ASSIGNMENT | Identify potential legal and political issues in fire and emergency services.

Course Description
Examines the legal aspects of fire service and the political and social impacts of legal issues. Includes a review of the
American legal system and in-depth coverage of legal and political issues involving employment and personnel matters.
Course Textbook
Bennett, L. T. (2008). Fire service law. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Identify potential legal and political issues in fire and emergency services.
2. Describe legal lessons learned from recent cases, and identify best practices in the fire service to avoid
   legal liability.
3. Analyze and apply legal rules and political issues to manage risk.
4. Formulate political and legal conclusions and recommendations based on analysis.
5. Locate and apply recent legal and legislative online resources.
   Credits
   Upon completion of this course, the students will earn three (3) hours of college credit.
   Course Structure
6. Unit Learning Outcomes: Each unit contains Unit Learning Outcomes that specify the measurable skills and
   knowledge students should gain upon completion of the unit.
7. Unit Lesson: Each unit contains a Unit Lesson, which discusses unit material.
8. Reading Assignments: Each unit contains Reading Assignments from one or more chapters from the textbook.
   Suggested Readings are listed in each unit study guide. The readings themselves are not provided in the course,
   but students are encouraged to read the resources listed if the opportunity arises as they have valuable
   information that expands upon the lesson material.
9. Key Terms: Key Terms are intended to guide students in their course of study. Students should pay particular
   attention to Key Terms as they represent important concepts within the unit material and reading.
10. Discussion Boards: Discussion Boards are a part of all CSU term courses. More information and specifications
    can be found in the Student Resources link listed in the Course Menu bar.
11. Unit Assignments: Students are required to submit for grading Unit Assignments in Units I-VIII. Specific
    information and instructions regarding these assignments are provided below. Grading rubrics are included with
    all Assignments. Specific information about accessing these rubrics is provided below.
12. Ask the Professor: This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or
    course content related questions.
13. Student Break Room: This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates.
    FIR 4301, Political and Legal
    Foundations of Fire Protection
    Course Syllabus
    FIR 4301, Political and Legal Foundations of Fire Protection 2
    CSU Online Library
    The CSU Online Library is available to support your courses and programs. The online library includes databases,
    journals, e-books, and research guides. These resources are always accessible and can be reached through the library
    webpage. To access the library, log into the myCSU Student Portal, and click on “CSU Online Library.” You can also
    access the CSU Online Library from the “My Library” button on the course menu for each course in Blackboard.
    The CSU Online Library offers several reference services. E-mail (library@columbiasouthern.edu) and telephone
    (1.877.268.8046) assistance is available Monday – Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm and Friday from 8 am to 3 pm. The
    library’s chat reference service, Ask a Librarian, is available 24/7; look for the chat box on the online library page.
    Librarians can help you develop your research plan or assist you in finding relevant, appropriate, and timely information.
    Reference requests can include customized keyword search strategies, links to articles, database help, and other
    services.
    Unit Assignments
    Unit I Case Study
    Case Study 1: 50 points
    Read the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology report on the February 20,
    2003 fire at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island that killed 100 people. The report is available at
    http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id=100988
    Prepare a memo to your fire chief that outlines the “lessons learned” from that incident and that addresses corrective
    actions that your department and/or the state fire marshal should take.
    Your response should be at least 300 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material
    for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must
    have accompanying citations.
    Case Study 2: 50 points
    Read the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Report F-2001-16 on the LODD of a career firefighter who died in
    responding to a house fire resulting from an improperly installed hot water heater. The report is available at
    http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200116.html.
    The firefighter’s widow filed suit against the heating and ventilation company that sold the water heater, the plumber that
    installed it, and the homeowner. The case never went to hearing since it was settled during the pre-trial discovery stage,
    as is commonplace.
    Research the fireman’s rule in your state, and determine whether it has been modified by statute. Discuss the above
    incident and whether you believe each of the defendant’s would be found liable under the current status of the rule in your
    state and whether that is fair and reasonable.
    Your response should be at least 300 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as source material
    for your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must
    have accompanying citations.
    Please submit your Case Study 1 and 2 responses as one word document.
    Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below.
    Unit II Case Study
    Case Study 1: 50 points
    Review Articles V and VI of the EMAC legislation Public Law 104-321.
    FIR 4301, Political and Legal Foundations of Fire Protection 3
    To do this, copy and paste the following web address into a web browser: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW104publ321/pdf/PLAW-104publ321.pdf
    Assume that in response to a request for support from a neighboring state, your fire department decides to send one
    engine and a crew of four career firefighters/paramedics. You are not selected. One of your best friends who has been
    selected urges you to drive to the site of the call in the neighboring state in your own vehicle and hook up with the engine
    company when you get there.

SAMPLE SOLUTION

Political and legal foundations of fire protection There are various legal and political liabilities that one might be incurring by deciding to go to the site of call on private means when one is not selected to request for support from a neighboring state by the fire department (Kunadharaju, Smith & DeJoy, 2011). Responding to a call in a neighboring state is governed by Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) that was enacted to provide mutual assistance between states in dealing with emergency disasters declared by the governors of the affected stats. This pact transcends political and jurisdictional boundaries and requires intergovernmental coordination’s to manage the emergencies effectively. The stats participating in this compact send legally…