Chapter 1: Introduction to the fire officer Flashcards
NFPA 1021
Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications
Fire Officer 1
The first step in a progressive sequence and is generally associated with an officer supervising a single fire company or apparatus.
Fire Officer 2
Generally refers to the senior non-chief officer level in a larger fire department. An officer at this level could be the overall supervisor of a multiple-unit fire station. This officer could also be in charge of a larger group performing a specialized service of a significant administrative section within the fire dept.
Fire Officer 3
This officer might work as a battalion or district chief in a large department and possibly as a deputy or assistant chief in a smaller organization.
Fire Officer 4
Officers at this level tend to be fire chiefs or hold senior positions in charge of a major component of the fire dept.
Officer responsibilities
Being a leader and supervisor to a crew, managing a budget for the station, understanding the response district, knowing departmental operational procedures, and being able to manage an incident. The officer must understand fire prevention methods, fire and building codes and applicable ordinances, and the departments management system.
Administrative duties of the fire officer
Record keeping, managing projects, preparing budget requests, initiating and completing station maintenance requisitions, and conducting preliminary accident investigations.
Non-emergency duties of the fire officer
Precedent plans, company level training, delivering public education, and responding to community inquires.
Emergency duties of the fire officer
Supervising a group of firefighters who are performing company-level tasks, functioning as the initial arriving officer, performing a size up, establishing the incident Management system, developing and implementing an incident action plan, deploying resources, and maintaining personnel accountability.
How many fire departments are in the United States?
30,145
Who created the worlds first fire dept?
Augustus Caesar, 24 BC, Familia Publica.
Where did the structure of most fire depts today come from?
Under the emperor Nero, about 60 AD, the Corps of Vigiles was established as the fire protectors. This group of 7000 free men was responsible for firefighting, prevention, and building inspection.
The first documented fire in North America
Jamestown, Virginia 1607
The first fire regulations in North America
1630, Boston Massachusetts, banned wood chimneys and thatched roofs.
The first organized fire company in North America
In Philadelphia 1735, The Union fire company was formed under the leadership of Benjamin Franklin.
Two major fires that significantly affected the development of both the fire service and fire codes.
1871, the Great Chicago Fire, 2000 acres, 1700 homes, 300 dead, and 90,000 homeless.
1871, Peshtigo, Wisconsin Fire, 2,400 square miles, 2,200 dead
The deadliest fire in US history
Peshtigo, Wisconsin Fire
The first fire water pumpers
hand-powered pumper developed in 1720 by Richard Newsham in London England.
Fire Mark
Early insurance companies used these Plaques with the insurance companies logo, affixed to the exterior of the policy holders building, to differentiate their clients from uninsured citizens.
Who developed the first municipal water supply?
The Romans developed the first water systems, but not until the 1800’s did the distribution systems support fire suppression efforts. George Smith, a New York city firefighter developed the first hydrant in 1817.
When were the first public call boxes developed?
Washinton DC, 1850’s
Chief’s Trumpet
Before radios chief officers would shout orders through a trumpet on the fire scene. This trumpet or bugle, eventually became a symbol of authority.
Most fire departments are structured on the basis of four management principles:
- Unity of command
- Span of control
- Division of labor
- Discipline
Unity of command
The management concept that each firefighter answers to only one boss
Span of control
The maximum number of personnel or activities that can be effectively controlled by one individual.
Division of labor
A way of organizing an incident by breaking down the overall strategy into smaller tasks.
Discipline
The set of guidelines that a department establishes for firefighters.
The four functions of management were originally identified by…
Henri Fayol and published in the Bulletin de la Societe de lIndustrie Minerale, 1916
Constance Storrs provided the English translation in the 1949 textbook, General and Industrial Management.
The four functions of Management
Planning
Organizing
Leading
Controlling
Planning
Developing a scheme program, or method that is worked out beforehand to accomplish an objective.
Short-range Planning
Developing a plan that extends up to a year.
Medium-range Planning
Planning that is 1-3 years in advance
Long-range Planning
Planning for events longer than 3 years
Organizing
Putting resources together into an orderly, functional, structured whole.
Leading
Guiding or directing in a course of action. Influencing others to accomplish a task.
Controlling
Restraining, regulating, governing, counteracting, or overpowering.
Rules and Regulations
Guidelines established that do not leave any room for latitude or discretion.
Policies
Guidelines for present and future actions that often require personnel to make judgments and determine the best course of action.
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
The key to improving ethical choices is to have clear organizational values. This can be accomplished by…
- Having a code of ethics that is well known throughout the organization
- Selecting the employees who share the values of the organization
- Ensuring that top management exhibits ethical behavior
- Having clear job goals
- Having performance appraisals that reward ethical behavior
- Implementing an ethics training program
One way to help judge a decision is to ask yourself three questions.
- What would my parents and friends say if they knew?
- Would I mind if the paper ran it as a headline story?
- How does it make me feel about myself?
