Array ( [0] => {{Short description|Actions to prevent damage from fire}} [1] => {{other uses|Firefight (disambiguation){{!}} Firefight}} [2] => [[File:Fire inside an abandoned convent in Massueville, Quebec, Canada.jpg|thumb|300px|Firefighters douse a burning [[convent]] in [[Massueville, Quebec|Massueville]], Canada.]] [3] => [4] => '''Firefighting''' is a [[profession]] aimed at controlling and extinguishing [[fire]].{{Cite web |title=Firefighting {{!}} Definition & Meaning |url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/firefighting |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=[[Dictionary.com]]}} A person who engages in firefighting is known as a [[firefighter]] or '''fireman'''.{{cite web|url=https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/firefighter.aspx|title=Firefighter|publisher=National Careers Service (UK)|date=13 September 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012140857/https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/firefighter.aspx|archive-date=12 October 2016}} Firefighters typically undergo a high degree of technical training.{{cite web|title=Recruitment « UK Fire Service Resources|url=http://www.fireservice.co.uk/recruitment|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125050051/http://www.fireservice.co.uk/recruitment|archive-date=25 November 2016|access-date=30 November 2016}} This involves structural firefighting and [[wildland firefighting]]. Specialized training includes [[aircraft firefighting]], shipboard firefighting, [[aerial firefighting]], maritime firefighting, and proximity firefighting. [5] => [6] => Firefighting is a dangerous profession due to the toxic environment created by [[combustible material]]s, with major risks being smoke, oxygen deficiency, elevated temperatures, poisonous atmospheres, and violent air flows.{{cite web|last=Safety|first=Government of Canada, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and|date=2018-11-17|title=Fire Fighter: OSH Answers|url=http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/occup_workplace/firefighter.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126090838/http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/occup_workplace/firefighter.html|archive-date=26 November 2016|access-date=30 November 2016}} To combat some of these risks, firefighters carry [[self-contained breathing apparatus]]. Additional hazards include [[falling (accident)|falls]] — a constant peril while navigating unfamiliar layouts or confined spaces amid shifting debris under limited visibility – and [[structural collapse]] that can exacerbate the problems encountered in a toxic environment. [7] => [8] => The first step in a firefighting operation is reconnaissance to search for the origin of the fire and to identify the specific risks. Fires can be extinguished by water, fuel or oxidant removal, or chemical flame inhibition; though, because fires are classified depending on the elements involved, such as grease, paper, electrical, etcetera, a specific type of [[fire extinguisher]] may be required. The classification is based on the type of fires that the extinguisher is more suitable for. In the United States, the types of fire are described by the [[National Fire Protection Association]]. [9] => [10] => ==History== [11] => [[File:Firemen in action.jpg|thumb|[[Bulgaria]]n firefighters in action, 1930s]] [12] => [[File:Ottawa Fire Department motor pump, Ottawa, Ontario.jpg|thumb|Ottawa Fire Department motor pump, Ottawa, Ontario, taken by the Topley Studio, May 1915.]] [13] => {{Main|History of firefighting}} [14] => The earliest known firefighters were in the city of Rome. In 60 A.D., emperor Nero established a Corps of [[Vigiles|Vigils]] (''Vigiles'') to protect Rome after a disastrous fire. It consisted of 7,000 people equipped with buckets and axes who fought fires and served as police.International Fire Service Training Association. Fire Service Orientation and Indoctrination. Philadelphia: Board of Regents, 1984. Print. [15] => [16] => ===Historic tactics and tools=== [17] => In the 3rd century B.C., an Alexandrian Greek named [[Ctesibius]] made a double [[force pump]] called a ''siphona''. As water rose in the chamber, it compressed the air inside, which forced the water to eject in a steady stream through a pipe and nozzle. [18] => [19] => In the 16th century, [[syringe]]s were also used as firefighting tools, the larger ones being mounted on wheels. Another traditional firefighting method that survived was the bucket brigade, involving two lines of people formed between the water source and the fire. Typically, men in one of the lines would pass along the full buckets of water toward the fire while in the other line women and children would pass back the empty buckets to be refilled. [20] => [21] => In the 17th century the first "fire engines" were