Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Studies characteristics and behavior of fire, fundamentals of physical laws and chemical reactions occurring in fire and fire suppression. Analyzes factors contributing to fire - its cause, rate of burning, heat generation and travel, by-products of combustion, and its confinement, control, and extinguishment. This course is required for an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Fire Protection and
fulfills the requirements for the NFPA 1001 requisite knowledge of fire behavior and the DPSST Fire Officer I requirement for Science.  This course is transferable to a degree program in Fire Service Administration at Western Oregon University or Eastern Oregon University.

Students will meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001: Fire Fighter standard for requisite knowledge of fire combustion and behavior.  Students will also meet the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards & Training (DPSST) requirement for "Science"  as applied to NFPA 1021 Fire Officer I standard.

This course is presented in interactive lecture, demonstration and discussion format with substantial use of case studies and other small group learning activities. Classroom work is supported with small and full scale laboratory exercises examining the combustion process and factors influencing fire development in a compartment and compartment fire control methods.

At the beginning of the course, the instructor will discus the methods used to evaluate student performance and progress and the criteria for assigning a course grade. A course syllabus will be provided. Assessment methods may include one or more of the following: examinations, quizzes, homework assignments, research papers, laboratory analysis, written and oral reports, simulations, and classroom presentations.

Required Student Competencies

The competencies for this course are outlined in the Fire Service Higher Education Consortium Model Curriculum for Associate Degree Fire Science programs for the course Fire Behavior and Combustion.

1.                    Identify physical properties of the three states of matter.

2.                    Categorize the components of fire.

3.                    Recall the physical and chemical properties of fire.

4.                    Describe and apply the process of burning.

5.                    Define and use basic terms and concepts associated with the chemistry and dynamics of fire.

6.                    Describe the dynamics of fire.

7.                    Discuss various materials and their relationship to fires as fuel.

8.                    Demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics of water as a fire suppression agent.

9.                    Describe other suppression agents and strategies.