Essentials of Fire Fighting,

1

• Essentials of Fire Fighting,
• 5th Edition

Chapter 19 Fire Department Communications
Firefighter I II
2
Chapter 19 Lesson Goal

• After completing this lesson, the student shall
  be able to communicate effectively by radio and
  telephone following the policies and procedures
  set forth by the authority having jurisdiction
  (AHJ).

3
Specific Objectives

• 1. Describe communication responsibilities of
  the firefighter.
• 2. Summarize necessary skills for fire
  department communication.
• 3. Describe basic communications equipment used
  in telecommunications centers.

4
Specific Objectives

• 4. Describe basic business telephone courtesies.
  
• 5. Explain how a firefighter should proceed when
  receiving emergency calls from the public.
• 6. Describe types of public alerting systems.

5
Specific Objectives

• 7. Describe procedures that the public should
  use to report a fire or other emergency.
• 8. Discuss ways of alerting fire department
  personnel to emergencies.
• 9. Summarize guidelines for radio
  communications.

6
Specific Objectives

• 10. Describe information given in arrival and
  progress reports.
• 11. Explain the purpose of tactical channels.
• 12. Discuss calls for additional resources and
  emergency radio traffic.

7
Specific Objectives

• 13. Discuss evacuation signals and personnel
  accountability reports.
• 14. Handle business calls and reports of
  emergencies. (Skill Sheet 19-I-1)
• 15. Use a portable radio for routine and
  emergency traffic. (Skill Sheet 19-I-2)
• Create an incident report. (Skill Sheet 19-II-1)
  

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Communication Responsibilities Telecommunicator

• Has a role which is different from but just as
  important as other personnel
• Usually full-time professional communications
  specialists

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Communication Responsibilities Telecommunicator

• Must process calls from unknown and unseen
  individuals who are under stressful situations

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Communication Responsibilities Telecommunicator

• Must be able to obtain complete, reliable
  information
• Must gather information from the caller, then
  dispatch emergency responders

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Communication Responsibilities Telecommunicator

• Must know where emergency resources are in
  relation to the reported incident
• Need to know not only which units to assign but
  also how to alert

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Communication Responsibilities Telecommunicator

• Must stay in contact with the Incident Commander
  (IC)
• Must keep records of each request for assistance

13
Customer Service

• Consumer of emergency services is the general
  public
• Telecommunicator has first contact with the
  public during an emergency
• Often receive calls from people in the community
  seeking assistance or information

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Necessary Traits or Personal Characteristics

• Adjust to various levels of activity
• Handle multitasking
• Make decisions and judgments based on common
  sense and values
• Maintain composure
• Form conclusions from disassociated facts.

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Necessary Traits or Personal Characteristics

• Handle criticism
• Remember and recall information
• Deal with verbal abuse
• Function under stress
• Maintain confidentiality

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Communication Skills

• Basic reading skills
• Basic writing skills
• Ability to speak clearly
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions
  

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Map Reading

• Critical to be able to look at a map and locate
  specific points

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Map Reading

• Wildland responsibilities
• Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems
• Automatic Vehicle Locating (AVL) system
• Cellular phones

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Common Communications Equipment

• Two-way base radio
• Tone-generating equipment
• Telephones
• Direct-line phones

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Common Communications Equipment

• Computers
• Recording systems or devices
• Alarm-receiving equipment

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Alarm-Receiving Equipment

• Telephones
• Commercial phone systems
• Direct lines
• TDD/TTY/text phone
• Wireless (cellular)

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Alarm-Receiving Equipment

• Fax machines
• Radios
• Base radios, mobile radios, portable radios

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Radio Guidelines

• Realize that all radio transmissions can be
  monitored
• Use self-discipline and good judgment

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Radio Guidelines

• Plan exactly what is intended to be said.
• Do not use slang or jargon.
• It is inappropriate to use anyones name in a
  radio message.

