Firefighting

Firefighters are government staff who help combat fires. They may work in any kind of environment, combatting small-scale house fires to large-scale forest blazes. Firefighters are required to be competent with a variety of specialized equipment, including fire-resistant suits, high-pressure water hoses, and mechanized ladders mounted on top of trucks. Most firefighters accept that their careers, whether as paid employees or volunteers, involve risking their own lives to save the lives of others.

Background

The history of the firefighter can be traced back to the Roman Empire. During Roman times, vigiles were large groups of nonmilitary freemen employed by the government. They were often called the watchmen. Vigiles performed many of the jobs associated with modern police. They patrolled the streets at night, acting as town guards and arresting criminals. However, most importantly, vigiles acted as the first government-sponsored fire brigade. They watched for fires throughout Rome, and immediately took action if one was spotted. Organized groups of vigiles could rush to get water from any of the aqueducts that ran throughout ancient Rome. They also utilized axes to create holes to let smoke out of a burning building. In extreme situations, vigiles utilized long hooks with attached ropes. They used the hooks to pull down buildings adjacent to any burning buildings, denying the fire the necessary fuel to spread to the rest of Rome.

In later eras, brigades were used to manage fires in densely populated areas. Fire brigades were usually run by volunteers, and were not funded or regulated by the local government. Many of these early fire companies were formed in response to catastrophic events. For example, London formed its first fire company after the 1666 Great Fire of London, which caused millions of pounds in damages, decimating large parts of the city. Seeing an opportunity for profit, insurance companies built and financed professional fire brigades. The companies then sold protection to anyone who could buy it. When fire brigades responded to a fire, they would check if the burning building was insured by their particular insurance company. If the building was insured, they would put out the fire. If it was not insured, they would leave the building to burn.

The first North American fire department regulations were passed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1631. New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) followed suit in 1648 by appointing fire wardens, who were responsible for creating and maintaining public fire departments.

Overview

Modern fire departments can take a wide variety of forms. In smaller towns, where a large force with specialized equipment may not be necessary, volunteer fire departments are popular. Volunteer firefighters are not paid by salary or hours worked, although some volunteer fire departments do award their firefighters a small stipend proportional to the number of calls they respond to on a given shift. In larger, more populated areas, a professional fire department might be a more effective choice. Professional firefighters are paid a salary or hourly wage by the government. It is much more regulated than a volunteer fire department. Firefighters are required to attend government-mandated training courses and work a set number of shifts in the firehouse.

Some firefighters work on military bases or naval ships. In addition to all the responsibilities of domestic firefighters, these workers are required to respond to dangerous chemical spills and to inspect the base or ship to ensure that everything is compliant with the location's fire code. They may also be required to serve as emergency medical staff by giving first aid, teaching fire protection classes, and repairing or maintaining common firefighting equipment. For this reason, military firefighting requires more training than domestic firefighting does. In most cases, this additional training is provided both in classes and on the job.

Firefighting also differs by location. Urban, suburban, and rural firefighters all have different sets of responsibilities. Firefighters in closely packed, urban environments need to be able to respond quickly to areas with limited space to maneuver. They need to be competent in techniques that stop fire from spreading from one building to the next as well as techniques that help them fight fires in extremely tall buildings. Most have specialized training to help them rescue trapped people in tall buildings. Additionally, urban firefighters must have quick access to the locations of city infrastructure locations at any time. They must know the paths of important water and electrical lines, then effectively use that information as they plan to combat larger blazes.

In contrast, it is unlikely that firefighters in extremely rural areas need to know how to rescue individuals from skyscrapers. However, they may need to be trained in managing brush fires and forest fires, something an urban firefighter would rarely encounter. Rural firefighters have to use that knowledge to protect natural resources as well as homes and cities located near forests prone to fires. They will need to utilize up-to-date weather information to predict how a forest fire will move. Additionally, forest and brush fires grow to a much larger size than fires encountered by urban firefighters. These types of fires present a unique set of dangers that requires specialized training and equipment to combat safely.

Firefighters utilize a variety of common tools and protective clothing to carry out their jobs safely. Firefighters' coats, hoods, and pants are made with several layers of heat- and fire-resistant material. The clothes keep the firefighter safe from burns and as cool as possible when near large fires. Their helmets keep their eyes safe from flames, and their heads safe from falling debris. Lastly, a firefighter's personal breathing apparatus allows him or her to breathe easily in rooms filled with smoke.

Some firefighters carry fire axes and other tools designed to break through walls and doors. These tools allow firefighters to access trapped victims quickly. Other firefighters are trained to aim and maintain powerful fire hoses that are used to quench flames from a safe distance. Some firefighters are trained to drive large firetrucks that carry long ladders and massive tanks of water.

Along with traditional tools, modern technology is adding new tools for firefighting. Technology such as drones can help firefighters to survey an area and gain extra information that is not visible from the ground. Thermal imaging can allow firefighters to see hidden fires. As advances in technology continue, firefighters expect to gain more artificial help to fight fires safely and effectively.

Bibliography

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"Firefighters." Careers in the Military, www.careersinthemilitary.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.careerdetail&mc‗id=61. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Rainbird, John S. "The Vigiles of Rome," Durham University, etheses.dur.ac.uk/7455/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Spell, Jim. “A Brief History of the Fire Service: From Ancient Equipment to Modern Technology.” Fire Rescue1, 11 Aug. 2021, firebooks.com/blogs/blog/15571393-rural-firefighting-how-does-it-differ-from-urban-firefighting

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