Chapter 1 Flashcards
1
Q
Standard for Firefighter Professional Qualifications
A
NFPA 1001
2
Q
Standard for Fire and Emergency Services Instructor Professional Qualifications
A
NFPA 1041
3
Q
Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications
A
NFPA 1021
4
Q
The NFPA defines how many levels of Fire Officer?
A
Four
5
Q
The Fire Officer I level is what step in the progressive sequence?
A
First Step
6
Q
The Fire Officer I generally supervises?
A
A single company or apparatus
7
Q
What is another term for Fire Officer I?
A
Lieutenant or supervising fire officer by the (IAFC)
8
Q
What is another term for Fire Officer II
A
Captain or managing fire officer by (IAFC)
9
Q
Fire Officer II generally refers to?
A
A senior non-chief officer level in a larger fire department
10
Q
Another Term for Fire Officer III and IV?
A
Chief Officer
11
Q
At the Fire Officer IV level fire chiefs may hold what positions?
A
Senior positions in charge of a major component of the fire department.
12
Q
What emphasis is placed on the Fire Officer I level?
A
Accomplishing the departments goals and objectives through subordinates to achieve desired results.
13
Q
What other requirements may be necessary for Fire Officer I?
A
- Firefighter II as defined in (NFPA 1001)
- Fire Instructor I as defined in (NFPA 1041)
14
Q
The Fire officer II classification begins at what point?
A
When all the requirements of Fire Officer 1 are meet.
15
Q
The FO1 may have what roles and responsibilities?
A
- Supervises a single unit. - Conducts occupancy inspections
- Instructs members of the company regarding SOPS, - Determines origin and cause of fires
duty assignments, and fighting fires - Involved in Community Risk Reduction - Responds or emergency and hazardous calls - Assists with Fire Inspections
- Assumes command until a higher ranking officer relives them - Participates in equipment inspections
- Assures safety and well being of firefighters - Works directly in Firefighting activities
- Provides first aid - Takes appropriate actions on maintenance needs
- Overseas routine and preventative maintenance - Supervises and performs maintenance work
- Receives direction from a superior during fire ground operations
- Provides training and drills
- Evaluations and employee performance
- Reads, studies, interprets and applies departmental procedures,
manuals and building plans… - Completes records and reports on incidents, accidents and training.
- Pre-incident planning
16
Q
How did the U.S. Fire service originate?
A
As communities of citizens when a fire broke out
17
Q
A combinations fire department consists of what?
A
Full time career personnel and volunteer or paid on call personnel
18
Q
Most discussions divide firefighters into what two categories?
A
Career and volunteer
19
Q
What are the percentages of firefighters in the United States?
A
- 30 % full time/career
- 70% volunteer
20
Q
Approximately how many fire departments are in the United States?
A
29,819
21
Q
What is the level of paramedic services provided in fire departments?
A
16%
22
Q
Private industry and nongovernmental organizations may operate how?
A
As fire brigades or facility emergency response teams
23
Q
In 1679 where was the first paid on call fire department located?
A
Boston, Massachusetts
24
Q
In 1735 the first organized volunteer fire company was established where?
A
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (The Union Fire Company)
25
Under who’s leadership was The Union Fire Department?
Benjamin Franklin
26
Before electronics and radios, what was used to shout command?
A trumpet
27
What does the trumpet/bugle symbolize today?
Authority
28
How would insurance companies mark homes to display who they where insured by?
Plaques or fire marks
29
Where was the largest fire in the United States?
Peshtigo, WI
30
Where does the fire service draw its authority from?
The governing entity responsible for protecting the public from fire
31
Most urban and suburban fire departments are organized by who?
Jurisdiction and county governments
32
The chain of command creates a structure for managing who?
The department and directing fairground operations
33
When two levels of fire officers in a fire department, who has the most authority?
The senior officer, functioning as a managing officer
34
The chain of command is used to implement what 3 items?
-rules
-policies
-procedures
35
Who is ensures that the departments mission is carried out effectively and efficiently?
The chain of command
36
What does NIMS stand for?
National Incident Management System
37
Who established (NIMS)?
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
38
NIMS applies to all incidents regardless of?
-cause
-size
-location
-complexity
39
NIMS can be applied to all areas including
-prevention
-protection
-mitigation
-response
-recovery
40
What four management principles are used in most fire departments?
