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The Effect of Fires on People, Property and the Environment

James Milke, PhD

Fires impact people, property and the environment in all countries around the world. In some cases, the resulting losses are extraordinary, causing hundreds of deaths, widespread damage to property and contents and significant impacts on the environment. More often, fires may cause a single casualty or affect a single home, though the effects are still highly significant to those affected and collectively are substantial. This course will provide an overview of the challenges posed by fire as well as the fire safety solutions that are available to meet those challenges.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Fire Behavior
What is Fire Protection Engineering?
Fire Safety Subsystems
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Builds a strong foundation for beginners seeking to understand fire safety
Covers fire safety solutions that are standard in industry
Examines fire safety from multiple perspectives, including effects on people, property, and the environment
Taught by James Milke, PhD, an expert in fire safety engineering
Provides hands-on labs and interactive materials for practical learning
Involves a dedicated instructor who provides support and feedback throughout the course

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Reviews summary

Introduction to fire effects and safety

According to learners, this course provides a solid introduction to the fundamental principles of fire science, covering the effects of fire on people, property, and the environment, and offering an overview of fire safety solutions. Many students feel it lays a useful foundation for understanding the subject. However, reviews are divided on the course's depth; while it is widely regarded as excellent for beginners and novices, many with prior experience find it too basic and lacking in detailed technical information or practical applications. Some also noted the lectures could sometimes be perceived as dry.
Addresses effects on people, property, environment.
"It covered exactly what I expected: how fire affects buildings, people, and the environment."
"The content on environmental effects was particularly interesting."
"It clearly outlined the main challenges fire presents."
"Covered effects on people and property well."
Provides a good overview for newcomers.
"This course gave me a really solid foundation in the basics of fire science."
"It's a great starting point if you're new to understanding fire effects and safety."
"I feel like I have a much better grasp of the subject after taking this."
"Provides a good overview of fire impacts and safety measures. Useful foundation."
Clarity noted, but sometimes perceived as dry.
"Lectures were clear."
"Lectures were hard to sit through sometimes."
"Lectures were well-organized."
"Some found the lectures a bit dry."
Does not delve into advanced or practical details.
"I was hoping for more in-depth technical information, especially on engineering aspects."
"Could use more real-world case studies and practical examples."
"It feels like it just scratches the surface in certain areas."
"Didn't go beyond basic principles. Not useful for professionals."
Ideal for beginners, too basic for experts.
"As a complete beginner, I found this course very accessible and informative."
"This is perfect if you have absolutely no background in fire safety."
"Someone with experience will likely find this course too introductory and not detailed enough."
"Very basic. Good if you're a complete novice, but don't expect any depth."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Effect of Fires on People, Property and the Environment with these activities:
Review Fire Safety Concepts
Brush up on the fundamentals of fire safety to strengthen your foundation for the course.
Show steps
  • Read through notes or textbooks on fire safety principles.
  • Review case studies and examples of fire incidents.
Review the basics of fire science
Review the basics of fire science to strengthen your foundation before starting this course, thereby increasing your chances of success.
Browse courses on Combustion
Show steps
  • Review the fire triangle and the conditions necessary for combustion.
  • Understand the different types of fire and their characteristics.
  • Learn about the stages of fire development.
  • Practice calculating fire growth and spread using simple models.
Organize Course Materials
Stay organized and enhance your understanding by compiling and reviewing course materials.
Show steps
  • Gather and arrange lecture notes, assignments, and resources.
  • Create a study schedule and plan for reviewing materials.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Learn about fire protection systems
Explore fire protection systems to enhance your understanding of fire safety measures and how they contribute to preventing and mitigating fire-related incidents.
Browse courses on Fire Protection Systems
Show steps
  • Watch video tutorials on the operation and design of fire sprinklers.
  • Read articles and case studies on the effectiveness of fire alarms in early fire detection.
  • Follow online simulations to visualize the activation and function of fire suppression systems.
Explore Fire Behavior Simulations
Gain practical insights by engaging with simulations and tutorials on fire behavior.
Browse courses on Fire Behavior
Show steps
  • Find online simulations or tutorials on fire behavior.
  • Run simulations with different parameters to observe fire dynamics.
  • Analyze results and learn about factors influencing fire spread.
Conduct fire risk assessments
Participate in practice drills to enhance your skills in identifying fire hazards and conducting risk assessments, thereby improving your ability to prevent and mitigate fire-related incidents.
Browse courses on Hazard Identification
Show steps
  • Identify potential fire hazards in a building or facility using checklists and inspection techniques.
  • Evaluate the likelihood and severity of identified hazards.
  • Develop and implement mitigation measures to reduce the risk of fire.
Design a Fire Safety Plan
Apply your knowledge by creating a comprehensive fire safety plan for a specific building or area.
Show steps
  • Identify potential fire hazards and risks.
  • Research and select appropriate fire safety measures.
  • Develop a detailed plan outlining evacuation procedures, fire suppression systems, and emergency contacts.