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Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) Systems

• Assist or aid the performance of the
  telecommunicator
• Can shorten response times or enable a greater
  volume of calls
• Can reduce the amount of radio traffic

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Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) Systems

• Available in various designs
• May not be needed by smaller organizations

27
Recording Information

• Voice recorders
• Document information
• Accurate account of operations
• Protect in case of litigation
• Document evidence
• Continuously running
• Intermittently running

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Recording Information

• Radio logs
• Record the incident and location of each activity
• A manual system written on paper
• Usually a chronological recording
• Include incident information

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Objectives

• Role play listening exercise
• Discuss the importance of using clear plain text
  in radio communications.
• Discuss Guidelines for radio communications,
  on-scene report and progress reports.
• Demonstrate receiving an emergency call
• Discuss evacuation signals and personnel
  accountability reports.

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Scenario

• A southbound truck was turning right while a
  northbound sports car was attempting to turn
  left. When the two drivers figured out they were
  trying to turn into the same lane, they both
  honked but continued to turn without slowing
  down. In fact, the sports car seemed to speed up
  just before the crash.

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• Once upon a time there was an office worker who
  hated her job.
• And every day she drove the 10 miles to work,
  usually speeding because she couldn't bring
  herself to leave home on time.
• Until one day while she was speeding along, she
  ran into a trash can someone had left too far
  from the edge of the road.
• And because of that her rearview mirror smacked
  against her passenger side window, cracking the
  glass in the mirror.
• And because of that she took the car to the
  dealer who said it would cost 400 to replace the
  mirror.

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The Badge of a Fire Fighter is the Maltese Cross.
The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection and a
badge of honor. When a courageous band of
crusaders known as The Knights of St. John fought
the Saracens for possession of the holy land,
they encountered a new weapon unknown to European
warriors. As the crusaders advanced on the walls
of the city, they were struck by glass bombs
containing naphtha. When they became saturated
with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens
would hurl a flaming torch into their midst.
Hundreds of the knights were burned alive others
risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms
from dying painful, fiery deaths. Thus, these men
became our first Fire Fighters
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North Carolina was the first colony to declare
its independence from England. According to
legend, in May of 1775, more than 25 of
Mecklenburg County's most prominent citizens
signed a document entitled the Mecklenburg
Declaration of Independence. The predominantly
Scotch Presbyterian leaders of the community now
known as Charlotte set up a government that
granted them more freedom than they had known
under British rule. Some historians have even
suggested that Thomas Jefferson may have borrowed
some of the ideas and language of this document
when he wrote the Declaration of Independence of
1776. The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence
was destroyed by fire, and only a recreation of
the original document exists.
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10 codes/Clear Plain text

• 10-1 Receiving Poor
  
• 10-2 Receiving OK
• 10-4 OK
  
• 10-7 Out of Service
• 10-8 In Service
  
  10-9 Repeat
• 10-10 Negative
  

• 10-17 Enroute
• 10-20 Location
  
• 10-23 Arrived on scene
• 10-24 Finished with last assignment
  
• 10-50 Vehicle Collision

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Basic Telephone Courtesies

• Answer calls promptly
• Be pleasant and identify the department or
  company and self
• Be prepared to record messages accurately

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Basic Telephone Courtesies

• Never leave the line open or a caller on hold for
  an extended period of time
• Post the message or deliver the message promptly
• Terminate calls courteously always allow the
  caller to hang up first

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Receiving a Business/Personal Call (Practical)

• Identify department, your name and rank
• Example Jacksonville Fire Department, Chief
  Koonce speaking, how may I help you?
• Have paper and a pen or pencil ready so you can
  record caller information
• Document caller name
• Document date and time call received

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Receiving a Business/Personal Call (Practical)

• Document callers call back number
• Document the message
• Sign the message with your name
• Post or hand deliver message
• Hang up phone last

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Receiving Emergency Calls from the Public

• Identify the agency
• Control the conversation
• Ask questions to get the information needed
• Assertive voice
• Follow SOPs

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Receiving Emergency Calls from the Public

• Gather information
• Incident location
• Type of incident/situation
• Number of people injured or trapped
• Get the exact location of the victims

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Receiving Emergency Calls from the Public

• If it is safe to do so, keep the caller on the
  line and get
• Name
• Location if different from the incident location
• Callback telephone number
• Address

