Fire Officer IV cheat sheet

Progressive discipline follows a sequence: oral warning, written warning, suspension, demotion, termination; severity may justify skipping steps.

Just-cause termination requires documentation of the specific rule violated, prior notice, a fair investigation, and an opportunity to respond.

FLSA overtime for non-exempt firefighters is calculated on a 7(k) work period (e.g., 28 days for 216 hours) rather than a 40-hour week.

A grievance procedure typically has 3–4 steps: immediate supervisor, shift commander, chief, and binding arbitration.

Performance evaluations should use behaviorally anchored rating scales (BARS) tied to observable job tasks, not trait-based ratings.

Recruitment of a diverse workforce is supported by validated written and physical ability tests; adverse impact is measured by the four-fifths rule.

Succession planning identifies key positions and develops internal candidates through mentoring, acting assignments, and formal training.

Employee assistance programs (EAPs) provide confidential counseling; supervisors refer based on documented performance, not diagnosis.

Collective bargaining agreements must be consistent with civil service rules and applicable labor law; impasse procedures include mediation and fact-finding.

The fire chief reports to the city manager or mayor depending on the form of government; council-manager cities separate policy from administration.

Public records laws require timely release of non-exempt documents; exemptions typically cover personnel, medical, and active investigation files.

A community risk reduction (CRR) plan uses the 5 E's: education, engineering, enforcement, economic incentives, and emergency response.

Media relations follow a single public information officer (PIO) model; the PIO coordinates releases and on-scene interviews.

Customer service metrics include response-time reliability, call-processing time, and post-incident satisfaction surveys.

Intergovernmental agreements (automatic aid, mutual aid) must specify cost sharing, liability, and command authority.

Public meetings under open-meeting laws require advance notice, an agenda, and minutes; executive sessions are limited to specified topics.

Social media policy should address official accounts, personal use, confidentiality, and disclaimers separating personal opinion from department position.

A budget cycle includes preparation, adoption, execution, and audit; the chief presents the department request to the governing body.

Cost-benefit analysis compares present value of costs and benefits; discount rate reflects the jurisdiction's cost of capital.

A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a directive with mandatory compliance; a guideline is recommended practice.

Records retention schedules are set by state law and the jurisdiction; incident reports, training records, and inspection files have different periods.

Risk management uses the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and PPE.

A capital improvement plan (CIP) projects major purchases (apparatus, stations) over 5–10 years and links to the operating budget.

Performance measures include unit response time, effective response force (ERF) assembly, and outcome metrics such as confined-fire percentage.

Grant management requires a clear scope of work, budget justification, and compliance with procurement and reporting requirements.

A line-item budget controls spending by category; a program budget links costs to specific services and outcomes.

Fire cause classification: accidental, natural, incendiary, or undetermined; the determination must be supported by evidence.

The fire scene investigation sequence: scene safety, scene assessment, witness interviews, exterior examination, interior examination, and evidence collection.

Origin determination uses fire patterns (V-patterns, pour patterns, alligatoring) and the principle that fire burns upward and outward.

Spoliation is the loss or alteration of evidence; maintain a chain of custody and secure the scene until the investigation is complete.

Inspection frequency is based on occupancy risk: high-hazard occupancies (assembly, hazardous materials) inspected more often than low-hazard.

A notice of violation must identify the code section, the deficiency, the corrective action, and a compliance deadline.

Fire investigation reports should separate observations from conclusions; use NFPA 921 as the recognized guide for scientific investigation.

Evidence collection includes photographing, diagramming, and packaging in airtight containers for accelerant analysis.

The fire marshal may issue permits for hazardous operations (hot work, fireworks, flammable liquid storage) and conduct plan reviews.

NFPA 1710 (career) and NFPA 1720 (volunteer) provide response-time and staffing benchmarks; 1710 calls for a 240-second travel time for the first engine.

Effective response force (ERF) is the number and type of units needed to complete critical tasks at a given occupancy risk.

Incident command system (ICS) is organized around command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance/administration.

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) requires common terminology, modular organization, and integrated communications.

Automatic aid is prearranged response across jurisdictions; mutual aid is requested when local resources are exhausted.

Community risk assessment uses demographic, building stock, and incident data to prioritize prevention and deployment.

Standards of cover define response time and distribution (first-due) and concentration (effective response force) objectives.

Special operations (hazmat, technical rescue, water rescue) require specialized teams and may trigger mutual aid or regional response.

After-action review (AAR) documents strengths, areas for improvement, and corrective actions following major incidents.

NFPA 1500 is the standard for fire department occupational safety, health, and wellness programs.

The 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives provide a framework for cultural change, including accountability and empowerment.

A safety officer is assigned at incidents requiring multiple companies and has authority to alter or suspend operations.

Cancer prevention: use SCBA throughout overhaul, decontaminate PPE on scene, and keep contaminated gear out of living quarters.

Rehabilitation (rehab) is required after 20–30 minutes of strenuous work or when SCBA is exhausted; monitor vital signs and hydration.

A physical fitness program should include annual medical evaluations, fitness assessments, and injury prevention.

Behavioral health programs address PTSD, substance abuse, and suicide risk through peer support and confidential referral.

Vehicle safety: seat belts, driver training, and intersection protocols; emergency vehicle collisions are a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths.

Post-incident safety analysis reviews near-misses and injuries to identify root causes and corrective actions.

The fire code is adopted by reference and enforced by the fire marshal; it covers construction, occupancy, and hazardous processes.

Plan review checks compliance with the adopted building and fire codes before construction or occupancy.

Fire protection systems: sprinklers (NFPA 13), standpipes (NFPA 14), fire alarms (NFPA 72), and portable extinguishers (NFPA 10).

Occupancy classifications (assembly, business, educational, hazardous, industrial, mercantile, residential, storage) determine egress and protection requirements.

Public education programs target high-risk populations and use data-driven messaging (e.g., smoke alarm installation, cooking safety).

Investigation authority is derived from state statute; the fire marshal may arrest, subpoena, and administer oaths in some jurisdictions.

Fire prevention inspections use a checklist based on code requirements; violations are corrected through notice, citation, or legal action.

Juvenile firesetter intervention programs provide education and referral to mental health services.

Fire protection water supply is evaluated through flow tests and hydrant inspections; required fire flow depends on building construction and occupancy.