Missouri Firefighter Training Guidelines

Questions and Answers

List 5 guidelines for successful firefighter training.

Be safe, Follow orders, Work as a team, Think, Follow the Golden Rule.

Describe the general requirements for becoming a firefighter.

Must be at least 18 years old for career departments, 16 for volunteer. Must have a high school diploma or GED. Must undergo a medical evaluation, demonstrate physical fitness, and have CPR certification or higher.

Outline the roles and responsibilities of a Firefighter 1.

Don and doff PPE, hoist tools, apply communication protocols, use SCBA, respond to emergencies, establish safety, force entry, exit hazardous areas safely, set up ladders, attack various fire types, conduct search and rescue, perform ventilation, overhaul fire scenes, conserve property, connect to water supply, extinguish different classes of fires, illuminate scenes, turn off utilities, combat ground cover fires, perform fire safety surveys, and maintain equipment.

Describe the common positions of firefighters within the fire department.

Fire apparatus driver/operator, Company officer, Safety Officer, Training Officer, Incident Commander, Fire Marshal, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Fire and life safety education specialist, Telecommunicator, Fire apparatus maintenance personnel, Fire Police, Public information officer, Fire protection engineer. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the specialized response roles within the fire department.

Aircraft/crash rescue firefighter, Hazardous materials technician, Technical rescue technician, SCUBA dive rescue technician, Emergency Medical Service Personnel. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of governance in a fire department.

Governance involves the authority and functions of an organization. Regulations and policies guide its operations. Signup and view all the answers

List the different types of fire department companies and describe their functions.

Engine Company, Truck Company, Rescue Company, Wildland/Brush Company. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how to organize a fire department in terms of staffing, function, and geography.

Ensure sufficient trained personnel are available at all times, organize functions along specialty lines, and assign geographic responsibilities to each station. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the basic structure of the chain of command within the fire departments.

Chief of the Department, Assistant Chief, Battalion Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Firefighter/Private. Signup and view all the answers

Define the four basic management principles used to maintain organization within the fire department.

Discipline, Division of Labor, Unity of Command, Span of Control. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how building codes prevent the loss of life and property.

Building codes govern construction and require fire prevention measures and detection systems. Signup and view all the answers

Outline the responsibilities of a firefighter 2.

Prepare reports, communicate for assistance, coordinate interior attack teams, extinguish liquid fires, control flammable gas cylinder fires, protect fire cause evidence, assess motor vehicle accident victims, assist special rescue teams, perform fire safety surveys, maintain equipment. Signup and view all the answers

List the major causes of death and injury in firefighters.

Stress, Caught/Trapped/Collapse, Collision or struck, Falls, Heart attack/Stroke, Trauma/Crushed, Burns, Asphyxiation. Signup and view all the answers

List the three states of matter.

Matter, Liquid, Gas. Signup and view all the answers

List 5 forms of energy.

Chemical energy, Mechanical energy, Electrical energy, Light energy, Nuclear energy. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of the Fire Triangle.

Heat, Oxygen, Fuel. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the Fire Tetrahedron.

Fuel, Oxygen, Heat, Chemical Chain Reaction. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Chemistry of Combustion.

Atom, Combustion, Oxidation, Pyrolysis. Signup and view all the answers

Describe by-products of combustion.

Smoke, which includes particles, vapors, and gases. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how fires are spread by direct contact, conduction, convection, and radiation.

Direct contact spreads fire quickly; conduction transfers heat, convection is gas/fluid movement, and radiation emits energy waves. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the four methods of extinguishing fires.

Cooling, excluding oxygen, removing fuel, interrupting chemical reactions. Signup and view all the answers

Define class A, B, C, D, and K fires.

Class A - Ordinary solids, Class B - Flammable liquids, Class C - Electrical equipment, Class D - Combustible metals, Class K - Cooking oils. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the characteristics of solid-fuel fires.

Definite form and shape, common solid fuel is wood; does not conduct heat well. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the four phases of solid-fuel fires.

