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Coffee Break Training: Fire/Arson and Explosion Investigation Curriculum: Fire Scene Death Investigation
"Fire scenes where a fatality has occurred require investigators to place increased attention on scene security, control, processing and documentation. Upon arrival, investigators should meet immediately with the Incident Commander or Officer-in-Charge for a briefing and ascertain if any artifacts or contamination may have been introduced to the scene prior to his or her arrival. The investigator should attempt to establish scene safety and strict security prior to entering the scene to prevent injury, including contacting appropriate agencies for assistance if necessary."
United States Fire Administration
2013-05-06
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Coffee Break Training: Automatic Sprinklers: Aboveground Sprinkler Pipe Pneumatic Testing
"The importance of hydrostatic testing newly installed or renovated sprinkler systems was discussed in Coffee Break Training 2009-15. These tests are conducted to assure the sprinkler fitters' work will not result in any leaks, or if leaks are detected, they are repaired promptly. Normally, wet pipe sprinkler systems are installed in environments where the ambient temperature will not dip below 40 F (4.4 C). This threshold is intended to protect the wet pipe sprinkler system from low temperatures that will result in freezing. As water freezes, it expands inside the sprinkler pipe and may result in small leaks or even catastrophic failure. In those areas where lower temperatures can be expected, dry pipe and preaction systems may be employed. Rather than water-filled overhead pipes, these have pressured air or nitrogen inside the pipe to hold back water pressure or monitor the conditions within the system."
United States Fire Administration
2013-04-16
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Coffee Break Training: Fire/Arson and Explosion Investigation Curriculum: Processing a Fire Scene for Evidence
"Fire investigators must control access to the fire scene after fire suppression to ensure that evidence is properly preserved, collected, documented and transported to avoid contamination. The investigator should also ensure that packaging, transportation and storage procedures are meticulously followed to prevent any destructive changes in the condition of evidence or lapses in the chain of custody."
United States Fire Administration
2013-04-22
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Coffee Break Training: Emergency Responder Training Part 2
"Selecting topics for drill night is a common challenge for training officers. Coming up with new and exciting topics month after month can be difficult. To help prioritize training topics, break them into two categories: high frequency/low risk and low frequency/high risk. High frequency/low risk events occur on a regular basis and pose little risk to firefighter safety. Such topics include taking blood pressures, activating the fire alarm, responding to Emergency Medical Services calls, and communicating over the radio. While local regulations may require occasional refresher training on these topics, they certainly should not dominate a drill night. If you have to do training on these types of topics, comply with the regulation, but make the training as quick and painless as possible."
United States Fire Administration
2013-04-11
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Coffee Break Training: Automatic Sprinklers: Aboveground Sprinkler Pipe Air Pressure Changes
"Dry pipe and double interlock preaction sprinkler systems should be subjected to a 24-hour air pressure leakage test at 40 pounds per square inch (2.8 bar) before they are placed in service or after significant changes to the pipe network. The pressure readings often are recorded from the Bourdon gauges that are mounted on the sprinkler riser. A Bourdon gauge is made of a hemispherical tube that is linked to a small, internal coiled spring. As the pressure changes in the tube (due to temperature or water pressure changes), the internal spring is either loosened or more tightly coiled. An attached pointer or needle moves across the face of the gauge where air or water pressure is calibrated."
United States Fire Administration
2013-04-23
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Coffee Break Training: Focus on Fire Prevention
"The folks at the Foundation have a vision to assist small volunteer and rural fire departments in obtaining a grant for free smoke alarms. Many fire departments have a significant challenge where fire prevention is concerned, and special support is needed to help them be successful. If you are a small suburban or rural fire department and are interested in applying for a grant, contact the Focus on Fire Prevention Foundation at info@focusonfireprevention.com. The Foundation has been working on a grant for two years, and their hard work paid off on Oct. 6, 2012, with the first Focus on Fire Prevention group coming together in Orlando, Fla."
United States Fire Administration
2013-04-25
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Coffee Break Training: Calculating Pressure Changes Due to Temperature
"During a dry pipe sprinkler system pneumatic test, a change in ambient temperature may cause the air in the system to expand or contract, resulting in what may appear to be an inconsistent pressure reading on the test gauge. To account for changes in air temperature, the inspector can use the following formula to assure the minimum requirement of 40 pounds per square inch (2.8 bar) has been sustained."
