Fire & Emergency Services Orientation & Terminology

1. Fire and Emergency
Services Orientation and
Terminology
5th Edition
Chapter 2 — Roles of Fire and
Emergency Services Personnel

2. Learning Objective 1
Distinguish among the different types
of fire companies.
2–2

3. A company includes a CO, a
D/O, and one or more
firefighters.
2–3

4. An engine company
has many different roles.
2–4

5. A truck company may perform
two functions simultaneously.
2–5

6. A rescue/squad company has
several different functions.
2–6

7. REVIEW QUESTION
What duties will a Rescue
Squad/Company perform that a Truck
Company will not?
2–7

8. Learning Objective 2
Identify the duties of fire suppression
(operations) personnel.
2–8

9. Firefighters perform various duties
and meet specific requirements.
2–9

10. A driver/operator has additional
duties and responsibilities.
2–10

11. A company officer
supervises a fire company.
2–11

12. A battalion/district chief
supervises a group of fire
companies.
2–12

13. REVIEW QUESTION
Why could the title and roles of a
Battalion/District Chief vary?
2–13

14. Learning Objective 3
Define the roles of training division
personnel.
2–14

15. The instructor is responsible
for the delivery of training
courses.
2–15

16. Training officers run intra-departmental
training programs.
2–16

17. Learning Objective 4
Recognize possible positions for fire
service administration.
2–17

18. Human resources recruit
and hire personnel.
2–18

19. A grant administrator has
several functions.
2–19

20. A safety officer oversees the
safety and health program.
2–20

21. A PIO is the department’s
primary contact with media.
2–21

22. An assistant chief is typically
assigned to a specific function.
2–22

23. The fire chief is the chief
executive officer of the
department.
2–23

24. REVIEW QUESTION
What officer is charged with overseeing
a fire department’s occupational safety
and health program?
2–24

25. Learning Objective 5
List special operations personnel
duties.
2–25

26. An airport firefighter protects
life and property at airfields.
2–26

27. A haz mat technician is a
firefighter with specialized
training.
2–27
Courtesy of Steve Baker

28. A technical rescuer performs
various types of rescue.
2–28
(Continued)

29. A technical rescuer performs
various types of rescue.
2–29

30. Marine firefighters are land-based
firefighters specializing
in the marine domain.
2–30
Courtesy of John Lewis

31. Wildland firefighters use
special skills and equipment to
suppress wildland fires.
2–31

32. Industrial firefighters are
employed by private
companies.
2–32

33. REVIEW QUESTION
What are four possible types of special
operations positions in which a
firefighter can specialize?
2–33

34. Learning Objective 6
Explain how fire prevention (community
risk reduction ) personnel assist in
building community fire safety.
2–34

35. The fire prevention division has
several responsibilities.
2–35

36. A fire inspector conducts
technical work in the fire
prevention program.
2–36

37. A fire investigator determines
the cause of all assigned fires.
2–37

38. The public fire and life safety
educator is the hub of the public
fire education program.
Courtesy of Beverley Walker
2–38

39. FPEs and PEs review site and
building plans, note violations,
and recommend changes.
2–39

40. REVIEW QUESTION
What positions typically make up
the fire prevention (community risk
reduction) division in a fire department?
What personnel roles can be filled by
sworn civilians or outside contactors
depending on the size of the
department?
2–40

41. Learning Objective 7
Compare and contrast the duties of
emergency medical services personnel.
2–41

42. Personnel may be trained as a
first responder, EMT, or
paramedic.
2–42

43. A first responder has one
primary function.
2–43

44. An EMT provides BLS for those
whose lives are in danger.
2–44

45. A paramedic is the highest
patient care position in EMS.
2–45

46. An EMS Chief/Officer
supervises an EMS company.
2–46

47. REVIEW QUESTION
What are the four types of Emergency
Medical Service personnel that could be
a part of the fire department?
2–47

48. Learning Objective 8
Describe the role emergency
management personnel has in
community safety planning.
2–48

49. Emergency management is the
discipline of anticipating risks
and limiting their
consequences.
2–49

50. REVIEW QUESTION
What roles will emergency management
personnel play in community safety
planning?
2–50

51. Learning Objective 9
Recognize other fire department
personnel who assist in carrying out the
broad mission of the fire department.
2–51

52. The backbone of the
communications system is the
telecommunicator.
2–52

53. IT personnel maintain and
troubleshoot various types of
information technology.
2–53

54. Facilities management
personnel perform many
functions.
2–54

55. Maintenance personnel keep
apparatus running properly.
2–55

56. Summary
• In the last thirty to forty years, the fire
service’s mission has begun to change
dramatically.
• Fire service personnel must be
prepared to meet many highly technical
specialties.
1–56