NFPA Standards are developed by the National Fire Protection Association, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the devastation that results from fire, electrical, and other related hazards such as death, injury, financial loss, or property damage. The NFPA standards for wildland firefighting are designed to provide an effective guideline on how to minimize and control wildfire threats and diminish their negative impacts. Over 300 consensus codes and standards have been published by the NFPA and used throughout the world.
Such codes are developed using an open, consensus-based process. They have been administered by hundreds of Technical Committees which are composed of nearly 9,000 volunteers with a range of professional expertise which periodically review and refine them. Because wildland firefighters face many unique challenges on the job, numerous standards are devoted providing information regarding essential skills, training, and equipment necessary to keep them safe. To learn the basics of NFPA standards for wildland firefighting, continue reading.
NFPA 1051
NFPA 1051 refers to the Standard for Wildland Firefighting Personnel Professional Qualifications. The purpose of standard 1051 is to identify the minimum job performance requirements that wildland firefighting personnel must adhere to. Serving as a vital resource for service leaders and wildland fire fighting groups, it provides detailed information regarding the required skills that wildland firefighters must possess, the hazards they will face, and the training they must undergo. This standard is created by the Technical Committee on Wildland Fire Management which is principally responsible for documents on wildland fire management and professional qualifications for personnel engaged in wildland fire fighting.
NFPA 1141
NFPA 1141 is the Standard for Fire Protection Infrastructure for Land Development in Wildland, Rural, and Suburban Areas. The standard is created by the Technical Committee on Wildland and Rural Fire Protection, which is primarily responsible for documents regarding fire protection in wildland, rural, and suburban areas, as the name implies. It outlines requirements for developing fire protection and emergency services infrastructure in wildland, rural, and suburban areas undergoing land-use changes or land development. Regarding such areas, the NFPA 1141 standard is designed to ensure that proper resources and strategies are in place to provide people and property with the protection required to keep them safe from fire-related dangers. In addition, the NFPA 1141 standard is also in place to allow firefighters to safely and effectively do their jobs.
NFPA 1143
The NFPA 1143 standard is the Standard for Wildland Fire Management. It specifies the minimum necessary management practices and policies that fire protection organizations require to develop a wildland fire management program. Requirements listed in the NFPA 1143 standard regard the management protocol for wildland fire in terms of prevention, mitigation, suppression, and preparation. In addition, it also provides information on post-incident activities that may include reporting, incident review, and administration. The NFPA 1143 standard is under the responsibility of the Technical Committee on Wildland Fire Management, which is mainly responsible for documents on wildland fire management.
NFPA 1144
The NFPA 1144 Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire provides the information necessary to thoroughly review, assess, and eliminate wildland fire ignition hazards in the structural ignition zone—the area that extends around 200 feet from a structure in any direction—of existing structures, residential developments, and subdivisions. In relation to the ignition zone, the standard details proper landscaping fuel modification techniques, design features, construction materials, and other relevant information necessary to minimize risk of fire. In addition, it also provides minimum requirements for the construction of new structures. Such requirements ensure that the structure is built in a way that reduces its risk of catching on fire as a result of wildland fires. Like the NFPA 1141 standard, NFPA 1144 is under the responsibility of the Technical Committee on Wildland and Rural Fire Protection.
NFPA 1906
The NFPA Standard for Wildland Fire Apparatus defines the requirements for new automotive apparatus created for the primary use of supporting wildland fire suppression operations—including apparatus equipped with a slip-on firefighting module. After being updated from the 2009 edition of NFPA 1901, the Standard for Wildland Fire Apparatus now includes information on vehicle components, wildland mobile water supply, low voltage electrical systems, warning devices, crew areas, equipment mounting, pumps for wildland fire fighting, and other important information. To ensure the safety of firefighters, it is essential for manufacturers and professionals responsible for apparatus purchasing or evaluation to adhere to the NFPA 1906 standard.
This standard is related to the Technical Committee on Fire Department Apparatus, which is primarily responsible for documents pertaining to the designs and performance of fire apparatus used by the fire service.
NFPA 1977
The 1977 standard for Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting details the minimum requirements for protective clothing and equipment necessary to protect personnel performing wildland firefighting operations from adverse environmental effects. Such requirements include design, performance, testing, and certification specifications for clothing and equipment. This standard is created by the Technical Committee on Wildland Fire Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment, which is primarily responsible for documents pertaining to the selection and maintenance of protective wildland firefighting clothing and equipment by firefighters and emergency services personnel.
NFPA 1984
The NFPA 1984 Standard on Respirators for Wildland Fire Fighting Operations details the requirements for respiratory protection that wildland firefighting personnel must adhere to. The standard includes information on the design, performance, certification requirement, and testing for wildland respirators which are necessary for allowing firefighters to safely carryout their duties. Such standards help protect firefighters from inhalation hazards in wildlife environments that are not immediately dangerous to life or health. This standard is outlined by the Technical Committee on Respiratory Protection Equipment, which is primarily responsible for documents on the selection, care, and maintenance of respiratory equipment.
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