Bruegman, Fire Administration © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ Fire...

Bruegman, Fire Administration© 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ

Fire Administration

IRandy R. Bruegman

Chapter 1 Our Heritage and

Our History


Learning Objectives

• Describe how history impacts the fire industry today

• Define the legal issues that have impacted the fire service

• Describe the changing culture of the fire service industry


Learning Objectives

• Explain the importance of cultural and ethnic diversity in hiring employees

• Describe the significance of fire service symbols and insignias

• Describe how major fire and events have helped shape the fire industry


Introduction

• Fire was an agent of progress and protector throughout history

• Was also a devastating force of destruction• History influences the fire service industry

today• Cities and counties were formed for life and

property protection


Introduction

• The Roman Fire Experience– “Familia publica, servants of commonwealth”

• First organized firefighting force in 23 BC


Introduction

• The Roman Fire Experience– Corps of Vigiles

• Roots of modern paramilitary organizations

–Aquarius–Siphonarius–Unicarius


Introduction

• The Roman Fire Experience– Florian von Cetum

• Patron saint of firefighters–Roman centurion–Prefectus vigilum


• Hammurabi Code of Laws– Business and family relations, labor, private

property and personal injury– Generally humanitarian but punishment was

harsh

Codes as a Means toRegulate Fire


Codes as a Means toRegulate Fire

Hammurabi Code of Laws


The Colonial Fire Experience

• Earliest Settlements– Jamestown, VA– Plymouth, MA– Boston, MA– New York City– Philadelphia, PA



• Fire Prevention Efforts– Massachusetts

• Outdoor smoking ban– Gov. Peter Stuyvesant of New Amsterdam

• Outlawed wooden chimneys• Fire wardens and curfews



• Fire Prevention Efforts– Benjamin Franklin

• Philadelphia Gazette• Union VFC• First successful fire

insurance company



• Fire Prevention Efforts– Benjamin Franklin and Junto Meeting


The 19th Century Fire Experience

• Chicago, IL– October 8, 1871



• Peshtigo, WI– October 8, 1871



• Boston, MA– November 9, 1872



• ISO Fire Insurance Grading Schedule– Developed as a result of the conflagrations

of the 1800s– Still in use today


Societal Impacts of the Fire Service

• Changing Composition of the United States– 1770 to 1870 was mostly Anglo-Saxon

settlers and government by Caucasian males

– 1870 to 1970 saw a shift in the power structure of society

– 1970 and Beyond



• Diversity– Characteristics that make people distinct

• Culture– Learned behavior patterns of people– Workplace reflects society– Workforce representation is critical



• Trends Impacting the Workplace– Fire service competes for limited resources– Employee empowerment– Total Quality Management– Traditional power structures are crumbling



• Demographic Shifts– Changing face of the community– Changing face of the family



• Labor Force – Workforce 2000– Department of Labor sponsored study in 1987– Grew at slowest rate in 1990s since the 1930s– Average worker was 39 in 2000 – One-third of all workers were at least 65– 61% of women were working in 2000– 29% of new entrants were nonwhite in 2000



• Differing Values– Age differences of 10 to 40 years is

significant– Value conflicts arise easily between

generations– Baby Boomers vs. Synthesizers



• Differing Values– Values are influenced by family, religion,

school, experiences– Reinforced by the behavior of those around

us– Imprinted by age 7, completely socialized by

age 20– Changed by “significant emotional events”



• Changing Education Levels– Today’s officer is leader, manager, coach,

mentor and facilitator– Entrants have higher education levels– Intellectually talented but need more hands-

on


Legislative Mandates

• The Civil Rights Act of 1964– Made term “illegal discrimination” common– Discrimination– Illegal discrimination



• The Civil Rights Act of 1964– Title VII– Equal opportunity– Equal Employment Opportunity Commission– Courts ruled volunteers are not “employees”



• Sexual Harassment– EEOC ruled it illegal in 1974– Defined– Underlying causes– Types

• Quid pro quo• Hostile environment



• Sexual Harassment– Supervisor’s responsibility– Organizational liability

• Quid pro quo• Hostile environment



• Sexual Harassment– Court Cases on Sexual Harassment

• Vinson v. Meritor Savings Bank, 1986• Ellison v. Brady, 1991• Robinson v. Jacksonville Shipyard, 1991



• Sexual Harassment– Common Sense to Detect Harassment

• Gut feeling • Mother present• Actions directed at me• Front page of the newspaper



• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)– Employment– Public accommodations– Transportation– Government services– Telecommunications

