Fire fighting is not an easy job. Here, trained professionals are responsible for rescuing lives and properties with the challenge of putting out massive fires. For fire fighters to perform their duties effectively, they cannot rely on their own resources and strength. Even though fire fighters are highly trained for tragic and critical situations, they must have gears and equipment to assist them along the way. Fire brigades never allow their fire fighters to go on a rescue with missing gears, before stepping out into the mission, uniform, gears and equipment must be complete. Fire fighting essentials are grouped as follows:
Basic Tools
Every fireman must be complete with the basic essentials. These are small equipments that are carried by firemen along with them wherever they are on a mission. Aside for axes and flashlight, some of the basic tools include:
- Pike Pole- used for pulling items from intense heat or flame. Pike poles are usually 4-12 feet in length with a hook on its end that can reach through walls and ceilings and can brake through vents and windows to create a way for the heavy smoke to exit.
- Halligan Bar- commonly known as a Hooligan tool on most British fire brigades, this tool is used for prying, twisting, punching, or striking. It consists of a claw, a blade, and a tapered pick, which is especially useful in quickly breaching many types of locked doors.
- Spanner- used to loosen nuts and bolts of windows, doors and other furniture that may obstruct ways of exit for people during a fire.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Aside from rescuing people from fire accidents, fire fighters must ensure there own protection as well. PPEs are gears that can withstand water and high temperatures in order for firemen to work faster and more effective on such grave conditions. Equipments under PPE are:
- Bunker gear- also known as Turnout gear and Fire Kit in the United Kingdom, this is a fireman’s protective clothing. Fire Kits are comprised of the specialised jacket, trousers and boots and must always be organised inside a fire man’s bunk.
- Self contained breathing apparatus- provides breathable air in situations that may be referred as IDLH or Immediate Danger to Life and Health Atmosphere. Firemen must be able to rescue people amidst the obstructions especially the harmful gas that smoke creates. An SCBA is composed of a high-pressure tank, a pressure regulator, and an inhalation connection such as mouthpiece or face mask connected together and mounted to a carrying frame.
- Personal Alert Safety System- PASS is used whenever a fire fighter enters a building on fire or any dangerous area. The alert sound will be able to warn the others that the fireman is in distress. The device will automatically turn on and emit a very loud siren when it hasn’t detected motion for quite a long time.
Electronic Gadgets
Fire fighters must also keep up with technology in order to pursue the mission faster. To be in synch with the others, hand held radios are used for communication in rescue operations. Another electronic gadget fire fighters usually use is the thermal imaging camera that allows them to see through areas full of smoke, darkness or heat-permeable locations.
