Firefighter IIIFirefighter IIIIntroduction

Mod A

3-1.1. Identify the Firefighter III’s role 3-1.1. Identify the Firefighter III’s role as a member of the organization. (4-as a member of the organization. (4-2.1)2.1)

The role of a firefighter III is that of a person that can The role of a firefighter III is that of a person that can function as a firefighter on his or her own, without function as a firefighter on his or her own, without direct supervision. This is not to say that a firefighter direct supervision. This is not to say that a firefighter III can free lance on the emergency ground, but may be III can free lance on the emergency ground, but may be able to make decisions that certainly can help mitigate able to make decisions that certainly can help mitigate a situation or act as a mentor to lesser trained a situation or act as a mentor to lesser trained firefighters (example in Illinois- firefighter II or a firefighters (example in Illinois- firefighter II or a person that serves the role as firefighter through their person that serves the role as firefighter through their department or fire protection district). Mentoring department or fire protection district). Mentoring would include aspects of training, basic SOPs/SOG/s for would include aspects of training, basic SOPs/SOG/s for that specific department, what extra equipment that that specific department, what extra equipment that firefighter might need to do their job better, look out firefighter might need to do their job better, look out for the safety of those lesser-trained firefighters in for the safety of those lesser-trained firefighters in training or during an emergency situation. Finally, a training or during an emergency situation. Finally, a firefighter III is an individual that could take over the firefighter III is an individual that could take over the role of a company officer in the event of an emergency role of a company officer in the event of an emergency and still be able to safely mitigate a positive out come and still be able to safely mitigate a positive out come to the situation. to the situation.

3-1.2. Identify the function of each of the 3-1.2. Identify the function of each of the bureaus of a large fire department.bureaus of a large fire department.

A. Command- Department members are A. Command- Department members are responsible for overall command of an incident. responsible for overall command of an incident. These firefighters would command firefighters These firefighters would command firefighters that are assigned at the battalion chief level, or that are assigned at the battalion chief level, or Command Assistant Chief where these officers Command Assistant Chief where these officers would respond to major incidents and take would respond to major incidents and take command of the operation to mitigate a positive command of the operation to mitigate a positive outcome. If the incident were larger yet, the outcome. If the incident were larger yet, the Deputy Chief or Department Chief would Deputy Chief or Department Chief would respond and take general command. This level respond and take general command. This level would see the Chief using his battalion chiefs or would see the Chief using his battalion chiefs or assistant chiefs as division commanders.assistant chiefs as division commanders.

3-1.2. Identify the function of each of 3-1.2. Identify the function of each of the bureaus of a large fire the bureaus of a large fire department.department.

B. Operations-Department members are B. Operations-Department members are responsible for managing all operations responsible for managing all operations that directly affect the primary mission that directly affect the primary mission of eliminating the problem.of eliminating the problem.

C. Planning- Department members C. Planning- Department members collect, evaluate, disseminate, and use collect, evaluate, disseminate, and use information concerning the development information concerning the development of pre-incident plans and tracking status of pre-incident plans and tracking status of previously made pre-incident plans.of previously made pre-incident plans.

3-1.2. Identify the function of each of 3-1.2. Identify the function of each of the bureaus of a large fire the bureaus of a large fire department.department.

D. Logistics- Department members are D. Logistics- Department members are responsible for providing facilities, responsible for providing facilities, services, and materials to support the services, and materials to support the incident.incident.

E. Finance/Administration- Department E. Finance/Administration- Department members are responsible for tracking and members are responsible for tracking and documenting costs and financial aspects of documenting costs and financial aspects of the incident.the incident.

F. Fire Prevention Officer:F. Fire Prevention Officer:a)      Conducts technical and supervisory a)      Conducts technical and supervisory

work in the fire prevention program. work in the fire prevention program. b)      Participates in field enforcement of b)      Participates in field enforcement of

local state laws and ordinances.local state laws and ordinances.

3-1.2. Identify the function of each of 3-1.2. Identify the function of each of the bureaus of a large fire the bureaus of a large fire department.department.

