Fire Technology

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain the importance of warm-up and cool-down cycles.
• discuss the benefits of maintaining a regular exercise program.
• develop increased aerobic fitness, muscular strength and endurance, and improved agility.
• identify appropriate techniques for performing various exercises.
• identify appropriate lifestyle modification techniques.
• identify health risk factors.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• discuss fire apparatus history, typing, design, specifications, and construction
• describe the operation of various fire apparatus and specialized equipment
• analyze the difficulties of maintaining fire apparatus

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• compare and contrast leadership versus management within a fire organization
• discuss the leader’s role and responsibilities within a fire organization
• explain the different types of fire department organizations
• identify and describe the general functions of management within a fire organization
• describe the use of the incident management system for responses involving one or more units
• describe the need for research and development at the company level

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• define the different categories of laws in the United States as they pertain to emergency services.
• discuss federal, state, and local laws and liabilities applicable to emergency services.
• explain the purpose of national codes and standards.
• discuss applicable court decisions that have influenced emergency services.
• recognize the legal issues and concerns affecting the emergency services.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe how to recognize, protect, and preserve evidence of fire cause
• explain the techniques relating to court procedures
• explain the techniques for interviewing witnesses and suspects
• diagnose the point of origin at a fire scene
• describe the scientific method of fire investigation

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe techniques for dealing with various rescue situations
• set up emergency rescue equipment
• describe confined space rescue operations
• improvise treatments for common medical injuries, using minimal equipment

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• discuss the historical changes in fire service tactics and strategy
• assess the differences in fire extinguishing agents and apply the most effective methods to the situation
• estimate the staffing structure and equipment needs at an emergency utilizing the Incident Command System (ICS)
• calculate the best method for extinguishing the fire on the fireground
• recognize the divisions of fire tactics and strategy
• explain the role of each fire tactics and strategy division
• apply salvage and overhaul procedures at an emergency
• categorize fireground tactics and strategies used in urban and wildland emergency situations

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• assess wildland fire behavior as it relates to weather, fuel, and topography
• illustrate the wildland fire threat in California
• describe firefighters' safety as it relates to wildland fire fighting
• demonstrate the methods used to bring wildland fires under control

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate mastery of specific job skills in the fire technology field related to an associate degree or certificate occupational program level career as written in the minimum three (3) learning objectives created by the student and their employer or work site supervisor at the start of the course.
• make effective decisions, use workforce information, and manage their personal career plans.
• behave professionally, ethically, and legally during work, consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational norms.
• behave responsibly during work, exhibiting initiative and self-management in situations where it is needed.
• apply effective leadership styles during work, with consideration to group dynamics, team and individual decision making, and workforce diversity.
• communicate in oral, written, and other formats, as needed, in a variety of contexts during work.
• locate, organize, evaluate, and reference information during work.
• demonstrate originality and inventiveness during work by combining ideas or information in new ways, making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, and reshaping goals in ways that reveal new possibilities using critical and creative thinking skills such as logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and problem-solving.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• illustrate and explain the history and culture of the fire service
• analyze the basic components of fire as a chemical chain reaction and the major phases of fire
• differentiate between fire service training and education, and explain the value of higher education to the professionalization of the fire service
• list and describe the major organizations that provide emergency response service and illustrate how they interrelate
• discuss and describe the scope, purpose, and organizational structure of fire and emergency services
• describe the common types of fire and emergency service facilities, equipment, and apparatus
• compare and contrast effective management concepts for various emergency situations
• identify the primary responsibilities of fire prevention personnel including: code enforcement, public information, and public and private protection systems
• describe the importance of wellness and fitness as it relates to emergency services
• examine the main factors that influence fire spread and fire behavior

