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Firefighter III Introduction Mod A
The role of a firefighter III is that of a person that can function as a firefighter on his or her own, without direct supervision. This is not to say that a firefighter III can free lance on the emergency ground, but may be able to make decisions that certainly can help mitigate a situation or act as a mentor to lesser trained firefighters (example in Illinois- firefighter II or a person that serves the role as firefighter through their department or fire protection district). Mentoring would include aspects of training, basic SOPs/SOG/s for that specific department, what extra equipment that firefighter might need to do their job better, look out for the safety of those lesser-trained firefighters in training or during an emergency situation. Finally, a firefighter III is an individual that could take over the role of a company officer in the event of an emergency and still be able to safely mitigate a positive out come to the situation. 3-1.1. Identify the Firefighter III’s role as a member of the organization. (4-2.1)
A. Command- Department members are responsible for overall command of an incident. These firefighters would command firefighters that are assigned at the battalion chief level, or Command Assistant Chief where these officers would respond to major incidents and take command of the operation to mitigate a positive outcome. If the incident were larger yet, the Deputy Chief or Department Chief would respond and take general command. This level would see the Chief using his battalion chiefs or assistant chiefs as division commanders. 3-1.2. Identify the function of each of the bureaus of a large fire department.
B. Operations-Department members are responsible for managing all operations that directly affect the primary mission of eliminating the problem. • C. Planning- Department members collect, evaluate, disseminate, and use information concerning the development of pre-incident plans and tracking status of previously made pre-incident plans. 3-1.2. Identify the function of each of the bureaus of a large fire department.
D. Logistics- Department members are responsible for providing facilities, services, and materials to support the incident. • E. Finance/Administration- Department members are responsible for tracking and documenting costs and financial aspects of the incident. • F. Fire Prevention Officer: • a) Conducts technical and supervisory work in the fire prevention program. • b) Participates in field enforcement of local state laws and ordinances. 3-1.2. Identify the function of each of the bureaus of a large fire department.
G. Fire and Arson Investigators: • a) Determine cause of the fire. • b) May investigate incendiary fires. • H. Public Education Specialists conduct public fire prevention and fire safety programs. • I. Fire Protection Specialists: • a) Review plans for compliance with life safety requirements. • b) Assists in planning for long-range fire protection programs. 3-1.2. Identify the function of each of the bureaus of a large fire department.
Staff:1. Provide: • a) Advice • b) Assistance • c) Administrative support • d) Technical support • 2. Does not have authority over other members of the organization. • 3. Does have authority over activities within their area: • a) Fire prevention officer • b) Training officer • c) Communications officer • d) Maintenance officer/ personnel officer 3-1.3. Identify the functions of the staff and line positions in a fire department.
Chief: Chief is responsible for the overall function of the department. This includes overseeing the functions of each of the above listed divisions. The Chief is legally responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department. I(n very extreme circumstances, the Chief may be called to take command of a very serious incident. Chief is also legally responsible for cause and determination of fires. 3-1.3. Identify the functions of the staff and line positions in a fire department.
Deputy Chief: In larger departments the Deputy Chief is second in command or executive officer to the Chief. The Deputy Chief is responsible directly to the Chief and will be responsible in assisting the Chief in all of the Chief’s duties. In extreme circumstances, the Deputy Chief may be called to take command of a serious incident. In smaller departments the Deputy Chief is probably responsible for commanding most emergency incidents, or being second in command directions company officers via orders from the chief. (Sometimes the position is called Assistant Chief, in smaller departments).
Assistant Chief: In smaller departments the Assistant Chief would perform the duties listed above for Deputy Chiefs in smaller departments. In larger departments the Assistant Chiefs are placed in command of the divisions that are listed in the questions above (command, operations, planning, logistics, finance, fire marshal, etc.) Assistant Chiefs could be called to the scene to take command of larger incidents that directly come under the command or significantly involve their department to mitigate a positive conclusion to the incident. In larger departments, Assistant Chiefs are supervisor over a certain number of battalions. • Battalion Chief: By definition, a battalion is a grouping of 2 or more companies. The Battalion Chief is responsible for the overall supervision of the companies under the Battalion Chief’s command, and would be directly involved in commanding incidents that involved their battalion directly.
