Fire Prevention and Public Education Firefighter II.

Fire Prevention and Public EducationFirefighter II

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3

Fire Prevention


Inspection Requirements

• Personal– Have ample knowledge of fire- and life-safety

issues– Have the ability to refer citizens to additional

sources of information– Present a well-groomed and professional

appearance–Wear a clean uniform in good condition


Inspection Requirements (continued)

• Equipment– General information

• May need to conduct research before performing the inspection• May need to use reference material, personal protective

equipment (PPE), and/or special equipment during the inspection

– Most pre-incident surveys include the following types of equipment• Writing (e.g. pencils)• Drawing (e.g. graph paper)• Other (e.g. flashlight)


Scheduling Inspections

• Most fire inspections and other fire prevention activities must be conducted during normal business hours

• Many fire departments schedule them at specific times on specific days of the week

• Types– In advance with the owners at the most convenient and

least disruptive time for them– In a systematic block-by-block manner that works well

for ordinary mercantile occupancies


Conducting Inspections

• Follow the department’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• Review the fire code requirements for the specific type of occupancy

• Represent the fire department favorably• Enter the premises and contact the occupant’s representative• Review the inspection process briefly• Answer any questions• Utilize the representative as a guide of the premises during

the inspection• Tactfully ask the guide to open all locked rooms and closets


Conducting Inspections (continued)

• Report any refusals to the fire prevention officer so that an inspection warrant may be obtained or other appropriate action may be taken

• Begin the inspection by looking for hazards and observing the property (and its activities) from the exterior and then move to the interior

• Some examples of specific items to watch for include– Access for fire personnel and apparatus to the structure and its fire protection

equipment– Building name and type of business– Emergency contact numbers for the building owner or manager– Address numbers clearly visible from the street– Portable fire extinguishers in place, properly mounted, operable, and

unobstructed– Exit signs and emergency lighting operable


Conducting Inspections (continued)

• Explain each code violation to the occupant’s representative

• Create and agree to a plan of correction if code violations are found– Specify a reasonable deadline for violation correction(s)– Specify a time for a follow-up inspection

• Have the occupant sign the inspection form• Leave a copy of the form with the occupant• Thank the occupant for his or her cooperation• Leave a business card


Surveys: Firefighter Skills Required

• Interpersonal skills– Communication– Mitigation– Facilitation– Negotiation– Mediation

• Technical knowledge and skills– Building construction– Fire and life safety requirements– Fire code requirements– Common and special hazards– Building utilities– Energy systems– Fire protection appliances and systems


Pre-incident Planning Surveys of Public and Commercial Occupancies

• Purposes– To gain information that can greatly increase

firefighter and citizen safety– To get this information in advance because it may not

be available during a fire– To document information that helps firefighters

• Become familiar with the structures in their district, as well as their uses and hazards

• Recognize existing hazards• Visualize the application of standard tactics• Develop new tactics if necessary


Pre-incident Planning Surveys of Public and Commercial Occupancies (continued)

• Conducting– Have the initial meeting with the owner– Survey the property’s exterior• Make general observations• Complete preliminary notes• Take photographs



• Conducting (continued)– Include the following in the preliminary notes

• Location of fire detection and suppression systems (e.g. fire hydrants and fire alarm control panels)

• Pertinent information about the building (e.g. type of construction and occupancy)

• Visibility of address numbers• Accessibility from all sides• Barriers to aerial device operations• Problematic placement of trees or shrubs• Barred windows or security doors• Location of the utility shutoffs• Overhead obstructions to ladder use



• Conducting (continued)–Move to the basement or roof– Survey the interior systematically• Look at each floor in succession• Create floor plans if they are not available• Note and photograph hazards and unsafe conditions



• Conducting (continued)– Remember that more than one visit may be

necessary– Survey all of the buildings on a property

separately, if more than one building is present– Use and update the pre-existing survey floor plan

to save time, if one is available– Discuss the survey results and any fire- or life-

safety concerns with the owner



• Making maps and drawings– Update or create maps when needed– Include the general arrangement of the property– Note anything that might affect firefighting tactics– Make the drawing neat, accurate, and to scale– Use a clipboard, a ruler and/or graph paper if electronic

mapping programs are not available– Record data using common map symbols as much as

possible– Create cutaway views to show structural features (e.g.

elevations) when necessary



• Taking photographs– Obtain permission if necessary– Take photos• From more than one angle• From an elevated position• Of close-ups and the interior

– Take video when possible and permitted


Residential Fire Safety Surveys: Firefighter Responsibilities

• Conduct surveys in teams of two• Dress and act professionally• Introduce yourself, your partner, and provide

proper identification• Explain the survey procedure• Maintain a courteous attitude• Focus on preventing fires and eliminating

threats to fire safety


Residential Fire Safety Surveys: Firefighter Responsibilities(continued)

• Compliment the occupants when favorable conditions are found

• Offer constructive suggestions for eliminating hazards

• Survey all rooms including the garage• Discuss the survey results with the occupant and

answer any questions• Thank the occupants for the invitation• Keep the survey results confidential


Residential Fire Safety Surveys: Firefighter Responsibilities(continued)

• Provide occupants with fire- and safety-awareness information–Maintain clear exit pathways– Keep a flashlight by the bed– Have two exits available– Never leave an infant or toddler unsupervised in or

near a bathtub or pool– Always turn over the range the handles of pans

containing hot liquids


Residential Fire Safety Surveys: Fire Causes• Malfunctioning heating appliances and water heaters• Combustibles too close to heating appliances or lamps• Unsafe cooking procedures• Smoking materials• Overloaded extension cords and multiple-outlet devices• Exposed electrical wiring• Defective electrical appliances• Improper use of combustible or flammable liquids• Poor housekeeping• Untended candles