G. Fire and Arson Investigators: G. Fire and Arson Investigators: a)      Determine cause of the fire. a)      Determine cause of the fire. b)      May investigate incendiary fires.b)      May investigate incendiary fires. H. Public Education Specialists conduct public fire H. Public Education Specialists conduct public fire

prevention and fire safety programs.prevention and fire safety programs. I. Fire Protection Specialists:I. Fire Protection Specialists: a)  Review plans for compliance with life safety a)  Review plans for compliance with life safety

requirements. requirements. b)  Assists in planning for long-range fire b)  Assists in planning for long-range fire

protection programs.protection programs.

3-1.3.      Identify the functions of the staff 3-1.3.      Identify the functions of the staff and line positions in a fire department.and line positions in a fire department.

Staff:Staff:1.      Provide:1.      Provide:

a)      Advicea)      Advice b)      Assistanceb)      Assistance c)      Administrative supportc)      Administrative support d)      Technical supportd)      Technical support 2.       Does not have authority over other members of the 2.       Does not have authority over other members of the

organization.organization. 3.       Does have authority over activities within their 3.       Does have authority over activities within their

area:area: a)      Fire prevention officera)      Fire prevention officer b)      Training officerb)      Training officer c)      Communications officerc)      Communications officer d)      Maintenance officer/ personnel officerd)      Maintenance officer/ personnel officer

3-1.3.      Identify the functions of the 3-1.3.      Identify the functions of the staff and line positions in a fire staff and line positions in a fire department.department.

Chief:Chief: Chief is responsible for the overall function of the Chief is responsible for the overall function of the department. This includes overseeing the functions of department. This includes overseeing the functions of each of the above listed divisions. The Chief is legally each of the above listed divisions. The Chief is legally responsible for the day-to-day operations of the responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department. I(n very extreme circumstances, the Chief department. I(n very extreme circumstances, the Chief may be called to take command of a very serious incident. may be called to take command of a very serious incident. Chief is also legally responsible for cause and Chief is also legally responsible for cause and determination of fires.determination of fires.

Deputy Chief:Deputy Chief: In larger departments the Deputy In larger departments the Deputy Chief is second in command or executive officer Chief is second in command or executive officer to the Chief. The Deputy Chief is responsible to the Chief. The Deputy Chief is responsible directly to the Chief and will be responsible in directly to the Chief and will be responsible in assisting the Chief in all of the Chief’s duties. assisting the Chief in all of the Chief’s duties. In extreme circumstances, the Deputy Chief In extreme circumstances, the Deputy Chief may be called to take command of a serious may be called to take command of a serious incident. In smaller departments the Deputy incident. In smaller departments the Deputy Chief is probably responsible for commanding Chief is probably responsible for commanding most emergency incidents, or being second in most emergency incidents, or being second in command directions company officers via command directions company officers via orders from the chief. (Sometimes the position orders from the chief. (Sometimes the position is called Assistant Chief, in smaller is called Assistant Chief, in smaller departments).departments).

Assistant Chief:Assistant Chief: In smaller departments the Assistant Chief In smaller departments the Assistant Chief would perform the duties listed above for Deputy Chiefs in would perform the duties listed above for Deputy Chiefs in smaller departments. In larger departments the Assistant smaller departments. In larger departments the Assistant Chiefs are placed in command of the divisions that are listed Chiefs are placed in command of the divisions that are listed in the questions above (command, operations, planning, in the questions above (command, operations, planning, logistics, finance, fire marshal, etc.) Assistant Chiefs could logistics, finance, fire marshal, etc.) Assistant Chiefs could be called to the scene to take command of larger incidents be called to the scene to take command of larger incidents that directly come under the command or significantly involve that directly come under the command or significantly involve their department to mitigate a positive conclusion to the their department to mitigate a positive conclusion to the incident. In larger departments, Assistant Chiefs are incident. In larger departments, Assistant Chiefs are supervisor over a certain number of battalions.supervisor over a certain number of battalions.

Battalion Chief:Battalion Chief: By definition, a battalion is a grouping of 2 or By definition, a battalion is a grouping of 2 or more companies. The Battalion Chief is responsible for the more companies. The Battalion Chief is responsible for the overall supervision of the companies under the Battalion overall supervision of the companies under the Battalion Chief’s command, and would be directly involved in Chief’s command, and would be directly involved in commanding incidents that involved their battalion directly.commanding incidents that involved their battalion directly.

