1. Fire Alarms & Communication
Intermediate
SFFMA Objectives: –
2Hrs received

2. SFFMA Objectives
Trainee shall identify areas assigned for first-alarm response.
Trainee shall demonstrate both mobile and portable radio equipment.
Trainee shall identify supervisory alarm equipment provided in the fire station and the prescribed action to be taken upon receipt of designated signals.
Trainee shall identify fire location indicators provided to direct firefighters to specific locations in protected public or private properties.

3. 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
(Continued)
Firefighter II

4. 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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Firefighter II

5. Guidelines for Radio Communications
Be concise and to the point
Think about what should be said before keying the microphone
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Firefighter II

6. DISCUSSION QUESTION
What is the guiding principle in emergency services radio communications?
Firefighter II

7. 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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Firefighter II

8. 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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Firefighter II

9. 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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Firefighter II

10. Guidelines for Radio Communications
On the emergency scene
Avoid laying the microphone on the seat of the vehicle
Do not touch the antenna when transmitting
Firefighter II

11. 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
(Continued)
Firefighter II

12. Arrival Reports Format Situation found
Action(s) taken/actions to be taken
Command status
(Continued)
Firefighter II

13. 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
(Continued)
Firefighter II

14. 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
Firefighter II

15. Progress Reports
Used to keep the communications center continually advised
Firefighter II

16. Progress Report Items Transfer of Command
Change in command post location
Progress (or lack of) toward incident stabilization
Direction of fire spread
(Continued)
Firefighter II

17. Progress Report Items
Exposures by direction, height, occupancy, and distance
Any problems or needs
Anticipated actions
Firefighter II

18. 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
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Firefighter II

19. Tactical Channels
Upon arrival on the scene, units may switch to an assigned tactical channel
Firefighter II

20. 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
Firefighter II

21. 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
(Continued)
Firefighter II

22. 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
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Firefighter II

23. Calls for Additional Resources
Firefighters must be able to communicate the need for team assistance
Firefighter II

24. 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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Firefighter II

25. Emergency Radio Traffic
After the emergency communication is complete, telecommunicator notifies all units to resume normal or routine radio traffic
Firefighter II

26. Evacuation Signals
Used when the IC decides that all firefighters should immediately withdraw
All firefighters should be familiar with their department’s method of sounding an evacuation signal
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Firefighter II

27. Evacuation Signals Radio broadcast
Similar to emergency traffic broadcast
Message is broadcast several times
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Firefighter II

28. 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
Firefighter II

29. 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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Firefighter II

30. Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)
May have to rely on touch or hearing to verify each member’s status
Others in the chain of command must rely on radio reports from their subordinates
(Continued)
Firefighter II

31. Personnel Accountability Report (PAR)
Command can request a PAR at any time, but one is usually requested when:
The incident is declared under control
Change in strategy
Sudden catastrophic event
Emergency evacuation
A firefighter missing or in distress
Firefighter II

32. Incident Reports
National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) outlines information needed
NFIRS uses the Internet to transfer data from each state to the federal database
A vital part of the emergency
Available to the public
(Continued)
Firefighter II

33. Incident Reports
An incident report should include detailed information
Entered into databases at the state and national level
Information is used for a variety of purposes
Firefighter II

34. Fixed-Temperature Heat Detectors
Relatively inexpensive compared to other types of systems
Can be slowest to activate
Activate when heated to temperature for which rated
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Firefighter II

35. Fixed-Temperature Heat Detectors
Installed in highest portions of room
Should have activation temperature rating slightly above highest ceiling temperatures normally inspected in space
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Firefighter II

36. Fixed-Temperature Heat Detectors
Activate by one or more of three mechanisms
Fusible device
Frangible bulb
Continuous line detector
Firefighter II

37. 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 15°F (-11°C to -9°C) in one minute
(Continued)
Firefighter II

38. 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
(Continued)
Firefighter II

39. DISCUSSION QUESTION
What are some places that these detectors should not be installed because of false activations?
Firefighter II

