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Northen Illinois Public Safety Training Academy. Trains firefighters and police officers in the northeastern illinois area

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A fire hydrant

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One of the first fire fighting vehicles, had a pump that had to be operated by hand.

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somebody whose job it is to prevent fires

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an Emergency Medical Technician

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a background check is a search into somebody's personal history. it shows who you are, your criminal record, etc. It is required to become a fire fighter

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A fire mark was a metal plate affixed to buildings to show that they were insured.

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One of the best places that provide future firefighters with fire safety training and knowledge.

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The NIPSTA Foundation solicits and receives public and private donations, gifts, grants, memorials, and bequests of money, property, and services that support training of fire, police, public works, and private business professionals at the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA).

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A health professional that provides emergency medical services.

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The National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) cognitive exam is a computer adaptive test (CAT). The number of items a candidate can expect on the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) exam will range from 70 to 120. The maximum amount of time given to complete the exam is 2 hours.

The exam will cover the entire spectrum of EMS care including: Airway, Respiration & Ventilation; Cardiology & Resuscitation; Trauma; Medical; Obstetrics/Gynecology; EMS Operations. Items related to patient care are focused on adult and geriatric patients (85%) and pediatric patients (15%). In order to pass the exam, candidates must meet a standard level of competency. The passing standard is defined by the ability to provide safe and effective entry level emergency medical care.

We strongly encourage candidates to review the following information:

EMT Cognitive Exam Test Plan

Based on the most recent practice analysis, the National Registry Board approves a cognitive exam test plan. A test plan is a blue-print that tells the computer testing software how to build a candidate's exam. The table below indicates what percent of the test will focus on each topic area.

Cognitive Exam Retest Information

If a candidate is not successful in passing the cognitive exam, the National Registry will provide a candidate feedback on their performance. Candidates may apply to retest 15 days after the last examination.

Candidates are given a total of six opportunities to pass the EMT cognitive examination, provided all other requirements for National EMS Certification are met. After three attempts, candidates must submit official documentation verifying completion of remedial training. Remedial training must be completed by a state approved instructor or an approved CAPCE course. After remedial training is complete, the candidate is given three additional attempts to pass the EMT cognitive exam, provided all other requirements for National Certification are met. Candidates who fail to pass after a total of six attempts are required to repeat the entire EMT course.

Remedial Training Requirements

The EMT remedial training requirement can be satisfied through three different options:

1. Traditional Refresher Course: Completion of a State or CAPCE(F1, F2, F5) approved 24 hour EMT refresher course.

2. NCCR 20 hours of continuing education: Completion of the 20 hour National Competency Component from the NCCP model.

3. Continuing education topic hours: EMT remedial may be completed by continuing education* and must include the topics and hours listed here under Traditional Model.

Note: Some states require the traditional refresher course and will not accept continuing education hours. Please refer to your state's particular requirements. A maximum number of 10 hours can be applied from Distributive Education towards this section and must be state or CAPCE approved.

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The National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) cognitive exam is a computer adaptive test (CAT). The number of items a candidate can expect on the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) exam will range from 70 to 120. The maximum amount of time given to complete the exam is 2 hours.

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They are people tasked with alerting the staff of a building of a potential danger.

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Duties on noticing or becoming aware of an emergency.

Building Warden / Deputy Building Warden

(the deputy building warden is required to perform the duties of the building warden if that person is unavailable during an emergency)

On becoming aware of a potential emergency, shall determine the nature of the emergency and decide on the appropriate action. If an emergency is declared, the Building Warden shall initiate the emergency procedures which should include the following actions:

ensure that the appropriate emergency service has been notified. This can be achieved by contacting Security on (+61 8) 6488 2222

ensure that the area wardens are advised of the situation

initiate evacuation of the building/workplace

brief emergency service personnel on their arrival and thereafter act on the instructions of the emergency service's senior officer

being available, or organising area warden cover, at all times that the building is normally occupied

organising and distributing to all wardens and to all building occupants relevant information for use in an emergency, including details of the fire alarm system, the emergency warning system and the emergency procedures

prominently displaying evacuation procedures and plans for areas. Assistance can be obtained from Safety and Health

maintaining and distributing to all building occupants a current list of all Area Wardens and their Deputies with phone numbers and locations

training, or organising the training of newly-appointed area wardens in Emergency Control Organisation (ECO) operations

The building warden is responsible for ensuring that a warden is present in all workplace areas at all times during normal working hours.

Warden instructions can be edited to the individual building requirements.

Area wardens

Area Wardens are responsible for individual workplaces or areas of a workplace. An area warden, on becoming aware of the emergency, should implement the emergency procedures for their floor, which should include the following actions:

ascertain the extent of the emergency

assist people in immediate danger

raise alarm (break glass alarm, shout FIRE, FIRE, FIRE)

attempt to extinguish fire if safe to do so

implement evacuation of their workplace

perform methodical search of their area to ensure that all persons have been notified of emergency and have left, or are leaving, the workplace to the cluster point

assist mobility impaired persons

place a staff member at the entry points to ensure that nobody can enter the building pending permission to do so from the building warden or a member of the emergency services

communicate with building warden

For further details on the tasks involved with evacuation please see evacuation procedures.

A deputy area warden should be appointed for each area warden so to assume the warden's responsibilities when absent, and otherwise assist as required.

Area wardens should be appointed for each floor or zone of a building, to control the emergency procedures for that area, generally as directed by the building warden. However, area wardens have the authority to evacuate their area if there is any impending danger.

Area wardens must be familiar with:

the operation of the fire alarm system, the emergency warning system and any other equipment used to assist in the operation of emergency procedures for the building;

the area (floor or zone) they represent, including;

all means of egress and alternative escape routes;

the existence and position of rooms leading off blind passages; doors leading to dead-ends and any other confined areas in which persons could be located;

potentially hazardous materials or operations undertaken in their zone;

the location and operation of fire doors, smoke doors, fire blankets, portable fire extinguishers and fire hoses in their area;

the number and location of mobility-impaired persons in their area;

It is important that an area warden or a deputy area warden be available for each area during periods of normal occupancy. If possible, at least one area warden should be appointed each twenty persons employed in every area;

To assist building occupants and emergency services personnel to identify ECO personnel during an emergency the building warden and all area wardens should wear red caps with WARDEN written on. These caps can be obtained from the Safety and Health on (+61 8) 6488 3938.

All University Building and area wardens are protected under the terms of the University's Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance policies whilst undertaking their duties. These policies apply to all University staff provided they act within the scope of their duties and training and/or act in good faith. Protection is not provided under these policies for non University related activities.

Warden instructions can be edited to the individual building requirements. The area warden instructions can be laminated and inserted in the warden caps.

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Duties on noticing or becoming aware of an emergency. (the deputy building warden is required to perform the duties of the building warden if that person is unavailable during an emergency) On becoming aware of a potential emergency, shall determine the nature of the emergency and decide on the appropriate action.

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These first fire fighters and were slaves.

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Even the earliest known civilizations had great respect for the power of fire. Many groups thought of fire as gods or spirits and held rituals, gave sacrifices and conducted religious ceremonies, all revolving around the mysterious phenomenon of fire.

The first organized fire fighting force that can be traced was established in Rome by Augustus Caesar around 23 BC. They were organized much in the same way as many fire dpeartments of modern time, in that the organization was prompted as the result of a major fire with disastrous results.

These first fire fighters were called the familia publica and were slaves, about 600 in number. They were stationed around the gates of the city and gave alarm to inhabitants if a fire was spotted. Being slaves these first fire fighters were slow at spotting fires and somewhat unwilling to take the risks necessary to fight them. After another disastrous fire in Rome about 6 AD, the Familia Publica was replaced with a corps of Vigiles who were to protect the city of Rome for the next 500 years. The Vigiles were a group of freed men some 7,000 strong and protected a population of 1 million.

Their responsibilities were to provide a fire fighting unit, fire prevention duties and inspection of buildings. The organization of the Vigiles was copied from the Roman militia with officers and companies of fire fighters operating within a chain of command. They were divided into seven battalions of 1,000 men each and were commanded by the equivalent of today's fire chief. The fire chief or prefect was an equestrian ranked officer who was directly responsible to the emperor. The cost of maintaining the corps was paid by the public treasury.

The first fire pump was invented somewhere near the 4th century BC by a Greek. This first simple device, which was a double cylinder piston pump, remained the basic mechanical method for pumping water for hundreds of years.

Much of what occured in Rome and other early civilizations are the roots of fire fighting and fire prevention materials that are used today. Most concepts used today can be traced back nearly two thousand years.

Organized fire fighting disappeared for nearly a thousand years after the fall of Rome. In the 10 century, the French Normans conquered England and during the reign introduced the curfew concept for controlling fire in England. Under the Norman rule all house holders were to extinguish all fires by sunset. A metal cover was used to extinguish the fire on an open hearth. The Normans called the cover a "Couvre Fou" which on the English tongue became "curfew".

There is no written record of organized fire fighting for another 200 years and little known and recorded information about fire fighting activities exist until the 17th century.

After the great Fire of London in 1666, the city organized fire protection companies and required certain amounts of equipment to be on hand by all residents for use in combating fires. Equipment included leather buckets, ladders, shovels, and brass squirts. Brass squirts were large metal syringes, designed by the Portuguese, with handles on each side and a piston rod in the center. The nozzle of the squirt was placed in a bucket of water, the piston rod drawn back to fill it and water then discharged on the fire.

Another spin off of the Great London Fire was the advent of the first fire insurance companies in England. These companies has three basic duties; they posted fire marks to identify insured and protected properties, trained firefighters and salvage men who protected insured premises only, and they responded to actual calls for fire to the protected properties.

These insurance company fire fighters became England's first organized fire brigades. Gradually the brigades began competing to attend any fire for the honor of having reached the fire first. Moden traditions of fast response stems from these beginnings over 200 years ago. The traditional idea of fighting any fire also started in these early insurance company brigades.

The first hoses used by fire suppression personnel was made of leather and was designed by a Dutchman named General Jan Van Der Hyden, which first allowed fire fighters to carry water via a hose to the fire. These first hoses were 50 feet in length, and is considered the standard even today. They were equipped with brass screw joints, allowing each section to be connected to another. The hose was sewn together to form a tube, but because most of the sewn hoses failed after use, the hose was later riveted together at the seam.

One early pump used in England consisted of a barrel mounted on wheels or a sled with a single pump immersed in the water barrel and operated by pumping handles. A swiveling nozzle called the "monitor" or gooseneck, above the cylinder allowed the water to be squirted at the flames. The range of the stream was so short that the pump had to be close to the fire, and many of the pumps actually caught fire themselves.

By 1721, an Englishman named Richard Newsham, developed a piston pump which operated by chains running over toothed quadrants, rocked up and down by the pump levers on each side. It required 20 pump handle operators and one nozzleman to run the pump.

The first fire recorded in America was in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. The fire occured in the community blockhouse. Subsequent fire destroyed almost every building in the settlement. The Pilgrims at Plymouth, MA also suffered devastating fires in 1623. Many of these early fires were caused and spread due to the type of building materials. Roofs were made of thatch, structures were build close together, and chimneys were constructed of wood and mortar or mud and lined with the same material.

On April 1, 1853, the Cincinnati Fire Department became the first full-time paid professional fire department in the United States, and the first in the world to use steam fire engines.

The first horse-drawn steam engine for fighting fires was invented in 1829, but not accepted in structural firefighting until 1860, and ignored for another two years.

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Even the earliest known civilizations had great respect for the power of fire. Many groups thought of fire as gods or spirits and held rituals, gave sacrifices and conducted religious ceremonies, all revolving around the mysterious phenomenon of fire. The first organized fire fighting force that can be traced was established in Rome by Augustus Caesar around 23 BC.

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Fire Trucks with pumps that firefighters need to operate by hand to disperse fires.

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From 1965 through 1982, the T-Rex of fire pumpers roamed the streets of New York City, bringing with it massive firefighting power heretofore unseen on land.

How massive, you ask?

The central pumping unit alone could draw water from eight hydrants at once, drop lines into bodies of water, supply a mind-boggling number of lines with water simultaneously, and flow over 10,000 gallons per minute at low pressures if the situation called for it. When the pressure was ramped up to 350 psi, it could move 8,800 gpm.

By the time of its retirement in April 1982, FDNY's super pumper had responded to more than 2,200 calls. During its 17-year run, the super pumper and its tender and satellite tenders had responded to the biggest fires across the city's five boroughs; once it even took over the task of a failed pumping station in the city's municipal water supply.

William Francis Gibbs, an internationally renowned naval architect, first came up with the idea for a land fireboat (a super pumper) around 1910. But his ideas did not receive serious consideration. Gibbs would eventually design 74% of the U.S. Navy's fleet used during World War II, along with the passenger liner S.S. United States.

Technology, or rather the lack of it, was the insurmountable barrier to Gibbs' idea taking off. Diesel engines that could fulfill this type of pumping requirement and be light enough to mount on a truck did not yet exist, nor did hose that could cope with the water pressures in Gibbs' design.

Fire ravages Staten Island

Toward the end of World War II, the British Navy provided the solution to the former with the development of a functional lightweight diesel engine by the Napier Motor Company, while the U.S. Navy would develop the necessary high-pressure hoses to solve that problem.

Beginning in 1962, Gibbs invited Mack Trucks to take part in designing super pumper and its companion tender. DeLaval Turbine was commissioned to design a multi-stage centrifugal pump with a Naper-Deltic T18-37C diesel to power the pumps.

But what really helped birth the super pumper was Black Saturday. On April 20, 1963, FDNY experienced the busiest day in its history. Several dry spells combined with prolonged water shortages led to one of the biggest fires on Staten Island.

At that time, Staten Island was mainly thick brush, oak and pine trees with small clusters of homes. Beginning with a series of small brush fires, all of Staten Island's fire companies were soon in action. Additional fire companies were dispatched from Brooklyn and Manhattan because of the lack of available water (due to the drought) and poor water mains.

The mutual-aid companies' response was hampered because man and machine had to be shipped by ferry to Staten Island. More than 80 fire companies with more than 1,300 firefighters engaged the fires that resulted in property losses in excess of $2 million - that's $16.8 million in 2020 dollars. Firefighters in the rest of NYC were kept busy in that 24-hour period with over 2,000 alarms.

Birth of a beast

Gibbs watched the events of that day and knew that the time had come for his land fireboat. Such a beast could have pumped water from the Tottenville waterfront and provided an unlimited supply of water to the working companies on Staten Island.

He approached FDNY officials who were enthusiastic about the idea of a large, high-pressure pumping appliance.

But there was one problem: The department's funding for the next fiscal year had been budgeted. Gibbs was a persistent man, though, so this was just another small setback.

Gibbs testified before several hearings to justify the expense and eventually the New York officials approved the funding. The contract that called for Mack Trucks to build the super pumper and its tender had a price tag of $875,000.

