This class provides an understanding of construction types from fire resistive materials such as brick, block, concrete and steel, to wood frame structures. These typical single family and multifamily residential or business occupancies may be balloon frame, “stick built” with full dimensional lumber, or engineered components. The structural members of floor and roof systems are discussed as they relate to their intended purpose and what they do under live and dead loads while under the stress of fire and suppression activities. Openings such as windows, doors, skylights and ventilation shafts are discussed as they relate to the firefighting, search and rescue profile.
This 40-hour course is designed for firefighters who are assigned to or may be assigned to operate fire department apparatus in the normal course of their duties. This course is designed to develop firefighters understanding of mechanical principles of fire pumps and their controls, principles of water and water distribution systems, intake and discharge hydraulics, fire stream production, relay pumping operations, care and maintenance of pumper apparatus, and troubleshooting. Students will practice producing effective fire streams from hydrants, relay operations, and static water sources. Students will also practice determining pump discharge pressures for hydraulic situations that range from single line problems to multiple-line relay operations to provide a solid understanding of fire ground hydraulics and practical solutions to apply these concepts to their department.
This class expands on the basic fire behavior materials learned during initial firefighting training. It focuses on the importance of deducing critical fire characteristics from the attributes of visible smoke. Students will learn how understanding smoke volume, velocity, density, and color can help predict hostile fire events, as well as tactics and strategies that are useful to prevent these events from occurring.