Essentials of Fire Fighting,

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).

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)
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)
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)
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)
7
Specific Objectives

• 13. Summarize common causes of residential
  fires.
• 14. Summarize items to address when conducting
  residential fire safety surveys.

(Continued)
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)
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)
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)

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)
12
Surveys

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

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

14
Fire Incident Records

• Contain critical information about fire history
  of community
• Can be helpful with fire prevention efforts

15
Code Enforcement Inspections

• Conducted in commercial, institutional,
  industrial occupancies
• Ensure citizens have safe physical environment
  in which to work, study, worship, play

(Continued)
16
Code Enforcement Inspections

• May be conducted by fire inspectors with special
  training in code requirements for various types
  of occupancies or by fire company personnel
• Should document any unsafe conditions that are
  found

17
Fire Hazard

• Condition increasing likelihood of fire starting
  or increasing the extent/severity of a fire if
  one did start

(Continued)
18
Fire Hazard

• Can be prevented by eliminating one element of
  fire tetrahedron
• Considerations of eliminating elements

19
Fuel Hazards

• Ordinary combustibles
• Flammable, combustible gases
• Flammable, combustible liquids
• Chemicals

(Continued)
20
Fuel Hazards

• Dusts
• Metals
• Plastics, resins, and cellulose

21
Heat Source Hazards

• Chemical heat energy
• Electrical heat energy
• Mechanical heat energy
• Nuclear heat energy

22
Common Fire Hazard
A condition prevalent in almost all occupancies
that increases likelihood of fire starting
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)
24
Be Alert to Common Hazards

• Improper disposal of floor-cleaning compounds
• Misuse of fumigation substances and flammable or
  combustible liquids

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)
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

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)
28
Special Fire Hazards in Commercial Occupancies

• Mixed varieties of contents
• Difficulties in entering occupancies during
  closed periods
• Illegal building additions
• Illegal storage

(Continued)
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

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

31
Special Fire Hazards in Manufacturing Occupancies

• High-piled storage of combustible materials
• Operation of vehicles, fork trucks, other trucks
  inside buildings

(Continued)
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

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)
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

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

36
Target Hazard Examples

• Lumberyards
• Bulk oil storage facilities
• Shopping malls
• Hospitals
• Theaters

(Continued)
37
Target Hazard Examples

• Nursing homes
• Rows of frame tenements
• Schools
• High-rise hotels/condominiums
• Large public assemblies concert halls,
  stadiums, etc.

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)
39
Fire Inspection Requirements

• Especially important that firefighters convey
  only technically accurate information during
  inspections
• Firefighters ability to conduct inspections
  competently will improve with study, experience,
  and on-the-job training

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

41
Equipment Requirements

• Research on occupancies
• Writing equipment
• Drawing equipment
• Other equipment

42
Scheduling Fire Inspections

• During normal business hours
• Some scheduled by contacting business owner ahead
  of time

(Continued)
43
Scheduling Fire Inspections

• Scheduling allows inspections to be conducted at
  least disruptive time
• Other inspections conducted systematically no
  scheduling

44
Conducting Fire Inspections

• Firefighter conduct
• Enter premises at main entrance, contact the
  individual with whom inspection scheduled

(Continued)
45
Conducting Fire Inspections

• Introduce team, briefly review inspection
  process, answer any questions occupant may have

(Continued)
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)
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)
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)
49
Conducting Fire Inspections

• Form and content of plan of correction should be
  clearly defined in departmental SOPs covering
  inspection process

(Continued)
50
Conducting Fire Inspections

• In most departments, occupant or representative
  required to sign inspection form
• Inspection team leader should thank occupant for
  cooperating

51
Preincident Planning Surveys

• Allow firefighters to gather information about
  conditions that might affect future emergency
  operations in a building
• Allow firefighters to develop plans that minimize
  a buildings deficiencies, maximize strengths

(Continued)
52
Preincident Planning Surveys

• Residential fire safety surveys
• Firefighters need a number of personal, technical
  skills to conduct fire safety surveys properly

53
Benefits of Preincident Planning Surveys

• Allow firefighters to gather information about
  the structure under ideal conditions
• Can provide firefighters with critical
  information that might not be available during
  active fire

(Continued)
54
Benefits of Preincident Planning Surveys

• Allow firefighters to become aware of building
  components
• Can greatly improve emergency operations,
  substantially improve firefighter, citizen safety

(Continued)
55
Benefits of Preincident Planning Surveys

• Include maps, drawings, photographs, written
  notes that may help firefighters

56
Fuel Loads

• Bulk of fuel available to burn and generally
  refers to the contents of a building
• Major fuel sources

(Continued)
57
Fuel Loads

• Knowing combustibles in a building
• Imperative that this information be gathered
  during preincident surveys