Ignition phase, Growth phase, Fully developed phase, Decay phase. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the conditions that cause thermal layering.

Gases layer according to temperature; hotter gases rise, cooler gases settle. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the conditions that lead to Flameover (Rollover).

Spontaneous ignition of hot gases in upper room levels. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the conditions that lead to Flashover.

Near-simultaneous ignition of exposed combustible materials due to superheated gases. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the conditions that lead to a Backdraft.

Introduction of oxygen into an enclosure with superheated gases insufficient for combustion. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of vapor density.

Vapor density measures the weight of a gas compared to air; less than 1 rises, more than 1 falls. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the process of reading smoke.

Determine smoke volume, velocity, density, color, and flow patterns to gauge fire conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the flash point?

The lowest temperature at which a liquid produces a flammable vapor. Signup and view all the answers

What is the flame point (fire point)?

The lowest temperature at which a liquid produces enough vapor to sustain a continuous fire. Signup and view all the answers

The minimum temperature to which a fuel in air must be heated to begin self-sustaining combustion independent of a heat source is the what?

Auto-ignition Temperature Signup and view all the answers

The temperature at which the evaporation rate exceeds the rate of condensation is the what?

Boiling Point Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Firefighter Training Guidelines

Prioritize safety in all training activities.
Adhere strictly to orders and instructions from superiors.
Collaborate effectively as a part of a team.
Engage in critical thinking during firefighting tasks.
Treat others as you would like to be treated (Golden Rule).

General Requirements for Firefighters

Must be at least 18 years old for career departments; 16 for volunteer departments.
Educational prerequisites include a high school diploma or GED.
Candidates must pass medical evaluations prior to training.
Physical fitness is essential to handle the job's demands.
CPR certification is a minimum requirement; EMT or Paramedic licensure may be required by some departments.

Responsibilities of Firefighter 1

Properly wear and remove Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Use ropes and knots effectively for hoisting tools.
Communicate following established protocols.
Master the operation of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
Respond swiftly to emergencies using fire apparatus.
Ensure safety standards during emergency operations.
Force entry when necessary and exit hazardous areas as a team.
Safely set up and use ground ladders.
Engage and extinguish various classes of fires, including vehicles and structures.
Conduct search and rescue operations within burning structures.
Perform effective ventilation, overhaul, and salvage operations.
Connect engines to water supplies and manage emergency scene illumination.
Control ground cover fires and perform equipment maintenance.

Common Fire Department Positions

Fire apparatus driver/operator, responsible for handling fire vehicles.
Company officer, oversees crew and operations.
Safety Officer, ensures operations are safe.
Training Officer, manages firefighter training.
Incident Commander (IC), leads during fire incidents.
Fire Marshal/Inspector/Investigator, enforces safety regulations.
Fire and life safety education specialist, educates the public on safety.
Telecommunicator, manages emergency calls.
Fire apparatus maintenance personnel, maintains firefighting equipment.
Fire Police, assists with scene control and safety.
Information Management and Public Information Officer manage information dissemination.
Fire protection engineer, designs systems to prevent and respond to fires.

Specialized Response Roles

Aircraft/crash rescue firefighter (ARFF), handles aircraft emergencies.
Hazardous materials technician, deals with toxic substances.
Technical rescue technician, performs specialized rescues.
SCUBA dive rescue technician, conducts water rescues.
Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel, provide medical assistance on-site.

Governance in Fire Departments

Governance involves authority and functions within the department.
Regulations are derived from government mandates for safety and procedures.
Policies guide decision-making for current and future operations.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) specify task execution methods.

Types of Fire Department Companies

Engine Company: Secures water sources and conducts rescues.
Truck Company: Manages entry, ventilation, and ladder operations.
Rescue Company: Specializes in victim rescues from diverse situations.
Wildland/Brush Company: Tackles fires in remote areas.