Captain (Station Officer):Captain (Station Officer): Captains function as a direct Captains function as a direct supervisor over lower level company officers (lieutenants) and supervisor over lower level company officers (lieutenants) and act as station officer. Captains can act as company officers act as station officer. Captains can act as company officers themselves when it is their shift. Captains can act as incident themselves when it is their shift. Captains can act as incident commanders, based upon the size of the incident. Finally commanders, based upon the size of the incident. Finally Captains’ duties as a station officer, is to oversee the Captains’ duties as a station officer, is to oversee the operations of the entire staff: including the other two shift operations of the entire staff: including the other two shift officers, training of all members of that company, that officers, training of all members of that company, that preplans and inspection are done and kept up to date.preplans and inspection are done and kept up to date.

Lieutenant (Company Officer):Lieutenant (Company Officer): Lieutenant acts as a company Lieutenant acts as a company officer and is directly responsible for the people in his officer and is directly responsible for the people in his company. The number one responsibility of the company company. The number one responsibility of the company officer is the safety of himself and his company. 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 officer is responsible for the day to day activities of the fire company; which would include: emergency responses, training company; which would include: emergency responses, training of his company, inspections and pre-planning and other jobs of his company, inspections and pre-planning and other jobs as detailed by that departments policies and procedures.as detailed by that departments policies and procedures.

Firefighter Apparatus Driver/ Operator:Firefighter Apparatus Driver/ Operator: The FAE is The FAE is responsible for safely driving the apparatus to and responsible for safely driving the apparatus to and from the incident scene and performing his duties from the incident scene and performing his duties once upon the scene. The FAE is also responsible once upon the scene. The FAE is also responsible for inspecting the apparatus they drive, to make for inspecting the apparatus they drive, to make sure that the vehicle is in safe operating condition.sure that the vehicle is in safe operating condition.

Firefighter:Firefighter: The person that is responsible for The person that is responsible for performing the tasks necessary for bringing a safe performing the tasks necessary for bringing a safe outcome to an incident. The firefighter is directly outcome to an incident. The firefighter is directly supervised by the company officer, and is to follow supervised by the company officer, and is to follow any lawful order issued by the company officer. The any lawful order issued by the company officer. The firefighter’s number one responsibility is personal firefighter’s number one responsibility is personal safety.safety.

Aircraft Rescue/Firefighter:Aircraft Rescue/Firefighter: Responsible for responding to Responsible for responding to incidents at the airport. Drive incidents at the airport. Drive specialized apparatus to the scene of specialized apparatus to the scene of the emergency and are specially the emergency and are specially trained in the skills necessary for trained in the skills necessary for mitigating emergencies related to mitigating emergencies related to aircraft.aircraft.

Training Officer:Training Officer: Administers the Administers the department’s training program.department’s training program.

Emergency Medical Services:Emergency Medical Services:1. First Responder:1. First Responder:a)      First persons responding to a)      First persons responding to

emergency callsemergency callsb)      Only life saving skills and b)      Only life saving skills and

equipmentequipment2. Emergency Medical Technician:2. Emergency Medical Technician:a)      Provides Basic Life Supporta)      Provides Basic Life Support3. Paramedic: Provides advanced life 3. Paramedic: Provides advanced life

supportsupport

3-1.4. Identify Nation, State, and 3-1.4. Identify Nation, State, and Local Standards as they apply to the Local Standards as they apply to the Fire Department.Fire Department.

Standards set down at the Standards set down at the NationalNational Levels come from Levels come from several different organizations. The two main several different organizations. The two main organizations are the:organizations are the:

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The NFPA mission is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire The NFPA mission is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire

and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating scientifically- based consensus codes and advocating scientifically- based consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA standards, research, training, and education. NFPA provides policies that set minimum standards practices for provides policies that set minimum standards practices for the fire service.the fire service.

