Firefighter

Firefighter Media

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  Firefighters had to focus their efforts on saving the adjacent church instead of this burning building, an abandoned convent in Massueville, Quebec, Canada

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  Firefighter carrying out a ladder slide

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  A demonstration of a vehicle extrication

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  Decontamination after a chemical spill

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  Firefighters frequently give fire prevention talks at schools and community events

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  Firemen's Memorial (Boston) by John Wilson

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  Firefighters wearing PPE tackle an aircraft fire during a drill at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas

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  Firefighters at Ground Zero during the September 11 attacks

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  Smoke can expose firefighters to a variety of carcinogens

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  The Paris Fire Brigade is a French Army unit which serves as the fire service for Paris and certain sites of national strategic importance.

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

Firefighters with a fire engine

Firefighters are people who have the responsibility of putting out fires. They are responsible for handling other emergency situations. Firefighters use many different types of equipment to deal with all kinds of emergency situations. In addition to handling fires,Firefighters deal with a wide variety of other emergency situations.

Firefighters are based at and respond to emergency situations from a Fire Station (Also Known As a Firehouse or Firehall). Firefighters deal with many kinds of emergency situations. When their help is needed, they drive to the location of the emergency on a vehicle called a Fire Engine (Also Known As a Fire Truck or Fire Apparatus). Fire Engines have the equipment they often need to deal with all kinds of emergency situations. Fire Engines have water hoses,water pumps,ventilation fans and other items that help in putting out fires. They also carry equipment for Medical Emergencies, Hazardous Materials Events and Technical Rescue Incidents. Cardiac Monitors and Defibrillators, Intubation and Airway Management Supplies, Emergency Medications and other Medical items are carried on Fire Engines in response to Medical Emergencies. In Response to Technical Rescue Incidents,Fire Engines have The Jaws Of Life Hydraulic Rescue Tools Systems (spreaders, cutters, combi toots, rams, etc), Air Bags, Air Chisels, Air, Electric and Battery Operated Breaching, Breaking and Cutting Equipment, Specialized Rescue Saws, Specialized Cutting Torches, Rope Rescue Equipment, Confined Space Rescue Equipment, and other Specialized Tools and Equipment on board. In response to Hazardous Materials Incidents, Fire Engines have Hazardous Materials Personal Protection Equipment, Non Sparking Tools, Generators and other specialised Tools and Equipment on board.

Firefighters wear heavy clothing to protect them from the heat of a fire. This is called bunker gear or turnout gear. They wear equipment to help them breathe in areas that are filled with smoke. They normally also wear a mask to protect themselves from breathing in smoke and very hot air and gases. This helps them to protect themselves and those that they serve.

Fire departments

The name of the agency that firefighters work for can be different in each country. Common names include a 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".