United States Fire Administration
2013-04-30
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Fatal Fires in Residential Buildings (2009-2011)
"Historically, the fire death rate in the U.S. has been higher than most of the industrialized world. While the U.S. still has one of the highest fire death rates (9.6 deaths per million population) in the industrialized world today, its standing has greatly improved. Falling from among the top three nations in terms of the fire death rate two decades ago, the U.S. now has the 13th highest fire death rate per million people. Nevertheless, civilian fire fatalities are still high. From 2009 to 2011, an estimated 3,045 civilian fire deaths were reported to fire departments across the country each year. An estimated 1,600 fatal fires in residential buildings occurred annually in recent years (2009 to 2011). These fires resulted in an annual average of approximately 2,495 deaths, 625 injuries and $188 million in property loss. This report is one of a continuing series of topical reports issued by the U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Data Center and addresses the characteristics of fatal fires in residential buildings reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System from 2009 to 2011, the most recent data available at the time of the analysis."
United States Fire Administration
2013-05
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Coffee Break Training: The Bhopal Disaster
"The single event that dramatically changed America's hazardous materials response capability and provided the foundation for the current modern approach to hazardous material preparedness was a chemical disaster that happened halfway around the world in the town of Bhopal, India, in 1984. Union Carbide operated a pesticide plant in the city of Bhopal, in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. In 1984, the plant had ceased operations but still had full tanks of chemicals that were dormant but not properly attended. During the evening of Dec. 3, 1984, a valve broke and a large amount of water entered a tank containing 42 tons of methyl isocyanate. The chemical reaction increased the tank's temperature to over 200 degrees Celsius, subsequently releasing a large amount of toxic gas. Methyl isocyanate is extremely toxic to humans, even in limited exposure. It attacks the respiratory tract and the eyes and can cause immediate asphyxiation, blindness and death. That night, a toxic cloud spread over the sleeping city of Bhopal with a devastating impact on the population. In all, it is estimated that 10,000 people died within 72 hours of the accident. Since then, 25,000 have died from different gas-related diseases. Several hundred thousand people suffered permanent damage, lifelong illnesses and birth deformities, and continue to suffer the aftermath to this day. The Bhopal disaster is often referred to as the world's worst industrial tragedy. It is truly one of the most devastating accidents in modern history."
United States Fire Administration
2013-07-08
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Coffee Break Training: Fire/Arson and Explosion Investigation Curriculum: Interviewing/Interrogation: 10 Common Indicators of Deception - Part 2
"In Part 1, the following five of the 10 signs that can be used to detect possible deception in written and oral statements, indicating that an individual may be withholding, altering or fabricating information, were outlined: 'lack of self-reference'; 'verb tense'; 'answering questions with questions'; 'equivocation'; and 'oaths'. Listed below are the remaining five signs of deception that investigators should focus on when conducting interviews or interrogations, or reviewing written statements[.]"
United States Fire Administration
2013-07-01
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Dynamics: Spontaneous Heating of Agricultural Products
"In many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, farmers now are reaping their first cutting of hay to be formed into bales and stored for later use. Spontaneous heating to ignition of improperly dried hay in storage is a leading cause of agricultural fires each year. Many agricultural products are susceptible to spontaneous heating, including corn meal feed, linseed, rice, bran and pecan meal. Spontaneous heating in agricultural products is the result of plant and microbial respiration, where the microbes consuming sugars in the presence of oxygen results in the production of carbon dioxide, water vapor and heat. With hay, heat produced in the center of the stored mass -- such as when the hay is tightly baled -- cannot easily escape and may increase to the point where the hay is ignited. Ignition generally occurs at about 175 F (80 C) and can occur within days of the hay being baled."
United States Fire Administration
2013-06-18
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Coffee Break Training: Fire/Arson and Explosion Investigation Curriculum: Interviewing/Interrogation: 10 Common Indicators of Deception - Part 1
"In many arson cases, it is often the interviewing and interrogation skills of the investigator that are instrumental in solving the case. It is critical that investigators are aware of and study both the verbal and nonverbal behavior of a subject to detect possible deception. Suspects and witnesses often reveal more than they intend through their choice of words. The following 10 signs are often indicative of possible deception in written and oral statements indicating that an individual may be withholding, altering or fabricating information[.]"
United States Fire Administration
2013-06-17
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Coffee Break Training: Hazardous Materials: Is it a Liquid or a Solid?