Fire Department Organization

Departments must maintain a round-the-clock, well-trained response team.
Fire departments may be organized by functions handling specific community needs.
Each station is accountable for designated geographic regions within the community.

Chain of Command in Fire Departments

Chief of the Department leads the overall operations.
Assistant Chief assists the Chief.
Battalion Chief supervises multiple companies.
Captains and Lieutenants manage smaller teams.
Firefighters/Privates are the operational frontline.

Management Principles

Discipline enforces order and accountability.
Division of Labor assigns specific roles to maximize efficiency.
Unity of Command ensures clear responsibilities.
Span of Control dictates the optimal number of subordinates per leader.

Building Codes and Fire Safety

Building codes enforce construction safety and fire prevention measures.
Required equipment alerts occupants and responds to fires promptly.

Responsibilities of Firefighter 2

Prepare and submit operational reports.
Facilitate communication for additional support.
Lead interior attack line teams during incidents.
Manage ignitable liquid and gas cylinder fires.
Safeguard evidence of fire causes.
Assist in rescues and perform fire safety surveys.

Major Causes of Firefighter Fatalities

Stress (60%), caught/trapped/collapse (15%), collisions (11%).
Falls (7%), heart attacks/strokes (60%), trauma (20%).
Burns (8%), asphyxiation (6%).

States of Matter

Matter exists in three forms: solid, liquid, and gas.

Forms of Energy

Chemical, mechanical, electrical, light, and nuclear energy, each with unique characteristics and applications.

Fire Triangle

Essential elements for combustion: heat, oxygen, and fuel.

Fire Tetrahedron

Adds chemical chain reaction to the fire triangle for a complete ignition process.

Chemistry of Combustion

Atoms are the basis of matter, with combustion involving rapid reactions with oxygen producing heat and light.
Oxidation leads to new compounds; pyrolysis is heat-driven material decomposition without oxygen.

By-products of Combustion

Incomplete combustion develops smoke, composed of particles, vapors, and gases.

Fire Spread Mechanisms

Fires spread via direct contact, conduction, convection, and radiation.

Fire Extinguishing Methods

Cooling, excluding oxygen, removing fuel, and interrupting chemical reactions effectively extinguish fire.

Classes of Fires

Class A: Solids (wood, paper).
Class B: Liquids (gasoline).
Class C: Electrical.
Class D: Combustible metals.
Class K: Kitchen fats.

Solid-fuel Fire Characteristics

Defined shape; wood is a common solid fuel; ignition does not have a fixed temperature.

Phases of Solid-fuel Fires

Ignition, growth, fully developed, and decay phases describe fire evolution.

Room-and-Contents Fire Phases

Ignition from flammable materials, growth phase includes increased heat, fully developed phase sees maximum energy release, decay marks reduced burning.

Thermal Layering Conditions

Gases form layers by temperature; hotter gases rise to the ceiling.

Flameover (Rollover)

Indicates spontaneous ignition of hot gases in upper room levels.

Flashover Conditions

Near-simultaneous ignition of combustibles due to super-heated gases, marked by thermal layers.

Backdraft Conditions

Occurs when oxygen is introduced to a hot, oxygen-deficient environment, resulting in explosive combustion.

Vapor Density Concept

Measures gas weight compared to air; gases with density < 1 rise, while those > 1 fall.

Reading Smoke Process

Analyze smoke attributes: volume, velocity, density, color, and flow type to assess fire behavior and predict outcomes.

Flash Point

Lowest temperature for a liquid to create flammable vapors.

Flame Point (Fire Point)

Lowest temperature for a liquid to generate vapor sustaining a fire.

Auto-ignition Temperature

Minimum temperature for self-sustaining combustion without external heat.

Boiling Point

Temperature at which evaporation rate exceeds condensation.

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Description

This quiz focuses on essential guidelines and general requirements necessary for successful firefighter training in Missouri. It highlights safety protocols, teamwork, and age and education prerequisites for aspiring firefighters. Ideal for candidates preparing for Firefighter 1 and 2 certification.