Said then-Fire Commissioner Edward Thompson, "This will be the most powerful firefighting equipment the world has ever known."

The super pumper

The super pumper was part of a five-truck system that included the super pumper, the tender, and three satellite tenders.

The super pumper itself was a tractor-drawn unit that resembled today's recreational motor homes with many slide-outs and pieces of equipment that were engaged once the unit was in position. The routine setup time to get it operational was about an hour.

The super pumper had a commercial Mack truck for its tractor. Its engine was a four-stroke Mack END864 V8 diesel delivering 255 hp; an Allison CLT4460 six-speed semi-automatic transmission was equipped for a power take-off (PTO) unit to drive the priming pump and the pump engine's starting air compressor. Additional PTO units powered the air brake compressor including the power steering pump. The semi-trailer was mounted to the fifth wheel of the tractor.

Mounted at the rear of the tractor-trailer was a DeLaval six-stage pump that had a piston-type valve to allow for operation in either pressure or volume positions.

To supply water to the pump there were four unchecked inlets to the rear. Two of these were 4½ inch while the other two were 12-inch with 4½-inch inlets set into their caps; there were also two 4½-inch checked inlets on each side of the apparatus at the rear. There were eight 4½-inch discharge outlets with four located on each side.

A mechanical crane was located at the rear of the trailer to assist in positioning and supporting the sections of rigid 12-inch suction hose use for drafting.

Directly coupled to the pump was the Napier-Deltic engine, an 18-cylinder turbo-blown compression ignition, water-cooled, opposed-piston type operating on a two-stroke cycle. The fuel for the pump came from twin 200-gallon tanks, which could feed the diesel independently or simultaneously. The pump engine was started by 450 psi of air pressure from air tanks located on the tractor.

The tender and satellites

The tender used the same basic Mack cab-over tractor as that of the super pumper with modifications that added an operating platform to support the high-pressure monitor. It was equipped with a Stang Intelligiant monitor that had an 8-inch barrel capable of flowing 10,000 gpm. The monitor could propel its stream 600 feet.

The monitor was supplied via the four 4½-inch checked inlets with two located on each side of the tractor. There were also hydraulically operated outriggers on each side below the operating platform to stabilize the rig and counteract the nozzle reaction from the water cannon up top. The bulk of the trailer consisted of a divided hose bed with each compartment capable of carrying 1,000 feet of 4½-inch hose.

The tender was designed so that the tractor could easily uncouple from the trailer. This allowed for the tractor, carrying the large monitor, to maneuver into tighter spots than would be possible as a tractor-trailer combination.

The three satellite tenders were built on the Mack C model chassis. Each was capable of carrying 2,000 feet of 4½-inch hose and had a Stang Intelligiant monitor with a manually controlled 6-inch barrel that could each deliver 4,000 gpm.

All three satellite tenders had portable manifolds equipped with 4½-inch inlets and either six 2½-inch gated outlets or two 3-inch and four 2½-inch gated outlets. Those portable manifolds - each weighing a little over 200 pounds - were used at operations requiring many hand lines.

The super pumper could supply the manifolds from a remote location with the manifold positioned in front of the fire scene.

Just how awesome was the super pumper system? In 1967, it responded to a fire at a postal annex and managed to supply water to the massive gun on the tender, all three of its three satellite tenders, two tower ladder trucks, and a portable manifold with multiple hand lines all by itself.

Any way you slice it, that's impressive.

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The greatest fire pumper the world has known

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From 1965 through 1982, the T-Rex of fire pumpers roamed the streets of New York City, bringing with it massive firefighting power heretofore unseen on land. How massive, you ask?

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The honorary symbol of all firefighters that has a rich history.

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an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACS News Service Weekly PressPac: June 19, 2019

"Marking 50 Years since the Cuyahoga River fire, which sparked US environmental action"
Chemical & Engineering News

On June 22, 1969, the Cuyahoga River, which flows through Cleveland, Ohio, caught fire. Although firefighters extinguished the blaze within 30 minutes, the shocking event helped galvanize the U.S. environmental movement. Fifty years later, the river is much healthier but still recuperating from a legacy of pollution, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society.

In the late 1960s, the Cuyahoga River passed through a heavily industrialized area of Cleveland that included steel mills, manufacturing plants and a paint factory. Back then, industrial facilities discharged tens of millions of gallons of wastewater and sewage directly into the river each day. The 1969 fire was likely caused by sparks from a train passing over a bridge, which ignited oily debris on the water. Although this wasn't the first time the river had caught fire, it would be the last, Senior Correspondent Cheryl Hogue writes.

In part because of public outcry about Cuyahoga and other polluted sites, President Richard Nixon formed the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, and Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972. As a result, companies now pretreat their industrial wastewater to remove pollutants and then pump the water into the public sewage system. In addition, improvements have been made to the wastewater treatment infrastructure in Ohio and elsewhere. Although the Cuyahoga is now showing signs of improvement, it will still take a while for the river to fully recover, experts say.
Note: ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

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Fifty years after the Cuyahoga conflagration - American Chemical Society

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To get the best possible experience using our website, we recommend that you upgrade to latest version of this browser or install another web browser. See our Browser Support/Compatibility page for supported browsers list. ACS is committed to helping combat the global COVID-19 pandemic with initiatives and free resources.

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a person employed to prevent or extinguish fires, especially in a town, camp, or forest.

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Tapping employees to be fire wardens is a way to increase their commitment to your business. The role is an important one, ensuring the safety of workplace colleagues. The employee chosen to perform the additional duties and training assigned a warden must understand this is a reflection of your confidence in his competence. He'll likely demonstrate company loyalty in return.

Fire Warden Duties

Fire wardens usher everyone out of the building in the event of a fire. Wardens perform an area sweep to make sure everyone's left, meet up with fellow employees at the predetermined fire evacuation meeting area outside the building and perform a headcount. They make sure employees stay put until emergency personnel designate the building clear and safe to re-enter. Fire wardens inform emergency personnel about any areas they were unable to sweep due to dangerous conditions and the possibility of any people still trapped.

Qualifications of a Fire Warden

Potential wardens must be resourceful, cool under pressure and able to take on a leadership role in the midst of a crisis. Since training for the role can include schooling on human behavior during emergencies and specialized equipment usage, he must also be willing to commit to a formalized warden training program. Because he is tasked with maintaining an up-to-date employee list and to be on the lookout for potential fire hazards in his area, he must also be well organized and willing to provide consistent attention to the role.

Benefits of Tapping Employees

High-involvement work practices engage employees with the company so they bring their best to the job every day. The positive side effects of skills training and involvement in decision-making include greater energy expended by employees, as well as the benefits from their insight as to how they can work better in their jobs. Employees chosen to be wardens are given a high-involvement activity; they can increase their skill set, exercise leadership and contribute to a team-based atmosphere by demonstrating a commitment to keeping their colleagues safe.

Choosing the Right Employees

From a practical perspective, the individual chosen for fire warden must be regularly present in the office. From an employee engagement perspective, the role of fire warden must be characterized as a privilege to hold. Employees should not view the warden role as burdensome; they should understand the responsibility is granted as a recognition of their value to the organization. Management should make it clear to fire wardens that their contribution is valued, through verbal acknowledgment or notation in the employee's file to be considered at review time.

Photo Credits

Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images

About the Author

Catherine Lovering has written about business, tax, careers and pets since 2006. Lovering holds a B.A. (political science), LL.B. (law) and LL.L. (civil law).

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The Importance of Employees Being Chosen to Be Fire Wardens

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The Importance of Employees Being Chosen to Be Fire Wardens. Tapping employees to be fire wardens is a way to increase their commitment to your business. The role is an important one, ensuring the safety of workplace colleagues. The employee chosen to perform the additional duties and training assigned a warden must ...

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a person whose job is to receive messages and organize the movement of people or vehicles, especially in the emergency services.

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Summary

Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFB5YEzQUfI.

Quick Facts: Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers
2019 Median Pay

$41,910 per year
$20.15 per hour

Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and nonemergency calls.

Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers work in emergency communication centers called public safety answering points (PSAPs). Dispatchers must be available around the clock, so they often have to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Overtime and long shifts-sometimes 12 hours-are common. The pressure to respond quickly and calmly in alarming situations can be stressful.

Most police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers have a high school diploma. Many states require dispatchers to become certified.

The median annual wage for police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers was $41,910 in May 2019.

Employment of police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers.

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers with similar occupations.

Learn more about police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers Do About this section

Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and nonemergency calls.

Duties

Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers typically do the following:

Answer 9-1-1 emergency telephone and alarm system calls

Determine the type of emergency and its location and decide the appropriate response on the basis of agency procedures

Relay information to the appropriate first-responder agency

Coordinate the dispatch of emergency response personnel to accident scenes

Give basic over-the-phone medical instructions before emergency personnel arrive

Monitor and track the status of police, fire, and ambulance units

Synchronize responses with other area communication centers

Keep detailed records of calls

Dispatchers answer calls from people who need help from police, firefighters, emergency services, or a combination of the three. They take emergency, nonemergency, and alarm system calls.

Dispatchers must stay calm while collecting vital information from callers to determine the severity of a situation and the location of those who need help. They then communicate this information to the appropriate first-responder agencies.

Dispatchers keep detailed records of the calls that they answer. They use computers to log important facts, such as the nature of the incident and the caller's name and location. Most computer systems detect the location of cell phones and landline phones automatically.

Dispatchers often must instruct callers on what to do before responders arrive. Many dispatchers are trained to offer medical help over the phone. For example, they might help the caller provide first aid at the scene until emergency medical services arrive. At other times they may advise callers on how to remain safe while waiting for assistance.

Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers held about 98,300 jobs in 2019. The largest employers of police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers were as follows:

Local government, excluding education and hospitals

79%

Ambulance services

6

State government, excluding education and hospitals

6

Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private

3

Hospitals; state, local, and private

2

Dispatchers typically work in communication centers, often called public safety answering points (PSAPs). Some dispatchers work for unified communication centers, where they answer calls for all types of emergency services, while others may work specifically for police or fire departments.

Work as a dispatcher can be stressful. Dispatchers often work long shifts, take many calls, and deal with troubling situations. Some calls require them to assist people who are in life-threatening situations, and the pressure to respond quickly and calmly can be demanding.

Work Schedules

Most dispatchers work 8- to 12-hour shifts, but some agencies require even longer ones. Overtime is common in this occupation.

Because emergencies can happen at any time, dispatchers are required to work some shifts during evenings, weekends, and holidays.

How to Become a Police, Fire, or Ambulance Dispatcher About this section

Most police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers have a high school diploma. Many states and localities require dispatchers to have training and certification.

In addition, candidates must pass a written exam and a typing test. In some instances, applicants may need to pass a background check, lie detector and drug tests, and tests for hearing and vision.

Some jobs require a driver's license, and experience using computers and in customer service can be helpful. The ability to speak Spanish is also desirable in this occupation.

Education

Most dispatchers are required to have a high school diploma.

Training

Training requirements vary by state. The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO International) provides a list of states requiring training and certification.

Some states require 40 or more hours of initial training, and some require continuing education every 2 to 3 years. Other states do not mandate any specific training, leaving individual localities and agencies to structure their own requirements and conduct their own courses.

Some agencies have their own programs for certifying dispatchers; others use training from a professional association. The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO International), the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) have established a number of recommended standards and best practices that agencies often use as a guideline for their own training programs.

Training is usually conducted in a classroom and on the job, and may be followed by a probationary period of about 1 year. However, the period may vary by agency, as there is no national standard governing training or probation.

Training covers a wide variety of topics, such as local geography, agency protocols, and standard procedures. Dispatchers are also taught how to use specialized equipment, such as two-way radios and computer-aided dispatch software. Computer systems that dispatchers use consist of several monitors that display call information, maps, any relevant criminal history, and video, depending on the location of the incident. Dispatchers often receive specialized training to prepare for high-risk incidents, such as child abductions and suicidal callers.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Many states require dispatchers to be certified. The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) provides a list of states requiring training and certification. One certification is the Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) certification, which enables dispatchers to give medical assistance over the phone.

Dispatchers may choose to pursue additional certifications, such as the National Emergency Number Association's Emergency Number Professional (ENP) certification or APCO's Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) certification, which demonstrate their leadership skills and knowledge of the profession.

Advancement

Training and additional certifications can help dispatchers become senior dispatchers or supervisors. Additional education and related work experience may be helpful in advancing to management-level positions.

Important Qualities

Ability to multitask. Dispatchers must stay calm in order to simultaneously answer calls, collect vital information, coordinate responders, use mapping software and camera feeds, and assist callers.

Communication skills. Dispatchers work with law enforcement, emergency response teams, and civilians. They must be able to communicate the nature of an emergency effectively and coordinate the appropriate response.

Decisionmaking skills. When people call for help, dispatchers must be able to quickly determine the response dictated by procedures.

Empathy. Dispatchers must be willing and able to help callers who have a wide range of needs. They must be calm, polite, and sympathetic, while also collecting relevant information quickly.

Listening skills. Dispatchers must listen carefully to collect relevant details, even though some callers might have trouble speaking because of anxiety or stress.

Typing skills. Dispatchers type the details of calls into computers, and speed and accuracy is of the essence when responding to emergencies.

Median annual wages, May 2019

The median annual wage for police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers was $41,910 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,190, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $64,950.

In May 2019, the median annual wages for police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

State government, excluding education and hospitals

$48,630

Local government, excluding education and hospitals

42,080

Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private

39,810

Hospitals; state, local, and private

38,510

Ambulance services

37,430

Most dispatchers work 8- to 12-hour shifts, but some agencies require even longer ones. Overtime is common in this occupation.

Because emergencies can happen at any time, dispatchers are required to work some shifts during evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Employment of police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.

Although state and local government budget constraints may limit the number of dispatchers hired in the coming decade, population growth and the commensurate increase in 9-1-1 call volume is expected to increase the employment of dispatchers.

Job Prospects

Overall job prospects should be favorable due to employment growth and the need to replace dispatchers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.

Those who can handle demanding schedules and who have strong communication and typing skills should have the best job prospects.

Occupational Title

SOC Code

Employment, 2019

Projected Employment, 2029

Change, 2019-29

Employment by Industry

Percent

Numeric

Public safety telecommunicators

43-5031

98,300

104,300

6

6,100
Get data

Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state's websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

For more information about police, fire, and ambulance dispatcher training and certification, visit
Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International Academies of Emergency Dispatch International Municipal Signal Association National Emergency Number Association
O*NET
Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers

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Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFB5YEzQUfI. Quick Facts: Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers 2019 Median Pay $41,910 per year $20.15 per hour Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and nonemergency calls. Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers work in emergency communication centers called public safety answering points (PSAPs).

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a health professional that provides emergency medical services.

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Just turn on your television and you'll see them.