made, notably in Amsterdam. In 1721, the English inventor [[Richard Newsham]] made a popular fire engine that was essentially a rectangular box on wheels filled using a bucket brigade to provide a reservoir while hand-powered pumps supplied sufficient water pressure to douse fires at a distance. [22] => [23] => ===Ancient Rome=== [24] => [[Ancient Rome]] did not have municipal firefighters. Instead, private individuals relied on their slaves or supporters to take action. They would not only form bucket brigades or attempt to smother smaller fires, but would also demolish or raze nearby buildings to slow the spread of the fire. However, there is no mention of fires being extinguished, rather they were contained and burned themselves out. Ancient Rome did not have an organized firefighting force until the ''[[Vigiles]]'' were formed during the reign of Augustus.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wHEGcPZZmHwC&q=ancient+roman+fire+sale&pg=PA54 |title=Ancient Rome: From the Early Republic to the Assassination of Julius Caesar |isbn=9780415224581 |last1=Dillon |first1=Matthew |last2=Garland |first2=Lynda |year=2005 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |access-date=2020-10-17 |archive-date=2022-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408203040/https://books.google.com/books?id=wHEGcPZZmHwC&q=ancient+roman+fire+sale&pg=PA54 |url-status=live }} [25] => [26] => The first ever Roman fire brigade was created by [[Marcus Licinius Crassus]]. Fires were almost a daily occurrence in Rome, and Crassus took advantage of the fact that Rome had no fire department, by creating his own brigade—500 men strong—which rushed to burning buildings at the first cry of alarm. Upon arriving at the scene, however, the firefighters did nothing while Crassus offered to buy the burning building from the distressed property owner, at a miserable price. If the owner agreed to sell the property, his men would put out the fire; if the owner refused, then they would simply let the structure burn to the ground. After buying many properties this way, he rebuilt them, and often leased the properties to their original owners or new tenants.{{cite book|last = Walsh|first = Joseph|title = The Great Fire of Rome: Life and Death in the Ancient City}}Plutarch, Parallel Lives, The Life of Crassus 2.3–4Marshall, B A: ''Crassus: A Political Biography'' (Adolf M Hakkert, Amsterdam, 1976)[[Wallechinsky, David]] & [[Irving Wallace]]. "[http://www.trivia-library.com/b/richest-people-in-history-marcus-licinus-crassus.htm Richest People in History Ancient Roman Crassus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226055241/https://www.trivia-library.com/b/richest-people-in-history-marcus-licinus-crassus.htm |date=2020-02-26 }}". Trivia-Library. ''[[The People's Almanac]]''. 1975 – 1981. Web. 23 December 2009. [27] => [28] => ===United Kingdom=== [29] => Prior to the [[Great Fire of London]] in 1666, some parishes in the UK had begun to organize rudimentary firefighting crews. After the Great Fire, [[Nicholas Barbon]] introduced the first fire insurance. In order to reduce insurance costs, Barbon also formed his own [[Fire Brigade|fire brigade]], and other companies followed suit. [30] => [31] => By the start of the 1800s, insured buildings were identified with a [[Fire insurance mark|badge or mark]] indicating that they were eligible for a company's firefighting services. It is a common belief that buildings not insured with a particular company were left by its firefighters to burn,{{cite web |url=https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/museum/history-and-stories/early-insurance-brigades-brigades/ |last=London Fire Brigade |title=Early fire brigades |date=2023 |access-date=16 August 2023}} unless they happened to be adjacent to an insured building, in which case it was often in the company's interest to prevent the fire from spreading. This is a common misconception. In 1833 fire insurance companies in London merged to form The London Fire Company Establishment. [32] => [33] => Steam-powered apparatuses were first introduced in the 1850s, allowing a greater quantity of water to be directed onto a fire; in the early 1930s they were superseded by versions powered by an internal combustion engine. [34] => [35] => In [[World War II]] the [[Auxiliary Fire Service]], and later the [[National Fire Service]], were established to supplement local fire services. Before 1938, there was no countrywide standard for firefighting terms, procedures, ranks, or equipment (such as hose couplings). In the month of August in 1939 with war looking very possible the Fire Service's act of 1938 came into effect. This unified Great Britain's fire service and prepared them for the German war machine. During the London Blitz, 700 fire men and 20 fire women, as known during the time period died as a result of heavy bombing, 91 of these perished at the same time defending London. By the end of the London Blitz, 327 firefighters had lost their lives. [36] => [37] => ===United States=== [38] => In January 1608, a fire destroyed many colonists' provisions and lodgings in [[Jamestown, Virginia]]. By the mid-1600s, [[Boston]], [[New Amsterdam]] (later [[New York City]]), and [[Philadelphia]] were all plagued by fires, and volunteer fire brigades began to form.