Chapter 1 - The Fire Service PDF

**OFA -- Pre-Service Firefighter** **Firefighter 1** **Chapter 1 -- The Fire Service** **[Fire Fighter Guidelines]** **Be Safe** Safety should always be uppermost in your mind. Keep yourself safe, Keep your teammates safe. Keep the public safe. **Follow Orders** Your supervisors have more tra...

**OFA -- Pre-Service Firefighter** **Firefighter 1** **Chapter 1 -- The Fire Service** **[Fire Fighter Guidelines]** **Be Safe** Safety should always be uppermost in your mind. Keep yourself safe, Keep your teammates safe. Keep the public safe. **Follow Orders** Your supervisors have more training and experience than you do. If you can be counted on to follow orders, you will become a dependable member of the team. **Work as a Team** Fighting fires requires the coordinated efforts of all department members. Teamwork is essential to success. **Think!** Lives depend on the choices you make. Put your brain in gear. Think about what you are studying. **Follow the Golden Rules.** Treat each member, victim, or citizen as an important person or as you would treat a member of your own family. Everyone is an important person or family member to someone, and everyone deserves your bets efforts. **[Mission and Culture of the Fire Service]** Courage - Physical, moral and mental strength of a person - \- Tremendous courage to run into a burning building, it takes a different type of courage to treat all people with respect and stand up for the right of the people who can't for themselves. - Many typers of courage required to be a competent and caring firefighter. Honor - Guides people to demonstrate ethical and moral behavior. - Honor the lost especially those by fire. - Honor the competency of maintaining the readiness to answer a call to help a citizen at any time. Duty - May be described as an act or course of action that is required. - Duties include: - Adhering to standard operating procedures - Showing technical proficiency - Following established best practices - Assessing situations - Weighing possible options - Making sound decisions - Initiating actions that are required to create a positive outcome. Respect - Can be described as a deep admiration for something or someone elicited by his or her abilities, achievements, or qualities. - To gain respect from people, we must first respect them. - Achieved by getting to know people and looking out for the well-being of everyone. Integrity - A measure of where a person stands in times of challenge and controversy. - Accountable to all members of the public and to our department - Firefighters should seek responsibility as well as accept responsibility for our actions. Character - Combination of emotional, intellectual, and moral qualities that constitute a person. - Based on values, combination of actions and words - Ultimately responsible for the decisions we make or actions we take. Moral Courage - Required to take action with doubts or fear of consequences. - Requires deliberation and thought. - May require physical courage when body or peril is in question. - When tough decisions require thought or unpopular position **Qualifications** Basic requirements - NFPA 1001, *Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications*. Medical requirements - NFPA 1582, *Standard on Comprehensive Operational Medical Program for Fire Departments* **Roles and Responsibilities for Firefighter 1** Equipment and tools - Don and doff PPE properly - Hoist hand tools using appropriate ropes and knots. - Use self-contained breathing apparatus. - Set up and use ground ladders safely and correctly. - Conserve property with salvage tools and equipment - Clean and maintain equipment Protocols - Understanding and apply appropriate communication - Connect a fire department engine to water supply. - Turn off utilities. - Per form fire safety surveys. - Locate information in departmental documents and standard operating procedures. Emergency Scenes - Respond on apparatus to scene. - Establish and operate safely in areas. - Overhaul a fire scene. - Illuminate a fire scene. Structures - Force entry - Conduct search and rescue - Perform ventilation Fire Suppression - Attack a passenger vehicle fire, as exterior class A fire and an interior structure fire - Extinguish Class, & C fires - Combat ground cover fires Teamwork - Exit hazardous area safely as a team - operate as part of a team **Roles and Responsibilities for Firefighter 2** - Perform scene size-up - Determine need for incident command system. - Arrange and coordinate ICS until command is transferred. - Prepare reports. - Communicate the need for assistance. - Coordinate an interior attack line team. - Extinguish an ignitable liquid fire. - Protect evidence of fire cause and origin. - Assess and disentangle victims from motor vehicle accidents. - Assist special rescue team operations. - Preform a fire safety survey. - Present fire safety information. - Maintain fire equipment. - Perform annual service tests on fire hoses. **General roles Within the Fire Department** Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator - Often called Engineer or technician - Responsible for getting the fire apparatus to the scene saftely - Responsible for setting up and running the pump or operating the aerial device once it arrives on the scene - Full-time role on some departments, other departments its rotating Company Officer - Usually, a lieutenant or captain who is in charge of an apparatus. Leads the company on scene and station. - Responsible for initial firefighting strategy, personnel safety, and the overall activities of the firefighters on their apparatus. - Once command is established, the company officer focuses on tactics. Incident Safety Officer - Watches the overall operation for unsafe practices - Has the authority to halt any activity, allowing the activity to resume only when safe and correct. - Senior ranking officers may act as incident officer until proper one arrive or until another is delegated. Training Officer - Responsible for updating the training of current fire fighters and training new. - Must be aware if the most current techniques of FF, EMS and other specialized services provided by FD. - Must coordinate various aspects of the FD training program and maintain documentation Incident Commander - Responsible for the management of all incident operations. - \- focus on overall strategy and often assumed by battalion chief. Fire Marshal - Delivers, manages, and/or administers fire protection and life safety related codes and standards, investigations, education and/or prevention services. Fire Inspector - Inspects business and enforces public safety laws and fire codes. Fire Investigator - Responds to fire scenes to help investigate the cause of a fire. - May have full police powers to investigate and arrest suspected arsonists and suspects. Fire and Life Safey Educator - Educates the public about fire safety and injury prevention and presents juvenile fire safety programs. - FLSE and public information officer may be part of a larger community risk reduction program within department. 911 Dispatcher/Telecommunicator - Stays in the communications center and takes calls - Sends appropriate units to scene, assist callers with Emergency medical information (self-care before help arrives), and assists the incident commander (IC) with obtaining needed resources. Emergency Vehicle Technician - Repairs and service fire and EMS vehicles - Usually trained by equipment manufacturers to repair all parts of the pump truck and ladders. Fire Police Officer - Usually, a fire fighter who controls traffic and secures the scene form public access - Many fire police are also officers Information Management - Referred toas "Info Techs". - Are ff's or civilians who take care of a departments computer and networking systems - Properly trained to work with computers - Maintains computerized fire report, email, and a functional computer network. Public Information Officer - Serves as liaison between the IC and the media. Fire Protection Engineer - Reviews plans and works with building owners to ensure fire suppression and detection meets codes and functioning. - Some fire protection engineers design these systems and hold a degree in fire engineering. **Specialized Roles Within the Fire Department** Aircraft/Crash rescue firefighter (ARFF) - Based on military and civilian airports and specialized training in aircraft fires, extrication and extinguishing of aircraft. - Special PPE and respond in specialized apparatus that protects for high-temp fires caused by jet fuel. Hazardous Material Technician - has training and certification in chemical identification, leak control, decontamination, and clean-up procedures. Technical Rescuer - trained in special rescue techniques for incidents involving: - Structural collapse - Trench rescue - Swiftwater rescue - Confined-space rescue - High-angle rescue - Other unusual situations - The units they work in are sometimes called urban search and rescue teams. SCUBA Dive Rescue Technician - Trained in rescue, recovery, and search procedures in both water and under-ice situations. - SCUBA stands for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. EMS Personnel - Administer prehospital care to people who are sick or injured. - Prehospital calls account for the majority of responses in many departments, so fire fighters are often cross-trained with EMS personnel. - EMS training levels are normally divided into four categories: - Emergency Medical Responder - First trained professional, such as a police officer, fire fighter, lifeguard, or other rescuer, to arrive at the scene of an emergency to provide initial medical assistance. - Emergency Medical Technician - They have training in basic emergency care skills, including: - Oxygen therapy - Bleeding control - CPR - Automated external defibrillation - Basic airway devices - Assisting patients with certain medications - Advanced Emergency Medical Technician - Can perform more procedures than an EMT, but is not yet a paramedic. - They have training in specific aspects of advanced life support, such as: - Intravenous (IV) therapy, - Interpretation of cardiac rhythms - Defibrillation - Airway intubation - Paramedic - They have extensive training in advanced life support, including: - IV therapy - Administering drugs - Cardiac monitoring - Inserting advanced airways (endotracheal