Transcript Firefighter III

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)