Whether it's on the breaking news story of the day or on a TV drama, you'll see them. Hollywood loves them. Remember the show that started it all, Emergency!? They are the uniformed men and women rescuing the victims of an accident or a disaster. Sometimes you'll see them in ambulances, sometimes they are in fire trucks, hospitals or in helicopters. They are everywhere that help is needed. They are EMTs and Paramedics. Both work in a variety of roles and are often the first on the scene of accidents, medical emergencies, and natural disasters. They both wear uniforms and they both help patients - so what's the difference?

In the field of emergency medical services (EMS), there are different levels of certifications for provider of care. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are the most common type of providers in all of EMS. They are the entry-level patient care provider followed by EMT-Intermediates (in some states) and then paramedics. EMTs are sometimes referred to as EMT-Basics or EMT-1s. However, do not be fooled by the term "entry-level." EMTs learn the essential skills to help in life-threatening situations and their education is the foundation for all other levels of provider. As one EMS instructor recently put it, "You can't learn and be good at advanced skills without having a solid foundation of basic skills." Many paramedics, doctors, nurses, and firefighters have used their EMT education and work experience as a stepping stone to their new career.

Both EMTs and paramedics have the knowledge and skills to transport patients and provide them with emergency care. The biggest difference between them is the amount of education they receive and what they are allowed to do for patients (scope of practice).

EMTs usually complete a course such as UCLA's EMT course that is about 120-150 hours in length. Paramedic courses can be between 1,200 to 1,800 hours. EMT and paramedic courses consist of lectures, hands-on skills training, and clinical and/or field internships. EMTs are educated in many skills including CPR, giving patients oxygen, administering glucose for diabetics, and helping others with treatments for asthma attacks or allergic reactions. With very few exceptions, such as in the case of auto-injectors for allergic reactions, EMTs are not allowed to provide treatments that requiring breaking the skin: that means no needles.

Paramedics are advanced providers of emergency medical care and are highly educated in topics such as anatomy and physiology, cardiology, medications, and medical procedures. They build on their EMT education and learn more skills such as administering medications, starting intravenous lines, providing advanced airway management for patients, and learning to resuscitate and support patients with significant problems such as heart attacks and traumas. Paramedic education programs (such as UCLA's Paramedic Program) may last six to twelve months.

So How Do You Become an EMT or a paramedic?

In order to become an EMT or a paramedic, there are four (4) major steps that you will need to complete, which may vary from state to state. In California you must:

1. Meet the eligibility requirements and prerequisites for attending an EMT or paramedic course.

2. Attend and successfully complete an approved EMT or paramedic education course.

3. Take and pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) EMT or Paramedic computer based exam.

4. Apply and obtain for certification within two years of being issued a course completion certificate.

The eligibility requirements and prerequisites for EMT and paramedic courses may vary from school to school. So be sure to check with the schools you are interested in before you enroll for a course. In general, to be eligible for enrollment into an EMT course you do not need to have any previous medical experience. You must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to certify as an EMT in California. Becoming an EMT is the first crucial step to becoming a paramedic. To be eligible for a paramedic course, you must be an EMT and generally have at least 6 months of work experience as an EMT.

In addition to these eligibility requirements, some courses have other prerequisites including academic and medical requirements. Again, be sure to check with the course you are interested in to find out what they require from you. Some courses may require you to submit proof of a current basic physical and proof of immunizations. Remember, this is about protecting your health and that of your patients!

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What's the Difference Between an EMT and a Paramedic?

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Just turn on your television and you'll see them. Whether it's on the breaking news story of the day or on a TV drama, you'll see them. Hollywood loves them. Remember the show that started it all, Emergency!? They are the uniformed men and women rescuing the victims of an accident or a disaster.

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a cross with arms of equal length that broaden from the center and have their ends indented in a shallow V-shape.

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When a courageous band of crusaders known as the Knights of St. John, fought the Saracens for possession of the holy land, they encountered a new weapon unknown to european warriors. It was a simple, but a horrible device of war; it brought excruciating pain and agonizing death upon the brave fighters for the cross. The Saracen's weapon was fire.

As the crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, they were struck by glass bombs containing naphtha. When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens hurled a flaming torch into their midst. Hundreds of the knights were burned alive; others risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from dying painful deaths.

Thus, these men became our first firefighters and the first of a long list of courageous firefighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow crusaders who awarded each hero a badge of honor a cross similar to the one firefighters wear today. Since the Knights of St. John lived close to four centuries on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta, the cross came to be known as the Maltese Cross.

The Maltese Cross is your symbol of protection. It means that the firefighter who wears this cross is willing to lay down his life for you just as the crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow man so many years ago. The Maltese Cross is a firefighter's badge of honor, signifying that he works in courage, a ladder rung away from death

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When a courageous band of crusaders known as the Knights of St. John, fought the Saracens for possession of the holy land, they encountered a new weapon unknown to european warriors. It was a simple, but a horrible device of war; it brought excruciating pain and agonizing death upon the brave fighters for the cross.

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a hydrant for a fire hose.

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Origin of Term "Fire Plug" By Jeff Walden

The term "fire plug" dates from the early 1800s, when water mains were made from wood. The fire department (usually volunteers) would head out to the fire, dig up the cobbles down to the main, then chop into the main so that they could place the hoses from their pumpers. When finished fighting the fire, they'd seal the main with -- you guessed it -- a "fire plug." The next time there was a fire in the neighborhood, they'd dig up the plug and not have to cut into the main.

Many of the departments were volunteer, and large cities had competing volunteer departments who would charge after-the-fact for putting the fire out. (The nastier ones would charge before-the-fact, while you were not in a negotiating mood.) If there was a plug near the fire, the volunteers would send out their biggest goons to guard it from the other volunteer departments. The goons were called "plug-uglies," which is where that term came from.
Back to Hydrant Technical Resource

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Origin of Term "Fire Plug" By Jeff Walden The term "fire plug" dates from the early 1800s, when water mains were made from wood. The fire department (usually volunteers) would head out to the fire, dig up the cobbles down to the main, then chop into the main so that they could place the hoses from their pumpers.

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The great fire of Boston occurred in 1872. This tragic event was one of the biggest fires ever recorded in American history, it was also known as the number 1 property loss.

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This page contains basic information about the Great Boston Fire of 1872, which occurred on Saturday and Sunday, November 9 & 10, 1872. The fire destroyed 776 buildings across 65 acres of land, with the assessed value of the properties at nearly $13.5 million and personal property loss of of $60 million dollars. The downtown area of Boston had undergone a rapid development in the years after the Civil War, but improvements, especially water mains, had not been upgraded during these years. The fire department at the time was dealing with an epizootic, a disease which affects equine animals, thus affecting the horses that pulled the heavy fire apparatus. The fire spread rapidly, creating its own energy or firestorm, due to the tremendous heat generated. Although many or most buildings were made of brick or stone, the window frames and other fixtures were made of wood, thus allowing the fire to communicate to nearby structures. During the course of the fire, which burned uncontrolled for more than 12 hours, buildings were blown-up using black gun powder in a controversial effort to create a fire break.

The fire started in a building at 83-85 Summer Street, at the corner of Kingston Street, in the downtown area. The first alarm was received at 7:24PM from Box 52 located at Summer and Lincoln Streets. The fire had nearly total possession of the building of origin upon the arrival of the first fire engine, Engine Co. 7 from their quarters at 7 East Street, near South Station. Hose Company 2, from Hudson Street, is credited with getting the first water on the fire. Additional alarms were struck at 7:29, 7:34, 7:45 and 8:00PM. Further alarms were struck for Box 48 and Box 123. Urgent calls for help were sent by telegraph, but help was delayed due to many telegraph offices having closed for the evening. Nearly all the cities and town surrounding Boston sent help. Some cities sent steam engines by railroad, with many coming great distances, including from New Haven, CT. Chief Engineer John Damrell was in command at the fire, but his attention was frequently interrupted by city officials seeking meetings to discuss strategy and the political impact of the fire.

The fire was finally stopped at corner of Washington and Milk Streets through the efforts of the firefighters to save the Old South Meetinghouse, on the opposite corner of Milk Street. The Old South, a fixture since colonial days, was (and remains) an important symbol of Boston's heritage and every effort was made to save it. Most accounts of the fire attribute credit for saving Old South to the Kearsarge Engine 3 of Portsmouth, NH, although that point is still debated. Despite the enormity of the fire, only two Boston fireman were killed, with the total deaths numbering between 13 and 20, depending on the source. Chief Damrell was heavily criticized and much of the blame for the fire was directed at him, despite his record of having sought improvements in the city's fire safety infrastructure. By 1874, he was replaced with a Board of Fire Commissioners. He later served many years as the commissioner of the Boston Building Department.

Much has been written about this fire in books, journals, periodicals, newspapers. Many photographs were taken in the aftermath of the fire, but none exist (to date) of the actual fire. Use the links below to find articles, stories, books, photographs, maps and other publications related to this fire.

Publications

Map of Boston and the Burnt District, 1872

Close-up map of the Burnt District

Boston Public Library Photograph Collection Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Investigate the Cause and Management of the Great Fire in Boston, City of Boston, 1873

A Complete History of the Boston Fire Department, 1630 to 1888, page 273,by Arthur Wellington Brayley, 1889

History of the Great Fire in Boston, November 9 and 10, 1872 , by Russell Herman Conwell, 1873

The Story of the Great Fire, Boston, November 9-10, 1872 , by Charles Carleton Coffin, 1872

The Boston Fire, November 9, 1872, by the Boston Chamber of Commerce, 1922

The Great Boston Fire, "The New England Magazine", by Robert G. Fitch, 1900

Remarks at the November 14, 1872 meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society

Capt. John S. Damrell's Address Before Boston Veteran Firemen, February 2, 1886, on Great Fire of 1872.

The Book of Boston, 50 Years Recollections of the New England Metropolis, by Edwin Monroe Bacon, 1916

Letters Written by a Gentleman in Boston to his Friend in Paris, Describing the Great Fire, by Harold Murdock 1909

The Boston Fire, November 9th and 10th, 1872: Its History...(etc), by Frank E. Frothingham, 1873

"On This Date" by Mass Moments
Additional Items

Newspaper Story: 11/09/1902 - 30th Anniversary of Great Fire of 1872

Newspaper Story: 11/10/1912 - 40th Anniversary of Great Fire of 1872

Newspaper Story: 03/03/1898 - Portsmouth NH fireman who went to Boston dies

Newspaper Story: 03/30/1903 - Portsmouth NH fireman who went to Boston dies

References

Boston On Fire, A History of Fires..., by Stephanie Schorow (2003)
Chandler & Co.'s Full Account of the Great Fire in Boston... (1872)
The Great Boston Fire - 1872, A Disaster with a Villian...by Boston Globe (1972)
The Great Boston Fire of 1872, by Anthony M. Sammarco (1997)
A Half Century of Boston's Buildings, by Charles S. Damrell (1895)
The Epizootic Fire, by John P. Vahey

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This page contains basic information about the Great Boston Fire of 1872, which occurred on Saturday and Sunday, November 9 & 10, 1872. The fire destroyed 776 buildings across 65 acres of land, with the assessed value of the properties at nearly $13.5 million and personal property loss of of $60 million dollars.

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Being a firefighter involves a lot of responsibility. ... Typically, a firefighter background check will include a criminal history search, an employment verification check, and a drug test. Some departments only check local criminal records, while others pull records from state or national sources.

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Being a firefighter involves a lot of responsibility. The decisions involved in this job are often matters of life or death-for others and for yourself. Because firefighters are responsible for the safety of their team members and the public, fire departments typically spend a considerable amount of time and energy screening new recruits with firefighter background checks, physical examinations, in-depth interviews, and more.

When it comes to physical tests, there is a fair amount of overlap from one fire department to the next. You will be tested on your ability to climb stairs quickly, carry heavy equipment like fire vests and hoses, and break down walls and locked doors. There is less consistency across departments when it comes to firefighter background searches. Departments require different checks, and some are more lenient about criminal histories than others.

Typically, a firefighter background check will include a criminal history search, an employment verification check, and a drug test. Some departments only check local criminal records, while others pull records from state or national sources. Crimes that usually lead to disqualification for fire department recruits include arson, any kind of theft, any kind of assault or battery, and violent crimes. DUIs are also a red flag since some firefighters will have to drive the fire truck.
Employment verifications and reference checks are crucial steps fire departments use to determine a person's work ethic and experience.
The drug test is one of the most critical parts of a firefighter background screening. Departments will disqualify any candidates that have a history of injectable drug use. Crimes involving the sale or intent to sell of most drugs-including narcotics, LSD, and even marijuana-can also lead to disqualification. Because firefighters need to be on their game at a moment's notice, and even minor mistakes can lead to loss of life or property, fire departments are not willing to take risks on recruits with drug issues.
The Importance of Honesty
Not every firefighter has a squeaky-clean record. Many departments are willing to take chances on candidates with only minor criminal offenses or whose criminal convictions date back many years. What no department will find acceptable is dishonesty.

Trust is extremely vital for firefighters within a department. When firefighters charge into a burning building together, they do so knowing they have each other's backs. Any form of dishonesty can breach this trust and make it harder for a fire department to function as a unit. Lies on a resume or job application, therefore, are deal-breakers in most fire departments. A department chief will always respect a candidate for being honest and forthright even without a completely clean record.

Sources:
http://www.aspiringfirefighters.com/coaching/application-hiring/background-check/ http://firelink.monster.com/training/articles/1769-everything-you-need-to-know-about-background-investigations https://breakingmuscle.com/fitness/the-cpat-the-events-in-the-fire-department-physical-ability-test

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What Kind of Background Checks Do Firefighters Face

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Being a firefighter involves a lot of responsibility. The decisions involved in this job are often matters of life or death-for others and for yourself. Because firefighters are responsible for the safety of their team members and the public, fire departments typically spend a considerable amount of time and energy screening new recruits with firefighter background checks, physical examinations, in-depth interviews, and more.

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Familia Publica were the very first firefighters based out Rome. They were made up of slaves, they were stationed around the city of Rome to ensure fire safety.

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The last couple weeks have been brutal. Between the fire academy and my new job, I've been slammed. I've been to Concord Uniforms so many times recently, I've though about volunteering there.

It was my hope at the start of this blog that I would be able to write a post for every day of the academy. That is clearly not going to be possible, but I will try and stay on top of things at least in blocks of days. Today's post will be on Day 2 of the academy, but in this posts and future posts I'll generally focus on a few things: What we've covered in class; class/training instructors; personal wins/losses (blunders); other highlights. In addition, I'll also try and get the quizes we've taken so far posted on the quiz page so you can test your own firefighter knowledge. Remember - anything less than 70% fails.

Day 2 - This was the actual first day of "class". Day 1 was our 10-hour orientation. In this class Captain Grillo covered the history of the fire service from 24 B.C. to current day. There's a lot that we covered and I'd love to post the notes here, but that would take a lot of time I don't have. That's a project for later, but I can tell you a few highlights regarding the history of the firefighting and some of the interesting trivia that goes along with it.