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Receiving Emergency Calls from the Public

• Ask the caller if it is safe to remain on the
  phone
• Record the answers to all questions
• Maintain communications with all units until the
  call has been terminated

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Public Alerting Systems

• Telephone
• Fire department emergency number may be 9-1-1, a
  7-digit number, or 0 for the operator

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Public Alerting Systems Basic 9-1-1

• Customer dials 9-1-1 and the phone rings at the
  communications center
• Additional features
• Called party hold
• Forced disconnect
• Ringback
• Automatic number identification

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Public Alerting Systems Enhanced 9-1-1 (E-9-1-1)

• Combine telephone and computer equipment (such as
  CAD) to provide information such as
• Callers location and phone number
• Directions to the location
• Other information about the address

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Public Alerting Systems Enhanced 9-1-1 (E-9-1-1)

• Displays the location from which the call is
  being made
• Allows help to be sent even if the caller is
  incapable of identifying location
• Does not work with wireless telephones

47
Public Alerting Systems Radio

• Likely to come from fire department personnel or
  other government workers who happen upon an
  emergency
• Gather the same kind of information that would be
  taken from a telephone caller

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Public Alerting Systems Radio

• Some fire departments monitor citizens band (CB)
  radio frequencies for reports of emergencies

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Public Alerting Systems Walk-ins

• Citizens may walk into a fire station and report
  an emergency
• Whoever greets the citizen should ascertain the
  location and type of incident

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Public Alerting Systems Walk-ins

• Get the reporting partys name, address, and
  telephone number
• Local policy dictates what steps should be taken
  once information has been obtained

51
Public Alerting Systems Wired Telegraph Circuit
Boxes

• Historically installed on street corners
• Connected to a wired telegraph circuit that was
  connected to all fire stations in the
  jurisdiction

52
Public Alerting Systems Wired Telegraph Circuit
Boxes

• Still maintained by some cities
• Operation uses a lever
• Extremely reliable, but also limited
• Only transmit location of box
• Notorious for malicious false alarms
• Have diminished in need

53
Public Alerting Systems Telephone Fire Alarm
Box

• A fire alarm box equipped with a telephone for
  direct voice contact with a telecommunicator
• May be used in combination with telegraph circuits

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Public Alerting Systems Radio Fire Alarm Box

• Contains an independent radio transmitter with a
  battery power supply
• Some include a small solar panel for recharging
  the units battery

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Public Alerting Systems Radio Fire Alarm Box

• Some feature a spring-wound alternator to provide
  power when the operating handle is pulled
• Types
• Activating the alarm in radio boxes alerts by an
  audible signal, visual light indicator, and a
  printed record indicating the location
• Some systems also have a different-colored light
  that indicates a test or temper signal

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Public Alerting Systems Radio Fire Alarm Box

• The printing devices in some systems print
• Date
• Time of day in 24-hour time
• Message sent by the box
• Box number
• Coded signal that indicates the strength of the
  battery within the box

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Public Alerting Systems Radio Fire Alarm Box

• Some are designed to allow a person to select
  fire, police, or ambulance service
• May be located along roads, highways, and in
  rural areas and have two-way communications
  capabilities

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Citizen Reporting a Fire or Other Emergency by
Telephone (Practical)

• Dial the appropriate number
• 9-1-1
• Fire department 7-digit number
• 0 for the operator
• State the address where the emergency is located.
• If no address, give the nearest cross streets or
  describe nearby landmarks.

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Citizen Reporting a Fire or Other Emergency by
Telephone (Practical)

• Give the telephone number from which the call was
  made.
• State the nature of the emergency.
• State name and location.
• Stay on the line if requested to do so by the
  telecommunicator.