tubes) - Manual defibrillation - Other advanced assessment and treatment skills **[Working Within the Community]** Community Risk Reduction (CRR) - Is a comprehensive approach that includes programs and services used by a community to prevent loss or mitigate damage during disasters. - CRR is addressed through six basic steps: - Identify risks. - Prioritize risks. - Develop strategies and tactics to mitigate risks. - Prepare the CRR plan. - Implement the CRR plan. - Monitor, evaluate, and modify the plan. **To Develop a CRR** Step 1 - Identify Risks - A risk is a factor that could lead to an emergency. - Start your process by looking through the department records management system (RMS) to review the types of incidents a community already experiences. - A geographic information system (GIS) can also be used to analyze relationships between potential risks and preparedness. Step 2 - Prioritize Risks - Evaluate each identified risk based on severity, frequency, and duration. - Consider the likelihood of the occurrence and the department's capacity to respond - Use the relationship between various populations and high call volume areas to identify risk reductions priorities. Step 3 -- Develop Strategies and Tactics: The Five E's EDUCATION -- Traditional approach: Change behavior by teaching people about fire, prevention and response. ENGINEERING -- Technology to make buildings and products safer; Ex. smoke alarms, child-resistant medical caps, and car seats\ ENFORCMENT -- Fire /Building codes create and maintain safety in buildings; Reduces risk in community both short and long term\ ECONICMIC INCENTIVES -- Financial Motivation ; Used for reward or punishment (Tax credits for sprinkler systems or fines for absence of smoke alarms)\ EMERGENCY RESPONSE -- EMR is essential; Deployment should be responsive to the unique aspects of the community served. Step 4 -- Prepare the CRR Plan - Use input from FD and community groups Step 5 -- Implementation Step 6 -- Monitoring, evaluating and modifying **Educating the Public about the Risks** - An in-home fire and safety survey is one way to educate the public about fire and non-fire hazards - Recommend these simple precautions to prevent some of these emergencies: - Pools must be properly enclosed. - Furniture, televisions, and appliances must be properly secured to prevent tip-overs. - Medicines and chemicals must be stored where children cannot access them. - Stairs and balconies need handrails and guards. - Domestic hot water temperature should not exceed 120°F (49°C). **Fire and Life Safety Survey** - Conduct the Survey systematic fashion - Point out hazards, explain the reasons for making recommendations, and answer any questions the occupants may have. - Check both the inside and the outside of the home. - Outside the house, make sure that the house number, or address, is clearly visible from the street and exits are not obstructed. - Recommend that fireplaces and chimneys be inspected annually. - Inside the house, systematically inspect each room for fire hazards, and explain why different situations are considered potential fire hazards. - Stress the importance of using power strips that contain circuit breakers to prevent overloading of extension cords. - Help the occupant identify escape routes. - Explain the importance of housekeeping and storage. - Explain the importance of good housekeeping and the need to clear junk out of garages, basements, and storage areas. - Stress the importance of keeping ignition sources away from combustible materials and keeping bedroom doors closed to limit fire growth and spread. - Gasoline and other flammable liquids should be stored only in approved containers and in outside storage areas or outbuildings. - Propane tanks, such as those used in gas grills should also be stored outside or in outbuildings. - Small quantities of flammable and combustible liquids (such as paint, thinners, varnishes, and cleaning fluids) should be stored in closed metal containers away from heat sources. - Oily or greasy rags should also be stored in closed metal containers. - It is especially important to discuss the risk of children playing with lighters and matches, leaving food cooking on the stove unattended, and storing combustibles such as towels, potholders, and cooking oils too close to the stove. - If the room contains a fireplace, a wood stove, or a portable heater, ensure that no combustible materials are stored nearby. - A fireplace should have a screen to keep sparks and hot embers from escaping. - If solid fuels are used, the chimney or flue pipe should be professionally inspected at least once each year. - Review and test fire protection measures - Always look for fire protection equipment such as smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and fire extinguishers. - Make sure there are working smoke alarms on each floor, in the corridor outside each sleeping area, and in each bedroom. - Make sure that any fire alarm or suppression equipment in the home is properly installed, maintained, and operational. - It is recommended that homeowners maintain fully charged fire extinguishers in basements and garages. - Every kitchen should be equipped