The earliest recorded history of firefighters was in Caesar's Rome. The "Familia Publica", made up of 600 slaves (not like the African-American slaves of American history. They were more like servants of the commonwealth.) stationed around the city and kept watch nightly for fires. They put them out by throwing buckets of water on them.

The Corp of Vigiles eventually replaced the Familia Publica and served Rome for about 500 years.

The very first fire pump ever was called the Siphona Syringe (invented by Ctesibus and Hero the Alexandrian) which was basically a giant syringe full of water which was pumped by multiple men onto a fire.

Former Captain of the Romain army, Florian, became known as "Florian, Patron Saint of Firefighters".

Dalmatians, the fire service mascot was originally used to keep horse teams on path and calm at the scene of fires.

Ben Franklin is commonly referred to as "America's First Fire Chief" as he started the first fire department in Philadelphia, PA.

Boston, MA created the first paid-on-call Fire Department, let by Thomas Atkins - America's first Fire Captain.

The word 'curfew' comes from the french saying "couvre feu" meaning "cover fire". In Medieval England the curfew bell was rung meaning it was time to cover and extinguish your fire, so that homes would not catch on fire in the night.

Andrew Gratacap invented the first fire helmet made of leather with the primary purpose of keeping water out of your eyes.

Cincinatti, OH (1853) is credited as being the the 1st paid, full-time Fire Department.

San Francisco's Daniel Hayes invented the 1st hydraulic aerial ladder in 1870.

In 1973 America's growing fire problem was finally explored in depth in the monumental "America Burning" publication. It's conclusion was that our fire problem which is worse than any other industrialized country, stems from our own apathy.

345 firefighters die in the terrorist attacks on 9/11. 6000 people died in total.

Today there are approximately 33,000 fire departments in the U.S. and 1 million firefighters (two-thirds are volunteer)

The are approximately 2 million fire calls per year in the U.S.

A popular saying in the fire service goes "200 years of tradition, unhampered by progress."

"Semper Vigilans" is the motto of the fire service. It means "Always Vigilant".

Class went smooth. Nothing significant to tell beyond the

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Fire Academy: Day 2 - History of the Fire Service

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The last couple weeks have been brutal. Between the fire academy and my new job, I've been slammed. I've been to Concord Uniforms so many times recently, I've though about volunteering there. It was my hope at the start of this blog that I would be able to write a post for every day of the academy.

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NIPSTA is means Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy where potential firefighters, police officers, and public city workers is taught to be trained in their specific role.

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The NIPSTA Foundation solicits and receives public and private donations, gifts, grants, memorials, and bequests of money, property, and services that support training of fire, police, public works, and private business professionals at the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA).

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A fire mark is an insurance that is shown by a metal plaque in the front of the building.

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Decorative crests bearing eagles, clasped hands, and shining suns were once signs of membership in a special club. They showed that the building to which they were affixed was insured against fire-and that if the building caught on fire, a private fire brigade would come to attempt to put it out. Now, long after their heyday, these plaques, known as "fire marks," have become collector's items-every bit as fascinating and artful today as they were when they were installed.

After the Great Fire of London in September 1666, which damaged or destroyed huge swaths of the historic city, the need for a more organized response to fires became tragically apparent. This led to the creation of the world's first property insurance policies, issued by what is considered the world's first insurance company, called the "Fire Office." Despite its official-sounding name, the Fire Office was not a municipal department, but a private company. At the beginning, it provided money for the restoration or reconstruction of buildings damaged by fire.

Not long after the Fire Office was established, a number of other insurance outfits began to appear. According to the Museum of London, one of every 10 houses in London was insured by 1690. As time passed, many insurance companies wised up to the fact that it was cheaper to prevent and fight fires than simply to pay the cost of reconstruction, and that's where fire marks come in. Insurance companies such as the Fire Office established their own in-house fire brigades, tasked with protecting the buildings covered under policy -and, in many cases, only those buildings. If another company's brigade put out a fire in a building insured by a different company, they might be reimbursed for their trouble, but if your building did not carry a crest, it might be left to burn. To designate which buildings were covered by which company's brigade, fire marks were installed on the exteriors of the buildings.

The Fire Office first used a fitting phoenix symbol on its mark, and other companies employed a wide variety of symbols, from a blazing sun to a building capped by a heraldic crown to a rearing horse, often with the policy number underneath the decoration. Fire marks were often metal plates affixed to exterior, but were sometimes more substantial or worked into the facade itself.

The practice soon spread beyond London. By the end of the 18th century they had made their way across the Atlantic-though in the United States their function wasn't always quite so pitiless as it was in their initial English form.

By the time that the idea of fire insurance made its way to the Untied States, volunteer fire brigades were already a well-established tradition to protect the common good. Fire marks, which first took hold in Philadelphia, where some can still be found today, functioned simply as insurance advertisements, and as a sort of turf mark. According to a story in Philadelphia Magazine, at least one insurance company in the 1800s offered rewards to fire brigades that got to a fire first, creating rivalries of a sort. It is also said that some of the fire companies were closely related to the city's street gangs, and the brigades' work could be used to set up ambushes and fights. Regardless of how they worked in practice, a number of attractive fire marks were installed in the City of Brotherly Love.

The most iconic of Philadelphia's fire marks was that of the Ben Franklin-founded Philadelphia Contributionship, which bore the image of four hands grabbing each other by the wrists. It was often molded out of metal and affixed to a wooden shield. There was also the mark of the Mutual Insurance Company, a leafy tree that was a direct slam on the Contributionship (which wouldn't insure properties that had trees in front of them). Just as in London before, as the number of insurance companies grew nationwide, the variety of fire marks grew with them.

By the mid-19th century, London had established a public firefighting operation, and the use of fire marks began to decline. The same trend occurred across the pond, as the prevalence of insurance spread and more effective ways of advertising arose. But fire marks maintained some popularity even as their utility waned.

Today, fire marks survive as historic points of interest or collector's items. Like philatelists and numismatists (collectors of stamps and coins, respectively), people who study and collect fire marks have a name: signevierists. Probably the most organized group of signevierists is the Fire Mark Circle of America, which oversees a number of auctions and connects enthusiasts. Their auction listings even act as a sort of database of the wide variety of preserved marks being traded around.

In this second life, fire marks have become popular decorative flourishes, and there are even modern recreations floating around. Some home insurance companies still grant buildings new decorative fire marks for a fee. But we are well past the days when these curious little symbols were a sign of security.

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How Fire Marks Went From Insurance Markers to Collectibles

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Decorative crests bearing eagles, clasped hands, and shining suns were once signs of membership in a special club. They showed that the building to which they were affixed was insured against fire-and that if the building caught on fire, a private fire brigade would come to attempt to put it out.

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Fire science is the behavioral study of fires, getting a full understanding of what happen in at the scene.

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NFPA stands for the National Fire Protection Association. Their main goal is to raise money as a non profit organization to help prevent injuries and death as a fire fighter.

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A fire plug is basically a fire hydrant. It carries water roughly every half block, so fire fighters could fight fires.

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THEY'RE EVERYWHERE, so common that we scarcely notice them. They're ignored, uncelebrated, the butt of jokes about peripatetic dogs, yet they play a vital role in public safety. In their 200-year history, fire hydrants have saved countless lives and billions of dollars.

The ancestor of the fire hydrant is the even more humble fireplug, a term often still used. Fireplugs date back from at least the 1600s, when firefighters would drill holes in wooden street mains to provide water for bucket brigades. Afterward, they stopped each hole with a wooden plug and marked the location in case the plug was needed again. After fire destroyed three-quarters of London in 1666, the city installed new mains with predrilled holes and plugs that rose above ground level.

The evolution of the fire-plug into the hydrant is sparsely documented. In the 1700s, valves began to replace the simple wood stoppers, and firefighters began carrying portable standpipes -vertical outlets-which were inserted into the plugs. This basic configuration is still in wide use in Britain and other European nations.

The word hydrant seems to appear for the first time in connection with Philadelphia's ambitious municipal water system, which began construction in 1799. The Philadelphia waterworks, which employed steam pumps to draw water from the Schuylkill River, supplied a system of hydrants, which at least initially were used both for firefighting and as a source of sanitary water for the city's poor. The hydrant consisted of a cast-iron standpipe enclosed in a polygonal wooden housing. When hoses began to replace the city's bucket brigades after 1803, the hydrants were outfitted with suitable nozzles.

In the winter months, these essential weapons in the battle against fire were under constant assault by ice. On the coldest nights, watchmen inspected the hydrants hourly, releasing small amounts of water to prevent freezing. Water won't freeze as long as it stays inside mains buried below the frost line. An obvious but mechanically difficult solution was to keep water out of the hydrants until it was needed. The predecessors of today's "dry barrel" compression hydrants appeared as early as 1812., according to Thomas Ingalsbe, a hydrant salesman and the owner of a Web site for hydrant aficionados, www.firehydrant.org . In dry-barrel hydrants, water enters through a valve located below the frost line and then drains from the barrel when the hydrant is not in use.

Ingalsbe, who became interested in fire-hydrant history while attempting to scrounge parts for clients with very old hydrants, says that it wasn't until the 1850s that dry-barrel hydrants became truly practical. The basic configuration of most American hydrants has changed little since. A stem nut, usually on the top of the hydrant, opens a valve to admit water into the hydrant. Closing the main valve automatically opens a drain valve, allowing the hydrant to empty. In areas where freezing is not an issue, many municipalities use the "wet barrel" or "California" hydrant, which is less expensive and simpler in construction and can be activated more quickly because it is filled with pressurized water at all times. The practice of using a separate system of high-pressure water mains just for firefighting began in Rochester, New York, in 1874 and has spread to most major cities.

In the 1930s, manufacturers began to produce "traffic hydrants," designed to break off on impact without damaging the main valve. (Contrary to what we see in the movies, knocking over a hydrant does not usually produce a geyser.) There have been countless other refinements in materials and manufacturing techniques, but the design of fire hydrants has been remarkably consistent over the years. Perhaps the most visible change is the addition of a larger nozzle after four-inch hoses became standard firefighting equipment. Still, hydrants from the Civil War do not look strikingly antiquated today.

Throughout the 1800s, different cities ordered hydrants built to different specifications. Fire companies called in to help out in neighboring municipalities often found their hoses were incompatible with the local nozzles. Even today there is not a uniform standard for hydrant nozzles. Because of their longevity, the expense, and the sheer number of hydrants-more than 70,000 in New York City alone -retooling them to a single standard is often not an option. Fire companies today often carry hose adapters for different types of hydrant nozzles.

The hydrant does not appear to be headed for obsolescence any time soon. Perhaps, one day, embedded microchips will assist in its monitoring and testing. Already, special foams let firefighters douse flames with less water (and hence less damage to property), but this will only lessen, not eliminate, dependence on hydrants. Ingalsbe says, "My guess is that the fire hydrant of today will look very similar to the fire hydrant of 2101." And even if some technological wonder renders hydrants obsolete, they'll likely be with us quite a while before people get around to removing them.

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THEY'RE EVERYWHERE, so common that we scarcely notice them. They're ignored, uncelebrated, the butt of jokes about peripatetic dogs, yet they play a vital role in public safety. In their 200-year history, fire hydrants have saved countless lives and billions of dollars.

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The Maltese Cross is your symbol of protection. It means that the firefighter who wears this cross is willing to lay down his/her life for you

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An official, responsible for managing and protecting an area designated to them which can include a forest, town, or camp.

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CONESUS - An investigation is continuing into the causes of two fires that were reported days apart in Hemlock State Forest.

The fires, on Sept. 21 and 24, each burned an area of around one-tenth of an acre, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Forest rangers from DEC responded to the first fire on Sept. 21, which involved a tree on fire in a hard to access area along Hemlock Lake, according to a weekly report on forest ranger activity from DEC.

Forest Rangers Patrick Dormer, Timothy Carpenter and Daniel Cordell, along with Fire Warden John Bolonda, used a ranger boat to transport hose, pump and hand tools to fell and extinguish the tree. The response followed a call from Livingston County 911 to Dormer, according to DEC.

While investigating the fire on Sept. 24, Dormer observed another fire 200 feet uphill from the Hemlock Lake fire. Dormer, and Fire Wardens Bolonda and Bill Clark conducted fire line construction and mop up of the second fire over the following days.

Both fires took multiple days to extinguish due to accessibility and ground fire. The first fire was fought over six days, while the second took four days.

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UPDATE: Investigation ongoing into Hemlock State Forest fires

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CONESUS - An investigation is continuing into the causes of two fires that were reported days apart in Hemlock State Forest. The fires, on Sept. 21 and 24, each burned an area of around one-tenth of an acre, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

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It depends on the fire department but the typical firefighter's probationary is between 6 months and 2 years. However, there are roles and some outlying departments that require a probation for as long as 36 months. The probationary period is a positive part of your development as a firefighter.

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If you're considering a career as a firefighter, you're probably aware that there will be a part of your career when you will be placed on "probation". This is to help you develop your skills and to ensure that you fit In to the department. But how long does this period last?
A firefighter's probationary period lasts for between 6 and 24 months (though atypically it may even be up to 36 months) depending on the fire department that they work for. This is not to be confused with the fire academy.
It is a time for cementing learning from the fire academy and applying the skills you learn to the real world. The key to a successful probationary period is not just to focus on learning but also on demonstrating your value as part of a team. It's a tough process that isn't always intuitive to follow.
Also read: Fire Academy 101: What to Expect and How to Prepare
What is Firefighter Probation and How Long Does it Last?

Every new firefighter will join a fire department and after passing the academy, you will become a probationary firefighter. Probation will last from 6-24 months (or thereabouts) and is to evaluate and test your abilities as a firefighter.

The fire academy will teach you the basic skills and knowledge that enable you to progress in the department and join the larger firefighting team. However, this program does not automatically make you a competent firefighter and thus, there is a need for a probationary period.

During this probationary period, you join the team but under supervision, and it is your supervisor who will decide whether or not you continue as a professional firefighter at the end of your probationary period.
During probation, your supervisor will be looking to see if you can put your skills into action, whether you can learn new skills as you improve and most of all, they will want to see that you can function as an effective part of a larger team.
Firefighters have to be able to rely on each other in highly dangerous situations and fire departments don't tend to value lone gunmen even if they have huge amounts of talent - your fellow firefighters need to be able to trust you and your judgment.

You will have frequent drills and testing of both your book knowledge as well as manipulative firefighting skills. This period can be stressful as your job is on the line. At this point you are an at will employee and can be let go for any reason.

During probation, you need to prove to your fellow firefighters and chiefs that you genuinely want to be there and that you are indeed cut out for the job. You are expected to make the extra effort in everything you do.
Here is a video of a Probationary Firefighter in Vista, California talking about what probation is like:
16 Tips: How to Survive Firefighter Probation

If you want to keep your probationary period a happy time in which you can thrive, you might want to follow some simple tried and tested rules for maxing out the value of your probation.