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Reporting a Fire or Other Emergency From a Fire
Alarm Telegraph Box (Practical)

• Send signal as directed on the box
• If safe to do so, stay at the box until
  firefighters arrive

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Reporting a Fire or Other Emergency From a Local
Alarm Box (Practical)

• Send signal as directed on the box
• Notify the fire department by telephone using the
  guidelines given earlier

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Alerting Fire Department Personnel Staffed
Stations

• Computerized line printer or terminal screen with
  alarm
• Voice alarm
• Teletype
• House bell or gong
• House light

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Alerting Fire Department Personnel Staffed
Stations

• Telephone from telecommunicator on secure phone
  line
• Telegraph register
• Radio with tone alert
• Radio/pagers

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Alerting Fire Department Personnel Unstaffed
Stations

• Pagers
• Cellular telephones and other devices with
  text-messaging capabilities
• Home electronic monitors
• Telephones
• Sirens
• Whistles or air horns

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Guidelines for Radio Communications

• The Fire/EMS Department will use the radio system
  in compliance with the Federal Communications
  Commission (FCC) rules and regulations.
• The FCC authorizes Fire Department radios to
  transmit communications essential to official
  public safety activities.

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Guidelines for Radio Communications

• Under the rules and regulations of the FCC, it is
  unlawful to
• Transmit messages of a personal nature over Fire
  Department frequencies.
• Use profane, indecent, or obscene language over
  Fire Department frequencies.
• Cause unlawful or malicious interference with any
  other radio communications.

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Guidelines for Radio Communications

• Under the rules and regulations of the FCC, it is
  unlawful to
• To transmit a call signal, letter, or numeral
  that has not been assigned by proper authorities.
• Messages not essential to official Fire
  Department activities must be conveyed through
  another medium.
• Messages of a personal nature will not be allowed
  under any circumstances.

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Guidelines for Radio Communications

• Use plain English or clear text without codes of
  any kind
• Clear text Standardized set of fire-specific
  words and phrases, often used in the wildland
  fire community
• Use a moderate rate of speaking

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Guidelines for Radio Communications

• Use a moderate amount of expression in speech
• Use a vocal quality that is not too strong or
  weak
• Keep things such as gum and candy out of the
  mouth

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Guidelines for Radio Communications

• Be concise and to the point
• Think about what should be said before keying the
  microphone

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Guidelines for Radio Communications

• Everyone on the fireground should follow two
  basic rules
• Units must identify themselves in every
  transmission
• The receiver must acknowledge every message

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Guidelines for Radio Communications

• Do not transmit until the frequency is clear
• Any unit working at an emergency scene has
  priority over routine transmissions
• Do not use profane or obscene language on the air

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Guidelines for Radio Communications

• All radio frequencies are monitored
• Hold the radio/microphone 1 to 2 inches (25 mm
  to 50 mm) from the mouth

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Guidelines for Radio Communications

• On the emergency scene
• Avoid laying the microphone on the seat of the
  vehicle
• Do npt put radio in back pocket
• Do not touch the antenna when transmitting

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Mobile and Portable Radio Routine traffic

• Transmissions should be brief, accurate, and to
  the point
• The air must be clear before transmitting.
• Only official business should be transmitted.
• Radio frequency burns may occur if antenna is
  touched during transmission.

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Mobile and Portable Radio Routine traffic

• Determines the air is clear before transmitting.
• Holds the microphone within 1 to 2 inches of the
  mouth when transmitting
• Speaks calmly, clearly, and distinctly.

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Arrival Reports

• Also called a report on conditions or situation
  report
• Establish a time of arrival and inform other
  responding units of what actions might be needed

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Arrival Reports

• Format
• Situation found
• Action(s) taken/actions to be taken
• Command status

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Arrival Reports

• Some situations require more detail
• Address, if other than the one initially reported
• Building and occupancy description
• Nature and extent of fire or other emergency
• Attack mode selected

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Arrival Reports

• Some situations require more detail (cont.)
• Rescue and exposure problems
• Instructions to other responding units
• Location of Incident Command position
• Establishing Command
• Water supply situation

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Arrival Reports

• Verbal Size-up
• Unit Identification
• Assume Command
• Obvious Conditions (Nothing showing)
• Building Height (1, 2 story)
• Construction Type
• Occupancy Type
• Location of fire
• Actions Taken

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Progress Reports

• Are used to keep the communications center
  continually advised
• Transfer of Command
• Change in command post location
• Progress (or lack of) toward incident
  stabilization
• Direction of fire spread