58
Conducting Preincident Planning Survey Outside
Building

• Make general observations, complete preliminary
  notes, take photographs
• Note locations
• Make notations of construction attributes, other
  information
• Check address/accessibility issues

59
Conducting Preincident Surveys Inside Building

• When survey of exterior is completed, go directly
  to roof or basement and proceed with systematic
  survey
• If floor plan drawings are not available from
  building owner, firefighters create

(Continued)
60
Conducting Preincident Surveys Inside Building

• To conduct a thorough survey, firefighters must
  take enough time to make notes, take photographs
  of observed hazards, unsafe conditions
• Drawings of interior layout, high-hazard areas,
  egress routes, important features should be made

(Continued)
61
Conducting Preincident Surveys Inside Building

• Complete set of notes, photographs, well-prepared
  drawings of the building
• Large or complex buildings

(Continued)
62
Conducting Preincident Surveys Inside Building

• If a floor plan used on a previous survey is
  available, make sure to record any changes made,
  update floor plan drawings accordingly

63
Making Maps and Drawings

• Large occupancies, complexes may already have
  maps
• For buildings where existing maps are unavailable
  or outdated, firefighters should include simple
  plot plan drawing

(Continued)
64
Making Maps and Drawings

• In many cases, drawings are the most important
  product of survey
• Data should be recorded by using common plan
  symbols as often as possible

(Continued)
65
Making Maps and Drawings

• Use of computerized Geographic Information System
  (GIS) or other electronic mapping programs can
  save hours, should be used where available

(Continued)
66
Making Maps and Drawings

• Components included in maps and drawings
• Sectional elevation drawing of a structure may be
  needed to show elevation changes, mezzanines,
  balconies, other structural features

67
Photographs

• Can show important details that even accurate
  drawings cannot
• Can quickly/easily record tremendous amount of
  information

(Continued)
68
Photographs

• May include interior, close-up photographs
• Video

69
Residential Fire Safety Surveys

• Can only be conducted on a voluntary basis
• Require great deal of advanced planning and
  publicity
• Main objectives

(Continued)
70
Residential Fire Safety Surveys

• Provide other benefits in addition to reducing
  loss of life and property
• Increase fire awareness, interest in public
  education efforts

(Continued)
71
Residential Fire Safety Surveys

• May be the best time for firefighters to
  distribute literature, promote programs
• May include special cards or slips
• Provide firefighters with valuable information

72
Residential Fire Safety Survey Guidelines

• Conduct surveys in teams of two
• Dress and act professionally
• Introduce team, provide proper identification
• Explain survey procedure

(Continued)
73
Residential Fire Safety Survey Guidelines

• Maintain courteous, businesslike attitude
• Focus on preventing fires, eliminating threats to
  life safety
• Compliment occupants when favorable conditions
  found

(Continued)
74
Residential Fire Safety Survey Guidelines

• Offer constructive suggestions for
  correcting/eliminating hazardous conditions
• Survey all rooms
• Discuss survey results with owner/occupant,
  answer any questions

(Continued)
75
Residential Fire Safety Survey Guidelines

• Thank owners or occupants for invitation into
  their homes
• Keep survey confidential
• If no one home, leave appropriate materials
  between storm door and front door or partially
  beneath doormat

76
Common Residential Fire Causes

• Malfunctioning heating appliances and water
  heaters
• Combustibles too close to heating appliances or
  lamps
• Unsafe cooking procedures
• Smoking materials

(Continued)
77
Common Residential Fire Causes

• Overloaded extension cords and multiple-outlet
  devices
• Exposed electrical wiring
• Defective electrical appliances

(Continued)
78
Common Residential Fire Causes

• Improper use of combustible or flammable liquids
• Poor housekeeping
• Untended candles

79
Address During Interior Surveys

• Combustible materials
• Appliances
• Electrical wiring/equipment
• Portable heating units
• Woodstoves/fireplaces
• Heating fuel

(Continued)
80
Address During Interior Surveys

• General housekeeping practices
• Smoke alarms
• Electrical distribution panels
• Gas appliances
• Oil-burning units
• Furnaces

(Continued)
81
Address During Interior Surveys

• Water heaters
• Shop/work rooms
• Accumulated waste
• Flammable liquids

82
Address During Exterior Surveys

• Roof
• Chimneys/spark arrestors
• Yard/porch areas
• Barbecues and fuel

(Continued)
83
Address During Exterior Surveys

• Outside waste burners
• Garages, sheds, barns, outbuildings
• Flammable liquids/gases
• Lightning protection
• Security devices
• Power lines

