powered by
Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Introduction to Fire Protection
Course: FSC106

First Term: 1995 Fall
 Lecture   3 Credit(s)   3 Period(s)   3 Load  
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S


Description: History and evaluation of fire department organization. Role of the fire service in the community. Responsibilities of the fire administrator including organization, departmental functions, interdepartmental relationships, management of buildings and equipment; techniques of fire-fighting. Also includes emergency medical services and fire prevention



MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe the role and functions of public and private fire protection organizations. (I)
2. Describe the entrance requirements and career opportunities for firefighters. (II)
3. Describe career opportunities other than firefighting that are available in the fire service. (II)
4. Describe the various operating and support divisions necessary to manage a municipal fire department. (III)
5. Describe major concerns in the fire service relating to apparatus, equipment, and fire facilities. (III)
6. Diagram the fire triangle and the tetrahedron of fire. (IV)
7. List the three types of fuels. (IV)
8. Identify available extinguishing agents and give examples of situations in which each is effective. (IV)
9. Explain the general considerations for developing firefighting tactics and strategy. (V)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Public and private fire protection organizations
   A. Municipal
   B. County
   C. State
   D. Federal
   E. Private
      1. National Fire Protection Association
      2. Underwriter`s Laboratories, Inc.
      3. Fire brigades
   F. Volunteer
II. Planning a fire service career
   A. Requirements for firefighters
      1. Educational
      2. Physical
      3. Character
      4. Limitations
         a. Age
         b. Residency
         c. Other
   B. Firefighter wages, hours, and working conditions
   C. Benefits
      1. Vacation and earned leave
      2. Disability coverage
      3. Retirement
      4. Others
   D. Promotion opportunities
   E. Educational opportunities
   F. Fire service career opportunities in private business and industry
III. Organizing a municipal fire department
   A. Organizational design and chain of command
   B. Operating divisions
      1. Operations
      2. Emergency services
      3. Fire prevention
      4. Emergency medical services
   C. Support divisions
      1. Support services
      2. Personnel
      3. Training and safety
      4. Administrative services
      5. Research and planning
      6. Community services
   D. Record keeping requirements
   E. Fire protection equipment
      1. Apparatus
      2. Allied equipment
      3. Safety equipment
      4. Facilities
IV. Characteristics of fire
   A. Fire triangle
   B. Tetrahedron of fire
   C. Roles of oxygen and heat
   D. Fuels
      1. Solids
      2. Liquids
      3. Gases
   E. Causes of fire
   F. Fire spread
   G. Extinguishing agents
      1. Water
         a. Master streams
         b. Hand lines
         c. Use of fog streams
         d. Use of solid streams
      2. Portable extinguishers
         a. Dry chemical
         b. Carbon dioxide
         c. Others
V. Firefighting tactics and strategy
   A. Importance of preplanning
   B. Tactical priorities
      1. Rescue
      2. Fire control
      3. Property conservation
   C. Strategies
      1. Offensive
      2. Defensive
   D. Support activities
   E. Safety of firefightinng personnel
 
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date:  6/27/1995

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.