"Fire inspectors always are on the lookout for accumulations of flammable or combustible liquids or solids that may contribute to dangerous fire conditions, but how do they determine whether those products are liquids or solids for the purpose of applying fire safety regulations? The product in the illustration is a hydrocarbon-based lubricant with a flash point of 515 F (268 C) that if it could flow would qualify it as a Class IIIB combustible liquid, but is it a liquid or solid? National Fire Protection Association 30, 'Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code', defines a liquid as any material that 1) has a fluidity greater than that of 300 penetration asphalt when tested in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials [ASTM] D 5, 'Standard Test Method for Penetration of Bituminous Materials', or 2) is a viscous substance for which a specific melting point cannot be determined but that is determined to be a liquid in accordance with ASTM D 4359, 'Standard Test for Determining Whether a Material is a Liquid or a Solid'."
United States Fire Administration
2013-06-25
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Coffee Break Training: Fire Prevention and Public Education
"A hazard is an act or phenomenon that has the potential to produce harm or other undesirable consequences to a person or thing. Hazards exist with or without the presence of people and/or land development. Hazard identification is the process of collecting data to identify hazards that threaten a given area. A hazard differs from a threat in that a threat is directed at an entity, asset, system, network or geographic area. A hazard cannot be directed; it can be an actual or potential event."
United States Fire Administration
2013-06-20
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Coffee Break Training: Planning for the Whole Community
This Coffee Break Training provides definitions to common terms used in the development of a Community Resource Deployment Plan. Terms include: "hazard," "hazard identification," "vulnerability," "vulnerability assessment," "exposure," "risk," "risk analysis," and "risk assessment."
United States Fire Administration
2013-06-20
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Coffee Break Training: Your Role in Fire-Adapted Communities
"Homes near natural areas in the Wildland Urban Interface are beautiful places to live. These pristine environments add to the quality of life of residents and are valued by community leaders seeking to develop new areas of opportunity and local tax revenue, but these areas are not without risk. Fires are part of the natural ecology, and living adjacent to the wilderness means living with a constant threat of fires. Fire, by nature, is an unpredictable and often uncontrollable force. With proper communitywide preparation, human populations and infrastructure can withstand the devastating effects of a wildland fire, reducing loss of life and property. The goal depends on strong, collaborative partnerships between agencies and the public at the state, federal and local levels, with each accepting responsibility for their part. The U.S. Fire Administration's publication, 'Your Role in Fire-Adapted Communities,' defines the FAC's [Fire-Adapted Community] concept and scope. The publication further defines the roles that groups can adopt to improve their safety and provide guidance for future actions. By becoming familiar with their role, identifying responsibilities, and implementing actions, communities will become better prepared to reduce their wildfire risk."
United States Fire Administration
2014-04-30
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Coffee Break Training - Fire Protection Series: Inspection Techniques: Fuel Dispenser Emergency Shut-Off Valves
" We drive past service stations every day where motorists are dispensing fuel into their cars or trucks from underground storage tanks. Modern motor vehicle fuel dispensing facilities use a turbine system where pumps immersed in the tanks push the fuel to the dispensers for consumer use. In a simple description, when the dispenser nozzle is open, the turbine pump is pushing the fuel into the vehicle that is being filled. As long as the nozzle, or any part of the supply pipe, remains open, the pump will continue to operate. Likewise, if the dispensing assembly (dispenser unit, hose and nozzle) is dislodged from its mount by impact or other means, the turbine continues to pump. In order to stop the flow when a dispenser is damaged, a listed, rigidly anchored emergency shut-off valve incorporating a fusible link or other thermally actuated device must be installed at the dispenser base. The shut-off valve is designed to close automatically in the event of severe impact or fire."
United States Fire Administration
2014-05-27
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Coffee Break Training: Automatic Sprinklers: Elevator Hoistways and Machine Rooms
"There has been a long-standing controversy between fire protection and elevator operation regarding the installation of automatic sprinklers in elevator hoistways and machine rooms. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, 'Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems' requires that sprinklers be provided throughout the premises. However, certain provisions permit sprinklers to be omitted from certain spaces where specific conditions are satisfied. On the other hand, codes that cover elevator design, such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, do not permit water discharge in elevator shafts until electrical power to the elevator cab has been shut down. This conflict has led to some complex and expensive solutions, such as the installation of preaction sprinkler systems or elevator shunt trip devices."
United States Fire Administration
2014-04-29
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Coffee Break Training - Community Risk Reduction: Know Your Role (Part 1 of 2)
The learning objective of this coffee break training is that "The student will understand the role that community members have in mitigating the potential damage a wildfire can cause."