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Progress Report Items

• Exposures by direction, height, occupancy, and
  distance
• Any problems or needs
• Anticipated actions

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Tactical Channels

• Most often used for large incidents
• Small routine incidents usually do not require a
  tactical channel
• In many departments, units are initially
  dispatched on the primary dispatch channel
• Upon arrival on the scene, units may switch to an
  assigned tactical channel

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Tactical Channels Telecommunicator Roles

• Assign a tactical frequency
• Ensure additional responding units are aware of
  the assigned tactical channel
• Notify other agencies and services of the
  incident and the need for them to respond
• Provide updated information

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Calls for Additional Resources

• Normally, only the Incident Commander may strike
  multiple alarms or order additional resources
• Know local procedure for requesting additional
  resources
• Be familiar with alarm signals

89
Calls for Additional Resources

• When multiple alarms are struck, a radio-equipped
  mobile communications vehicle can be used to
  reduce the load on the communications center
• Firefighters must be able to communicate the need
  for team assistance

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Emergency Radio Traffic

• Person transmitting the message should make the
  urgency clear
• Telecommunicator should give an attention tone,
  advise all other units to stand by, and then
  advise the caller to proceed

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Emergency Radio Traffic

• After the emergency communication is complete,
  telecommunicator notifies all units to resume
  normal or routine radio traffic

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Evacuation Signals

• Are used when the IC decides that all
  firefighters should immediately withdraw
• All firefighters should be familiar with their
  departments method of sounding an evacuation
  signal

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Evacuation Signals

• Radio broadcast
• Similar to emergency traffic broadcast
• Message is broadcast several times

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Evacuation Signals

• Audible warning devices
• Will work outside small structures
• May not be heard by everyone
• Can be confused with those being used by units
  arriving at the scene

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Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)

• A systematic way of confirming the status of any
  unit operating at an incident
• When requested, every supervisor must verify the
  status of those under his or her command

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Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)

• May have to rely on touch or hearing to verify
  each members status
• Others in the chain of command must rely on radio
  reports from their subordinates

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Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)

• Command can request a PAR at any time, but one is
  usually requested when
• The incident is declared under control
• There is a change in strategy
• There is a sudden catastrophic event
• There is an emergency evacuation
• A firefighter is reported missing or in distress

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Incident Reports
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Summary

• Fire alarms or calls for help must be handled
  expediently and accurately. If they are not,
  incidents can increase in size and severity.

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Summary

• Fire department communications are a critical
  factor in the successful outcome of any incident.
  The better the communications, the safer the
  incident.

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Summary

• Firefighters must know how to handle both
  emergency and routine communications, including
  nonemergency calls for business purposes or
  public inquiries made directly to the station.

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Review Questions

• 1. What communication skills are necessary for
  fire department communications?
• 2. What is computer-aided dispatch (CAD)?
• 3. List three basic business telephone
  courtesies.

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Review Questions

• 4. What actions should be taken when receiving
  an emergency call from a citizen?
• 5. How should the public report a fire or other
  emergency using a telephone?

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• Essentials of Fire Fighting,
• 5th Edition

Chapter 19 Fire Alarm Initiating
Devices Firefighter I II
105
Specific Objectives

• 1. Describe types of heat detectors.
• 2. Describe types of smoke detectors/alarms.
• 3. Explain how flame detectors and fire-gas
  detectors operate.

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Specific Objectives

• 4. Discuss combination detectors and indicating
  devices.
• 5. Describe types of automatic alarm systems.
• 6. Discuss supervising fire alarm systems and
  auxiliary services.

107
Fixed-Temperature Heat Detectors

• Relatively inexpensive compared to other types of
  systems
• Can be slowest to activate when installed in
  extreme cold environments.
• Activate when heated to a set temperature.

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Fixed-Temperature Heat Detectors

• Because heat rises, they are installed in highest
  portions of room.
• Should have activation temperature rating
  slightly above highest ceiling temperatures
  normally expected in space.
• Normally rated at 135F 174F
• Attics and other areas of elevated temperatures
  are rated at 200F or more.