40. Rate-of-Rise Heat Detectors
Pneumatic rate-of-rise line detector
Rate-compensated detector
Thermoelectric detector
Firefighter II

41. 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
Firefighter II

42. Smoke Alarms Capable of Detecting presence of smoke Sounding an alarm
Firefighter II

43. Photoelectric Smoke Detectors
Use photoelectric cell coupled with tiny light source
Function in two ways to detect smoke
Firefighter II

44. 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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Firefighter II

45. Ionization Smoke Detectors
Respond satisfactorily to most fires
Respond faster to flaming fires than smoldering ones
Firefighter II

46. Power Sources of Smoke Alarms
Battery-operated
Household current
Firefighter II

47. DISCUSSION QUESTION
How can we get citizens to remember when to change their smoke alarm batteries?
Firefighter II

48. Flame Detectors
Types
Among most sensitive detectors used to detect fires
Prone to being activated by nonfire conditions
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Firefighter II

49. Flame Detectors
Usually positioned in areas where other light sources unlikely
Positioned to have unobstructed view of protected area
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Firefighter II

50. 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
Firefighter II

51. 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
(Continued)
Firefighter II

52. Fire-Gas Detectors Can be more discriminating than other types
Can be designed to be sensitive only to specific gases
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Firefighter II

53. Fire-Gas Detectors
Use semiconductors/catalytic elements to sense gas, transmit signal to initiate alarm
Not used as frequently as other types
Firefighter II

54. Combination Detectors
Various combinations of previously described means of detection may be used in single device
Firefighter II

55. DISCUSSION QUESTION What are some examples of combination detectors?
Firefighter II

56. 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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Firefighter II

57. Indicating Devices
Others use speakers that broadcast prerecorded evacuation instructions
May include visual alarm indicators to accommodate special circumstances/populations
(Continued)
Firefighter II

58. Indicating Devices
May include strobe indicators — Must meet requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act in areas where there may be people with hearing impairments
Firefighter II

59. 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
Firefighter II

60. Auxiliary Systems Local energy systems Shunt systems
Parallel telephone systems
Firefighter II

61. 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
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Firefighter II

62. Remote Station Systems
(Continued)
Firefighter II

63. 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
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Firefighter II

64. Remote Station Systems
May transmit coded or noncoded signal
Must have ability to transmit trouble signal to fire alarm center when system impaired
(Continued)
Firefighter II

65. 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
Firefighter II

66. Proprietary Systems
Used to protect large commercial, industrial buildings, high-rise buildings, groups of commonly owned buildings in single location
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Firefighter II

67. Proprietary Systems
Each building/area has own system wired into a common receiving point somewhere on facility
The receiving station
Capabilities
Courtesy of Paul Ramirez.
Firefighter II

68. Central Station Systems
Very similar to proprietary systems; instead of having alarm-receiving point monitored by occupant’s representative on protected premises, receiving point is at off-site, contracted service point called a central station
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Firefighter II

69. Central Station Systems
Central station is alarm company that contracts with individual customers
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Firefighter II

70. Central Station Systems
When alarm initiated at contracting occupancy, central station employees take information, initiate appropriate emergency response
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Firefighter II

71. Central Station Systems
Response usually includes calling fire department, representatives of protected occupancy
Alarm systems at protected property and central station most commonly connected by supervised telephone lines
Firefighter II

72. Supervising Fire Alarm Systems
Designed to be self-supervising
Older systems
Newer systems
Sounds of alarm, trouble signals may differ with each brand
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Firefighter II

73. Supervising Fire Alarm Systems
Many fixed fire suppression systems depend on signal from manual pull station/from automatic fire detection device to trigger suppression system
Firefighter II

74. 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
(Continued)
Firefighter II

75. 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
(Continued)
Firefighter II

76. Auxiliary Services Available on Newer Systems
Monitoring refrigeration systems, cold-storage areas
Controlling personnel access to hazardous process/storage areas
Detecting combustible/toxic gases
Firefighter II