United States Fire Administration
2014-06-04
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Coffee Break Training - Community Risk Reduction: Protect What Matters (Part 2 of 2)
The learning objective of this coffee break training is that "the student will be able to explain the importance of developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) that is specific to his or her community's critical infrastructure and other risks."
United States Fire Administration
2014-05-28
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Coffee Break Training - Community Risk Reduction: Know Your Role (Part 2 of 2)
The learning objective of this coffee break training is that "The student will understand the role that community members have in mitigating the potential damage a wildfire can cause."
United States Fire Administration
2014-06-04
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Coffee Break Training: Portable Extinguishers: Wheeled Extinguishers
The learning objective of this coffee break training is that "The student will be able to explain why wheeled portable fire extinguishers are used to protect hazardous environments."
United States Fire Administration
2014-05-28
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Coffee Break Training: Inspection Techniques: Conducting Through Preoccupancy Inspections
The learning objective of this coffee break training is that "The student will be able to identify methods to assure construction and installation projects are completed as required."
United States Fire Administration
2014-06-10
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Coffee Break Training: Characteristics of the Incident Command System: Finance/Administration Section Chief
The learning objective of this coffee break training is that "The student will understand the Finance/Administration Section Chief's (FSC's) responsibilities."
United States Fire Administration
2014-05-28
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Coffee Break Training: Petroleum Crude Oil: Pre-Incident Planning
"Preincident [sic] planning is a key component of any successful response operation, especially in the case of a crude oil rail transportation incident. Emergency responders should determine the rail carriers of hazardous materials moving through their communities and ascertain if crude oil is one of the products being transported. This can be accomplished by contacting the individual rail carrier and requesting a list of the hazardous commodities transported through the community via the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Circular No. OT [Operating-Transportation]-55 protocol. This information is of assistance in the preparation of emergency response plans and procedures. A copy of the latest version of AAR Circular No. OT-55 and other related hazardous materials reference materials can be downloaded at http://www.boe.aar.com/boe-download.htm. Railroads have extensive emergency response functions that work in cooperation with federal, state and local governments to assist communities in the event of an incident involving crude oil or other hazardous materials. All the major railroads have teams of full-time personnel whose primary focus is hazmat safety and emergency response, as well as teams of environmental, industrial hygiene and medical professionals available at all times to provide assistance during hazmat incidents. Railroads also maintain networks of hazmat response contractors and environmental consultants, strategically located throughout their service areas, who can handle virtually any air, water, waste or public health issue. These contractors, who are on-call at all times, have multiple offices and equipment storage locations and a vast array of monitoring equipment, containment booms, industrial pumps, and other spill response tools and equipment."
United States Fire Administration
2014-11-03
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Coffee Break Training: Petroleum Crude Oil Transportation and Response Considerations
"Throughout the world, huge quantities of crude oil and natural gas are trapped in nonpermeable shale rock. Over the past few years, technological advances -- especially in hydraulic fracturing ('fracking') and horizontal drilling -- along with higher crude oil prices have made recovery of much of this oil and gas economically feasible. United States crude oil production has risen sharply in recent years, with much of the increased output moving by rail. In 2008, U.S. Class I railroads originated 9,500 carloads of crude oil. In 2013, they originated 407,761 carloads. To date, the most important U.S. shale deposits are located in North Dakota, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wyoming and Colorado. Rail shipments of crude oil from these regions are typically made using unit trains. Unit trains of crude oil are single commodity trains that generally consist of over 100 tank cars, each carrying approximately 30,000 gallons of crude oil. Unit trains typically move from one location (e.g., shipper's production facility or transloading facility) to a single destination (e.g., petroleum refinery). Given the usual length of these trains (over a mile), derailments can cause road closures, create significant detours, and require response from more than one direction to access the scene of the incident. In the event of an incident that may involve the release of thousands of gallons of product and ignition of tank cars of crude oil in a unit train, most emergency response organizations will not have the available resources, capabilities or trained personnel to safely and effectively extinguish a fire or contain a spill of this magnitude (e.g., sufficient firefighting foam concentrate, appliances, equipment, water supplies)."