1. Don't Show up Empty Handed

The way to anyone's heart is through their stomach and if you want to make a good impression, each time you work with a new crew - bring along something edible to share. The classic call is donuts but don't let that stop you from opting for bagels and cream cheese, cookies, or any other snack that you can think of. Also, firefighters love ice cream, but you have to eat it out of a coffee mug, pro tip.
Firefighters love to eat and there's no better way to bond than to share food with someone.
2. Respect Your Crew

This means that you need to address your chiefs, captains, and engineers by their titles and only if they request otherwise do you use their first names. This is very important as you can really make enemies if you are thought of as disrespectful. Even if you have permission to use a first name, you always use someone's title when working with them at a scene or in public.

3. Let the In-Jokes Flow Past You

You need to understand that the team around you is fully-formed and has bonded over a period of years. While they may be very keen to joke at others' expense and your expense, you need to let this go and do not be tempted to crack any jokes of your own.

You're too new and the team will feel you haven't earned the right to make these jokes, yet. Don't worry, your time will come.

4. Show up Early

Truthfully, being early is always a good thing and we'd recommend that you keep up this habit throughout your career. Get into work at least 30 minutes before your shift starts so that you can prepare effectively for the day and catch up on any tasks that need dealing with before you start work in earnest.

In the fire service they say, "Early is on-time and on-time is late."

5. Work Hard

Sure, this seems like stating the obvious but when you're being assessed constantly, the easiest way to annoy your supervisor is to be constantly slacking off. If you're not putting in everything you have when you know that you're being evaluated, how can anyone trust you to give your all when you're not being watched?

6. Take Notes

You will be bombarded with information, tips, stats, techniques, terminology, and methods as a new firefighter. And it's impossible for most to remember everything right away.

Sure, it's 2020 but the most useful thing you can keep on you is a pen, not a smartphone. When someone gives you advice or instruction - write it down. When somebody asks you to do something, write that down too. You'll learn more and remember more when you do.

7. Learn to Love Learning

You may have hated school but this isn't school - this is your career and the more you learn, the better you will be and more importantly, the safer you, your fellow firefighters and the general public will be too. Firefighters work is, quite literally, about life and death. You have to take it seriously.

Training and learning is a huge part of the job as a firefighter. Whether you're reviewing infrequently used skills like high rise firefighting operations or taking in the new changes to the emergency medical protocols, there is always something to be learning or studying. And once you learn it all, there will be new things added as things change.

8. Listen to Senior Firefighters

Sure, you're going to get some of the same old "war stories" come up every now and again. Never mind, you're trying to build bonds with your crew and that means keeping your mouth shut (except to ask questions) and listening to what they have to say. The informal lessons that you can learn through the stories of your more experienced colleagues are more a lot more than anything that can be learned in a book.

9. Anticipate What's Expected of You

It's a fine line to walk but you ought to be trying to do everything that you can do. You don't want the Captain to be sitting you down to explain what you need to do, because when that happens - you're in serious trouble, even if you don't realize it.
You should be "Johnny-on-the-spot" and when someone asks you to do something, you have already started doing it.
10. Don't Leave Your Officer

Unless you are directly told to separate, you stay within reach of your officer at all times. You don't leave them under any other circumstances. This is for your and your crew's safety. Crew accountability is a very important part of keeping everyone safe in the dangerous situations that firefighters are called into.

11. Keep Your Cool

You're not expected to panic, and you know what sounds like panic? Shouting and yelling. You need to keep your cool and speak clearly and articulately, in a way that you can be heard. It will give your colleagues confidence that you know what you are doing and that they can rely on you when things get tense.

The public calls for firefighters when they are panicked and in distress. They call for us, as firefighters, to bring order and confidence to a stressful situation. Some of this will come with time and experience, but you need to show you can keep your composure in chaotic environments.

12. Always Eat with Your Crew

You need people to know that you're a part of the team and that means being present when everyone is eating. Think of firefighting as something akin to a family. Families eat together because it allows them to thrash out important issues and to catch up with each other. You can't be on the inside if you're not around people when they're bonding.

But remember, as the "probie", you should be the last to fill your plate, the first to get up after eating and the one washing the dishes. Strive to make your crew's job/shift easier in any way that you can.

13. Learn the Language

Every profession has its own specific terminology. The names of processes, procedures, equipment, etc. The earlier you learn these things, the faster you're speaking to your peers in a language they understand and the more you seem like one of them rather than an outsider.

14. Ask Questions

This is good advice in absolutely every walk of life when you're learning - ask questions. Don't be afraid to reach out to get the input of more experienced firefighters on what they think could have been done better or what the most important lessons you should have learned from that experience are. People also appreciate it when you value their skills.

Questions show that you are interesting and want to learn. It shows that you are striving to improve yourself and take pride in your work.

15. Stay off Your Phone

Unless you have a vital call coming in - your phone should be out of sight and ideally, it's not going to be ringing either. You want to spend your probationary learning your job and about your fellow firefighters, your phone plays no part in that process.

Even if your crew uses their phones during down time, you have too much studying, cleaning, etc. to do.

16. Have Fun

Your probationary period is, of course, a serious time in your fire department career. And it will be stressful, but it's also an exciting period of learning and getting to meet new people. The more you try to have fun, the more fun it will become - you will also find that things are easier on you if you pretend to be excited about doing a job that's not much fun because you'll be seen as a team player.

Conclusion

How long is a firefighter probationary period? It depends on the fire department but the typical firefighter's probationary is between 6 months and 2 years. However, there are roles and some outlying departments that require a probation for as long as 36 months.

The probationary period is a positive part of your development as a firefighter. It ensures that you can use the skills you learned as a trainee and work effectively as part of a larger team to save lives and put out fires.

Related Articles
Can You Fail the Fire Academy? Yes, Here's How How to Become a Firefighter: The Complete Guide

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How Long is a Firefighter Probationary Period? | Firefighter Insider

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If you're considering a career as a firefighter, you're probably aware that there will be a part of your career when you will be placed on "probation". This is to help you develop your skills and to ensure that you fit In to the department. But how long does this period last?

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The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) is the recognized standard for measuring an individual's ability to handle the physical demands of being a firefighter. The timed test measures how candidates handle eight separate events, all designed to mirror tasks on the job.

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The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) is the recognized standard for measuring an individual's ability to handle the physical demands of being a firefighter. The timed test measures how candidates handle eight separate events, all designed to mirror tasks on the job. FCTC proudly administers the CPAT on behalf of the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (Cal-JAC), the exclusive statewide CPAT provider.
CPAT Details

Participants in the CPAT must navigate eight separate events on a closed course within a span of 10 minutes and 20 seconds. Each event simulates a physical skill or function that firefighters experience on the job.

During the test, candidates wear a helmet, gloves and 50-lb weighted vests, designed to simulate the weight of firefighter personal protective equipment. For the stair climb - the first event - candidates will don an additional 25-lb weight, to simulate the carrying of a hose pack into a high-rise fire.

Candidates will be accompanied by a test proctor, who will call out directions for the test events and score the candidate's success in real time.

Each event must be completed exactly as prescribed - if a candidate fails any component of the test, they will fail the entire test. Candidates also fail if they do not complete the eight events within the 10-minute, 20-second time limit.
WATCH THE CPAT ORIENTATION VIDEO HERE
Scheduling Your CPAT

All CPAT participants must be at least 18 years of age and possess proper government-issued identification. CPAT tests must be scheduled online in advance -- test-day registration or rescheduling is not accepted.

The CPAT testing fee is $150, which includes the test and two optional orientation sessions. Additional practice days can also be scheduled separately for an additional fee. All fees are non-refundable.
CLICK HERE FOR FEE INFORMATION CLICK HERE FOR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP INFORMATION CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING TEST DATES
Rescheduling your test: Candidates may reschedule their test date up to two business days beforehand without penalty. Changes less than two business days before a scheduled CPAT will be subject to a $50 processing fee.

FCTC does not accept reschedule requests on the day of the event.

Cancellations: All FCTC fees are non-refundable. Candidates may cancel their test, but will forfeit their testing fees.

No-shows: If you do not show up on your scheduled test day, your fee is forfeited. If you want to schedule another test day, you will have to pay the full fee again.

Preparing to Take the CPAT

Orientation

The IAFF/IAFC standards for the Candidate Physical Ability Test states that each candidate must have the opportunity to attend at least two orientation sessions within eight (8) weeks prior to taking the test.

During orientation, candidates will receive instruction on the test and the test events, and will have the opportunity to try out the CPAT testing equipment to better understand what will be required.

Participation in one or more orientation sessions is strongly encouraged. Candidates who take advantage of orientation consistently have a higher passage rate than those who do not. The two orientation sessions are included in the $150.00 testing fee.

FCTC also provides a complete online Orientation Guide, with detailed information about the test events.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE IAFF/IAFC CPAT ORIENTATION GUIDE WATCH THE CPAT ORIENTATION VIDEO - FCTC SACRAMENTO WATCH THE CPAT ORIENTATION VIDEO - FCTC SOUTH EL MONTE
WATCH THE CPAT ORIENTATION VIDEO - FCTC LIVERMORE
In addition to orientation, candidates have the option to sign up for at least two (2) timed practice runs prior to the test itself. Unlike orientation, practice tests are a full-scale simulation of the test. There is an additional fee of $25 per practice test. Like orientation, candidates that take at least one practice test consistently pass at a higher rate.
If you choose not to participate in this pre-test program, you will be required to sign a waiver acknowledging that you are aware of the pre-test program and have declined to include it in your preparations to complete the CPAT.

Getting in Shape to Take CPAT

Like firefighting, the key to success in the CPAT is preparation. FCTC's CPAT Preparation Guide will help you prepare, with detailed information on:

Physical demands of the test

Training principles

Warm-up strategies

Techniques for building flexibility, strength and cardiovascular endurance

Hydration and training strategies

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD THE CPAT PREPARATION GUIDE
Day of the Test

On test day, you will be required to show proper government-issued identification.

For the safety of candidates and proctors, a strict dress code is enforced:

Long Pants to the ankle (No Shorts, No Capris)

T-Shirt or sweatshirt

Footwear with no open heel or toe (No five-finger shoes, barefoot running shoes, individual toe shoes, flip-flops, etc.)

No loose or restrictive jewelry

Candidates must be in proper CPAT attire before participating in any CPAT event. FCTC does not provide attire for those taking the test.

Additional Information

If you have additional questions about the CPAT, check out our CPAT FAQ. If you still have questions, contact FCTC.

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The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) is the recognized standard for measuring an individual's ability to handle the physical demands of being a firefighter. The timed test measures how candidates handle eight separate events, all designed to mirror tasks on the job.

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an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property.

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Do you really know what the word "conflagration" means? The traditional, historical, and academic definition of conflagration states it is a "major building-to-building fire involving many structures and/or spreading flame over a large area." Another term, "group fire," describes a major fire that requires multiple alarms of firefighters to extinguish. A group fire, which is not as large as a conflagration, is defined by fire protection engineers as a "major building-to-building fire involving many structures, spreading flame over a large area." However, a group fire is limited within the boundaries of an industrial complex, within one city block, or some man-made boundary. The difference between a conflagration and a group fire is the area of fire spread.

The conflagration spreads over a larger area and jumps fence boundaries, goes beyond a city block of buildings or across streets, waterways, and any man-made fire breaks such as large avenues and open design spaces. The group fire is a large fire that spreads from building to building; however, it is limited by a man-made boundary. An entire industrial park could burn down; including several building in a fenced-off area, and it would be considered a group fire, not a conflagration.

A third classification of a major fire is a "large-loss fire," which is neither a conflagration nor a group fire. A large-loss fire is defined by the insurance industry as a fire that causes $5 million or more of direct property loss. This dollar amount increases with inflation. The definition of a large-loss fire used to be considered a fire creating more than $250,000 of direct fire loss-structure or content. This definition changes and may soon change to $10 million of direct fire loss. It fluctuates and is adjusted for inflation.

Today's most common conflagration is a wildfire. The classic conflagration of the last century, in which flames spread across narrow city streets to closely packed manufacturing buildings, is rare. This is because today fire departments protect large cities and sprinkler systems protect most large commercial buildings. Today's conflagration is a forest or woodland fire, also called an urban/wildland interface fire. This strange term is fire service jargon used to describe a "conflagration in a forest, or woods which spreads to houses, mobile homes, camp grounds, and parked vehicles for miles." The last conflagration in New York City was an urban/wildland interface fire. On April 23, 1963, a wildfire spread over four square miles and destroyed 100 houses in the borough of Staten Island.

For more information on this subject, go to vincentdunn.com or Google search "conflagrations." Chief Dunn can be reached at 1-800-231-3388 or via e-mail at [email protected] .

Deputy Chief Dunn (Ret., Fire Department of New York) is the author of a number of textbooks, including the new Strategy of Firefighting (Fire Engineering, 2007), Collapse of Burning Buildings (Fire Engineering, 1988), Safety and Survival on the Fireground (Fire Engineering, 1992), and Command and Control of Fires and Emergencies (Fire Engineering, 1999).

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Dunn's Dispatch: Conflagrations - Fire Engineering

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Do you really know what the word "conflagration" means? The traditional, historical, and academic definition of conflagration states it is a "major building-to-building fire involving many structures and/or spreading flame over a large area." Another term, "group fire," describes a major fire that requires multiple alarms of firefighters to extinguish.

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Fire insurance marks are metal plaques marked with the emblem of the insurance company which were affixed to the front of insured buildings

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Decorative crests bearing eagles, clasped hands, and shining suns were once signs of membership in a special club. They showed that the building to which they were affixed was insured against fire-and that if the building caught on fire, a private fire brigade would come to attempt to put it out. Now, long after their heyday, these plaques, known as "fire marks," have become collector's items-every bit as fascinating and artful today as they were when they were installed.

After the Great Fire of London in September 1666, which damaged or destroyed huge swaths of the historic city, the need for a more organized response to fires became tragically apparent. This led to the creation of the world's first property insurance policies, issued by what is considered the world's first insurance company, called the "Fire Office." Despite its official-sounding name, the Fire Office was not a municipal department, but a private company. At the beginning, it provided money for the restoration or reconstruction of buildings damaged by fire.

Not long after the Fire Office was established, a number of other insurance outfits began to appear. According to the Museum of London, one of every 10 houses in London was insured by 1690. As time passed, many insurance companies wised up to the fact that it was cheaper to prevent and fight fires than simply to pay the cost of reconstruction, and that's where fire marks come in. Insurance companies such as the Fire Office established their own in-house fire brigades, tasked with protecting the buildings covered under policy -and, in many cases, only those buildings. If another company's brigade put out a fire in a building insured by a different company, they might be reimbursed for their trouble, but if your building did not carry a crest, it might be left to burn. To designate which buildings were covered by which company's brigade, fire marks were installed on the exteriors of the buildings.

