Click on the firefighter's equipment to see what it is and how it is used.

Firefighter's Helmet

   The helmet is a very important part of the firefighter's equipment.  It performs several functions at once.  Most modern helmets are made of a tough material called fiberglass, leather, or a combination of the two.  Helmets are usually of two different designs, either traditional (pictured above), or contemporary.  All firefighting helmets have special shock abosorbing liners inside to protect the head from the impact of falling objects.  The brim is wide, and extends at the rear to direct water and falling embers away from the firefighter's neck and collar.  Firefighter usually have a frontpiece on their helmet, denoting their unit or station number.  Often, the helmet is an extension of the firefighter's personality, and may have decals or other personalized features on it, including photos of loved ones.  It is common for firefighters to attach certain objects, like flashlights and door wedges, in large rubber bands that are wrapped around the helmet.  This allows quick access to these objects when needed.  Fire helmets usually have some type of eye protection mounted on them.  This may be a sheild that swings down in front of the firefighter's face, or it may be a set of special goggles.  A helmet can be very special to the firefighter and is often a prized possesion.

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   The Low Air Pressure Warning Bell is a very important item to a firefighter.  It warns the firefighter that the SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) unit he or she is wearing is getting low on air.  Sometimes, firefighters must operate in conditions where it is dark and smoky and they cannot see their air pressure gauges.  When a firefighter hears their bell going off, they must get out of the dangerous environment quickly.  They usually have five minutes or less of air remaining in the air bottle that they carry on their backs.  Some modern SCBA have a special device that causes the facepiece to vibrate, giving the firefighter further warning, in case the noise level is too high to hear the bell ringing.

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   A good flashlight is a valuable tool for a firefighter.  Every firefighter should carry a small, but powerful, flashlight with their personal protective gear.  Firefighters often work in dark or smoky conditions and will need a strong flashlight that they can quickly access to perform important tasks.  These flashlights have special rings that enable the firefighter to quickly attach or remove the flashlight from their coats.  Although small, these flashlights are very powerful.   They have special bulbs and lenses designed to emit a very bright beam of light that is capable of cutting through smoke.

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2-way Radio

   When operating as teams, it is vital that at least one member of the team have a 2 way radio.   This allows the team to stay in constant contact with officers who are in command of the scene.  This radio is usually carried by the team leader.  This is important in case the team needs help, or needs to relay vital information about conditions back to command.  Radios come in many different styles and makes, but most firefighters prefer radios with a speaker mic attached.  The speaker mic attaches to a special tab on the firefighter's turn-out coat, allowing communication while keeping the main body of the radio tucked inside the radio pocket below.  This minimizes exposure of the radio to heat and water, ensuring proper operation when it is needed.  The firefighter's 2 way radio should be checked for proper operation daily and before entering a dangerous area, such as a house fire.

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   Of all forceable entry tools, the "Irons" are probably the most favored by firefighters.  Consisting of a flat-head ax "married" to a halligan bar, the uses of the Irons are many.  They are most commonly used to gain access to locked doors and windows.  The halligan bar has three different prying tips on it.  They are a spike, a wedge, and a two-pronged fork or claw.  By inserting one of these tips into a door or window frame and driving it with the flat-head ax, the trained firefighter can make quick access through most common types of doors.  By driving the spike into the floor, the halligan bar becomes a good anchor point to attach a rope during emergency rescue procedures.  The flat-head ax is also useful for cutting through windows and doors that may be boarded up.  The Irons are carried with a special "marriage" strap, the blade of the ax inserted into the slot of the claw on one end, and the handle of the ax resting between the spike and the wedge on the other. 

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   The Litebox Streamlight is a popular flashlight used by many fire departments.  It is very powerful and is rechargeable.  These flashlights can operate up to eight hours on a single charge.  They may have either a flood or spot type lens with single or dual filament bulbs.  The bulb assembly can rotate up and down, or side to side.  This allows the firefighter to easily distribute the light where it is needed while the Litebox is in a fixed location.  The Litebox has a long strap that enables firefighters to carry it on their shoulders, freeing up their hands to do other tasks.  Usually, a team will carry at least one of these flashlights with them at all times.  They are very important to have during searches or during overhaul and salvage operations when the power to the building has been cut.

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Thermal Imaging Camera

1) Jefferson City firefighters entering a smoke-filled building
2) What a firefighter sees without a Thermal Imaging Camera
3) What a firefighter sees with a Thermal Imaging Camera (Note the victim's location on the TIC screen)

   The Thermal Imaging Camera, or TIC, is a powerful tool that is fast becoming a vital piece of firefighting equipment.  The TIC uses Infared technology to actually "see" the differences in the heat being emitted by objects in its field of view.  This allows the firefighter to see through smoke or in total darkeness.  Where firefighters used to search for victims by feel, the TIC allows them to actually see victims in the smoke that would normally be impossible to see with the naked eye.  Thermal Imaging Cameras are also very useful in tracking the spread of fire in walls and void spaces, and in quickly locating "hotspots" during overhaul operations.  Our particular TIC, the Scott Eagle Imager II, also has a feature called "Infotherm."  This feature automatically displays the surface temperature of whatever it is pointed at.  Areas of high temperature are instantly colored red on the display screen, showing the firefighters where the most dangerous part of the fire is.  The Scott Eagle Imager II is light and ergonomically designed, allowing the firefighter to easily crawl with the device while viewing the display screen.  The TIC is a valuable tool that greatly improves the safety of both firefighter and victim.  Click here to see a Thermal Imaging Camera in action.