with an approved ABC-rated fire extinguisher. - Take the time to test all smoke alarms and recommend adding additional alarms if some areas are not protected. - Some fire departments install one or more smoke alarms at no cost in any dwelling that lacks this important protection. - Your goal should be to educate the occupant about common fire hazards. - Listen Carefully. - Listen carefully to the occupants because their questions will enable you to address any special concerns or correct inaccurate information. - Talk to the occupants, and take time to answer their questions fully. - Continue to emphasize the importance of smoke alarms, home exit plans, and fire drills. Provide any available educational materials that address safety issues, such as the: - Installation and maintenance of smoke alarms - Role of residential fire sprinklers in preventing fire deaths - Selection and use of portable fire extinguishers - File the report. - After you have completed a home fire safety survey or any other type of inspection, you must file your report according to your department's policies. - If you identified hazards that require action or follow-up, discuss them with your company officer or a designated representative from the code enforcement office. **Residential Smoke Alarms** - Most common type of residential fire alarm is the single-station smoke alarm. - Smoking alarms can either be battery or hardwired, or both - Alarms in new construction must be hardwired and interconnected. - Older residences have battery-operated alarms - **NFPA 72, *National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code,* outlines recommendations for fire protection equipment.** - Reference your department's policies before making recommendations **Ionization and Photoelectric Smoke Alarms** Ionization -- Activated by the smaller, invisible products of combustion - Work on the principle that burning materials release many different products of combustion, including electrically charged microscopic particles - Sense the presence of these invisible charged particles (ions) - Contain a very small amount of radioactive material inside their inner chamber that releases charged particles into the chamber - A small electric current flows between two plates; when smoke particles enter the chamber, they neutralize the charged particles and interrupt the current flow. - The alarm senses this interruption and activates. - React more quickly than photoelectric smoke alarms to fast-burning fires, which may, at first, produce little visible smoke - Are more susceptible to nuisance alarms from common activities such as light smoke from cooking and steam from a shower Photoelectric -- Activated by the larger, visible products of combustion - Use a light beam and a photocell to detect larger visible particles of smoke - When visible particles of smoke enter the inner chamber, they reflect some of the light onto the photocell, thereby activating the alarm. - Are more responsive to slow-burning or smoldering fires, which usually produces a large quantity of visible smoke - Are less prone to false alarms from steam Combination - Quickly react to both fast-burning and smoldering fires - Are not suitable for use near kitchens or bathrooms because they are prone to the same nuisance alarms as regular ionization smoke detectors - Be sure to explain to and remind homeowners of the importance of properly installing and maintaining smoke alarms as recommended by **NFPA 72, *National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code:*** - Test smoke alarms once a month using the test button. - Change alkaline batteries in smoke alarms every 6 months. - Replace all smoke alarms every 10 years or if they fail the monthly test. - Clean smoke alarms regularly to prevent false alarms. **[Working With Other Organizations]** - To fulfill its mission, each fire department must interact with other organizations in the community. - When multiple agencies work together at an incident, a unified command must be established as part of the **incident command system (ICS).** - A unified command system: - Eliminates multiple command posts - Establishes a single set of incident goals and objectives - Ensures mutual communication and cooperation - Although there can be only one IC at each scene, each agency must have input in handling an emergency. **Fire Department Governance** The governance of a fire department depends on regulations, standards, policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Regulations - Developed by various governments or authorized organizations to implement a law that has been passed by government body. - These regulations may apply to activities within the fire department Standards - Standards are issued by non-governmental entities and are generally consensus based. - A standard may be voluntary, meaning that the standards can be adopted by an authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) as a requirement for that area. - Organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Code Council (ICC) issue voluntary consensus-based codes and standards that set the expected construction, performance, and operation of many aspects of fire service