The Fire Office first used a fitting phoenix symbol on its mark, and other companies employed a wide variety of symbols, from a blazing sun to a building capped by a heraldic crown to a rearing horse, often with the policy number underneath the decoration. Fire marks were often metal plates affixed to exterior, but were sometimes more substantial or worked into the facade itself.

The practice soon spread beyond London. By the end of the 18th century they had made their way across the Atlantic-though in the United States their function wasn't always quite so pitiless as it was in their initial English form.

By the time that the idea of fire insurance made its way to the Untied States, volunteer fire brigades were already a well-established tradition to protect the common good. Fire marks, which first took hold in Philadelphia, where some can still be found today, functioned simply as insurance advertisements, and as a sort of turf mark. According to a story in Philadelphia Magazine, at least one insurance company in the 1800s offered rewards to fire brigades that got to a fire first, creating rivalries of a sort. It is also said that some of the fire companies were closely related to the city's street gangs, and the brigades' work could be used to set up ambushes and fights. Regardless of how they worked in practice, a number of attractive fire marks were installed in the City of Brotherly Love.

The most iconic of Philadelphia's fire marks was that of the Ben Franklin-founded Philadelphia Contributionship, which bore the image of four hands grabbing each other by the wrists. It was often molded out of metal and affixed to a wooden shield. There was also the mark of the Mutual Insurance Company, a leafy tree that was a direct slam on the Contributionship (which wouldn't insure properties that had trees in front of them). Just as in London before, as the number of insurance companies grew nationwide, the variety of fire marks grew with them.

By the mid-19th century, London had established a public firefighting operation, and the use of fire marks began to decline. The same trend occurred across the pond, as the prevalence of insurance spread and more effective ways of advertising arose. But fire marks maintained some popularity even as their utility waned.

Today, fire marks survive as historic points of interest or collector's items. Like philatelists and numismatists (collectors of stamps and coins, respectively), people who study and collect fire marks have a name: signevierists. Probably the most organized group of signevierists is the Fire Mark Circle of America, which oversees a number of auctions and connects enthusiasts. Their auction listings even act as a sort of database of the wide variety of preserved marks being traded around.

In this second life, fire marks have become popular decorative flourishes, and there are even modern recreations floating around. Some home insurance companies still grant buildings new decorative fire marks for a fee. But we are well past the days when these curious little symbols were a sign of security.

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How Fire Marks Went From Insurance Markers to Collectibles

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Decorative crests bearing eagles, clasped hands, and shining suns were once signs of membership in a special club. They showed that the building to which they were affixed was insured against fire-and that if the building caught on fire, a private fire brigade would come to attempt to put it out.

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Even the earliest known civilizations had great respect for the power of fire. ... These first fire fighters were called the familia pubilca and were slaves, about 600 in number. They were stationed around the gates of the city and gave alarm to inhabitants if a fire was spotted.

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Even the earliest known civilizations had great respect for the power of fire. Many groups thought of fire as gods or spirits and held rituals, gave sacrifices and conducted religious ceremonies, all revolving around the mysterious phenomenon of fire.

The first organized fire fighting force that can be traced was established in Rome by Augustus Caesar around 23 BC. They were organized much in the same way as many fire dpeartments of modern time, in that the organization was prompted as the result of a major fire with disastrous results.

These first fire fighters were called the familia publica and were slaves, about 600 in number. They were stationed around the gates of the city and gave alarm to inhabitants if a fire was spotted. Being slaves these first fire fighters were slow at spotting fires and somewhat unwilling to take the risks necessary to fight them. After another disastrous fire in Rome about 6 AD, the Familia Publica was replaced with a corps of Vigiles who were to protect the city of Rome for the next 500 years. The Vigiles were a group of freed men some 7,000 strong and protected a population of 1 million.

Their responsibilities were to provide a fire fighting unit, fire prevention duties and inspection of buildings. The organization of the Vigiles was copied from the Roman militia with officers and companies of fire fighters operating within a chain of command. They were divided into seven battalions of 1,000 men each and were commanded by the equivalent of today's fire chief. The fire chief or prefect was an equestrian ranked officer who was directly responsible to the emperor. The cost of maintaining the corps was paid by the public treasury.

The first fire pump was invented somewhere near the 4th century BC by a Greek. This first simple device, which was a double cylinder piston pump, remained the basic mechanical method for pumping water for hundreds of years.

Much of what occured in Rome and other early civilizations are the roots of fire fighting and fire prevention materials that are used today. Most concepts used today can be traced back nearly two thousand years.

Organized fire fighting disappeared for nearly a thousand years after the fall of Rome. In the 10 century, the French Normans conquered England and during the reign introduced the curfew concept for controlling fire in England. Under the Norman rule all house holders were to extinguish all fires by sunset. A metal cover was used to extinguish the fire on an open hearth. The Normans called the cover a "Couvre Fou" which on the English tongue became "curfew".

There is no written record of organized fire fighting for another 200 years and little known and recorded information about fire fighting activities exist until the 17th century.

After the great Fire of London in 1666, the city organized fire protection companies and required certain amounts of equipment to be on hand by all residents for use in combating fires. Equipment included leather buckets, ladders, shovels, and brass squirts. Brass squirts were large metal syringes, designed by the Portuguese, with handles on each side and a piston rod in the center. The nozzle of the squirt was placed in a bucket of water, the piston rod drawn back to fill it and water then discharged on the fire.

Another spin off of the Great London Fire was the advent of the first fire insurance companies in England. These companies has three basic duties; they posted fire marks to identify insured and protected properties, trained firefighters and salvage men who protected insured premises only, and they responded to actual calls for fire to the protected properties.

These insurance company fire fighters became England's first organized fire brigades. Gradually the brigades began competing to attend any fire for the honor of having reached the fire first. Moden traditions of fast response stems from these beginnings over 200 years ago. The traditional idea of fighting any fire also started in these early insurance company brigades.

The first hoses used by fire suppression personnel was made of leather and was designed by a Dutchman named General Jan Van Der Hyden, which first allowed fire fighters to carry water via a hose to the fire. These first hoses were 50 feet in length, and is considered the standard even today. They were equipped with brass screw joints, allowing each section to be connected to another. The hose was sewn together to form a tube, but because most of the sewn hoses failed after use, the hose was later riveted together at the seam.

One early pump used in England consisted of a barrel mounted on wheels or a sled with a single pump immersed in the water barrel and operated by pumping handles. A swiveling nozzle called the "monitor" or gooseneck, above the cylinder allowed the water to be squirted at the flames. The range of the stream was so short that the pump had to be close to the fire, and many of the pumps actually caught fire themselves.

By 1721, an Englishman named Richard Newsham, developed a piston pump which operated by chains running over toothed quadrants, rocked up and down by the pump levers on each side. It required 20 pump handle operators and one nozzleman to run the pump.

The first fire recorded in America was in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. The fire occured in the community blockhouse. Subsequent fire destroyed almost every building in the settlement. The Pilgrims at Plymouth, MA also suffered devastating fires in 1623. Many of these early fires were caused and spread due to the type of building materials. Roofs were made of thatch, structures were build close together, and chimneys were constructed of wood and mortar or mud and lined with the same material.

On April 1, 1853, the Cincinnati Fire Department became the first full-time paid professional fire department in the United States, and the first in the world to use steam fire engines.

The first horse-drawn steam engine for fighting fires was invented in 1829, but not accepted in structural firefighting until 1860, and ignored for another two years.

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Even the earliest known civilizations had great respect for the power of fire. Many groups thought of fire as gods or spirits and held rituals, gave sacrifices and conducted religious ceremonies, all revolving around the mysterious phenomenon of fire. The first organized fire fighting force that can be traced was established in Rome by Augustus Caesar around 23 BC.

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a mechanical device that moves fluid or gas by pressure or suction.

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When I started in the fire service there was a saying "back when men were men" this place will take you to that time. My wife and I brought our 5 year old grandson here on Labor Day weekend, he didn't want to leave number one; number two he wants to go back already. My wife saw for the first...

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The oldest know hand pumper in the U.S. - Picture of FASNY Museum of Firefighting, Hudson - Tripadvisor

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When I started in the fire service there was a saying "back when men were men" this place will take you to that time. My wife and I brought our 5 year old grandson here on Labor Day weekend, he didn't want to leave number one; number two he wants to go back already.

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A metal marker produced by insurance companies used to identify property owned by policyholders.

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Walk around the older neighborhoods of Lancaster City, and you might spy medallions like these adorning various homes. These decorative shields indicated the resident was a member of a special club and if the building to which they were attached caught fire a private fire brigade would come to put it out. Known as "fire marks," these plaques identified that the house was both insured and by which insurance company.

History of Fire Marks

The concept of fire insurance and eventually fire marks date back to 17th century London. In 1666, the Great Fire of London raged for five days in September destroying 70,000 of the city's 80,000 homes. This tragedy led to the creation of the world's first fire insurance policies by a private company called the "Fire Office." In the following years, other insurance companies formed.

Initially, these companies only provided money for the restoration or reconstruction of fire-damaged buildings. Soon fire insurance companies realized that it was cheaper to put fires out than merely pay to have homes rebuilt. This decision led to the creation of in-house fire brigades and fire marks. Insured homes affixed the fire mark to their house, and fire brigades were charged with protecting those buildings.

Fire Marks in the United States

After being established in England, it was almost another 100 years before the concept of fire insurance reached the United States. Benjamin Franklin pioneered the idea in 1752 after a devasting fire in Philadelphia destroyed stores and homes near Fishbourn's wharf. He named the insurance company The Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insuring of Houses from Loss by Fire insurance company. The firm eventually sold 143 policies that first year. This paved the way for other insurance companies and earned Franklin the moniker of "the father of American insurance."

Franklin undoubtedly got the idea from his 18-month 1724 London visit while serving a printer apprenticeship. Fire insurance had become popular there by the early 1720s with one out of every 10 London houses insured.

Despite its creation in the mid-1750s, The Contributionship did not start issuing fire marks until 1791. The first one went to Anna Speakman of Arch Street in Philadelphia for policy number 2454. This early fire mark consisted of four hands clasped at the wrist attached to a rectangular board.

Over the years different shapes for the backing were used, but the predominant form eventually settled on the shield. While the first fire marks were carved out of wood, they were later cast in lead. In addition, fire marks were brightly painted with gilded hands and black shield. The policy number would be painted below the four clasping hands. The Contributionship issued fire marks until the 1830s and then again in the early 20th century.

In addition to private fire brigades paid for by fire insurance companies, volunteer fire departments also became common in the American colonies. That practice continues today. Some fire insurers even contributed money to these volunteer departments.

Stories, Myths, & Legends

Accounts vary concerning fire marks. Some historians have stated that private fire brigades would not put out a fire unless a fire mark was on the building. In some cases, they only put out fires for structures containing their specific fire mark and not competitors. Experts have doubts about this belief or at least the regularity at which this happened.

Others have stated that fire insurance companies awarded monetary rewards to the fire company who arrived at a fire first. Such practices undoubtedly fostered deep rivalries between neighboring fire brigades. This scene from The Gangs of New York gives an idea of what these early fire fighting rivalries might have looked like.

Colonial Mansion Fire Mark

One of the oldest fire marks in Lancaster City is located on the corner of East Orange and North Shippen Street. You can find it attached to this Georgian style colonial mansion built in 1750 (1760 or in the 1780s depending on who you ask). The building has as much history as fire marks do.

The house stands on the ground initially purchased in 1749 by Quaker merchant Thomas Poultney and later sold to Dr. Christian Neff. John Passmore eventually took ownership of the property. Passmore is famous for becoming the first mayor of Lancaster after the city was chartered in 1818. He was appointed by the governor and then re-elected twice serving until 1820.

It is unclear whether Pultney or Neff had the home constructed, but whoever it was had the house build solid. Passmore was a large man tipping the scales at nearly 500 pounds. When he died at age 52 in 1827, there wasn't a hearse in the city large enough to hold the 480-pound man and his supersized wooden coffin, so a large wagon was used to transport Passmore from his East Orange Street home to his grave. Click here to learn more about the larger than life, first mayor of Lancaster John Passmore.

The building has several other elements of historical interest. First is the carriage stepping stone. These served as mounting blocks to help passengers climb in and out of carriages. Lancaster City has few carriage steps left today. After the transition to automobiles, most were removed.

There is also a hitching post next to the carriage stepping stone. Posts like these were used for tethering a horse to prevent it from straying.

Another neat feature is the second story busybody mirror. The busybody is visible in the previous image on the second story in the right window. The device is a collection of three mirrors hung from a window with a metal rod, arranged so that a person inside the house can see who is at the door without being seen. Some historians claim that the busybody was invented by- wait for it -Benjamin Franklin. Others believe that Franklin "invented" the busybody after seeing one in the red light district of Paris while serving as ambassador to France during the Revolutionary War. Legend also holds that Franklin used his busybody to slip out the back door when he saw his mother-in-law on his stoop.

The East Orange Street home also boasts a sundial mounted on the outside wall of the house above the front door.

If you zoom in to the left of the white lamp post, you can spot the fire mark on the corner of the building.

Have You Seen Any Fire Marks?

If you know of any other original fire marks hidden around Lancaster, comment below with the location.

Fire Marks from Great Britain and the United States
References

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Side Quest: What are those mysterious shields adorning historic Lancaster buildings?

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Walk around the older neighborhoods of Lancaster City, and you might spy medallions like these adorning various homes. These decorative shields indicated the resident was a member of a special club and if the building to which they were attached caught fire a private fire brigade would come to put it out.

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a process a person or company uses to verify that an individual is who they claim to be, and this provides an opportunity to check and confirm the validity of someone's criminal record, education, employment history, and other activities from their past

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10 Types of Background Checks and What They Include

What is a background check?

A background check is a process a person or company uses to verify that a person is who they claim to be. Background checks provide an opportunity for someone to check a person's criminal record, education, employment history, and other past activities in order to confirm their validity. Whether you're applying for a job, looking for a new apartment, or purchasing a firearm, you may have to undergo a background check.

There are several different types of background checks used for different situations. To help you understand each type and what is in a background check, here is a list of the 10 most common types of background checks and what they each consist of, including:

GoodHire offers a full suite of background checks and employment screening services.

Employers run background checks to avoid hiring someone who may pose a threat to the workplace or become a liability to the employer. According to HR.com, 96% of employers conduct one or more types of employment background screening.

An employment background check typically takes place when someone applies for a job, but can also happen at any time the employer deems necessary. For example, an employer may require annual or semi-annual drug tests or criminal background checks for their employees to help create a safe and secure workplace.

To run a pre-employment background check, the employer needs the candidate's full name, date of birth, Social Security number (SSN), and current or past address, as well as the candidate's consent to run the check.

Typically, an employment background check includes information and records from the past seven years, although some states allow up to 10 years. Learn more about how far back background checks go in your state.

