Firefighting is a profession where professionally trained individuals put their lives at risk to put out fires and rescue people from hazardous and life-threatening situations. People who want to become firefighters work closely with, and are inspired by, the men and women in this service. The firefighting equipment used by the firefighters is made up of many different pieces of equipment and tools that help them fight fires. It is important for all firefighters to have these pieces of equipment on hand.
One of the most basic pieces of equipment that all firefighters have is a fire hose. These are often called on to put out small, contained fires that have started in dry, grass fires, or even burning trash. In some places, the fire department requires firefighters to have a certain amount of hose on hand. This equipment is essential because it helps get water to the target area quickly.
Another type of firefighting equipment is fire extinguishers. There are different types of extinguishers depending on what type of fire they are used for fighting. For example, wet chemical fire extinguishers are used to put out fires caused by cooking oil while foam fire extinguishers are used to put out fires caused by combustible materials.
The third type of firefighting equipment is fire hose reels. These large apparatus are used to put out larger fires. The end of the hose can have different attachments in the form of nozzles and are chosen depending on the nature of the fire. A reel can generally hold up to 30m of fire hose and is designed so that the hose can be pulled out quickly and easily.
The fire engine is most synonymous with firefighters and is used to transport them and water to wherever they are needed in an emergency. The truck must be large to carry all the equipment and some can have specialist functions. The trucks must also be highly visible and adorned with Chapter 8 Chevrons. Find out more at Vehicle Chevrons
Flamezorb is a powder that firefighters can use to put out fires that involve fuel, for example. It is non-toxic and easy to clean up afterwards. A bag of powder can fill a 10l fire bucket and it’s highly effective at smothering flames.
Often firefighters are called to the scenes of motor vehicle accidents and they have a tool known as the Jaws of Life for removing the roof of vehicles to free trapped motorists. They are incredibly powerful hydraulic powered spreader cutters.
Most of the equipment available is designed for fire prevention, such as fire extinguishers, fire hose reels, and fire blankets. There are different types of fire safety gear that can be used by professionals or for home prevention. Home fire safety equipment is important to have so that all family members can stay safe from fire. It is also necessary to ensure that all employees in fire prevention areas are properly trained and given relevant training.