Standard

R State Standard £ Institutionally Developed College: n/a

FSC 121 - Firefighting Strategy and Tactics
Course Description This Course presents the principles of applying fire department resources to mitigate a fire or related emergency. General topics include: principles of fire fighting, size up, engine company operations, hose line selection and placement, water supply, standpipe and sprinkler operations, ladder company operations, forcible entry, ventilation and search and rescue. Specific-fires reviewed will include private dwellings, multiple dwellings, commercial buildings, high-rise structures, buildings under construction, structural collapse, flammable liquid and gas fires and waterfront fires.
Competency Areas	Hours
Fire Behavior	Class	5
Mechanisms of Fire Extinguishment	D. Lab	0
Development of Firefighting	P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
Firefighting Strategy	Credit	5
Firefighting Tactics
Safety on the Fire Ground
Ladder Company Operations
Engine Company Operations
The Action Plan – Working at a Fire
Fire Ground Control and Coordination
The Fire Building – Hindrance or Help
Sprinkler Operations
Pre-fire Planning
Major Fires
The Everyday Fire
Special Problem Fires

Prerequisite:	Program Admission
Corequisite:	n/a

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will be able to:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.
Fire Behavior		2	0	0
	Describe the chemical and physical phenomena of fire.
	Explain the difference between endothermic and exothermic reactions.
	Identify and understand the fire triangle and the complete fire tetrahedron.
	Recognize the difference between flashover and back draft of firefighter safety.
Mechanisms of Fire Extinguishment		3	0	0
	Identify the agents and methods used for extinguishment.
	Explain the theory of fog streams and steam extinguishment.
	Explain the mechanics of solid/straight stream nozzle application.
	Identify the different types of extinguishing agent; how, when, where and why they are used.
Development of Firefighting		3	0	0
	Understand the basic rules of firefighting strategy.
	Understand the influence of the insurance industry on the fire service.
	Understand the differences between European and US fire service practices.
	Explain why Europeans have fewer fires than the US.
Firefighting Strategy		4	0	0
	Define the ideal rate of flow theory.
	Apply the ideal rate of flow theory to a plan/survey for manpower, apparatus and water needs.
	Identify the variable involved with manpower.
	Identify communication procedures and factors on the fire ground.
	Define the importance of chain of command.
Firefighting Tactics		4	0	0
	Explain the 5 main observable tactical considerations.
	Understand the 15 points of size up.
	Be able to explain analysis of the fire situation.
	Describe the greatest hazards to the firefighting force.
Safety on the Fire Ground		4	0	0
	Identify the signs of potential building collapse.
	Recognize the need for safety aids at fire incidents.
	Understand the use of protective clothing and breathing apparatus.
	Identify critical incident stress and the need for a debriefing program.
Ladder Company Operations		3	0	0
	Describe company duties and operations when given a simulated fire ground situation.
	Analyze the importance of company positioning at fires.
	Analyze the following factors and explain their importance to ladder company operations.
	Understand the acronym “ROVERS.”
Engine Company Operations		3	0	0
	Describe the following factors and explain their importance to engine company operations.
	Hydrant maintenance.
	Pumping – tandem in line, from hydrant.
	Drafting.
	Delivering.
The Action Plan – Working at a Fire		3	0	0
	Define the basis of the action plan.
	Be able to analyze the 13-point action plan and explain their importance.
	Demonstrate their knowledge of the action plan given situational problems.
Fire Ground Control and Coordination		3	0	0
	Describe how the fire ground relates to leadership under stress.
	Relate the principles of firefighting which incident commanders must adheres to if they are to properly carry out their functions.
	Identify the need for mutual aid.
	Recognize the need for dividing the job into units.
	Identify general procedures for positioning fire companies on the emergency scene.
	Demonstrate knowledge of strategy and tactics from fire ground situational problems provided.
The Fire Building – Hindrance and Help		2	0	0
	Identify structural features that affect fire spread.
	Describe fire travel.
	Define mushrooming.
	Classify variations of a building collapse.
	Designate types of construction and explain factor to be considered pertaining to collapse.
	Understand the difference between heavy timber and unprotected steel construction.
Sprinkler Operations		3	0	0
	Describe the types of sprinkler systems.
	Analyze the following factors and explain their importance of sprinkler systems: Inspection Pre-fire planning for use Supplying the system Shutting down the system
	Understand the limitation and reasons for failure of sprinkler systems.
Pre-fire Planning		3	0	0
	Define a checklist for pre-fire planning.
	Complete a pre-fire plan.
	Define what a questionnaire guide will analyze.
	Explain the benefits of conducting a post fire analysis.
	Understand the concept of stressing non-variables on a pre-fire plan.
Major Fires		3	0	0
	List the major logistical factors in handling a major fire.
	Illustrate the command structure for a large scale operation including the chain of command.
	Understand the term “narrowing the fire front.”
	Recognize the factors involved in mutual aid request.
	Be able to identify the various smoke colors form different combustibles.
	Understand the impact of plastics in fires.
	Explain the special problems that are inherent in: Dwelling fires Mercantile fires Taxpayer fires Multiple dwelling fires Garden apartment fires Factory fires
The Everyday Fire		3	0	0
	Identify the various smoke colors form different combustibles.
	Understand the impact of plastics in fires.
	Explain the special problems that are inherent in: Dwelling fires Mercantile fires Taxpayer fires Multiple dwelling fires Garden apartment fires Factory fires
Special Problem Fires		4	0	0
	Define high-rise buildings.
	Understand the various ways that fire spreads.
	Explain standpipe and their advantages.
	Be able to explain standpipe and their advantages.
	Explain the problems inherent in: Lofts High rises Flammable liquids Pyrophoric metals Chemicals Places of public assembly Schools Motor vehicles Rapid transit Freight trains Ships Piers Rural Hospitals Shopping centers Lumber and other outdoor storage

Suggested Resources

Media (text/audio/ visual/www/ other)	Author	Title: Subtitle	Edition	Place of Publication	Year	Publisher/Publication	pp.
Text	Clark, W.E.	Fire Fighting Principles and Practices	2^nd	Fair Lawn, NJ	1991	Fire Engineering ISBN 0-87814-920-1

Posted: 06/23/08