Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course is a requirement for completion of the certificate in pre-employment fire protection and may be used as an elective for the Associate of Applied Science degree in Fire Protection.

This course is a core requirement for the AAS degree in Fire Protection for the pre-2013 catalog.  

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the history of the fire service. 
2. Describe the components and development of fire and emergency services. 
3. Identify careers in fire and emergency services.
4. Work safely in a fire station environment.
5. Identify types of fire apparatus and equipment.

Evaluate the culture of the fire service.

Analyze the basic components of fire as a chemical chain reaction, as well as the major phases of fire.

Examine the main factors that influence fire spread and fire behavior.

List and describe the major organizations that provide emergency response service, and illustrate how they interrelate.

Explain the scope, purpose, and organizational structure of fire and emergency services.

Differentiate between fire service training and education.

Explain the value of higher education to the professionalization of the fire service. 

Define the role of national, State, and local support organizations in fire and emergency services.

Describe the common types of fire and emergency service facilities, equipment, and apparatus.

Compare and contrast effective management concepts for various emergency situations.

Identify fire protection and emergency-services careers in both the public and private sector.

Explain the primary responsibilities of fire prevention personnel, including code enforcement, public information, and public and private protection systems.

Develop the components of career preparation and goal setting.

Demonstrate the importance of wellness and fitness as it relates to emergency services. 

The content of the course will be presented in lecture, classroom discussions, role playing, demonstrations, practical skills demonstration as appropriate.  Additional instruction methodology may include guest speaker, research papers, professional publication reviews, written and oral reports, and class presentations.

Methods of assessment may include one or more of the following:

• Various individual and/or group skill building activities such as role-playing scenario based problem solving activities, case studies, or other exercises geared toward critical analysis of course concepts.
• Written assignments or oral reports designed to integrate course material into personal experience or experiences of other.
• Quizzes and exams composed of objective questions and concepts.
• Individual and /or team projects/s which require integration, application, and critical examination of course concepts, issues, and themes.

Objectives

1. Illustrate and explain the history and culture of the fire service. 
2. Analyze the basic components of fire as a chemical chain reaction, the major phases of 
fire, and examine the main factors that influence fire spread and fire behavior. 
3. Differentiate between fire service training and education and explain the value of higher 
education to the professionalization of the fire service. 
4. List and describe the major organizations that provide emergency response service and 
illustrate how they interrelate. 
5. Identify fire protection and emergency-service careers in both the public and private 
sector. 
6. Define the role of national, State and local support organizations in fire and emergency 
services. 
7. Discuss and describe the scope, purpose, and organizational structure of fire and 
emergency services. 
8. Describe the common types of fire and emergency service facilities, equipment, and 
apparatus. 
9. Compare and contrast effective management concepts for various emergency situations. 
10. Identify the primary responsibilities of fire prevention personnel including, code 
enforcement, public information, and public and private protection systems. 
11. Recognize the components of career preparation and goal setting. 
12. Describe the importance of wellness and fitness as it relates to emergency services.