Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Studies characteristics and behavior of fire, fundamentals of physical laws and chemical reactions occurring in fire and fire suppression. Analyzes factors contributing to fire - its cause, rate of burning, heat generation and travel, by-products of combustion, and its confinement, control, and extinguishment. This course is required for an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Fire Protection and fulfills the requirements for the NFPA 1001 requisite knowledge of fire behavior and the DPSST Fire Officer I requirement for Science.  This course is transferable to a degree program in Fire Service Administration at Western Oregon University or Eastern Oregon University.

1. Identify the fundamental theories of fire behavior and combustion. 

2. Differentiate the various types of extinguishing agents. 

3. Meet or exceed National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001: Fire Fighter standard for requisite knowledge of fire combustion and behavior. 

4. Meet or exceed the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards & Training (DPSST) requirement for "Science"  as applied to NFPA 1021 Fire Officer I standard.

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. Identify physical properties of the three states of matter. 
2. Categorize the components of fire. 
3. Explain the physical and chemical properties of fire. 
4. Describe and apply the process of burning. 
5. Define and use basic terms and concepts associated with the chemistry and dynamics of 
fire. 
6. Discuss various materials and their relationship to fires as fuel. 
7. Demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics of water as a fire suppression agent. 
8. Articulate other suppression agents and strategies. 
9. Compare other methods and techniques of fire extinguishments.