Fire Departments Created by Curt Harrell & Jesse Kuzy for

What do Fire Departments Do?  Fire departments provide a wide range of services, including:  Protecting lives and property from fire  Providing emergency medical services  Protecting against exposure to hazardous conditions and substances  Educating the public about fire safety and prevention

Safety Inspection  Some buildings must be inspected annually by the fire department to ensure fire safety.  An inspector looks for conditions that might cause a fire or interfere with safe evacuation.

Safety Inspection  Inspectors also ensure all safety equipment is installed and in working order.  During construction, the fire department ensures structures are built to city, state, and national safety codes.

Structural Fires  Fire fighters arrive and announce to the occupants that the building is being evacuated.  Anyone who cannot evacuate is extracted by a rescue team.  A high-powered hose is fed by a hydrant and used to put out the fire through the windows.

Forest Fires  Nearby citizens are alerted to the fire and evacuated.  A high-powered hose may be directed at the flames to put them out.

Forest Fires  For larger fires, helicopters or airplanes may drop water onto the fire.  Areas may be preemptively burned to prevent the fire from spreading further.

Hazardous Materials  The Hazmat team responds to incidents that may release harmful substances into the environment, including vehicle crashes.  Hazmat may assist in bomb threat situations.

Hazardous Materials  Particulate matter vacuum systems can be used to remove harmful particles such as asbestos from the air.  Hazmat posts signs at facilities that handle dangerous substances to inform occupants of potential hazards.  Hazmat cleans and maintains specialized hazmat equipment. Asbestos handling training

Special Teams  Dive teams assist with underwater evidence collection and body retrieval.  Search and Rescue teams are groups of highly-trained volunteers who search for missing persons.  Rope rescue teams use specialized hardware to perform high-angle rescue missions.

Critical Incident/Stress Management (CISM)  Emergency responders may be exposed to extremely stressful situations and traumatic events such as:  Mass casualty incidents  Death or serious injury of a coworker  Death or injury to children

Critical Incident/Stress Management (CISM)  To help responders return to normal functioning at work and at home, CISM provides a forum free of judgment and criticism for workers to talk about critical incidents they have been involved in.  CISM consists of chaplains, counselors, mental health professionals, and peer groups.

Community Service  The community service division is responsible for providing classes and distributing public safety information. Courses cover smoke alarms, child safety seat installation, home escape plans, and Stop, Drop and Roll.

Summary  Importance of fire departments  Providing protection and emergency services for the public  Educating the public about fire safety  What is CISM and why is it in place?  Critical Incident/Stress Management  Discuss