Firefighters are exposed to various sources of heat, most commonly environmental heat exposure (weather conditions) and thermal exposure (during fire suppression and fire rescue).
A large part of heat illness prevention starts before firefighters even arrive at the station, however. A comprehensive plan to fight heat illness should include fitness, acclimatization, hydration, and proper gear. We can look at what each of those entails but first, what exactly is heat illness?
Choosing the best firefighter flashlight means choosing the best emergency survival light. You need one that’s compact in size, easy to grip, leaves you unencumbered, and cuts through smoke and darkness. Its ability to meet all these demands can impact your survival chances and/or the survival of victims in emergency situations.
As the end-all in fire safety, Fire-End products are used worldwide, and we strive to be your number one source for fire protection needs. We confidently suggest our top five, best-selling firefighter flashlights:
A firefighter turnout gear temperature rating is a heat-rating index (thermal protective performance rating) that measures the ability of your thermal protective material to protect you from high thermal exposure.
The heat rating, or degradation temperature, is when the fibers in the gear materials are completely destroyed. Firefighter turnout gear temperature ratings are not a threshold measurement of the temperature a human can withstand. Degradation temperatures are not survivability temperatures.
Yet turnout gear (also called bunker gear) is still critical to firefighter protection.
High-powered fans are used to improve visibility inside an engaged building by quickly removing smoke. Positive pressure ventilation (PPV) is a fire service tactic that can enhance rescue efforts by helping remove smoke and toxins from a structure.
PPV can create an improved environment, with less risk of injury to the rescuers and a clearer path to the seat of a fire, which ultimately may improve conditions for fire and rescue attempts.
PPV may also decrease the losses caused by smoke damage to a structure.
Browse all our fire ventilation equipment.
A positive pressure attack combines mechanical positive pressure ventilation to remove smoke before fire control and prior to advancing into a building for victim rescue.
PPV fans create higher pressure inside the building, which forces interior air out of the structure through an exit hole when lower pressure builds. PPA can decrease a fire’s ability to spread and advance.
Firefighter hooks are some of the most versatile tools a fireman can have. They make opening-up and overhauling much easier. Perhaps the best-known fire roof hooks are the Pro-Bar and the New York Roof Hook designed by Bob Farrell, a retired captain with the New York City Fire Department.
Other firefighter roof hooks include the Colorado hook, Boston fireman’s hook, San Francisco hook, Georgia hook, as well as miscellaneous fire roof hooks and pike poles. Before we describe the different types of fire hooks, let’s look at their history.
Your turnout gear goes through a lot. It was made to go through a lot. But to maintain its protective properties, there are protocols that should be followed when it comes to keeping it clean.
You can enhance your fire department’s safety and extend the life of your PPE and gear through regular cleaning, inspection, and repair with LION TotalCare.
Washing turnout gear isn’t anything like doing residential, daily laundry.
Choosing the best firefighting glove is an important part of making sure you have the proper PPE. Although not as evident as turnout gear and other essentials, your gloves play a paramount role in rescue performance.
So, how do you find the best firefighter gloves? At a minimum, the gloves you choose need to meet the NFPA 1971 standard for PPE protection against structural firefighting and proximity firefighting. Beyond that, you need comfortable, protective gloves that fit well, repel water, and provide dexterity.
For more than 100 years, we’ve proudly carried reputable brands of firefighting gear and supplies. Let’s look at your best options in high-performance, protective hand gear.
For more than a century, we’ve helped protect and supply firefighters, police, first-responders, and other emergency personnel with trusted brands in firefighting gear, equipment, and apparel.
Our products are sold all over the world. We feel blessed to be a dominant player in the municipal and interior fire equipment market. Our goal is to remain the end-all in fire safety products.
With 2020 being such a challenging year for everyone, we hope our new clearance section is a welcome addition to the website. The firefighter gear on sale isn’t just close-outs and overstocks; we’re featuring top brand names like Haix, Akron Brass, Streamlight, Aervoe, and more. If you’re looking for gift ideas for fighters this Christmas, this section dedicated to firefighter gear on clearance is a good place to start!
It can be challenging for firefighters and other emergency personnel to find durable and comfortable tactical job shirts and other workwear. Add fall’s fluctuating temperatures, from cool to warm, and comfort becomes even more of a challenge.
Fire-End understands that station wear needs to be well made, flexible, and competitively priced to suit the demands of law enforcement, first responders, and tactical operators. We’re proud to offer Game Sportswear and other quality brands that help keep emergency responders comfortable year-round.
This time of year, there can be times when it feels like there are three seasons taking place in one day, and your activity will contribute to fluctuating temps.
Choosing the best fire helmet comes down to finding the best fire safety headgear that combines lightweight durability with comfort.
When it comes to durable comfort and high-performance protection, LION fire helmets are among the most popular.
LION is a trusted name in turnout gear, providing seven of the 10 largest first departments in the United States.
The American Classic and American Legend are our best-selling models. The American Heritage is also popular, but since it is leather, it is considerably higher in cost. Usually, the American Legend helmet is purchased by the individual firefighter.