An employment background check can include, but is not limited to, a person's work history, education, credit history, driving record, criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.

If the position is specialized, applicants and employees may undergo further screenings. For example, when someone is applying to be a financial advisor, public accountant, or to work at a bank, the employer may check the applicant's financial history, as well as any certifications or licenses they claim to possess.

It's illegal to run an employment background check on the basis of an applicant's or employee's race, national origin, color, sex, religion, disability, genetic information, or age.

Further, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires employers to comply with certain regulations to ensure that the background check process is done fairly. For example, employers must get written permission from applicants and employees and let them know how they might use information found in decisions about their employment.

Additionally, if the employer chooses not to hire someone because of information found in a background check, it must send the candidate a notice that includes a copy of the report used to make the decision, plus a copy of " A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act."

With this advance notice, the candidate has a chance to review the report for errors as well as explain negative information, such as gaps in their employment history, convictions, and criminal offenses.

Employers typically outsource employment background checks to a third-party company that has access to the necessary databases, including police records, credit reports, medical records, and more.

It's important for employers to work with an FCRA-compliant company, such as GoodHire, and follow recommended guidelines. Accredited employment screening vendors will advertise that they are accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA).

The cost of an employment background check can depend on what the employer wants to include for review. A basic criminal check can cost as little as $30 per person, and a more thorough check can cost $80 or more. Many employment screening vendors, including GoodHire, offer discount pricing for bulk orders.

Need to run an employment background check? Learn about GoodHire's affordable pricing for easy-to-use screening packages.

A criminal background check is often required in situations where a person or organization needs to know about major criminal activity, including violent or sex crimes, fraud, embezzlement, or felony convictions before making a decision regarding employment, adoption, military enlistment, a firearm purchase, and more.

Eighty-two percent (82%) of employers who run background checks are looking for criminal records that may indicate whether the candidate could pose a threat to customers or create an unsafe work environment.

Depending on the industry, such as healthcare, there may be regulations against hiring certain felons if their conviction is relevant to the job.

However, for the formerly incarcerated, a criminal record is a barrier to reentering the workforce, making it much more difficult for ex-felons to rehabilitate into society. In an effort to increase employment opportunities and decrease recidivism rates, the federal government offers incentives to employers for hiring convicted felons through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program.

A criminal background check may include the following record searches:

National criminal databases

Sex offender registries

County criminal courts

Domestic and global watch lists

Federal and state criminal records

Different states have different variations of criminal background checks. Examples include a level 1 background check, which is a state-only name-based check and employment history check and a level 2 background check, which is a state and national fingerprint-based check and consideration of disqualifying offenses.

What do different criminal background checks cover? Download our guide, "All About Criminal Records" and dig into the details.

Often, many of these searches are included in a basic background check. However, some background check services may charge an additional fee to check for aliases or to search federal, state, and county criminal records in addition to national databases.

Any time a person purchases a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer, the seller must perform a universal background check via the National Instant Background Check System (NICS) to determine whether a prospective buyer is eligible to purchase a firearm.

Reasons why a person may not pass a gun background check include felony offenses, certain criminal convictions and misdemeanors, fugitives or persons with open arrest warrants, domestic violence convictions, or in the country illegally, among others.

While the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) oversees the universal background check, actual NICS background checks are conducted by the FBI.

Since universal background checks were mandated by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 and launched by the FBI in 1998, more than 230 million firearm background checks have been made, leading to more than 1.5 million denials.

The federal gun background check process isn't required, however, for sales within state lines by an unlicensed seller, including private-party transactions. Thirteen states, and Washington, D.C., require universal background checks at the point of sale (POS) for all sales and transfers of all classes of firearms, whether purchased from licensed dealers or unlicensed sellers. Two additional states require POS for handguns, but not rifles or shotguns.

Mandated by the Social Security Act, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services maintains a list of excluded individuals and entities (LEIE), also called a sanctions list, to prevent people who have committed healthcare-related crimes to work in federally-funded healthcare programs.

Many employers run the OIG background check before hiring an employee or entity. In addition, they may routinely conduct checks post-hire to ensure their employees are not get added to the list once hired. This background check is free and can be completed on the OIG website by searching the employee's or candidate's name. Search results include date of birth, address, and reason for exclusion and can be confirmed with a Social Security number (SSN).

If an employer fails to run the OIG background check and hires someone whose name is on the sanctions list, the employer could be forced to pay civil monetary penalties. The employer is also potentially at risk for safety and liability issues.

People and entities are added to the sanctions list if they've been convicted of certain types of criminal offenses, including:

Medicare or Medicaid fraud

Other offenses related to Medicare, Medicaid, State Children's Health

Insurance Program (SCHIP), or other state healthcare programs

Patient abuse or neglect

Felony convictions for other healthcare-related fraud, theft, or other financial misconduct

Felony convictions related to controlled substances

In the following cases, the OIG has the discretion to add individuals or entities to the list, or leave them off:

Misdemeanor convictions related to healthcare fraud other than Medicare or state health programs, or fraud in a non-state program funded by any federal, state, or local government agency

Misdemeanor convictions relating to controlled substances

Suspension, revocation, or surrender of a license due to professional competence, professional performance, or financial integrity

Submission of false or fraudulent claims to a federal healthcare program

Engaging in unlawful kickback arrangements

Defaulting on health education loan or scholarship obligations

Controlling an excluded entity as an owner, officer, or managing employee

E-Verify is used by employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees. The online check compares information from the I-9 form new employees are required to fill out with government records to confirm that the employee is authorized to work in the U.S. A new I-9 form was issued in October 2019 which became mandatory on May 1, 2020.

Since 2009, the federal government has mandated its use for some federal contractors, and some 22 states require it for certain public and private employers; however, E-Verify is voluntary for most employers.

Form I-9 and E-Verify are similar in their purpose, but E-Verify takes the process one step further to make sure new employees are authorized to work in the country. Here are some key differences between the two:

Enrolled employers can perform an E-Verify check through the E-Verify website.

Launched in 1999, the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) stores more than 35 million sets of fingerprints, mostly submitted by law enforcement agencies.

A fingerprint background check, or Identity History Summary, is often used in conjunction with other background checks and is most often used as part of the pre-employment screening process. A fingerprint background check is mandatory for government-run institutions such as public schools, airports, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and fire departments.

It may also be required to be eligible to receive certain professional licenses, including jobs in real estate, medical care, finance, casinos, and pharmacies.

An employer can run a candidate's fingerprint against the AFIS to get an accurate read of a person's criminal history from authorized criminal justice agencies, including arrests and disposition reports. And, since it's virtually impossible to fake fingerprints, AFIS will also include records for potential aliases.

If a fingerprint background check is required for employment, applicants will visit an authorized local fingerprint business or government organization to have their fingerprints scanned (or inked) and submitted.

For an $18 fee and a fingerprint card, the FBI can provide a person with a copy of their own Identity History Summary. This summary can include information related to a person's:

Criminal history

Federal employment

Naturalization

Military service

If an employer in the U.S. is considering hiring someone who has recently lived, worked, or studied in a different country, the employer may want to run an international background check in addition to its regular employment background check.

With an international background check, the employer can get international criminal records, education, and employment verification. Depending on the information employers need, they may pay for one, two, or all three. Costs vary by service provider, but GoodHire's pricing for international checks ranges from $14.99 to $59.99, depending on the country.

Each country requires varying documentation to perform the check, such as full name and a copy of a government-issued ID, such as a passport. It's important for employers to work with a service provider that can communicate what's needed quickly. GoodHire provides international background checks for 223 countries.

A credit background check is a record of a person's credit-to-debt ratio and shows how someone has managed credit and bill payments in the past. Also called a credit report, it's a standard requirement when applying for a car or home loan, credit card, or any other type of loan. Many landlords also check credit reports to verify whether a person applying to rent property has a history of good credit and may be more likely to pay rent on time.

Additionally, some jobs require a credit background check, especially for positions in the financial services industry where the employee would manage money, or has access to money on a daily basis.

A candidate's financial background is important in an area where fraud and embezzlement are possible. Employers may consider someone with poor credit, tax liens, or significant debt to be more tempted to take advantage of the employer's trust.

With a credit background check, the person or company running the report can view the applicant's credit report but not their credit score. A credit report shows the applicant's full credit history, including:

Payment history

Civil judgments

Tax liens

Bankruptcies

Unpaid bills in collections

Recent credit inquiries

The FCRA requirements mentioned in the Employment Background Checks section of this article apply to credit checks. Employers must get written permission from applicants and employees and inform them that information in their credit background checks may be used in decisions about their employment.

If an employer chooses not to hire someone because of information found in a credit background check, it must send the person a notice that includes a copy of the report used to make the decision, plus a copy of "A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act."

A credit background check typically costs around $30, but you may be able to run a check for free by requiring the applicant to purchase a copy of their credit report and grant you access.

Eleven states, including Washington, D.C., and the municipalities of Chicago, New Orleans, and New York City, prohibit employers from using credit reports as part of the background checking process.

If you're interested in seeing what employers see when they run your background check, a personal background check can do that for you. Depending on the service provider, you can choose which checks or searches you want to perform, and which ones you don't need.

For example, you can run a personal background check to see if your name appears in any criminal, traffic, or sex offender databases. You can also do an SSN trace to see where you've lived and worked, and to see a copy of your own credit report.

Finding out what shows up on your background check is a great way to address potential errors you find. It's common to find mistakes in public information databases. If you discover and address potential errors before an employer or creditor sees them, you could save yourself from missing out on an opportunity to get a job or borrow money.

Credit report errors are the number one complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the agency that makes sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat consumers fairly.

Personal background check costs can range from $20 to $60, depending on how extensive of a search you want. GoodHire's personal background check service offers personal background checks starting at $19.99.

A professional license background check, or an education verification check, verifies that the applicant does indeed possess a valid license as claimed. This is an important step in helping to protect the employer from negligent hiring claims.

Certain industries rely on professional licenses to ensure that people working in that industry have the experience, knowledge, and credentials required to perform the job.

For professional license background checks, background screening companies typically contact the applicable industry or state licensing board to verify that the license is held and hasn't lapsed or expired, that the license is in good standing and that there are no restrictions or violations associated with the license.

Industries that require a professional license background check include:

The financial services industry, including financial planning, real estate, accounting, banking, and insurance

Home contractors, including plumbers, builders, and electricians

Education, including teachers, professors, and administrators

Background Checks Work to Improve Trust and Safety

The purpose of background checks is to provide helpful information about a person's history to assess whether they may pose a threat to others or whether they are generally trustworthy-or not.

While a person's past actions do not necessarily predict their future actions, background checks are increasingly common and are meant to help create more trust and safety in society and the workplace.

If you're looking for employment screening, find out how GoodHire's background check services are simply better.

The resources provided here are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. We advise you to consult your own counsel if you have legal questions related to your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws.

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What is a Background Check? 10 Common Types and What They Include | GoodHire

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A background check is a process a person or company uses to verify that a person is who they claim to be. Background checks provide an opportunity for someone to check a person's criminal record, education, employment history, and other past activities in order to confirm their validity.

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A plug in the wooden logs that carried water across towns. This plug existed once every half block and could be used by fire brigades in order to fight fires.

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The term 'fire plug' dates back to the early 1800s, when water mains were made from wood. The fire department (usually volunteers) would head out to the fire, dig up the cobbles down to the main, then chop into the main so that they could secure the hoses from their pumpers. When finished fighting the fire, they'd seal the main with -- you guessed it -- a "fire plug." The next time there was a fire in the neighborhood, they'd dig up the plug and not have to cut into the main. Hence the term fire plug.

The first firefighters to put water on the fire were paid by the insurance companies. The competing local fire departments would often fight, coming to blows, over the privilege and the payout afterward. Engine crews, knowing that whoever controlled the water would extinguish the fire, would send the meanest, toughest, goons they had ahead of the pumper to guard the plug. Anyone from another crew who came near it would have to fight him. This is where the term plug ugly comes from.

Now-a-days firefighters have automatic and mutual aid. But we've never seemed to shake the competition and the rivalry created by our forefathers. And sometimes, I think, a little competition is a good thing.

New design for the old-school bent-nose brawlers

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History of the Term Fire Plug & Plug Ugly - Hook & Irons Co. - Legacy Built. Fire Forged.

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﻿﻿ The term 'fire plug' dates back to the early 1800s, when water mains were made from wood. The fire department (usually volunteers) would head out to the fire, dig up the cobbles down to the main, then chop into the main so that they could secure the hoses from their pumpers.

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An emergency medical technician. Certification requires at least 100 hours of in class and in person training. Currently, most firefighters are also trained and certified EMTs.

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Richard Seaberry, Albert Petrocelli, John Knox, Arthur Lacker and Edward Doty were among the dozens of first responders who answered the call during one national tragedy only to die in another.

And as New York and the nation Friday marked the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks while in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the ranks of the nearly 200,000 Americans who have died from COVID-19 have been filled by dozens of heroes like these who risked their lives to save others when the twin towers fell.

"Gross undercount" were the words New York City attorney Michael Barasch used in a recent interview in which he revealed that 22 of the 20,000 9/11 first responders and survivors he represented with ground zero-related illnesses had died of COVID-19.

Since then, Barasch has learned that five times more 9/11 first responders died of the coronavirus than he first thought.

"Of these individuals, more than 100 have died of COVID-19 because of ground zero-related diseases," Barasch's spokeman, Patrick Rheaume, said Friday in a statement.

As many as 68 types of cancers and dozens of respiratory ailments reported by many 9/11 first responders left them "uniquely vulnerable to an illness that attacks the lungs and the immune system," Rheaume added.

John Feal, a demolition supervisor at ground zero who runs the Fealgood Foundation, which advocates on behalf of the first responders, said he knows of at least four dozen who came down with the disease and more than a thousand who have tested positive. And he's one of them.

"In March, we put out a video telling our people to take this seriously, and then a week later I got it," Feal told NBC News. "To this day, I don't know how I got it. I just know that I never experienced pain like that before."

Feal, who lost part of his left foot after a 4-ton steel beam fell on it at ground zero, said he felt like his body was on fire and, at the same time, it was so hard to breathe he felt like he was drowning. "I don't scare easily but this scared me," he said.

Knox, 84, a former New York City firefighter who came out of retirement to help search for bodies at ground zero, died in March. Seaberry, 63, a veteran EMT from Queens who also took part in the rescue and grim recovery efforts, died in April. Lacker, 72, a construction worker who toiled in "the pit" for two years, also died in April.

Petrocelli was 73 when he, too, died in April. He was a New York City Fire Department battalion chief on 9/11 and, along with his firefighter son, Albert Jr., responded to the burning World Trade Center where his other son, a commodities trader named Mark, was trapped on the 93rd floor of the north tower. They never found Mark's body.

While America mourned 9/11, the coronavirus death toll rose by 1,249 to 193,186 and the number of confirmed cases climbed to nearly 6.5 million -- both world-leading numbers, the latest NBC News figures show.

