Essentials of Fire Fighting
6th Edition
Firefighter I
Chapter 1 — Orientation
and Fire Service History
Learning Objective 1
Summarize the history of the fire
service.
1–2
Fire service history is an important part
of understanding current practices.
Colonial • Jamestown
•
North •
Boston
New Amsterdam (New York)
America • Philadelphia
Industri
al • Steam pumpers
revoluti •
•
Iron structural members
Steel replaced iron
on •
•
Skyscrapers
NFPA®
influenc
e 1–3
Significant historical events result in
current laws and equipment.
Courtesy of Spinner Publications
(Cont.)
1–4
Significant historical events result in
current laws and equipment.
1–5
REVIEW QUESTION
How were early fire organizations
started?
1–6
There are general trends of change in
the modern fire service.
Fire
prevention Emergency
Firefighter
and public medical
safety
safety services
education
Natural
Hazardous disasters (All
Terrorism
materials hazard
mitigation)
Professionalizati Community-
on for the fire based fire
service protection
1–7
REVIEW QUESTION
What are some of the areas that have
changed significantly in the 20th Century
for fire service in North America?
1–8
Learning Objective 2
Explain the organizational
characteristics, cultural challenges,
and cultural strengths that influence
the fire service.
1–9
Fire service culture is influenced by its
organization and cultural challenges.
• Based on history and
Culture tradition
• Grows with education
Organization • Command structure
al • Ranks
Characteristi •
•
Uniforms
Teamwork
cs
Cultural
Challenges
1–10
Fire service culture develops specific
cultural strengths.
Moral
Integrit Work
charact Pride
y ethic
er
Compassio
Courage Loyalty Respect
n
1–11
REVIEW QUESTION
How do organizational characteristics,
cultural challenges, and cultural strengths
influence the fire service?
1–12
Learning Objective 3
Describe the mission of the fire
service.
1–13
REVIEW QUESTION
What is the mission of the fire service?
1–14
The fire service mission establishes
department organization.
Save lives
Fire
Servic
e
Protect
Missio
n
property
and
environme
nt
1–15
Learning Objective 4
Describe the organization of fire
departments.
1–16
Department organization is based on a
system of rank tied to specific duties.
1–17
Fire department types are determined
by how the organization is funded.
Publi Privat
c e
1–18
Types of staffing vary based on funding
and duties assigned at the station.
Career
Volunteer
• On-call
Combination
1–19
Departmental duties are separated
based on who personnel support.
Line personnel Staff personnel
Directly
Support
to
line
external
personn
custome
el
rs
Courtesy Bob Espositio
1–20
REVIEW QUESTIONS
What are the three main types of
staffing found in the fire service?
What is the central difference between
line functions and staff functions?
1–21
Learning Objective 5
Distinguish among functions of fire
companies.
1–22
The basic organization of a fire company
is based on assigned duties.
Company
Battalion or district
Basic unit with Operations
the officer at Companies division
top located in Manages day-
response area to-day
operations
1–23
Fire company duties vary depending on
their main purpose.
Courtesy of Ron Moore,
McKinney (TX) FD
Truck (ladder)
Engine company Company
Rescue
Brush
squad/
company (Cont.)
company
1–24
Fire company duties vary depending on
their main purpose.
Emergency
medical/
ambulance
Hazardous
company
Materials company
Courtesy of Edwin Jones
Special rescue
company
Aircraft rescue and
fire fighting
company
• 1–25
REVIEW QUESTION
How are the duties of an engine
company different from a rescue
squad/company?
1–26
Learning Objective 6
Summarize primary knowledge and
skills the firefighter must have to
function effectively.
1–27
Learning Objective 7
Distinguish among the primary roles of
fire service personnel.
1–28
Fire department personnel must meet
specific qualifications.
Education
Professional Age
al
Job- Training in
related basic
Medical
physical medical
fitness care
1–29
Line functions form the foundation of
the uniformed part of fire service.
Emergency
Operations
Division
Fire
Fighter I
Fire
Fighter II (Cont.)