109
Fixed-Temperature Heat Detectors

• Activate by one or more of three mechanisms
• Fusible device
• Frangible bulb
• Continuous line detector
• Bimetallic

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Fixed-Temperature Fusible
Heat Detectors

• Spring-operated device held in place by solder.
• When the melting point of the solder is reached,
  the spring is released and makes a circuit
  contact initiating an alarm.

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Fixed-Temperature Frangible
Bulb Heat Detectors

• A frangible bulb in a detection device holds
  electrical contacts apart, much in the way that a
  fusible device does.
• The little glass vial (frangible bulb) contains a
  liquid with a small air bubble.
• The bulb is designed to break when the liquid is
  heated to a predetermined temperature.

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Fixed-Temperature Frangible
Bulb Heat Detectors

• When the rated temperature is reached, the liquid
  expands and absorbs the air bubble, the bulb
  fractures and falls out, and the contacts
  complete the circuit to initiate an alarm.

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Fixed-Temperature Continuous
Line Heat Detectors

• Works when a heat sensitive polymer breaks down
  at set temperature and allows the two inner wire
  conductors to touch activating the alarm.

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Fixed-Temperature Bimetallic
Heat Detectors

• The bimetallic strip in a fire alarm is made of
  two metals with different expansion rates bonded
  together to form one piece of metal.
• When the strip is heated by fire, the
  high-expansion side bends the strip toward an
  electrical contact. When the strip touches that
  contact, it completes a circuit that triggers the
  alarm to sound

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Rate-of-Rise Heat Detectors

• Operate on assumption that temperature in room
  will increase faster from fire than from normal
  atmospheric heating.
• Designed to initiate signal when rise in
  temperature exceeds 12 to 15F (-11C to -9C)
  in one minute.

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Rate-of-Rise Heat Detectors

• Can be initiated at room temperature far below
  that required for initiating fixed-temperature
  device
• Reliable, not subject to false activations
• Pneumatic rate-of-rise spot detector

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Rate-of-Rise Heat Detectors

• Pneumatic rate-of-rise line detector
• Rate-compensated detector
• Thermoelectric detector

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Smoke Detectors

• Detect presence of smoke must transmit signal to
  another device that sounds alarm
• Respond to smoke or other products of combustion
• Preferred over heat detectors

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Smoke Alarms

• Capable of
• Detecting presence of smoke
• Sounding an alarm

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Photoelectric Smoke Detectors

• Use photoelectric cell coupled with tiny light
  source
• Function in two ways to detect smoke

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Ionization Smoke Detectors

• Detect minute particles, aerosols produced during
  combustion
• Use a tiny amount of radioactive material to
  ionize air molecules as they enter chamber within
  detector

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Ionization Smoke Detectors

• Respond satisfactorily to most fires
• Respond faster to flaming fires than smoldering
  ones

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Power Sources of Smoke Alarms

• Battery-operated
• Household current
• Combination

124
Flame Detectors

• Types
• Among most sensitive detectors used to detect
  fires
• Prone to being activated by nonfire conditions

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Flame Detectors

• Usually positioned in areas where other light
  sources unlikely
• Positioned to have unobstructed view of protected
  area

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Flame Detectors

• Some single-band IR detectors sensitive to
  sunlight, should be installed in fully enclosed
  areas
• UV detectors virtually insensitive to sunlight,
  can be used in areas not suitable for IR detectors

127
Fire-Gas Detectors

• Monitor levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide
  because these are only chemicals released from
  all fires
• Initiate alarm signal faster than heat detector
  but not as quickly as smoke detector

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Fire-Gas Detectors

• Can be more discriminating than other types
• Can be designed to be sensitive only to specific
  gases

129
Fire-Gas Detectors

• Use semiconductors/catalytic elements to sense
  gas, transmit signal to initiate alarm
• Not used as frequently as other types

130
Combination Detectors

• Various combinations of previously described
  means of detection may be used in single device

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Alarm-Indicating Devices

• Some produce loud signal to attract attention in
  high-noise areas
• Some generate electronic tone audible in almost
  any type of environment
• Some employ bells, horns, chimes

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Alarm-Indicating Devices

• Others use speakers that broadcast prerecorded
  evacuation instructions
• May include visual alarm indicators to
  accommodate special circumstances/populations

133
Alarm-Indicating Devices

• May include strobe indicators Must meet
  requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act
  in areas where there may be people with hearing
  impairments

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Automatic Alarm Systems

• Transmit signal to off-site location to summon
  organized assistance
• Produce automatic response upon activation of
  local alarm
• May be installed to complement wet-pipe or
  dry-pipe sprinkler systems to detect the movement
  of water in the system.