• Local and State Anti-Discrimination Laws• The Age Discrimination Act


Impacts and Challenges to the Fire Service

• Human Relations in the Fire Service– Recognize the benefits of diversity– Look to departments making positive strides – Plan for the next 10 to 20 years– Employer’s commitment– Diverse communities must be treated

equally



• The Fire Service Mosaic– United States is no longer a melting pot,

rather a collection of diverse cultures, views, values

– Legal mandates stimulate diversity acceptance

– Diversity also includes knowledge and experience



• President’s Conference on Fire Prevention– President Truman sponsored in May, 1947– First time the federal government

recommended a more coordinated approach to fire protection

– Report focused on the 3 Es of safety• Engineering, enforcement, education



• National Commission of Fire Prevention and Control– Released America Burning in 1973– Report focused on fire problems– Outlined many needs – Made over 90 recommendations



• America Burning noted the need• For more emphasis on fire prevention

– For a better trained and educated fire service

– To educate the American public in fire safety



• America Burning noted the need– To understand that designs and materials in

the environment present unnecessary hazards

– To improve fire protection of building features

– To recognize the importance of research



• America Burning recommended– Creating the National Fire Prevention and

Control Administration– Developing a national fire data system– Assisting in interchange of public and private

data



• America Burning recommended– Providing grants to states for local fire

protection plans– Establishing a national fire academy– Educating Americans about fire safety



• America at Risk, America Burning Recommissioned– Released in June, 2002– Fire problem as severe as in 1973– Progress at standstill if measured by loss of

life– Indifference identified in 1973 continues



• America at Risk, America Burning Recommissioned– Frequency and severity of fires do not result

from a lack of knowledge of the causes, means of prevention, or methods of suppression

– Responsibilities of today’s fire departments extend well beyond the traditional fire hazard



• All three reports offered common themes– Cultural orientation– Political action infrastructure– Development of new, improved fire

protection technology– Fire protection information– Define the traditional public safety service

delivery system



Will we be addressing these same issues 50 years from now?


Pride, Service, Commitment

• Symbol– Visible sign representing a quality or object



• Fire Department Symbols– Hospitallar Knights & The Maltese Cross



• Fire Department Symbols– Knight of Saint John



• Brass Trumpets– Origins documented in 1752– New York City volunteer fire department

bought 6 speaking trumpets – By 1800s, used to amplify fire ground orders



• Brass Trumpets– Symbolize rank,

authority, and responsibility



• Other Insignia of the Fire Service– Border– Crossed Trumpets– Phoenix– Eagle– Colors



• Fire Department Symbols– Blue of Uniform – Maltese Cross – Border– Phoenix– Eagle– Badge, crest and helmet shield– Trumpets



• True Meaning of the Fire Service– Many have made the supreme sacrifice– Facing death and peril together creates a

peculiar and sacred comradeship– This tradition formed the fire service– Public perception is based on TV, not history



• True Meaning of the Fire Service– Duty and service

to their fellow men



• True Meaning of the Fire Service– Public perception

and reality clashed on September 11, 2001



• On Leadership– Many chiefs grow complacent and lose focus– Many company officers hide out in the

firehouse– Officers must anticipate future needs– Officers must coach and mentor personnel– Officers must be ready to meet community

expectations



• On Leadership– “Don’t mistake the edge of the rut for the

horizon”– Cannot approach problems the same as it

has for the past two decades– Future will demand greater accountability,

responsiveness and rethinking



• On Leadership• Leaders often know the direction the industry

must go but orchestrating change is momentous job– Future challenges requires strong leadership

and commitment from today’s officers– Leaders must be good stewards of public

resources



• The Trumpets Worn– Officers badge and trumpets reflect the

characteristics of a successful officer• Courage• Integrity• Work ethic• Empathy



• Through the Eyes of a Nation– Oklahoma City Federal Building



• Through the Eyes of a Nation– Pentagon



• Through the Eyes of a Nation– National Fallen

Firefighters

Memorial



• Through the Eyes of a Nation– Something

significant

happened on

September 11,

2001


Case Study/Discussion

• You are the Battalion Chief that consists of six fire stations. You are off duty on a Saturday night and you stop by the fire station to pick up some papers that you left there. As you enter the fire station via the rear entrance, you notice the male officer and a female firefighter in a romantic embrace. They are both married, but not to each other. Both of them plead with you to not report the incident as it will greatly affect their personal and professional lives. Previously the female firefighter had filed a sexual harassment complaint when she was at a different station. They are both good employees who are professional and generally abide by department policy. It is now Monday morning and you have a previously scheduled meeting with the Deputy Chief. What do you tell him regarding the incident, and what actions do you take?

Bruegman, Fire Administration © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ Fire...

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