Career center

Learners who complete The Effect of Fires on People, Property and the Environment will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Fire Protection Engineer
Fire Protection Engineers are responsible for designing and implementing fire protection systems. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to design and implement effective fire protection systems. This course will provide Fire Protection Engineers with the knowledge and skills they need to design and implement fire protection systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Fire Protection Engineer
Fire Inspector
Fire Inspectors are responsible for inspecting buildings and other structures to identify and eliminate fire hazards. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to effectively identify and mitigate fire hazards. This course will provide Fire Inspectors with the knowledge and skills they need to conduct fire inspections and enforce fire codes.
See salaries and explore the career path for Fire Inspector
Fire Marshal
Fire Marshals are responsible for enforcing fire codes and investigating fires. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to effectively enforce fire codes and investigate fires. This course will provide Fire Marshals with the knowledge and skills they need to enforce fire codes and investigate fires.
See salaries and explore the career path for Fire Marshal
Wildland Firefighter
Wildland Firefighters are responsible for fighting wildfires. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to effectively fight wildfires. This course will provide Wildland Firefighters with the knowledge and skills they need to fight wildfires.
See salaries and explore the career path for Wildland Firefighter
NFPA Compliance Specialist
NFPA Compliance Specialists are responsible for ensuring that businesses are in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and standards. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to effectively interpret and apply NFPA codes and standards. This course will provide NFPA Compliance Specialists with the knowledge and skills they need to ensure that businesses are in compliance with NFPA codes and standards.
See salaries and explore the career path for NFPA Compliance Specialist
Firefighter
Firefighters are responsible for fighting fires and protecting lives and property. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to effectively fight fires and protect lives and property. This course will provide Firefighters with the knowledge and skills they need to fight fires and protect lives and property.
See salaries and explore the career path for Firefighter
Hazardous Materials Specialist
Hazardous Materials Specialists are responsible for responding to and mitigating hazardous materials incidents. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to effectively respond to and mitigate hazardous materials incidents. This course will provide Hazardous Materials Specialists with the knowledge and skills they need to respond to and mitigate hazardous materials incidents.
See salaries and explore the career path for Hazardous Materials Specialist
Loss Control Consultant
Loss Control Consultants are responsible for helping businesses to identify and mitigate risks. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to effectively identify and mitigate fire risks. This course will provide Loss Control Consultants with the knowledge and skills they need to identify and mitigate fire risks.
See salaries and explore the career path for Loss Control Consultant
Risk Manager
Risk Managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to effectively identify and mitigate fire risks. This course will provide Risk Managers with the knowledge and skills they need to identify and mitigate fire risks.
See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager
Safety Engineer
Safety Engineers are responsible for designing and implementing safety programs. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to effectively design and implement fire safety programs. This course will provide Safety Engineers with the knowledge and skills they need to design and implement fire safety programs.
See salaries and explore the career path for Safety Engineer
Structural Engineer
Structural Engineers are responsible for designing and constructing buildings and other structures. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to ensure that their designs are safe in the event of a fire. This course will provide Structural Engineers with the knowledge and skills they need to design and construct fire-safe structures.
See salaries and explore the career path for Structural Engineer
Building Code Official
Building Code Officials are responsible for enforcing building codes. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to effectively enforce building codes. This course will provide Building Code Officials with the knowledge and skills they need to enforce building codes.
See salaries and explore the career path for Building Code Official
Construction Manager
Construction Managers are responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing the construction of buildings and other structures. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to ensure that construction projects are completed safely and in accordance with fire codes. This course will provide Construction Managers with the knowledge and skills they need to manage fire safety on construction projects.
See salaries and explore the career path for Construction Manager
Civil Engineer
Civil Engineers are responsible for designing and constructing buildings, bridges, roads, and other structures. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to ensure that their designs are safe in the event of a fire. This course will provide Civil Engineers with the knowledge and skills they need to design and construct fire-safe structures.
See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer
Insurance Adjuster
Insurance Adjusters are responsible for investigating insurance claims and determining the amount of money that is owed to policyholders. They must have a strong understanding of fire safety engineering in order to accurately assess the damage caused by fires. This course will provide Insurance Adjusters with the knowledge and skills they need to investigate insurance claims and determine the amount of money that is owed to policyholders.
See salaries and explore the career path for Insurance Adjuster