For example:For example: A       NFPA “1000 Series”A       NFPA “1000 Series” a)      NFPA 1001 Firefighter Professional a)      NFPA 1001 Firefighter Professional

QualificationsQualifications b)      NFPA 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/ b)      NFPA 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/

Operator Professional QualificationsOperator Professional Qualifications c)      NFPA 1003 Airport Firefighterc)      NFPA 1003 Airport Firefighter d)      NFPA 1021 Fire Officer Professional d)      NFPA 1021 Fire Officer Professional

QualificationsQualifications e)      NFPA 1031 Fire Inspector Professional e)      NFPA 1031 Fire Inspector Professional

QualificationsQualifications f)        NFPA 1041 Fire Instructor Professional f)        NFPA 1041 Fire Instructor Professional

QualificationsQualifications B. NFPA 472: Competent Responder to B. NFPA 472: Competent Responder to

Hazardous Materials for all levels of Hazardous Materials for all levels of response.response.

STATE:STATE: The office of the State Fire Marshal directs The office of the State Fire Marshal directs

standards set at the state level. The state fire standards set at the state level. The state fire marshal’s office is responsible for the safety, marshal’s office is responsible for the safety, training, building codes, hazardous material training, building codes, hazardous material response, fire incident reports, etc, standards for response, fire incident reports, etc, standards for their respective state. For example in the State of their respective state. For example in the State of Illinois, the OSFM is responsible for training of Illinois, the OSFM is responsible for training of firefighters in Illinois. The OSFM sets the standards firefighters in Illinois. The OSFM sets the standards necessary for the various levels of training and necessary for the various levels of training and keeping track of this training. To help in this tasks, keeping track of this training. To help in this tasks, the OSFM created the Illinois Fire Service Institute, the OSFM created the Illinois Fire Service Institute, to act as the main training body for the fire service to act as the main training body for the fire service in the State of Illinois.in the State of Illinois.

Local standardsLocal standards are designed and implemented by the are designed and implemented by the local fire agency and are believed to be the best methods local fire agency and are believed to be the best methods for handling situations with in their area of the state. Local for handling situations with in their area of the state. Local standards will and probably should include aspects of the standards will and probably should include aspects of the National and State standards. These standards can consist National and State standards. These standards can consist of building codes, to hiring practices, to incident of building codes, to hiring practices, to incident management. These standards may be developed by the management. These standards may be developed by the fire organization or by the government body that oversees fire organization or by the government body that oversees the fire department and will include rules, regulations, and the fire department and will include rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures.standard operating procedures.

SOPs/SOGsSOPs/SOGs

(4-2.2) Command is responsible for all incident activities, (4-2.2) Command is responsible for all incident activities, including the development and implementation of strategic including the development and implementation of strategic decisions. See discussion of command in the above decisions. See discussion of command in the above sections.sections.

The responsibility of incident activities also includes The responsibility of incident activities also includes dealing with the results of these strategic decisions. dealing with the results of these strategic decisions. Command is the authority over the ordering and releasing Command is the authority over the ordering and releasing of resources.of resources.

3-1.6. Identify the responsibilities of the 3-1.6. Identify the responsibilities of the firefighter in transferring command within an firefighter in transferring command within an incident management system.incident management system.(4-2.2)(4-2.2)

The responsibility of the firefighter in transferring of command is The responsibility of the firefighter in transferring of command is as follows:as follows:

A       Transfer command only to an officer of higher rank.A       Transfer command only to an officer of higher rank. B       Officer of the higher rank must be present at the incident B       Officer of the higher rank must be present at the incident

and not in route to the scene.and not in route to the scene. C       The current commander will explain the whole incident to C       The current commander will explain the whole incident to

the incoming commander, including present resources, incoming the incoming commander, including present resources, incoming resources, actions taken up to present time, etc. At this time the resources, actions taken up to present time, etc. At this time the present commander should request the new commander to present commander should request the new commander to repeat all of that information back to the present commander.repeat all of that information back to the present commander.

D       When transferring command, the current firefighter in D       When transferring command, the current firefighter in command will announce over the radio that a transfer of command will announce over the radio that a transfer of command is taking place and who the new commander will be. command is taking place and who the new commander will be. This will prepare the incident teams to hear a new voice when This will prepare the incident teams to hear a new voice when orders are to be given.orders are to be given.