1–30
Line functions form the foundation of
the uniformed part of fire service.
Emergency Operations Division
Courtesy of Doug Allen and Ames (IA) FD
Airport
firefighter
Hazardous
Fire apparatus materials
driver/operat technician
or (Cont.)
1–31
Line functions form the foundation of
the uniformed part of fire service.
Emergency Operations Division
Wildland
firefighter
Fire
department
incident
safety office
Rescue Fire police
technician personnel
(Cont.)
1–32
Line functions form the foundation of
the uniformed part of fire service.
Emergency Operations Division
Company
officer
Fire department
District/
Battalion chief
officer
Assistant/
Deputy Chief
Fire Marshal
(Cont.)
Fire Chief
• 1–33
Line functions form the foundation of
the uniformed part of fire service.
Emergency Operations Division
Emergency Emergency
medical medical
responders technicians
Advanced
emergency
medical Paramedics
technicians
(Cont.)
1–34
REVIEW QUESTION
What is the primary difference between
Firefighter I and Firefighter II duties?
1–35
Line functions form the foundation of
the uniformed part of fire service.
Fire prevention
division
Fire Fire and Public fire Fire
preventio Plans arson and life protection
n officer/ examiner investigat safety engineer/
inspector or educator specialist
1–36
Staff functions support and train
members of the fire service.
Training division
Fire department
• Instructors
health and Clerical staff • Training officer/
safety officer chief of training
Information
Telecommunicat
systems
ors
personnel
Apparatus and
Fire alarm equipment
personnel maintenance
personnel
1–37
REVIEW QUESTION
How are qualifications for different line
positions regulated?
What types of staff functions support
and supplement line functions?
1–38
Learning Objective 8
Describe fire department
organizational principles.
1–39
Fire service members must understand
department organizational principles.
Chain of
comman
d
Unity of
comman
d (Cont.)
1–40
Fire service members must understand
department organizational principles.
Span of
control
Division
of labor
Discipli
ne
1–41
REVIEW QUESTION
What are the organizational principles
of the fire service?
1–42
Learning Objective 9
Locate information in departmental
documents and standard or code
materials.
1–43
Learning Objective 10
Distinguish between fire department
SOPs and rules and regulations.
1–44
Personnel must know how to locate information
in fire department regulations.
First, ask your
supervisor
May be on file
May be at
posted administrativ
e office
1–45
The fire service is regulated by a
variety of rules and procedures.
• Guide to decision making
• Set boundaries, establish
Policies standards of conduct
• Detailed plan of action
• List step-by-step for
Procedur
es conducting policy
(Cont.)
1–46
REVIEW QUESTION
What steps can be taken to locate
information in department policies?
1–47
The fire service is regulated by a
variety of rules and procedures.
• Federal
Laws,
• State/provincial
Statutes, or • Local
Ordinances
• Standard – Set of principles, protocols,
procedures
Codes and
standards • Code – Collection of rules and regulations
• Issued from top command
Orders and • Used to implement departmental policies
Directives
1–48
REVIEW QUESTION
How are policies and procedures
different from one another?
1–49
Learning Objective 11
Explain the ways the fire service may
interact with other organizations.
1–50
Fire service personnel will interact with
various other organizations.
Courtesy of Tim Burkitt/FEMA
Emergency
EMS and disaster
Hospitals manageme
nt
Law (Cont.)
enforceme
nt
1–51
REVIEW QUESTION
What other organizations may provide
services to the public along with
firefighters?
1–52
Fire service personnel will interact with
various other organizations.
Utility
Public
compani
works
es
Other
Media agencie
s
1–53
REVIEW QUESTION
What should a firefighter do when
approached by members of the media?
1–54
Summary
• Firefighting is a profession with a long
and proud tradition of service to the
community.
(Cont.)
1–55
Summary
• To perform as a firefighter you need
physical skills, and knowledge of the
regulations that govern your
organization, the laws that regulate fire
service, the incident command system,
as well as, an understanding of
agencies that interact with the fire
department.
1–56
