1. Personnel
Week 9 Seminar

2. Objectives
The benefits of staffing fire prevention bureaus with uniform firefighters, civilian personnel, and a combination of both
The value of national certification for fire prevention Bureau staff
the NFPA professional qualification standards for fire prevention Bureau personnel
The term job performance requirement and the impact of JPRs on certification
Accreditation and certification as it applies to fire prevention Bureau personnel

3. Traditional Staffing Uniformed firefighters Opportunity for promotion
Individuals with demonstrated fire service background
Known record of work experience

4. Fire Prevention Duties
The skills needed to be a successful investigator, inspector, plans examiner, or public fire educator are not necessarily those that make a good firefighter.
Transfer to the bureau may require the acquisition of new skills

5. Light Duty Assignments
Some fire prevention assignments are well suited to light duty personnel.
Many involve physical exertion and are not suitable for light duty personnel.
extensive walking and climbing
Investigators must be able to
fire scene work
subdue suspects
effect arrests.

6. Civilian Personnel
Ability to hire persons with specific training or skills
Less turnover and ability to retain experience within the bureau
Economic incentives due to lower salaries and fringe benefits

7. Long-term Disadvantage
Fewer opportunities for uniformed personnel to gain valuable experience working in the bureau
Reduced likelihood that future chief officers will have had the necessary interaction with the business community and building regulatory officials

8. Uniformed vs. Civilian Not about clothing
Firefighting personnel vs. non-firefighting personnel
Care must be taken to not expose untrained persons to danger due to mistaken identity
Vehicle markings or identification

9. Credentials Photo ID, not just a badge SOP to present credentials
Standards for Professional Qualifications
NFPA 1031
NFPA 1033
NFPA 1035

10. Job Performance Requirements (JPRs)
The standards incorporate a system of JPRs where skills are grouped by major areas of responsibility.
For each JPR, three components are listed in the standard:
a skill
information required to accomplish the task
evaluation parameter or desired outcome

11. Certification
Mandated by only some states; however, it is always desirable.
Attaining and maintaining certification demonstrates the ability of an individual to perform critical tasks necessary for competent performance in the field.

12. Expert Witness
Establishing credibility.
testify regarding facts
For fire investigators and inspectors to offer opinions during testimony, they must they qualify as expert witnesses.
response to questions assists juries in understanding complicated and technical subjects

13. Accreditation Means to authorize or acknowledge
Two fire service accreditation organizations in the United States
National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board)
International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC)
These agencies assess fitness of organizations to certify individuals

14. Certify Means “to authenicate” or “vouch for”
State fire service training agencies
Federal fire service training agencies
Model code organizations
Academic institutions

15. Summary Fire prevention bureaus tradition
Advantage of enabling fire prevention bureau managers to select employees with fire service experience
Fire prevention bureaus have established civilian positions :
plans examiners
fire inspectors and fire investigators
fire safety educators