operations. - It is important to understand that these standards are designed to help you become a more efficient, competent, and safe fire fighter. - Most fire departments have access to these standards. Policies - Policies are developed to provide definitive guidelines for present and future actions. - Fire department policies, for example, outline what is expected in stated conditions. - These policies often require personnel to make judgments and to determine the best course of action within the stated policy. - Policies governing parts of a fire department's operations may be developed by other government agencies, such as personnel policies that cover all employees of a city or county. Standard Operating Procedures - Standard operating procedures (SOPs) provide specific information on the actions that should be taken to accomplish a certain task. - SOPs are developed within the fire department, are approved by the chief of the department, and ensure that all members of the department perform a given task in the same manner. - They provide a uniform way of dealing with emergency situations, enabling fire fighters from different stations or companies to work together smoothly. - Fire fighters must learn and frequently review departmental SOPs. - In some fire departments, standard operating guidelines (SOGs) are utilized. - SOGs are similar to SOPs; however, SOGs may vary due to circumstances surrounding a particular incident. - SOGs are not as strict as SOPs, because conditions may dictate that the fire fighter or officer use his or her personal judgment. **[Organization of the Fire Service]** **Company Types and Apparatus** Engine Company - An engine company is responsible for securing a water source, deploying handlines, conducting search and rescue operations, and putting water on the fire. - Each fire engine, also referred to as a pumper, has a pump, carries hoses, and maintains a booster tank of water. - The terms pumper and engine are used interchangeably in this module. - Engines also carry a limited quantity of ladders and hand tools. Truck Company - A truck company specializes in forcible entry, ventilation, roof operations, search and rescue, and deployment of ground ladders. - Each fire truck, also referred to as ladder company, tower ladder company, ladder truck, or aerial ladder, carries several ground ladders, ranging from 8 feet to 50 feet in length, as well as an extensive quantity of tools. - Trucks are also equipped with an aerial device, such as an aerial ladder, tower ladder, or ladder/platform. - These aerial devices can be raised and positioned above a roof to provide fire fighters with a stable, safe work zone. Rescue Company - A rescue company usually is responsible for rescuing victims from fires, confined spaces, trenches, and high-angle situations. - Rescue companies carry an extensive array of regular and specialized tools. Wildland/bush Company - A wildland/brush company is dispatched to vegetation fires, and they are specifically designed to work in this type of environment. - Because they often work in rough terrain, wildland/brush companies use four-wheel drive vehicles. - They carry a tank of water and a pump that enables them to pump water while the truck is moving. - These companies also carry special firefighting equipment such as portable pumps, McLeod rakes, shovels, and chainsaws. Hazardous materials Company - A hazardous materials company responds to and controls scenes involving spilled or leaking hazardous chemicals. - These companies have special equipment, PPE, and training to handle most emergencies involving chemicals. Emergency Medical Service Company - An EMS company may include medical units such as ambulances or first-response vehicles. - These companies respond to and assist in transporting medical and trauma victims to medical facilities for further treatment. - They often carry medications, defibrillators, and other equipment that can stabilize a critical patient during transport. - Engine or truck companies may be staffed with EMS providers who act as first responders until a transport ambulance arrives. Additional Apparatus - **Quint apparatus**: "Quint" is short for "quintuple," meaning five. The quint apparatus has five functions associated with it: pump, water tank, fire hose storage, aerial, and ground ladders. - **Initial attack apparatus**: The primary purpose of the initial attack apparatus is to initiate a fire suppression attack on structural, vehicular, or vegetation fires. Also referred to as the quick attack apparatus - **Mobile water supply apparatus**: The mobile water supply apparatus is designed to transport water to emergency scenes. It may or may not have a pump. This apparatus is also referred to as a tanker or water tender. **Other Views of Fire Service Organization** Staffing - A fire department must have sufficient trained personnel available to respond to a fire at any hour of the day, every day of the year. - In volunteer departments, it is particularly important to ensure that enough responders are available at all times, particularly during the day. - Some volunteer departments have been forced to hire full-time fire fighters during daytime