TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION
CHAPTER 1
SECTION 115
CERTIFICATION CURRICULUM MANUAL
BASIC FIRE SUPPRESSION – FIRE FIGHTER I
FIRE SCIENCE
SECTION 115
FIRE SCIENCE
(16 Hours)
115-1.00
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe the process
of combustion and define key terms associated with fire
science.
115-1.01
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe the four (4)
products of combustion commonly found in structural fires that
create a life hazard.
NFPA 1001 (1997 Edition), Paragraph 3-3.11(a)
115-1.02
115-1.01a.
Flame
115-1.01b.
Heat
115-1.01c.
Smoke
115-1.01d.
Gases and Irritants
The fire fighter trainee shall define the following terms:
NFPA 1001 (1997 Edition), Paragraph 3-3.11(a)
115-1.02a.
Fire
115-1.02b.
Flash point
115-1.02c.
Ignition temperature
115-1.02d.
Fire point
115-1.02e.
Flammable explosive range
115-1.02e1. LEL
115-1.02e2. UEL
115-1.02f.
Boiling point
115-1.02g.
Oxidation
115-1
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999
TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION
CHAPTER 1
SECTION 115
CERTIFICATION CURRICULUM MANUAL
BASIC FIRE SUPPRESSION – FIRE FIGHTER I
FIRE SCIENCE
115-1.02h.
Pyrolysis
115-1.02i
Reducing agent
115-1.02j
Vaporization
115-1.02k
Combustion
115-1.02l
Vapor density
115-1.02m
Specific gravity
115-1.03
The fire fighter trainee shall describe the process of thermal
layering that occurs in structural fires and how to avoid disturbing
the normal layering of heat.
NFPA 1001 (1997 Edition), Paragraph 3-3.11(a)
115-2.00
The fire fighter trainee shall define and describe fire theory.
115-2.01
The fire fighter trainee shall define the following terms:
NFPA 1001 (1997 Edition), Paragraph 3-3.11(a)
115-2.01a.
Fire triangle
115-2.01b.
Fire tetrahedron
115-2.02
The fire fighter trainee shall describe the relationship of the
concentration of oxygen to combustibility and life safety.
NFPA 1001 (1997 Edition), Paragraph 3-3.10
115-3.00
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe the heat
energy sources.
115-3.01
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe at least two (2)
examples of each type of the following heat sources:
115-3.01a.
Chemical heat energy
115-3.01b.
Electrical heat energy
115-3.01c.
Mechanical heat energy
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999
115-2
TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION
CHAPTER 1
SECTION 115
115-3.01d.
CERTIFICATION CURRICULUM MANUAL
BASIC FIRE SUPPRESSION – FIRE FIGHTER I
FIRE SCIENCE
Nuclear heat energy
115-4.00
The fire fighter trainee shall identify the stages of fire and
describe the appropriate action to be taken for
extinguishment.
115-4.01
The fire fighter trainee shall identify the following conditions and
describe their associated hazards and the appropriate action to be
taken for extinguishment:
NFPA 1001 (1997 Edition), Paragraph 3-3.11(a)
115-4.01a.
Ignition
115-4.01b.
Growth
115-4.01c.
Flash over
115-4.01d.
Fully developed
115-4.01e.
Decay
115-5.00
The fire fighter trainee shall identify special conditions that
occur during a fire’s growth.
115-5.01
The fire fighter trainee shall identify the following special conditions
that occur during a fire’s growth:
NFPA 1001 (1997 Edition), Paragraph 3-3.10(a)
115-5.01a.
Flameover/rollover
115-5.01b.
Thermal layering
115-5.01c.
Backdraft
115-6.00
The fire fighter shall define and describe methods of heat
transfer.
115-6.01
The fire fighter trainee shall define and describe the following
methods of heat transfer:
NFPA 1001 (1997 Edition), Paragraph 3-3.12(a)
115-6.01a.
Conduction
115-3
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999
TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION
CHAPTER 1
SECTION 115
CERTIFICATION CURRICULUM MANUAL
BASIC FIRE SUPPRESSION – FIRE FIGHTER I
FIRE SCIENCE
115-6.01b.
Convection
115-6.01c.
Radiation
115-7.00
The fire fighter trainee shall define and describe the physical
states of matter in which fuels are commonly found.
115-7.01
The fire fighter trainee shall define and describe three (3) types of
fuels:
NFPA 1001 (1997 Edition), Paragraph 3-3.9(a)
115-7.01a.
Solid fuel
115-7.01b.
Liquid fuel
115-7.01c.
Gaseous fuel
115-8.00
The fire fighter trainee shall define and describe the chemical
and physical properties of fuels.
115-8.01
The fire fighter trainee shall define and describe the following:
115-8.01a.
Specific Gravity
115-8.01b.
Vapor Density
115-8.01c.
The theory of surface to mass ratio as it relates to the
combustion process.
115-9.00
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe chemical byproducts of combustion.
115-9.01
The fire fighter trainee shall identify narcotic (asphyxiant) gases
and irritants common in smoke.
115-9.01a.
Carbon Dioxide
115-9.01b.
Carbon Monoxide
115-9.01c.
Hydrogen Cyanide
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999
115-4
TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION
CHAPTER 1
SECTION 115
CERTIFICATION CURRICULUM MANUAL
BASIC FIRE SUPPRESSION – FIRE FIGHTER I
FIRE SCIENCE
115-10.00
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe the units of
heat measurement.
115-10.01
The fire fighter trainee shall define the following units of heat
measurement.
115-10.01a. British Thermal Unit (BTU)
115-10.01b. Fahrenheit (°F)
115-10.01c. Celsius (°C)
115-10.01d. Calorie (C)
115-11.00
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe the fire
extinguishment theory.
115-11.01
The fire fighter trainee shall describe the fire extinguishment theory.
115-11.02
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe four (4) methods
of extinguishment by:
NFPA 1001 (1997 Edition), Paragraph 3-3.10(a)
115-11.02a. Temperature reduction
115-11.02b. Fuel removal
115-11.02c. Oxygen exclusion
115-11.02d. Inhibiting chemical reaction
115-12.00
The fire fighter shall identify and describe the characteristic of
water as it relates to its fire extinguishing potential.
115-12.01
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe the physical
characteristics of water.
115-12.02
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe the Law of
Specific Heat.
115-12.03
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe the Law of Latent
Heat.
115-5
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999
TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION
CHAPTER 1
SECTION 115
CERTIFICATION CURRICULUM MANUAL
BASIC FIRE SUPPRESSION – FIRE FIGHTER I
FIRE SCIENCE
115-12.04
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe the advantages
and disadvantages of water as an extinguishing agent.
115-12.05
The fire fighter trainee shall identify and describe the law of heat
flow.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
1.
International Fire Service Training Association. Essentials of Fire
Fighting, 4th Edition, 1st printing or later. Stillwater, Oklahoma: Fire
Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University, 1998.
2.
International Fire Service Training Association. Fire Service
Ventilation, 7th Edition, 1st printing or later. Stillwater, Oklahoma:
Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University, 1994.
3.
International Fire Service Training Association. Fire Stream
Practices, 7th Edition. Stillwater, Oklahoma: Fire Protection
Publications, Oklahoma State University, 1989.
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999
115-6