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   SCBA stands for Self Contained Breathing Apparatus.  Firefighters use this equipment to breath in toxic or smoke filled environments.  An SCBA is made up of an air bottle, or tank, various pressure regulators, guages, warning devices, facepiece or mask, and a harness.   There are many different manufactuers of SCBA.  Our firefighters use the Scott 2.2 or the Scott 50 2.2 with integrated PASS device and carbon fiber bottles.  Without an SCBA, firefighters would be limited to doing exterior fire attack.  Used properly, the SCBA is a valuable tool that allows firefighters to quickly extinguish interior fires and rescue victims that have been overcome by smoke and other toxic gasses. 

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Chainsaw/K-12 Saw

   Firefighters use chainsaws to cut holes for vetilation or for access through a floor or wall.  Chainsaws used by fire departments have blades with carbon steel tips.  These types of chains are much stronger than the ones on regular chainsaws.   Called vertical ventilation, firefighters use chainsaws to cut large holes in the roof over the fire.  This allows trapped heat and smoke to exit the structure, reducing the chance of flashover and improving conditions in the structure for firefighters and victims who may be trapped inside.  Sometimes, a rotary saw is used instead of a chainsaw.  This type of saw uses a round blade that spins at very high speeds.  The blade may be designed to cut either wood, masonry, or metal.

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Pike Pole

   Pike poles come in several different lengths and styles.  They are mainly used to pull down ceilings and walls to expose hidden fire.  They can also be used to break windows during ventilation.  They can be anywhere from five to twelve feet long.  Some have handles on the end for more secure grip during pulling.  The standard pike pole has a hook and a sharp tip on the end.  Pike poles made especially to tear out drywall have wider hooks with serrated teeth on them.  Pike poles made for digging through burning rubbish are called "trash hooks" and have two pointed hooks that are turned down.  Pike poles are important tools for firefighters assigned to truck companies.

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   The KnoxScan™ is a tool that senses heat.  When pointed at something hot, it omits an alarm that increases in pitch as the temperature of the object or surface increases.   This is a cost-effective, easy to carry tool that helps firefighters find fire that may be hidden in void spaces or behind walls.  It is also handy to locate overheated electrical equipment.

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   Made of special heat and flame resistant materials, the turn-out coat is very important part of a firefighter's equipment.  These coats have tall collars for extra protection around the neck and throat.  They also have bellowed sleeves for greater mobility.   Large pockets are useful for carrying items and tools that firefighters need while working.  The coat has reflective markings on the outside for visibility in low light situations.  Zippers and Velcro flaps make putting on the gear fast and easy.   Jefferson City Firefighers use gear manufactured by Quest™.

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   Made of the same materials as the turn-out coats, the pants also have large pockets and reflective markings.  They are adjustable around the waist and use "H" style suspenders to hold them up.  Velcro flap and large snaps make fastening them fast and easy.  Firefighters leave their pants down around their boots, making it fast to simply step into the boots, pull up the pants and suspenders, and fasten the enclosure flap.  This time saving procedure allows firefighters to put on their gear in less than thirty seconds.

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   Firefighting boots are special boots with several safety features built in.   They can be made of rubber or leather, or a combination of both.  They are required to have steel toes and shanks.  Firefighting boots have agressive tread that helps to prevent firefighters from slipping.  Many boots have extra protection in the shin area.  Some boots are the pull-on type that fire fighters simply slip their feet into,  others have zippers on the side and laces for adjustments.  These types of boots may be worn by the firefighter during normal operations as well as in structure fires.

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   Firefighting gloves are insulated against heat, tears, and puntures.  Many types also have a moisture barrier that helps to hold out water and other fluids.  Most firefighting gloves are made of leather, pigskin, or elkskin.   Firefighters also use other types of gloves, too.  Regular gloves can be used for general clean-up after a fire, to prevent wear and tear on expensive firefighting gloves.  Firefighters sometimes use special gloves for rescue and extrication calls.   These gloves provide good protection against punctures and cuts and offer greater dexterity than the thick gloves designed for fighting fires.  Firefighters also use latex gloves when working with patients during medical calls.

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   A PASS or Personal Alert Safety System is a device used to warn others that a firefighter is in need of help.  These devices are designed to emit a loud audible alert when activated.  Some also emit a visual alarm, in the form of flashing LED lights.   PASS devices can be manually activated by firefighters if they are in trouble or, they will go off automatically if the firefighter is motionless for a period of time, usually around 30 seconds.  The PASS device shown above is the integrated PASS on one of our Scott 50 2.2™ SCBA's.

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   Extinguishers are used to extinguish small fires, or sometimes to hold a larger fire at bay until a firehose can be placed in service.   There are several different kinds of extinguishers, all of them used on different types of fires.  The extinguisher shown here is charged with two and a half gallons of water and is commonly known as a "watercan."  These are commonly carried by firefighters during their searches of buildings or to knock down small fires, such as waste basket and garbage can fires.

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