hours to ensure sufficient personnel are available to respond to an incident; these organizations are referred to as combination departments. - Fire departments can be organized along functional lines. - For example, the training division is responsible for leading and coordinating department-wide training activities. - Truck companies have certain functional responsibilities at a fire. - Hazardous materials squads have different functional responsibilities that support the overall mission of the fire department. - Each fire department is responsible for a specific geographic area. - Each station in the department is assigned the primary responsibility for a geographic area within the community. - Fire stations are distributed in a manner intended to ensure a rapid response time, which enables the efficient distribution and use of specialized equipment. **Chain of Command** Chain of command is the structure for managing the department and the fire-ground operations. - Ranks may vary by department, but the concept is the same. - The lieutenant is responsible for a single company on a single shift. - The captain is responsible for coordinating activities with other shifts. - Chiefs - A battalion chief is responsible for coordinating activities of companies in a defined geographic area. - An assistant/division chief oversees a functional area. - The chief of the department has overall responsibility for administration and operations. **Source of Authority** - All levels of governments are charged with protecting the welfare of the public against common threats such as fire. - The fire service draws its authority from the governing entity responsible for protecting the public from fire. - The head of the fire department (the fire chief) is accountable to the leaders of the governing body. - Fire fighters should consider themselves to be civil servants, working for the tax-paying citizens who fund the fire department. - The ultimate customers for a fire department are the citizens of a community. **Basic Principles of Organizations** Discipline - Discipline is guiding and directing fire fighters to do what their fire department expects of them. - Positive discipline consists of providing guidelines for the right way of doing things, such as: - Policies - SOPs - Training - Education - Corrective discipline consists of actions taken to discourage inappropriate behavior or poor performance, such as: - Counseling sessions - Formal reprimands - Suspension from duty Division of Labour - Way of organizing an incident by breaking down the overall strategy into a series of smaller tasks. - Some fire departments are divided into units based on function. - Each of these functions can be divided into multiple assignments, which can then be assigned to individual fire fighters. - With division of labor, the specific assignment of a task to an individual makes that person responsible for completing the task and prevents duplication of job assignments. Unity of Command - The concept that each fire fighter answers to only one supervisor, each supervisor answers to only one boss, and so on. - In this way, the chain of command ensures that everyone is answerable to the fire chief and establishes a direct route of responsibility from fire chief to fire fighter. Span of Control - Span of control is the number of people that one person can supervise effectively. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the span of control of personnel is between 3 and 7. - In complex or rapidly changing environments this number may be lower to maintain tighter accountability of personnel. - This is an image **[History of the Fire Service]** - Romans created the first fire department, the *Familia Publica*. - It was composed of enslaved people who had little incentive to take risks or protect property. - Later, the Corps of Vigiles, a group of free men, was organized to prevent fires, fight fires, and inspect buildings. - The Corps of Vigiles adopted the formal rank structure that continues to be used by today's fire departments. **American Fire Service** - Methods for fighting fires have evolved from around the colonial period until the present. - After the first documented structure fire in 1607, local ordinances required use of less flammable building material and mandated that fires be banked at night. - In 1630, the city of Boston established the first fire regulations in North America when it banned wood chimneys and thatched roofs. - Fire wardens-imposed fines on homeowners who did not obey these regulations; the money collected was used to pay for firefighting equipment. - The first paid department in the United States was established in Boston in 1679. - Ben Franklin started the first volunteer department in the United States in Philadelphia in 1735. **Building Codes** - Egyptians used codes to prevent building collapse. - Colonial communities had few codes. - Codes evolved to cover construction material and required built-in fire prevention and safety measures. For example: - Fire detection equipment that notifies occupants and the fire department - Built-in fire suppression to prevent large fires that overwhelm recourses - Multiple routes that alarm and