-unity of command
-span of control
-division of labor
-discipline
41
What is unity of command?
The management concept that each firefighter answers to only one supervisor, and each supervisor answers to only one boss.
42
At a fire ground all functions are assigned based on what?
Incident priorities
43
Unity of command is designed to?
Prevent conflicting assignments and ensure incident priorities are accomplished in a timely and efficient manner
44
What is Span of Control?
The maximum number of personnel or activities that can be effectively controlled by one individual
45
To be and effective fire officer a fire officer must recognize his or her own?
Span of control
46
What is division of labor?
Is a way of organizing and incident by breaking down the overall strategy into smaller tasks.
47
What is discipline?
Guiding and directing firefighters the do what their fire department expects of them.
48
Discipline encompasses behavior requirements such as?
Following orders from superior officers and performing up to expectations
49
No matter the type of fire department it is the expectation of the company officer to function as the?
staffing coordinator
50
As the staffing coordinator/gatekeeper one may be in charge of?
Implementing the departments rules, regulations, and procedures to ensure proper staffing.
51
What four functions of management are identified by Henri Fayol
-planning (developing a scheme, program, or method to accomplish an objective)
-organizing (putting resources together into an orderly, functional, structured whole)
-leading (guiding or directing in a course of action)
-controlling (restraining, regulating, governing, counteracting, and overpowering)
52
How can a fire officer ensure a safe and harmonious work environment?
Knowing the departments regulations, policies, and SOP’s thoroughly
53
What’s are rules and regulations?
Developed by various government and government-authorized organizations to implement a law that has been passed by a government body.
54
Policies are developed to?
Provide definite guidelines for present and future actions.
55
What are SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures) ?
Written organizational directives that establish or prescribe specific operational or administrative methods to be followed routinely for the performance of designated operations or actions.
56
What is the difference between and SOP vs and SOG?
The difference is subjective, although some fire departments suggest that a specific step by step procedure should be used but allows the officer to use personal judgment and deviate from this procedure if conditions warrant doing so by changing the term to SOG.
57
What is the basis for a strong, positive and effective relationship between the fire officer and firefighter?
To be open and honest with constant communications
58
What are the key recommendations that form a foundation for any strong supervisor/employee relationship between a fire officer and fire fighter?
- schedule regular one on one meetings with each member of your company
- schedule regular meetings with the company as a whole
- if a disagreement arises, work together to articulate the concern and to develop possible solutions
- if the personal and professional relationship between you a fire fighter is rocky from the beginning and both of you have decided to work to improve it.
59
Successful relationships are built on?
-trust
-respect
-open lines of communication
60
What is the root cause of almost every labor disturbance?
Failure to manage the relationship between labor and management
61
Who is the largest fire service labor organization?
The international association of firefighters (IAFF) and represents approximately 316,000 FF/PMs in the US and Canada
62
The IAFF was established on?
February, 28th in 1918.
63
Labor advocacy has improved the quality of
-protective clothing
-safety of firefighting equipment
-content of training programs
-FF addiction and PTSD
64
Who is the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) ?
The leading non profit membership association representing the interest of the volunteer fire, ems, and rescue services.
65
Approximately how many members make up the NVFC?
APPROX. 24,551
66
What is the distinction between labor and management?
Labor are the workers and management are the managers and supervisors
67
The managers and supervisors represent the organization, who represents the the workers?
The union
68
As a supervisor who is who is the first point of contact between the fire fighters and the fire department organization?
The fire officer
69
What type of report should be given at the start of a work day?
A prompt and accurate report
70
How long into the shift should your report be submitted?
Within the first quarter hour
71
When available staff fills the schedule and vacancies arise, how does the battalion chief cover those spot?
With overtime
72
A supervising fire officer may be in charge of accomplishing the fire department mission in what way?
Through the efforts of the firefighters under his or her command.
73
How many times may there be major changes in a FF’s carrier?
FOUR
74
What is the steps in a FF’s career?
1st step - FF completes probationary training
2nd step - completes the first promotional process and starts working as a FO or supervisor
3rd step - advances through the promotional process and starts working as a chief officer
4th step - the FF retires
75
Even though the fire officer typically works outside of the hazardous area, can he or she still be responsible for whatever happens inside?
YES
76
In the supervisor role the fire officer function as as who?
The official representative of the fire chief
77
As part of this role he or she may be expected to supervise in what type of manner?