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Effect of Fires on People, Property and the Environment.
Cover image
An Introduction to Fire Dynamics
Save
This comprehensive textbook presents the scientific principles governing fire behavior, including heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and combustion. Geared towards advanced readers with a background in engineering or physics.
An Introduction to Fire Dynamics
Paperback
$$$
An Introduction to Fire Dynamics
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
Building Bridges: Between Theory And Practice
Save
This comprehensive textbook covers a wide range of fire safety topics applicable to built environments, including fire chemistry, fire dynamics, and human behavior in fires.
BUILDING BRIDGES: BETWEEN THEORY AND PRACTICE
Hardcover
$$
Building Bridges: Between Theory And Practice
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Fire Investigator: Principles and Practice
Save
This journal publishes peer-reviewed research on the behavior of materials in fires, including flammability, fire retardancy, and fire testing methods.
Fire Investigator: Principles and Practice
Paperback
$$$
Fire Investigator: Principles and Practice to NFPA...
Paperback
$$$$
Fire Investigator includes Navigate Advantage...
Paperback
$$$$
Fire Investigator: Principles and Practice
Kindle Edition
$$$
Fire Investigator includes Navigate Advantage...
Kindle Edition
$$$$
Fire Investigator: Principles and Practice to NFPA...
Kindle Edition
$$$$
Cover image
Fire Protection Systems includes Navigate Advantage...
Save
This specialized textbook covers advanced fire protection systems, such as performance-based design, computer modeling, and risk assessment.
Fire Protection Systems includes Navigate Advantage...
Paperback
$$$
Fire Protection Systems includes Navigate Advantage...
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
Fire Investigations for First Responders
Save
This authoritative handbook provides a comprehensive guide to fire investigation techniques, including origin and cause determination, evidence collection, and report writing.
Fire Investigations for First Responders includes...
Paperback
$$$
Fire Investigations for First Responders includes...
Kindle Edition
$$$
Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook
Save
This handbook provides detailed guidance on the design, installation, and maintenance of fire sprinkler systems, offering valuable insights for professionals in the field.
NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2016...
Hardcover
$$$$
Cover image
Principles of Fire Behavior and Combustion with...
Save
This textbook focuses on the structural aspects of fire safety engineering and provides a detailed understanding of fire resistance and structural design principles.
Principles of Fire Behavior and Combustion with...
Paperback
$$$
Principles of Fire Behavior and Combustion with...
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
Facility Fire Brigade: Principles and Practice...
Save
This handbook provides practical guidance and code-compliant solutions for various fire safety design challenges.
Facility Fire Brigade: Principles and Practice...
Kindle Edition
$$$$
Cover image
The Design Way
Save
This textbook offers practical guidance on the design of fire protection systems, including water-based systems, gaseous systems, and detection and alarm systems.
The Design Way, second edition: Intentional Change...
Paperback
$$
The Design Way, second edition: Intentional Change...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Foundations of Chemistry
Save
Offers a foundational understanding of the chemical reactions involved in fire, including the principles of combustion and the behavior of different materials in fire.
Foundations of Chemistry: An Introductory Course...
Kindle Edition
$$

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Effort
6 weeks of study, 3-4 hours/week
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Maryland, College Park
Instructor
James Milke, PhD
Language
English
Transcripts
Español Français Português Deutsch Italiano 中文 العربية 한국어 日本語 हिंदी Nederlands Svenska Pусский Türkçe Polski Ελληνικά українська мова Bahasa Indonesia ไทย қазақша
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Builds a strong foundation for beginners seeking to understand fire safety
Covers fire safety solutions that are standard in industry
Examines fire safety from multiple perspectives, including effects on people, property, and the environment
Taught by James Milke, PhD, an expert in fire safety engineering
Provides hands-on labs and interactive materials for practical learning
Involves a dedicated instructor who provides support and feedback throughout the course
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