United States Fire Administration
2014-10-27
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Coffee Break Training: Petroleum Crude Oil: Principles of Successful Incident Management
"The successful management of any incident, especially hazardous materials incidents, is based on the implementation of an Incident Management System (IMS). NIMS [National Incident Management System] is a systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work together seamlessly and manage incidents involving all threats and hazards -- regardless of cause, size, location or complexity -- in order to reduce loss of life and property and harm to the environment. The purpose of NIMS is to provide a common approach for managing incidents based on a flexible but standardized set of incident management practices, with emphasis on common principles, a consistent approach to operational structures and supporting mechanisms, and an integrated approach to resource management. Although a single Incident Commander (IC) normally handles the command function, an IMS organization may be expanded into a Unified Command. The Unified Command is a structure that brings together the 'ICs' of all major organizations involved in the incident in order for them to coordinate an effective response while at the same time carrying out their own jurisdictional responsibilities. The Unified Command structure links the organizations responding to the incident and provides a forum for these entities to make consensus decisions. Members of the Unified Command work together to develop a common set of incident objectives and strategies, share information, maximize the use of available resources, and enhance the efficiency of the individual response organizations."
United States Fire Administration
2014-11-10
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Coffee Break Training: Petroleum Crude Oil: Railroad Safety Procedures
"In the event of a train derailment, emergency response personnel should always be aware of the potential for serious injury when working in and around rail cars, tracks and related equipment. The potential for injury always exists, especially if a fire or spill is involved. Regardless of the scope and magnitude of an incident, it is imperative that responders are keenly aware of the proper precautions to take to prevent injury and death. The following safe operating practices should be followed when personnel are engaged in emergency response operations at the scene of a crude oil train derailment: (1) Expect a train or rail equipment to move on any track from either direction at any time; (2) Watch for movement in both directions before crossing tracks. If the tracks are clear, walk single file at a right angle to the rails. Do not occupy the area between adjacent tracks in multiple track territory when a train is passing. If crossing between two stationary railcars, ensure that there is at least 50 feet between them; (3) Trains can approach with little or no warning. You may not be able to hear them due to atmospheric conditions, terrain, noisy work equipment, or passing trains on other tracks. Stand a minimum of 25 feet away from the tracks if possible, and face the train when rail equipment is passing through."
United States Fire Administration
2014-11-17
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Coffee Break Training: Automatic Sprinklers: Cross-Connection Control in Existing Buildings
"In recent years, some water purveyors have pursued aggressive retrofit programs requiring the installation of backflow prevention devices on existing fire protection systems. Their goal is to decrease the chances that the often dirty, static water that accumulates in a fire protection system will flow backward and contaminate a potable water supply. This effort is called 'cross-connection control.' While there has been considerable debate between fire protection and water company professionals regarding the likelihood of cross-connection contamination, one thing is clear: The selection and installation of backflow prevention devices on existing sprinkler systems must be done carefully to ensure reliable fire protection system operation. Some existing fire protection systems, especially hydraulically engineered sprinkler systems, may have been designed with very precise or no safety margins in their operating pressures. This means that any deterioration of the incoming water pressure may have a deleterious effect on the sprinkler discharge pressure and water distribution pattern. By requiring the installation of some sort of backflow prevention device in an existing system that may have a narrow safety margin, the friction loss characteristics of the backflow prevention device may significantly affect fire protection system performance. Of course, the influence of the cross-connection control device must be evaluated on any new fire protection system. For example, in the backflow prevention device illustrated here, its laboratory-controlled flow test reports indicate that it may reduce water pressure from 2 to 14 pounds per square inch (0.14 to 0.96 bar) between the inlet and outlet pressures."
United States Fire Administration
2014-11-11
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Coffee Break Training: Adult Learning: Challenges for Instructors of Adult Learners
"Those who teach adults experience different challenges to engage learning from those who teach children. The process of engaging adult learners is known as andragogy. When teaching adults, it's important to understand requirements for adult learners to engage in learning. The process for engaging children in learning is referred to as pedagogy. The bottom line is that adults and children learn differently. Malcolm Knowles, a pioneer in the study of adult learning, observed that adults learn best when: (1) It is clear why something is important to know or do (why); (2) There is freedom to learn in one's own way (how); (3) Learning is experiential (what); (4) The time is right to learn (when); and, (5) The learning environment is positive and encouraging (where). Understanding adult learning challenges is essential for providing successful adult training programs. Why: Adult learners want their lessons to be interesting, practical and applicable. Instructors must use meaningful and purposeful learning activities, ask stimulating questions, use appropriate and relevant multimedia tools/technology to engage students, and incorporate real-life and application-based examples, as well as interact with students and effectively manage group discussion."
United States Fire Administration
2014-11-06
