Firefighter Gear Through The Ages

Fire fighting truly is one of the most risk ridden jobs in the world, standing next to only the services of our armed forces. The way these men put their own lives and safety at stake to save our lives and property isn’t just commendable, its worthy of awe. This is why our fire fighters deserve nothing short of the best of everything, including facilities, equipment and safety gear. And our scientists and engineers have invested years upon years in coming up with new and improved firefighter gear for our heroes to use in the line of duty. Let us take a brief look at their evolution of the equipment and tools at the disposal of firefighters that they use to ensure their safety and others’.

In the early days of the profession, around the mid 19th century, firefighters would use trousers and shirts made of wool. The colour preference was red for their turnout gear and wool was the material of choice to ward off the heat from the fire flames. Rubber coats or slickers that would extend up to the firefighter’s mid thigh were worn over the woollen wear, along with leather gloves and boots that were usually brought in by the serviceman himself. Helmets were naturally another compulsory addition to the entire ensemble. This is what firefighter turnout gear used to look like in the early stages.

The development started with the boots. Leather was replaced with rubber in the initial stages and the length of the boots was extended up to just above the knee. There were however, options available for boots that went all the way up to the hips. These looked like modern waders and were often referred to as three-quarter boots. However this combination didn’t gain much popularity in the industry and was later replaced by pants with suspenders, jackets and boots made from rubber or leather.

From this point onwards, firefighter gear was taken to new levels with constant research and development, especially after the Second World War. Standardised turnout gear was introduced that went through rigorous quality checks and performance safety testing procedures to ensure the best possible security for the serviceman. The clothing was designed in layers with the first layer made of material that could withstand up to 500 degrees temperature for about 5 minutes. The second layer works as a defensive wall against moisture while the third one protected the firefighter from high levels of heat by providing the necessary insulation.

The fire resistance levels of these layers have been improved upon with every passing year. The next introduction came with a capacity to withstand up to 1200 degrees of heat and resistance for about seven seconds which is just enough time for the serviceman to get to safety. Modern day firefighter gear is made from heat resistant fabrics and polybenzimidazole fibres for increased protection. Communications devices have also been introduced in these uniforms to help firemen coordinate their operations. We truly have come a long way from the humble woollen pants that started out as the first line of defence for a firefighter in the line of duty.

About The Author

Timothy McDaemon is an expert in firefighter gear and has been an active member of many research and development teams for coming up with state of the art equipment for our servicemen to tackle their operations. He also writes many interesting articles and blogs about the topic to help common people understand the industry better. Visit http://www.feldfire.com/ to know more.