Types of Surveys: Interior

• Combustible materials• Appliances• Electrical wiring and

equipment• Portable heating units• Woodstoves or fireplaces• Heating fuel• General housekeeping

practices• Smoke alarms

• Electrical distribution panels

• Gas appliances• Oil-burning units• Furnaces• Water heaters• Shop or work rooms• Accumulated waste• Flammable liquids


Types of Surveys: Exterior

• Roof• Chimneys and spark arrestors• Yard and porch areas• Barbecues and fuel• Outside waste burners• Garages, sheds, barns, and outbuildings• Flammable liquids and gases• Lightening protection• Security devices• Power lines


Fire Hazards: Fuel

• Ordinary combustibles– Wood– Cloth– Paper

• Flammable and combustible gases– Natural gas– Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)– Compressed natural gas (CNG)

• Flammable and combustible liquids– Gasoline– Oils– Lacquers– Alcohol


Fire Hazards: Fuel (continued)

• Chemicals– Nitrates– Oxides– Chlorates

• Dusts– Grain– Wood– Metal– Coal

• Metals– Magnesium– Sodium– Potassium

• Plastics, resins, and cellulose


Fire Hazards: Heat Sources

• Chemical heat energy – materials that are improperly stored may come in contact with each other and react or decompose and generate heat

• Electrical heat energy – caused by poorly maintained electrical appliances, exposed wiring, and lighting

• Mechanical heat energy – created by moving parts on machines, such as belts and bearings

• Nuclear heat energy – created by fission and is not commonly encountered by firefighters


Fire Hazards: Common

• Obstructed electrical panels• Poor housekeeping and improper storage of

combustible materials• Defective or improperly used heating, lighting,

or power equipment• Improper disposal of floor-cleaning compounds• Misuse of fumigation substances and flammable

or combustible liquids


Fire Hazards: Special

• Commercial occupancies• Manufacturing facilities• Public assembly venues


Fire Hazards: Target Hazard Properties

• Lumberyards• Bulk oil storage facilities• Shopping malls• Hospitals• Theaters• Nursing homes• Rows of frame tenements• Schools• High-rise hotels/condominiums

30

Public Fire- and Life-Safety Education


General Considerations

• Accurate information is a necessity• Positive messages are received best– Positive: “crawl low under smoke”– Negative: “do not stand up in smoke”

• Target the message to the specific audience and the priority issue


Audience Considerations (Adult)• Utilize teachable moments (e.g. new home buyers, new-parent

classes, etc.)• Use the basic four step method of instruction

– Preparation• Learn the material• Practice the presentation• Know the audience

– Presentation• Explain the information• Use visual aids (e.g. smoke alarm)• Demonstrate techniques (e.g. stop, drop, and roll)

– Application• Provide the opportunity for the audience to practice the material learned• Tactfully correct mistakes that are made

– Evaluation• Assess the effectiveness of the presentation• Identify the aspects that need improvement


Audience Considerations (Children)

• Children from birth to eight years old are especially at risk• Remember that children

– Usually interpret information literally– Have limited attention spans– Often fidget and interrupt, so remain flexible– Learn by doing, not listening

• Decide with the teachers in advance how to handle questions• Build rapport by speaking at the children’s eye level• Ask misbehaving children for help to provide redirection• Communicate simple concepts using positive messages• Do not use fear as a teaching tactic


Presentation Topics:Stop, Drop, and Roll

• Action to take if a person’s clothing catches on fire

• Demonstrate the proper techniques• Invite the audience to perform the technique• Emphasize that a bystander may need to– Help the person drop to the ground– Smother the fire with nearby items such as coats,

rugs, or blankets


Presentation Topics:Home Safety• Persuade the audience to make safety a way of life• Promote the following

– Escape plans– Exit Drills in the Home (EDITH) program– Other similar safety efforts

• Communicate fire and safety rules– Keep bedroom doors closed while sleeping– Have two emergency exits from every room– Ensure that windows can be easily opened– Train children to use fire escape ladders, especially in multi-story

dwellings– Roll out of bed to the floor if awakened by a smoke alarm signal– Stay low to avoid heated gases that rise


Presentation Topics:Home Safety (continued)

• Communicate fire and safety rules– Crawl to the door, feel it with the back of your hand, use

the window for escape if it is warm or hot to the touch– Establish a meeting place outside of the home– NEVER reenter the home after successfully exiting– Call the fire department from a cellular phone or a

neighbor’s house– Use candles with caution

• Place candles on heat-resistant surfaces• Always use a candle holder


Presentation Topics: Smoke Alarms• May be battery-operated or a part of a security alarm system• Recommended placement includes

– In every bedroom– At every level (each story)

• Minimum placement includes– One in the hallway outside of each sleeping area and between the

sleeping area and other rooms in the house– Close enough to be heard through the closed bedroom door– Usually mounted on the ceiling

• Should be installed, maintained, and tested according the manufacturer’s specifications


Presentation Topics: Carbon Monoxide Detectors

• Are needed in addition to fire alarms• Should be installed according the

manufacturer’s specifications


Some Life-safety Issues

• Eliminating fire hazards• Escaping a fire• Testing smoke alarms• Installing a child safety seat correctly• Wearing a bicycle helmet


Resources

• 0135151112, Essentials of Firefighting (5th Edition), International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), 2008.

Fire Prevention and Public Education Firefighter II.

Documents

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