Firefighter

A fireman at a fire in Washington, D.C. in 2020

Firefighters with a fire engine

Firefighters are people who have the primary responsibility of assisting in putting out Fires.They also deal with other Emergency Situations and they operate a wide variety of tools and equipment at each Emergency Situation.

Firefighters are based in and respond to emergency situations from a fire station (also known as a fire house or fire hall).

Firefighters deal with many different emergencies.When somebody needs their help,the firefighters will drive to the location of the emergency on a vehicle called a fire engine (also known as a fire truck).

Fire Engines have a wide range of equipment and tools on board for Fire Suppression Incidents,Medical Emergencies,Specialized Rescue Situations and Hazardous Materials Incidents.

The Primary Purpose of Fire Engines is dealing with Fires.They have Water Pumps,Water Hoses,Ventilation Fans and other items for putting out Fires.Fire Engines also have Specialized Tools And Equipment on board for Specialized Rescue Incidents including The Jaws Of Life Hydraulic Rescue Tools Systems (Spreaders,Cutters,Combi Tools,Rams,Etc),Air Bags,Air Chisels and Other Specialized Tools And Equipment.Fire Engines also handle Hazardous Materials Incidents and have Tarps,Non Sparking Tools and other Equipment on board for Hazardous Materials Situations.Finally,Fire Engines deal with Medical Emergency Situations and have Cardiac Monitors And Defibrillators,Oxygen Support Equipment and other items on board for Medical Emergency Situations.

Modern fire engines have flashing emergency lights,as well as loud sirens and horns.This helps to warn people that a fire engine is coming down the road to an emergency.

Radios, computers, and other devices are used by firefighters on fire engines to talk with their dispatchers and other emergency service vehicles, including mutual aid, Fire and Rescue units, police units, and Emergency Medical Services units.

Firefighters wear heavy clothing to protect them from the heat of a fire, known as bunker gear or turnout gear. They wear equipment to help them breathe in areas that are filled with smoke. They may also wear a mask to protect themselves from breathing in smoke and/or hot air. This helps them to protect themselves and those that they rescue.

Fire departments

The name of the agency that firefighters work for can be different in each country. Common names include a fire department, fire service, fire and rescue service or fire brigade. Fire departments are usually government agencies that are funded by taxes. Some place, such as airports, have their own firefighters.

At some fire departments, the firefighters work full-time. They stay at the fire station and wait to be called out to an emergency. They work during both the daytime and at night. Villages and small towns normally have part-time firefighters. They have other jobs outside of the fire service. These firefighters will drive from their home or workplace to the fire station when their help is needed. They may be volunteers, or they may be paid for doing this job. In the United Kingdom, these paid firemen are known as "retained firefighters".