Textbook/Other Materials

Supplementary reading:
NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, 2002 edition
Available from NFPA www.nfpa.org

Instructor materials:
Teaching Outline: Revision 11/2003
PowerPoint: Revision 11/2003 

Course Description/Objectives

Description:
This course is designed for the Fire Fighter I who is ready to assume more of a leadership role in a department. This course consists of classes designed to give the student more knowledge of fire ground situations so that he/she can make basic evaluation of safety problems and assume leadership roles in carrying out interior attack and search operations. 

Goals:
The purpose of this course is to specify, in terms of performance objectives, the minimum requirements for professional service as a fire fighter. This course shall cover the requirements for the Fire Fighter II level of progression. 

Objectives:
After completion of the Fire Fighter II course, the candidate must be able to perform the following job performance requirements:

• Complete a basic incident report so that all pertinent information is recorded, the information is accurate, and the report is complete.
• Communicate the need for team assistance so that the supervisor is consistently informed of team needs, departmental SOPs are followed, and the assignment is accomplished safely.
• Extinguish an ignitable liquid fire, operating as a member of a team, given an assignment, an attack line, personal protective equipment, a foam proportioning device, a nozzle, foam concentrates, and a water supply so that the proper type of foam concentrate is selected for the given fuel and conditions, a properly proportioned foam stream is applied to the surface of the fuel to create and maintain a foam blanket, fire is extinguished, reignition is prevented, team protection is maintained with a foam stream, and the hazard is faced until retreat to safe haven is reached.
• Coordinate an interior attack line team’s accomplishment of an assignment in a structure fire so that crew integrity is established; attack techniques are selected for the given level of the fire; attack techniques are communicated to the attack teams; constant team coordination is maintained; fire growth and development is continuously evaluated; search, rescue and ventilation requirements are communicated or managed; hazards are reported to the attack teams; and incident command is apprised of changing conditions.
• Control a flammable gas cylinder fire operating as a member of a team so that crew integrity is maintained, contents are identified, safe havens are identified prior to advancing, open valves are closed, flames are not extinguished unless the leaking gas is eliminated, the cylinder is cooled, cylinder integrity is evaluated, hazardous conditions are recognized and acted upon, and the cylinder is faced during approach and retreat.
• Protect evidence of fire cause and origin so that the evidence is properly noted and protected from further disturbance until investigators can arrive on the scene.
• Extricate a victim entrapped in a motor vehicle as part of a team so that the vehicle is stabilized, the victim can be disentangled without undue further injury, and the hazards are managed.
• Assist rescue operation teams so that procedures are followed, rescue items are quickly recognized and retrieved, and the assignment is completed.
• Prepare a pre-incident survey so that all required occupancy information is recorded, items of concern are noted, and accurate sketches or diagrams are prepared.
• Maintain power plants, power tools, and lighting equipment so that equipment is clean and maintained according to manufacturer and departmental guidelines, maintenance is recorded, and equipment is placed in a ready state or reported otherwise.
• Perform an annual service test on fire hose so that procedures are followed, the condition of the hose is evaluated, any damaged hose is removed from service, and the results are recorded.
• Test the operability of and flow from a fire hydrant so that the readiness of the hydrant is assured and the flow of water from the hydrant is assured and the flow of water from the hydrant can be calculated and recorded.

Please note: Test questions are taken from the instructor's lecture AND the assigned reading. While some questions from the assigned reading may not be covered during class due to time constraints, students are responsible for knowing and understanding ALL information assigned in the syllabus.

Instructional methods: Classroom instruction and hands-on practicals 

Course Schedule 

 (Tentative, subject to change depending on the progress of the class) 

Monday:
Welcome and Orientation; Safety; Building Construction

Tuesday: 
Rescue and Extrication; Forcible Entry

Wednesday:
Water Supply; Fire Hose; Fire Streams and Foam

Thursday:
Fire Detection and Suppression Systems; Fire Department Communications; Fire Prevention and Public Fire Education

Friday:
Fire Control; Protecting Evidence for Fire Cause Determination; Review and Critique; Certification Exam 

Course Policies

Tardiness:
Students must adhere to class schedules. Students are required to be punctual for all classes and class activities. Classes will begin promptly at the scheduled time unless specific instructions are given otherwise. 

Class participation:
This course will involve discussion, questions and answers on the materials, and case study. Class participation is expected from all students. 

Safety:
Safety of the students is top priority to the Alabama Fire College. Students must adhere to safety regulations while attending a class on or off the Fire College campus.  At the Fire College campus, safety instructions are posted in every classroom, as well as escape routes and tornado actions. 

Academic misconduct:
Academic misconduct or dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism is not permitted in class. Suspected cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the Executive Director. Conduct detrimental to the fire service on or off campus will not be tolerated.  We will investigate any complaints, and if the complaint is valid the student will be dismissed and his/her agency will be notified. 

Grading:
Letter grades are assigned according to the following system for all certification courses for which students have registered.
A – Excellent (90-100)
B – Good (80-89)
C – Average (70-79)
Satisfactory grades for certification are A, B, or C. A mark of AU is assigned for course work performed as an audit.

Certification:
There will be an examination for state certification provided by the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission. An overall score of 70% is required to the successful completion of this examination. Re-tests may be taken after 30 days and within 12 months of the date of course completion. The Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission is accredited by the National Professional Qualifications System (NPQS). The Executive Director has generously decided to fund national registration and certification for all successful students, so each student will automatically receive certification from the NPQS upon successful completion of the course and exam.

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