84
Home Safety Issues

• Maintaining clear/unobstructed exit pathways
• Safety concerning water

85
Fire and Life Safety Messages Must Be

• Accurate
• Positive
• Targeted to specific audience

86
Accurate Messages

• Conveying wrong information can be deadly
• Sources available to assist in verifying accuracy
  of content

87
Positive Messages

• Adults want to know what to do without being
  scared
• Positive messages more likely to be remembered
  during emergency

88
Targeted Messages

• Fire, life safety educational messages can be
  based on variety of issues
• Audiences may vary
• Knowing audience helps prepare needs-specific
  presentation

89
Presenting Fire, Life Safety Education for Adults

• Teachable moments
• Basic four-step method of instruction

90
Basic Four-Step Method of Instruction

• Preparation
• Presentation
• Application
• Evaluation

91
Presenting Fire, Life Safety Information to Young
Children

• Children often interpret literally
• Children have limited attention spans
• Remain flexible when presenting information

(Continued)
92
Presenting Fire, Life Safety Information to Young
Children

• When in a classroom, decide with the teacher
  ahead of time how questions will be handled
• Get down to the childrens eye level
• Ask a misbehaving child for help to provide
  redirection

(Continued)
93
Presenting Fire, Life Safety Information to Young
Children

• DO NOT scare children!
• Remember that firefighters in protective clothing
  and breathing apparatus can be very frightening
  to children

(Continued)
94
Presenting Fire, Life Safety Information to Young
Children

• Children learn by doing, not by listening
• Home fire safety concepts are complicated, so
  messages for young children must communicate
  basic simple concepts

95
Stop, Drop, and Roll

• Do more than simply inform of actions
• Point out if someones clothes catch on fire,
  bystander may need to assist them

96
Home Safety

• Promote home escape plans, Exit Drills in the
  Home program, similar efforts
• Communicate fire, life safety rules to
  residential occupants

97
Candles

• Open flame that can ignite nearby combustibles
• Accounted for 4 percent of all reported
  residential fires in 2004
• Safety messages

98
Smoke Alarms

• May be battery-operated
• May be part of security alarm system hardwired,
  monitored by central alarm, reporting station

(Continued)
99
Smoke Alarms

• Location
• Maintenance, testing
• Carbon monoxide detectors

100
Fire Station Tours

• May be spur-of-the-moment visits from people who
  walk in off the street or scheduled visits
• Common during Fire Prevention Week
• More than just an opportunity to enhance
  departments public image

101
Procedures During Station Tours

• Firefighters should be dressed appropriately
• Firefighters should conduct themselves with
  courtesy, professionalism

(Continued)
102
Procedures During Station Tours

• All television sets should be turned off, other
  activities should be as positive as possible
• Firefighters should answer all questions
  courteously, to best of their ability

(Continued)
103
Procedures During Station Tours

• While some departments allow visitors to climb on
  apparatus or don equipment items, many others do
  not
• Do not allow children to wear helmets
• Visitors should never be allowed to roam around
  fire station unescorted

(Continued)
104
Procedures During Station Tours

• Special care should be taken to protect curious
  children, other individuals around shop areas or
  slide poles
• All groups should be kept together

(Continued)
105
Procedures During Station Tours

• Equipment, apparatus should be demonstrated with
  appropriate caution to ensure no one endangered

(Continued)
106
Procedures During Station Tours

• Appropriate caution should be exercised when
  blowing sirens in presence of children because
  decibels produced can be harmful to their hearing

(Continued)
107
Procedures During Station Tours

• Remember that station mascots (dogs, cats, etc.)
  can be potential safety and liability hazards

108
Summary

• Inspections are sometimes conducted by fire
  inspectors, but are often conducted by company
  officers and their crews.

(Continued)
109
Summary

• Public education is the process of teaching
  members of the public how they can protect
  themselves from fires and other contingencies.

(Continued)
110
Summary

• Recognizing that the most conscientious code
  enforcement and public education efforts will not
  eliminate all uncontrolled fires, fire
  departments must prepare to suppress those fires
  that do start.

111
Review Questions

• 1. What is the difference between a survey and
  an inspection?
• 2. List four common fire hazards.
• 3. List five items that should be identified in
  an inspection.

(Continued)
112
Review Questions

• 4. What items should firefighters check in a
  preincident planning survey?
• 5. What are the main objectives of a residential
  fire safety survey?

(Continued)
113
Review Questions

• 6. What are five questions that firefighters
  should ask themselves when conducting interior
  and exterior residential fire safety surveys?
• 7. What are the steps in presenting fire and
  life safety information?

(Continued)
114
Review Questions

• 8. What are some important characteristics and
  needs of children when presenting fire and life
  safety information?
• 9. List common topics for fire and life safety
  presentations.
• 10. What precautions should be taken when giving
  fire station tours?