Captain (Station Officer): Captains function as a direct supervisor over lower level company officers (lieutenants) and act as station officer. Captains can act as company officers themselves when it is their shift. Captains can act as incident commanders, based upon the size of the incident. Finally Captains’ duties as a station officer, is to oversee the operations of the entire staff: including the other two shift officers, training of all members of that company, that preplans and inspection are done and kept up to date. • Lieutenant (Company Officer): Lieutenant acts as a company officer and is directly responsible for the people in his company. The number one responsibility of the company officer is the safety of himself and his company. The company officer is responsible for the day to day activities of the fire company; which would include: emergency responses, training of his company, inspections and pre-planning and other jobs as detailed by that departments policies and procedures.
Firefighter Apparatus Driver/ Operator: The FAE is responsible for safely driving the apparatus to and from the incident scene and performing his duties once upon the scene. The FAE is also responsible for inspecting the apparatus they drive, to make sure that the vehicle is in safe operating condition. • Firefighter: The person that is responsible for performing the tasks necessary for bringing a safe outcome to an incident. The firefighter is directly supervised by the company officer, and is to follow any lawful order issued by the company officer. The firefighter’s number one responsibility is personal safety.
Aircraft Rescue/Firefighter: Responsible for responding to incidents at the airport. Drive specialized apparatus to the scene of the emergency and are specially trained in the skills necessary for mitigating emergencies related to aircraft. • Training Officer: Administers the department’s training program.
Emergency Medical Services: • 1. First Responder: • a) First persons responding to emergency calls • b) Only life saving skills and equipment • 2. Emergency Medical Technician: • a) Provides Basic Life Support • 3. Paramedic: Provides advanced life support
Standards set down at the National Levels come from several different organizations. The two main organizations are the: • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). • The NFPA mission is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating scientifically- based consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA provides policies that set minimum standards practices for the fire service. 3-1.4. Identify Nation, State, and Local Standards as they apply to the Fire Department.
For example: • A NFPA “1000 Series” • a) NFPA 1001 Firefighter Professional Qualifications • b) NFPA 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/ Operator Professional Qualifications • c) NFPA 1003 Airport Firefighter • d) NFPA 1021 Fire Officer Professional Qualifications • e) NFPA 1031 Fire Inspector Professional Qualifications • f) NFPA 1041 Fire Instructor Professional Qualifications • B. NFPA 472: Competent Responder to Hazardous Materials for all levels of response.
STATE: • The office of the State Fire Marshal directs standards set at the state level. The state fire marshal’s office is responsible for the safety, training, building codes, hazardous material response, fire incident reports, etc, standards for their respective state. For example in the State of Illinois, the OSFM is responsible for training of firefighters in Illinois. The OSFM sets the standards necessary for the various levels of training and keeping track of this training. To help in this tasks, the OSFM created the Illinois Fire Service Institute, to act as the main training body for the fire service in the State of Illinois.
Local standards are designed and implemented by the local fire agency and are believed to be the best methods for handling situations with in their area of the state. Local standards will and probably should include aspects of the National and State standards. These standards can consist of building codes, to hiring practices, to incident management. These standards may be developed by the fire organization or by the government body that oversees the fire department and will include rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures. • SOPs/SOGs
(4-2.2) Command is responsible for all incident activities, including the development and implementation of strategic decisions. See discussion of command in the above sections. • The responsibility of incident activities also includes dealing with the results of these strategic decisions. Command is the authority over the ordering and releasing of resources.
The responsibility of the firefighter in transferring of command is as follows: • A Transfer command only to an officer of higher rank. • B Officer of the higher rank must be present at the incident and not in route to the scene. • C The current commander will explain the whole incident to the incoming commander, including present resources, incoming resources, actions taken up to present time, etc. At this time the present commander should request the new commander to repeat all of that information back to the present commander. • D When transferring command, the current firefighter in command will announce over the radio that a transfer of command is taking place and who the new commander will be. This will prepare the incident teams to hear a new voice when orders are to be given. 3-1.6. Identify the responsibilities of the firefighter in transferring command within an incident management system.(4-2.2)