open outward to allow quick and safe escape - Today's codes are uniform and adopted across the United States. **Training and Education** - Today's fire fighters operate high-tech, costly equipment. For example: - Thermal imaging cameras - Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) - The most important "machines" remain the intelligent, knowledgeable, well-trained, physically capable fire fighters. - Fire fighters need to continually sharpen their skills and increase their knowledge. **Fire Equipment** Hooks, Ladders, and Buckets - Today's fire fighters operate high-tech, costly equipment. For example: - Thermal imaging cameras - Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) - The most important "machines" remain the intelligent, knowledgeable, well-trained, physically capable fire fighters. - Fire fighters need to continually sharpen their skills and increase their knowledge. Water Pumps - Hand-powered pumpers were developed in 1720. - As many as 16 strong men were used to power the pump, making it possible to propel a steady stream of water from a safe distance. - In 1829, more powerful steam-powered pumpers replaced the hand-powered pumpers. - Steam engines were heavy machines that were pulled to the fire by a trained team of horses. - They required constant attention, which limited their use to larger cities that could bear the costs of maintaining the horses and the steamers. Fire Engines - The internal combustion engine in the early 1900s greatly changed the fire service and enabled even small towns to have machine-powered pumpers. - Today, both staffed and unstaffed firehouses keep fire engines ready to respond at any hour of the day or night. - Current equipment does not require the constant attention that horses or steam engines did. - Modern fire apparatuses carry water, a pumping mechanism, hoses, equipment, and personnel, using a single apparatus to replace several single-function vehicles from the past. Water Systems - The advent of municipal water systems provided large quantities of water with which to extinguish major fires. - Romans developed the first municipal water systems, just as they had developed the first fire companies. - During the 1800s, water distribution systems were applied to fire suppression efforts. - In 1817, the first fire hydrants were developed in New York City. - Using a valve to control access to the water in the pipes enabled fire fighters to tap into the system whenever a fire occurred. - These valves, or **fireplugs,** were used with both above-ground and below-ground piping systems. Notification Systems - The first public call boxes were introduced in 1860. - They were placed around the city and enabled citizens to send a coded telegraph signal to the fire department, which received the message as a series of bells. - The fire department could determine the location of the fire alarm box being used by the number of bells in the signal. - When fire fighters arrived at the alarm box, the caller could then direct them to the exact location of the fire. - Similar units are still used in many areas but are being replaced by more immediate and effective communications systems. **Communications** - Good communication is vital for effective firefighting, such as: - Summoning fire fighters - Alerting citizens of danger - Coordinating during a firefight - Communications have evolved as the fire service has improved. For example: - Fire wardens and night watchmen were used during colonial period. - Telegraph alarm systems were developed in late 1800s. - Community sirens gradually replaced telegraph systems. - Pagers, two-way radios, telephones, and computer-aided dispatch facilities are used today. **Communications During the Firefight** - Communications during the firefight also have improved over the years. - Before electronic amplification became available, the chief officer shouted commands through his chief's trumpet. - Now, this trumpet symbolizes rank and leadership. - Today, other devices allow fire fighters to always remain in contact with each other: - Two-way radio - Voice amplification systems - SCBA alarms - Personal alert safety system (PASS) devices **Paying for Fire Service** - The first fire wardens were employed by communities and paid for by community funds. - However, insurance companies first funded equipment and fire fighters. - Insured houses were designated with a fire mark. - If two fire companies arrived at a fire, a dispute might arise over which company would collect the money. - To avoid these problems, municipalities began assuming the role of providing fire protection. - Today, departments are generally funded through local tax dollars and community fundraising. **Fire Service in the United States Today** - All career - All of the members of the department are paid, full-time fire fighters. - Combination - These departments include both paid, full-time fire fighters and either on-call fire fighters or volunteers. - Mostly volunteer - More than half of the members in these departments are volunteers, although they do include paid, full-time fire fighters as well. - All volunteer - All of the members of the fire department are volunteer fire fighters.