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• define the national fire problem and the role of fire prevention.
• identify and describe fire prevention organizations and associations.
• define laws, authority have jurisdiction (AHJ), regulations, and fire codes.
• define the functions of a fire prevention bureau.
• describe inspection practices and procedures.
• identify and describe the standards for professional qualification for fire marshal, plans examiner, fire inspector, fire and life safety educator, and fire investigator.
• list opportunities in professional development for fire prevention personnel.
• describe the history and philosophy of fire prevention.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• compare smoke and fire movement in various types of building construction and the relationship to systems and equipment.
• identify the organizations that provide information or service to fire protection systems.
• compare types, classifications, ratings, and effectiveness of fire extinguishers.
• identify distribution, installation, and testing requirements for fire extinguishers.
• identify the types, components, and operation of fire protection systems and equipment for special hazards.
• identify water supply requirements, distribution systems, and testing for public and private fire protection.
• classify types, components, and operation of automatic and special sprinkler systems.
• identify the types of standpipe systems and their water supply requirements.
• compare detection, alarm, and supervisory devices and systems.
• compare heat and smoke control devices and hardware.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• classify safety concerns presented by the following types of loads: impact, wind, snow, dead or fixed, live, and fire.
• evaluate fire stability for the following structural members: columns, walls, arches, beams, and trusses.
• describe key factors in the fire performance of three common floors and four ceilings found in wood and ordinary construction.
• choose the key features of a wood-frame building and their implications for fire stability.
• analyze ordinary construction and cite factors in fire stability and fire spread.
• list indicators of collapse in ordinary construction.
• cite the possible fire hazards in various types of construction.
• identify key factors that may be expected to lessen or increase the resistance of steel to stress and fire.
• identify key factors that increase or lessen concrete's resistance to stress and fire.
• evaluate the probable impact of the following factors on smoke spread within buildings: buoyancy, expansion, stack effect, wind, Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC), smoke control systems, fire protection systems, and detection systems.
• define architectural features that may adversely affect the safety of emergency operations in buildings under construction.
• describe the history of fire resistance construction and its changes through the years.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• classify the basic laws differentiating matter and energy.
• compile basic terminology, definitions, and terms associated with basic fire chemistry.
• compose some of the basic chemical symbols used in chemical formula writing.
• identify physical properties in the three states of matter.
• describe the Department of Transportation (DOT) warning placards and labeling systems.
• identify the components of fire.
• describe the various methods and techniques of fire extinguishing.
• list the physical and chemical properties of fire.
• differentiate and explain the phenomena of fire chemistry and behavior.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe the risk management process and the operational influence of “after action reviews” on safety.
• explain the need for annual medical evaluations and the establishment of physical fitness criteria for emergency services personnel throughout their careers.
• analyze case studies of emergency scene firefighter fatalities to determine, through examination of cause and effect, how to prevent such incidents in the future.
• explain how technological advancements, training standards, and investigation of accidents and “near misses” can produce a higher level of firefighter safety and survival.
• discuss the importance of fire sprinklers and code enforcement.
• describe the importance of public education as a critical component of life-safety programs.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• summarize the components related to water supply in fire service hydraulics.
• explain the properties of water at rest and in motion, velocity, and discharge.
• describe how water is discharged from a fire apparatus.
• explain the operational procedures of fire service pumps and their control devices.
• calculate the friction loss of water within a hydraulic system.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe the various Department of Transportation (DOT) hazard classes
• describe the Department of Transportation's placarding and labeling system
• identify the basic physical properties and burning characteristics of the various classes of hazardous materials
• explain the need for scene isolation, scene stabilization, and incident control
• identify various acceptable methods of incident control measures depending upon the dangers of the chemicals
• analyze the health dangers and symptoms of chemical classes
• compare the safety considerations encumbered by the fire department to ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• actively engage in intellectual inquiry beyond that required in order to pass a course of study.
• discuss and outline a proposal of study, that can be accomplished within one semester term, with a supervising instructor qualified within the discipline.
• design an independent study (to be completed individually or by collaboration of a small group) to foster special knowledge, skills, and experience that are not available in any one regularly scheduled course.
• use resources to gather discipline-specific information.
• utilize modes of analysis and critical thinking to apply theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study to significant problems and/or educational activities.
• analyze and apply the knowledge, skills and experience that are involved in the independent study to theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study.
• explain the importance of the major discipline of study in the broader picture of society.
• communicate a complex understanding of content matter of the major discipline of study.
• demonstrate competence in the skills essential to mastery of the major discipline of study that are necessary to accomplish the independent study.
• identify personal goals and pursue these goals effectively.
• utilize skills from the “academic tool kit” including time management, study skills, etc., to accomplish the independent study within one semester term.