Consistent with the rules and regulations of the fire department.
78
On occasion a fire officer may have to enforce what types of orders?
Unpopular
79
When faced with an unpopular order how should the fire officer express his or her concerns?
In private
80
In some cases the fire officer may have to direct actions to additional resources. In this act they are functional as who?
The initial incident commander
81
Functioning as the initial incident commander on a major emergency is considered what type of role?
Higher-profile
82
How should the fire officer speak during initial radio transmissions?
Clear calm and concise - (The 3 C’s)
83
What is the key part to mastering the art of incident command?
By developing a command presence
84
What is command presence?
The ability to project and image of being in control of the situation.
85
A fire officer who established command upon arriving at an emergency incident should have detailed knowledge of what?
- responding units
- mastery of local procedures
- ability to issue clear and direct orders
86
In regards to training the fire officer is responsible for?
FF’s under his/her command and confident and competent in their skills.
87
What 3 specific recommendations did James O Page come up with to assist in this task?
- develop a personal training library
- know the neighborhood
- use problem-solving scenarios
88
Every time a fire officer attends training he or she should?
Place the notes from that session in a 3 ring binder
89
What three activities can ensure a good working environment between the fire officer and supervisor?
- keep your supervisor informed
- make appropriate decisions at your level of responsability
- consult with your supervisor before making major disciplinary actions or making policy changes.
90
Supervisors _________________ hesitate to make decisions appropriate for their level of responsibility
Should NOT
91
A fire officers supervisor is usually which command level officer?
A battalion chief, district chief, or battalion commander
92
As a supervisor, what activities may be covered in your level of authority?
Maintenance, training, and community outreach
93
What does the formal organization provider to new supervising officers to display their power and authority?
A badge, insignia, and distinctive markings on his/her helmet
94
What does a supervising officer need to provide in addition to these formal symbols?
Core values of integrity and ethical behaviors
95
What does an unethical fire officer do to the departments reputation?
Causes damage
96
What does integrity refer to?
The complex system of inherent attributes that determine a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions including the quality of being HONEST.
97
When the fire officer demonstrates ethical behavior he/she must make decisions and model behaviors consistent with?
The departments core values, mission statements, and value statements
98
If an organization has clear values that are part of a strong organizational culture the fire officer uses ________________. If the values are not clear they may _________________.
Organizations value system, substitutes his/her own value system
99
What is the key to improving ethical choices?
Having clear organizational values
100
What is diversity?
A characteristic of a fire workforce that reflects differences in terms of age, cultural background, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
101
Who enforces the rights and establishes laws in a workplace?
Equal employment opportunity commission (EEOC)
102
In 1991 what act increased the number of lawsuits for discrimination against organizations?
Civil Rights Act
103
Diversity as applied to the fire department means…
The workforce should reflect the community it serves.
104
What is an actionable item?
An employee behavior that requires an immediate corrective action by the supervisor
105
A hostile work environment can result in unwelcome conduct from who?
Supervisors, co-workers, customers, contractors, or anyone else whom the victim interacts with on the job.
106
How must a fire officer respond to any utterance or derogatory language in the work environment?
Immediatley
107
What is considered to be sexual harassment?
Any unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
108
What 3 methods can a firefighter initiate a harassment complaint?
- federal government
- local government
- within the fire department
109
If a harassment complaint is made in the fire department, the fire officer may be what formal point of contact?
The first
110
In the multi-step procedure for a harassment complaint, the initial point of contact to the fire officer would be?
The first step
111
Regardless of where a complaint is filed, who is requires to take corrective action if the investigation confirms the complaint has merit?
The fire chief
112
Most fire departments are structured on the basis of four management principles they are?
Unity of command,span of control, division of labor, and discipline.
113
The four functions of management are?
Planning, organizing, leading and controlling
114
Fire officers use the four functions of management to get work accomplished by and through?
Others or subordinates
115
The firefighter is required to follow all _______, _______, and ________?
Regulations, policies and procedures.
116
The basis for a strong positive and effective supervisor employee relationship is to have?
Open,honest, and constant communications.
117
What are important, leadership concepts and activities??
Beginning of shift report, notifications decision-making, and problem-solving.
118
What operating at the scene of an emergency incident the fire officers expected to function as whom, and exercise, strong, direct supervision over the company members?
As a commander
119
The company level officers is responsible for the _________ level of the fire company?
Performance
