

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Learning Objective 6 Evolution of Modern
Firefighting Equipment

• FIRE APPARATUS
• Chemical wagon
• Carried two tanks-one soda, one water
• Effectiveness limited to what was on the wagon
• Internal combustion engine
• Motorized apparatus eventually dominated
• Today same motor propels the apparatus and pump
• Cont.

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Learning Objective 6 Evolution of Modern
Firefighting Equipment

• FIRE APPARATUS
• Fire service symbols
• Maltese cross
• Dalmatians
• Fire stations
• Needed sleeping quarters
• Slide pole introduced to give quick access to
  apparatus floor

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Learning Objective 7 Evolution of Protective
Clothing and Equipment

• HISTORY
• As pride grew, uniforms identified company
  members
• FIRE HELMET
• Was a product of necessity
• Traditional shape
• Kept embers and hot water off the neck
• Shield mounted on front, with company number or
  department name

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Learning Objective 7 Evolution of Protective
Clothing and Equipment

• BUNKER GEAR OR TURNOUT CLOTHING
• Long canvas coats were worn
• Protected firefighters from falling embers
• Water barriers were added to the coat
• Insulation was added to protect from the heat
• Long boots were eventually replaced with
  knee-high boots and insulated pants

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Learning Objective 7 Evolution of Protective
Clothing and Equipment

• SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS
• Historically, wrapped wet rags around the face
• Improved to gas mask
• Did not protect from toxic fumes
• or low oxygen concentrations
• Today SCBA used on almost all fires
• Enhanced ability to perform interior attack

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Learning Objective 8 Major Fire Losses and the
Modern Fire Service

• HISTORICAL FIRES
• Great Chicago Fire October 8-10, 1871
• 100,000 homeless and killed approximately 300
• Baltimore, Maryland February 7, 1904
• Led to standardized hose threads on equipment
• Chelsea, Massachusetts April 12, 1908
• Destroyed 3,500 buildings
• Salem, Massachusetts June 25, 1914
• Destroyed 1,600 buildings

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Learning Objective 8 Major Fire Losses and the
Modern Fire Service

• HISTORICAL CONFLAGRATION CAUSES
• Combustible construction
• Narrow streets
• Ineffective building codes
• PRIMARY CAUSES FOR RECENT FIRES
• Terrorism
• Extreme weather

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Learning Objective 9 Reasons for Fire Defense
Planning

• FIRE DEFENSE PLANNING
• Determine acceptable level of loss due to fire
• Goals
• Objectives
• Statistics
• Policies
• Procedures
• Cont.

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Learning Objective 9 Reasons for Fire Defense
Planning

• FIRE DEFENSE PLANNING
• Cost analysis
• Approved budget
• Planning Never-ending cycle
• Setting goals
• Determining objectives
• Evaluating results

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Learning Objective 9 Reasons for Fire Defense
Planning

• ALL HAZARD PLANNING
• Prepare to respond to many types of incidents
• Obtain, train, and stage resources
• Comply with legal requirements
• Reach agreements with responding agencies
• Training on cooperation
• Training on establishing communication

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Learning Objective 10 Define Risk and Risk
Management

• DEFINITIONS OF RISK
• Noun exposure to harm or loss
• Verb to expose to the chance of injury or loss
• PROBABILITY AND CONSEQUENCES
• Probability can be in subjective terms
• Rare or high
• Consequences expressed in descriptive terms
• Death, injury, disaster

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Learning Objective 10 Define Risk and Risk
Management

• RISK MANANAGEMENT
• Activity that involves evaluation or comparison
  of risks and approaches that change the
  consequences of a harmful action
• Three control measures
• Administrative controls
• Engineering controls
• Personal protection

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Learning Objective 10 Define Risk and Risk
Management

• RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
• Written plan must be a part of policies and
  procedures
• Components of a risk management plan
• Risk identification
• Risk evaluation
• Risk control techniques
• Program evaluation and review

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Learning Objective 11 Fire Department and
Community Risk Reduction

• FOUR STEPS TO PROTECT COMMUNITY FROM RISK
• Preparation
• Mitigation
• Response
• Recovery

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Summary

• The fire service and firefighters have a long
  history rich in tradition and honorable sacrifice
• As the fire service progresses, there will be new
  challenges to be met
• The modern fire service is a delivery system that
  contains many parts integrated into a whole