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Automatic Alarm Systems

• Alarm can be set off by heat, gas, smoke,
  flame-sensing or sprinkler waterflow devices.
• Can also be an alarm box that sends a signal to
  the fire station to give the location of the fire.

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Auxiliary Systems

• 2 Basic types of auxilliary systems
• Local energy systems
• Shunt systems
• Parallel telephone systems

137
Auxiliary Local Energy Systems

• An occupancy is attached to a municipal fire
  alarm box.
• When an alarm activates in a protected property
  it trips the alarm box and transmits an alarm to
  fire alarm center
• Alarms can be transmitted by manual pull
  stations, automatic fire detection sevices, or
  waterflow devices

138
Auxiliary Local Energy Systems
139
Auxiliary Shunt Systems

• The municipal alarm circuit extends (is shunted)
  into the protected property.
• When an alarm is transmitted from the protected
  property it is instantly transmitted to the alarm
  center.

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Auxiliary Parallel Telephone

• Do not interconnect with a municipal alarm
  circuit.
• Transmits an alarm from the protected property
  directly to the alarm center over a telephone
  circuit that serves no other purpose

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Remote Station Systems

• Similar to auxiliary systems but connected to
  fire department telecommunication center
  directly/through answering service by some means
  other than municipal fire alarm box system

142
Remote Station Systems

• Can be connected by leased telephone line or
  radio signal on dedicated frequency
• Common in localities not served by central
  station systems

143
Remote Station Systems

• May transmit coded or noncoded signal
• Must have ability to transmit trouble signal to
  fire alarm center when system impaired

144
Remote Station Systems

• May not have local alarm capabilities if
  evacuation is not desired action in fire
• May be monitored by entity besides fire department

145
Proprietary Systems

• Used to protect large commercial, industrial
  buildings, high-rise buildings, groups of
  commonly owned buildings in single location

146
Proprietary Systems

• Each building/area has own system wired into a
  common receiving point somewhere on facility
• The receiving station
• Capabilities

147
Central Station Systems

• Very similar to proprietary systems instead of
  having alarm-receiving point monitored by
  occupants representative on protected premises,
  receiving point is at off-site, contracted
  service point called a central station

148
Central Station Systems

• Central station is alarm company that contracts
  with individual customers

149
Central Station Systems

• When alarm initiated at contracting occupancy,
  central station employees take information,
  initiate appropriate emergency response
• Response usually includes calling fire
  department, representatives of protected occupancy

150
Central Station Systems

• Alarm systems at protected property and central
  station most commonly connected by supervised
  telephone lines

151
Supervising Fire Alarm Systems

• Designed to be self-supervising
• Older systems
• Newer systems

152
Supervising Fire Alarm Systems

• Sounds of alarm, trouble signals may differ with
  each brand
• Many fixed fire suppression systems depend on
  signal from manual pull station/from automatic
  fire detection device to trigger suppression
  system

153
Auxiliary Services Available on Newer Systems

• Shutting down, altering airflow in heating,
  ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems
  for smoke control
• Closing smoke/fire-rated doors, dampers

154
Auxiliary Services Available on Newer Systems

• Facilitating evacuation by increasing air
  pressure in stairwells to exclude smoke
• Overriding elevator controls
• Monitoring operation of commercial incinerator
  management systems

155
Auxiliary Services Available on Newer Systems

• Monitoring refrigeration systems, cold-storage
  areas
• Controlling personnel access to hazardous
  process/storage areas
• Detecting combustible/toxic gases

156
Fire Reports

• NFPA 901
• NIFRS