President Donald Trump, accused of lying to the American public about the severity of the pandemic while privately admitting to journalist Bob Woodward that the coronavirus was "deadly stuff," headed to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on Friday for the ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial.

While Trump has repeatedly praised his administration's response to the pandemic, the United States now accounts for over a fifth of the world's more than 910,000 coronavirus fatalities and 28 million confirmed cases, according to the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard.

Feal said he steadfastly tried not to pick a political side when he battled the George W. Bush administration after 9/11 to get help for the first responders, and last year when he successfully lobbied Congress with the comedian Jon Stewart to renew funding for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.

But Feal admitted that as he watched Trump depart for Shanksville on Friday, he found himself wadding-up pieces of paper into balls and throwing them at the TV screen.

"The response to the pandemic by the federal government has been a disaster, just atrocious," Feal said. "There's all this bragging about what a great job we're doing with the pandemic while at the same time we're normalizing people dying. We're losing touch with humanity. We have failed. And I'm not alone in thinking that."
In other coronavirus news:

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert and a frequent Trump target, warned that as we head into the flu season, Americans need to continue to be vigilant about COVID-19. While the number of new cases has slowly been declining in recent weeks, the nation is still experiencing new outbreaks that could become more severe as the weather turns colder. "We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter, because it's not going to be easy," Fauci said during a panel of doctors from Harvard Medical School. Fauci has drawn the ire of Trump and survived a White House attempt to discredit him after he contradicted the president's more optimistic assessment of the progress of the pandemic.

The Trump Administration apologized Friday after The New York Daily News reported that the Treasury Department had "siphoned" $4 million dollars over the last four years from from the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program, which helps New York City firefighters, EMTs and paramedics suffering from 9/11-related illnesses pay their bills. "It's wrong, it shouldn't happen this way, and we are doing everything that we can, working with the city to try and fix this really unfortunate situation," Treasury Department spokeswoman Rebecca Miller told the newspaper.

The run on toilet paper and other essentials may be over, but grocery prices have gone up again. August was the second most expensive month for groceries this year, just slightly behind May. The national average for a basket of 37 items peaked at $138.78 in May, then fell in June and July to $136.40, and shot back up to $138.63 in August. Why? "Promotions offered to consumers continue to be suppressed below their pre-COVID-19 levels for the fifth straight month," Phil Tedesco, director of retail analytics for Nielsen, told NBC News. "August saw a dip in this crucial metric from July, which is what has caused this month to be more expensive than in recent months."

The bars are reopening Monday at 50-percent capacity in most of Florida, a hard-hit state where the infection and death rates have been going down but where 176 people died of COVID-19 overnight and 12,658 new cases were reported. The bars in Miami-Dade County and Palm Beach County, however, will continue to remain closed for now, officials said. Florida experienced an explosion of new cases and deaths when Gov. Ron DeSantis, at the urging of Trump, ordered on April 29 that his state be reopened after only a brief quarantine. When it became clear that the bars were becoming COVID-19 spreading centers, DeSantis ordered them closed on June 26. Florida, as of Friday, has reported 12,481 coronavirus deaths and 654,731 confirmed infections since the start of the pandemic.

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COVID-19 has killed dozens of ground zero heroes

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Richard Seaberry, Albert Petrocelli, John Knox, Arthur Lacker and Edward Doty were among the dozens of first responders who answered the call during one national tragedy only to die in another. And as New York and the nation Friday marked the 19th anniversary of the Sept.

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The National Incident Management System, established by President George W. Bush after 9/11 which can be used by both public and private sector entities to help prevent, mitigate and recover from dangerous incidents.

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An 1872 urban fire that occurred in Boston and is one of the biggest fires in American history.

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This page contains basic information about the Great Boston Fire of 1872, which occurred on Saturday and Sunday, November 9 & 10, 1872. The fire destroyed 776 buildings across 65 acres of land, with the assessed value of the properties at nearly $13.5 million and personal property loss of of $60 million dollars. The downtown area of Boston had undergone a rapid development in the years after the Civil War, but improvements, especially water mains, had not been upgraded during these years. The fire department at the time was dealing with an epizootic, a disease which affects equine animals, thus affecting the horses that pulled the heavy fire apparatus. The fire spread rapidly, creating its own energy or firestorm, due to the tremendous heat generated. Although many or most buildings were made of brick or stone, the window frames and other fixtures were made of wood, thus allowing the fire to communicate to nearby structures. During the course of the fire, which burned uncontrolled for more than 12 hours, buildings were blown-up using black gun powder in a controversial effort to create a fire break.

The fire started in a building at 83-85 Summer Street, at the corner of Kingston Street, in the downtown area. The first alarm was received at 7:24PM from Box 52 located at Summer and Lincoln Streets. The fire had nearly total possession of the building of origin upon the arrival of the first fire engine, Engine Co. 7 from their quarters at 7 East Street, near South Station. Hose Company 2, from Hudson Street, is credited with getting the first water on the fire. Additional alarms were struck at 7:29, 7:34, 7:45 and 8:00PM. Further alarms were struck for Box 48 and Box 123. Urgent calls for help were sent by telegraph, but help was delayed due to many telegraph offices having closed for the evening. Nearly all the cities and town surrounding Boston sent help. Some cities sent steam engines by railroad, with many coming great distances, including from New Haven, CT. Chief Engineer John Damrell was in command at the fire, but his attention was frequently interrupted by city officials seeking meetings to discuss strategy and the political impact of the fire.

The fire was finally stopped at corner of Washington and Milk Streets through the efforts of the firefighters to save the Old South Meetinghouse, on the opposite corner of Milk Street. The Old South, a fixture since colonial days, was (and remains) an important symbol of Boston's heritage and every effort was made to save it. Most accounts of the fire attribute credit for saving Old South to the Kearsarge Engine 3 of Portsmouth, NH, although that point is still debated. Despite the enormity of the fire, only two Boston fireman were killed, with the total deaths numbering between 13 and 20, depending on the source. Chief Damrell was heavily criticized and much of the blame for the fire was directed at him, despite his record of having sought improvements in the city's fire safety infrastructure. By 1874, he was replaced with a Board of Fire Commissioners. He later served many years as the commissioner of the Boston Building Department.

Much has been written about this fire in books, journals, periodicals, newspapers. Many photographs were taken in the aftermath of the fire, but none exist (to date) of the actual fire. Use the links below to find articles, stories, books, photographs, maps and other publications related to this fire.

Publications

Map of Boston and the Burnt District, 1872

Close-up map of the Burnt District

Boston Public Library Photograph Collection Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Investigate the Cause and Management of the Great Fire in Boston, City of Boston, 1873

A Complete History of the Boston Fire Department, 1630 to 1888, page 273,by Arthur Wellington Brayley, 1889

History of the Great Fire in Boston, November 9 and 10, 1872 , by Russell Herman Conwell, 1873

The Story of the Great Fire, Boston, November 9-10, 1872 , by Charles Carleton Coffin, 1872

The Boston Fire, November 9, 1872, by the Boston Chamber of Commerce, 1922

The Great Boston Fire, "The New England Magazine", by Robert G. Fitch, 1900

Remarks at the November 14, 1872 meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society

Capt. John S. Damrell's Address Before Boston Veteran Firemen, February 2, 1886, on Great Fire of 1872.

The Book of Boston, 50 Years Recollections of the New England Metropolis, by Edwin Monroe Bacon, 1916

Letters Written by a Gentleman in Boston to his Friend in Paris, Describing the Great Fire, by Harold Murdock 1909

The Boston Fire, November 9th and 10th, 1872: Its History...(etc), by Frank E. Frothingham, 1873

"On This Date" by Mass Moments
Additional Items

Newspaper Story: 11/09/1902 - 30th Anniversary of Great Fire of 1872

Newspaper Story: 11/10/1912 - 40th Anniversary of Great Fire of 1872

Newspaper Story: 03/03/1898 - Portsmouth NH fireman who went to Boston dies

Newspaper Story: 03/30/1903 - Portsmouth NH fireman who went to Boston dies

References

Boston On Fire, A History of Fires..., by Stephanie Schorow (2003)
Chandler & Co.'s Full Account of the Great Fire in Boston... (1872)
The Great Boston Fire - 1872, A Disaster with a Villian...by Boston Globe (1972)
The Great Boston Fire of 1872, by Anthony M. Sammarco (1997)
A Half Century of Boston's Buildings, by Charles S. Damrell (1895)
The Epizootic Fire, by John P. Vahey

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This page contains basic information about the Great Boston Fire of 1872, which occurred on Saturday and Sunday, November 9 & 10, 1872. The fire destroyed 776 buildings across 65 acres of land, with the assessed value of the properties at nearly $13.5 million and personal property loss of of $60 million dollars.

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A symbol that represents the traditions and ideals of the fire service.

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What's the history behind the cross?

Although the Maltese cross is most famously associated with the Knights of Malta, as well as Malta itself as a country, it is thought the symbol evolved from a closely resembling cross found on coins minted in Amalfi (an Italian republic) during the 11th century.

What's the meaning of the Maltese cross?

The Maltese Cross formally adopted by the Knights Hospitallers of St. John in 1126, stylistically owes its origins to the crosses used in the crusades, when it was identified as the symbol of the "Christian warrior": Its eight points denote the eight obligations or aspirations of the knights, namely "to live in truth, have faith, repent one's sins, give proof of humility, love justice, be merciful, be sincere and wholehearted, and to endure persecution".

With time, the eight points also came to represent the eight langues (or "tongues", but in effect national groupings) of the noblemen who were admitted to the famed order, namely those of Auvergne, Provence, France, Aragon, Castille and Portugal, Italy, Baviere (Germany), and England (with Scotland and Ireland).

The Maltese cross remains the symbol of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which is still in existence (and active as an international organisation for medical and humanitarian aid) today. As part of its present-day teachings, the cross represents eight beatitudes (or 'blessings'). A good first aider in service of the Order of St. John is Observant, Tactful, Resourceful, Dextrous, Explicit, Discriminating, Persevering and Sympathetic.

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The Maltese Cross: Its origin and importance to Malta

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Although the Maltese cross is most famously associated with the Knights of Malta, as well as Malta itself as a country, it is thought the symbol evolved from a closely resembling cross found on coins minted in Amalfi (an Italian republic) during the 11th century.

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A metal marker produced by insurance companies used to identify property owned by policyholders. This identification allowed fire brigades commissioned by insurance companies to determine which fires to fight.

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Decorative crests bearing eagles, clasped hands, and shining suns were once signs of membership in a special club. They showed that the building to which they were affixed was insured against fire-and that if the building caught on fire, a private fire brigade would come to attempt to put it out. Now, long after their heyday, these plaques, known as "fire marks," have become collector's items-every bit as fascinating and artful today as they were when they were installed.

After the Great Fire of London in September 1666, which damaged or destroyed huge swaths of the historic city, the need for a more organized response to fires became tragically apparent. This led to the creation of the world's first property insurance policies, issued by what is considered the world's first insurance company, called the "Fire Office." Despite its official-sounding name, the Fire Office was not a municipal department, but a private company. At the beginning, it provided money for the restoration or reconstruction of buildings damaged by fire.

Not long after the Fire Office was established, a number of other insurance outfits began to appear. According to the Museum of London, one of every 10 houses in London was insured by 1690. As time passed, many insurance companies wised up to the fact that it was cheaper to prevent and fight fires than simply to pay the cost of reconstruction, and that's where fire marks come in. Insurance companies such as the Fire Office established their own in-house fire brigades, tasked with protecting the buildings covered under policy -and, in many cases, only those buildings. If another company's brigade put out a fire in a building insured by a different company, they might be reimbursed for their trouble, but if your building did not carry a crest, it might be left to burn. To designate which buildings were covered by which company's brigade, fire marks were installed on the exteriors of the buildings.

The Fire Office first used a fitting phoenix symbol on its mark, and other companies employed a wide variety of symbols, from a blazing sun to a building capped by a heraldic crown to a rearing horse, often with the policy number underneath the decoration. Fire marks were often metal plates affixed to exterior, but were sometimes more substantial or worked into the facade itself.

The practice soon spread beyond London. By the end of the 18th century they had made their way across the Atlantic-though in the United States their function wasn't always quite so pitiless as it was in their initial English form.

By the time that the idea of fire insurance made its way to the Untied States, volunteer fire brigades were already a well-established tradition to protect the common good. Fire marks, which first took hold in Philadelphia, where some can still be found today, functioned simply as insurance advertisements, and as a sort of turf mark. According to a story in Philadelphia Magazine, at least one insurance company in the 1800s offered rewards to fire brigades that got to a fire first, creating rivalries of a sort. It is also said that some of the fire companies were closely related to the city's street gangs, and the brigades' work could be used to set up ambushes and fights. Regardless of how they worked in practice, a number of attractive fire marks were installed in the City of Brotherly Love.

The most iconic of Philadelphia's fire marks was that of the Ben Franklin-founded Philadelphia Contributionship, which bore the image of four hands grabbing each other by the wrists. It was often molded out of metal and affixed to a wooden shield. There was also the mark of the Mutual Insurance Company, a leafy tree that was a direct slam on the Contributionship (which wouldn't insure properties that had trees in front of them). Just as in London before, as the number of insurance companies grew nationwide, the variety of fire marks grew with them.

By the mid-19th century, London had established a public firefighting operation, and the use of fire marks began to decline. The same trend occurred across the pond, as the prevalence of insurance spread and more effective ways of advertising arose. But fire marks maintained some popularity even as their utility waned.

Today, fire marks survive as historic points of interest or collector's items. Like philatelists and numismatists (collectors of stamps and coins, respectively), people who study and collect fire marks have a name: signevierists. Probably the most organized group of signevierists is the Fire Mark Circle of America, which oversees a number of auctions and connects enthusiasts. Their auction listings even act as a sort of database of the wide variety of preserved marks being traded around.

In this second life, fire marks have become popular decorative flourishes, and there are even modern recreations floating around. Some home insurance companies still grant buildings new decorative fire marks for a fee. But we are well past the days when these curious little symbols were a sign of security.

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How Fire Marks Went From Insurance Markers to Collectibles

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Decorative crests bearing eagles, clasped hands, and shining suns were once signs of membership in a special club. They showed that the building to which they were affixed was insured against fire-and that if the building caught on fire, a private fire brigade would come to attempt to put it out.

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A fire that increases in size and spreads beyond any human made or natural barriers.

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Hand pumps are manually operated pumps. They use human power and mechanical advantage to move fluids or air from one place to another.

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an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property.

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A hydrant for a fire hose.

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the study of all aspects of fire from fire behavior to fire investigation.

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a person employed to prevent or put out fires, especially in a town, camp, or forest.

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is a symbol of protection and a badge of honor. signifies the person wearing the cross will risk their life for the safety of others.

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A metal plate attached to a building to mark it as insured used by 18th century fire insurance companies