5/8/2025 9:48:19 PM	FIRE 272 Course Outline as of Fall 2016	New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  FIRE 272	Title:  FIRE INSPECT/INVESTIGATE
Full Title:  Fire Inspections and Investigations for Company Officers
Last Reviewed:9/23/2019

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		4 max.	Lecture Scheduled	8.00
Minimum	1.00	Lab Scheduled	8.00		2 min.	Lab Scheduled	32.00
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	10.00			Contact Total	40.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  16.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 56.00

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  P/NP Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

An overview of the information necessary to conduct inspections, identify hazards and address violations, performing a fire investigation to determine preliminary cause and to secure the incident scene and preserve evidence. Upon successful completion, the student will be awarded a completion certificate from the State Board of Fire Services.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of FIRE 208.1 (Completion of basic fire academy or equivalent as determined by the Dean of Public Safety Instruction)

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An overview of the information necessary to conduct inspections, identify hazards and address violations, performing a fire investigation to determine preliminary cause and to secure the incident scene and preserve evidence. Upon successful completion, the student will be awarded a completion certificate from the State Board of Fire Services.

(P/NP Only)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of FIRE 208.1 (Completion of basic fire academy or equivalent as determined by the Dean of Public Safety Instruction)
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Spring 2020	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify course objectives, requirements, assignments, activities, evaluation methods and participation requirements

2. Identify the different levels in the Fire Officer Certification track, the courses and requirements for Level I and II certification and the capstone task book and testing process

3. Describe the duties of a Level I Company Officer, a Level II Company Officer and a Level I Wildland Officer

4. Describe the procedures for conducting fire inspections, identifying hazards including hazardous materials and properly documenting and conducting follow-up in accordance with adopted policies

5. Identify the construction, alarm, detection and suppression features that prevent or contribute to the spread of fire, heat and smoke through a building and develop an occupancy pre-fire plan

6. Describe the procedures for securing an incident scene which keeps unauthorized persons from restricted areas and protects evidence from damage or destruction

7. Determine the point of origin and preliminary cause of fire to ascertain if arson is suspected

Topics and Scope

I. Orientation and administration

   A. Review of facilities

   B. Review of classroom requirements

   C. Review of syllabus, participation, assignments and evaluation methods

II. Fire Officer Certification track course requirements

   A. Level I requirements

   B. Level II requirements

   C. The capstone task book process

   D. The capstone testing process

III. Definitions of Duty

   A. Duties of a Level I Company Officer

   B. Duties of a Level II Company Officer

   C. Duties of a Level I Wildland Fire Officer

IV. Fire Inspection Procedures

   A. California Fire Code classifications

   B. Inspection procedures

   C. Fire detection systems

   D. Fire alarm systems

   E. Fire protection systems

   F. Common fire hazards

   G. Life safety hazards

   H. Hazardous materials marking and identification systems

    I. Application of codes and standards

   J. Wildland Urban Interface inspection procedures

V. Factors that prevent or contribute to fire spread

    A. Fire behavior and fire spread in various occupancies

    B. Building construction types

         1. Type I non-combustible

         2. Type II non-combustible

         3. Type III non-combustible exterior

         4. Type IV heavy timber

         5. Type V combustible

    C. Building construction features

         1. Fire walls

         2. Fire barriers

         3. Fire partitions

         4. Fire doors

         5. Vertical openings

         6. Interior finishes

         7. Roofing

         8. Draft stops and smoke vents

    D. Impact of

         1. Detection systems

         2. Alarm systems

         3. Suppression systems

         4. Codes

         5. Ordinances

         6. Standards

    E. Purpose of pre-incident plans

    F. Pre-incident plan survey process

VI. Securing incident scenes

    A. Types of evidence

    B. Fire scene security

    C. Evidence preservation

    D. Establishing perimeters at incident scenes

VII. Determining cause and origin

    A. Methods used by arsonists

    B. Common causes of fire

    C. Basic fire cause and origin determination

    D. Fire growth and development

    E. Procedures to document preliminary investigations

    F. Applying knowledge using deductive skills

Assignments:

1. Pre-course reading and writing assignments of up to three hours

2. Reading 20- 80 pages between sessions

3. Written homework assignments

4. 2-5 individual inspection/investigation exercises

5. 5-10 group exercises

6. Manual worksheets

7. Summative exam

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 5 - 20%
Written exercises
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 5 - 15%
Individual and group inspection and investigation exercises
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 5 - 15%
Individual and group inspection and investigation exercises
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 70 - 85%
Summative exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Fire Inspections and Investigations for Company Officers Course Plan California Fire Service Training and Education System, 2014 edition

California Fire Inspector's Guide, California Fire Chief's Association, 2013 edition

Fire Officer: Principles and Practices, 3rd Edition, Michael Ward, Jones and Bartlett, 2014

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