{{cite web|url=http://firehistory.org/?p=130|title=Fire History - A Historical Repository for the Fire Service of the United States of America|work=Fire History|access-date=21 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117181554/http://firehistory.org/?p=130|archive-date=17 November 2014}} [39] => [[File:USS Forrestal explosion 29 July 1967.jpg|thumb|Firefighters onboard the USS Forrestal in 1967.]] [40] => In 1736, [[Benjamin Franklin]] founded the [[Union Fire Company]] in Philadelphia, which became the standard for volunteer fire organizations. These firefighters had two critical tools: salvage bags and so-called bed keys. Salvage bags were used to quickly collect and save valuables, and bed keys were used to separate the wooden frame of a bed (often the most valuable item in a home at the time) into pieces for safe and rapid removal from the fire.{{cite web|url = http://lishfd.org/History/firefighting_in_colonial_america.htm|title = Firefighting in Colonial America|last = Hashagan|first = Paul|publisher = [[KSFFA]]|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171008211147/http://lishfd.org/History/firefighting_in_colonial_america.htm|archive-date = 2017-10-08}} [41] => [42] => The first American attempt at fire insurance failed after a large fire in [[Charlestown, Massachusetts]] in 1736. Later in 1740, Benjamin Franklin organized the [[Philadelphia Contributionship]] to provide fire insurance, which was more successful. The Contributionship adopted "fire marks" to easily identify insured buildings. Firefighting started to become formalized with rules for providing buckets, ladders, and hooks, and with the formation of volunteer companies. A chain of command was also established. [43] => [44] => ==Firefighter duties== [45] => [[File:Aerial video of Firefighting.webm|thumbnail|Aerial video of Firefighting]] [46] => A firefighter's goals are to save lives, protect property, and protect the environment. A fire can rapidly spread and endanger many lives, but with modern firefighting techniques, catastrophe can often be avoided. To prevent fires from starting, a firefighter's duties may include public education about [[fire safety]] and conducting fire inspections of locations to verify their adherence to local [[fire code]]s. [47] => [48] => === Firefighter skills === [49] => [[File:Firefighter ladder slide.jpg|thumb|A firefighter doing a ladder slide, which is used to quickly escape from a window]] [50] => Firefighting requires technical proficiency of operational tactics, equipment, and scene awareness. Firefighters must also have, or be able to acquire, knowledge of department organizations, operations, and procedures, and the district or city street system they will have to negotiate in order to perform their duties. [51] => [52] => They must meet minimum physical fitness standards and learn various firefighting duties within a reasonable period [53] => [54] => Examples are: [55] => * Building construction [56] => *Fire behavior [57] => *Firefighting PPE [58] => *Fire extinguishers [59] => *Ropes and knots [60] => *Ground ladders [61] => *Forcible entry [62] => *Search and rescue [63] => *Ventilation [64] => *Fire hose and streams [65] => *Fire suppression [66] => *Salvage and overhaul [67] => *Vehicle extrication and technical rescue [68] => *Hazardous materials response [69] => [70] => === Specialized skills === [71] => {{Main|Special operations firefighters}} [72] => Specialized areas of operations may require subject-specific training.{{cite web| url=https://www.fortlauderdale.gov/fire-rescue/special_operations.htm| title=Fire-Rescue - Special Operations Command| author=City of Fort Lauderdale| publisher=fortlauderdale.gov| date=April 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512232258/http://fortlauderdale.gov/fire-rescue/special_operations.htm| archive-date=2012-05-12}}{{cite web|author=Tommy Tine|date=January 2014|title=City of Dallas:Dallas Fire-Rescue Department|url=http://dallasfirerescue.com/special_operations.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113203354/http://dallasfirerescue.com/special_operations.html|archive-date=2014-01-13|publisher=City of Dallas}} [73] => [[Image:DOD mobile aircraft firefighting training device.jpg|thumb|right|A hose team training to fight an aircraft fire aboard a US aircraft carrier, 2006]] [74] => [[Image:2-11_fire_in_Humboldt_Park,_Chicago_2.png|thumb|right|A [[Chicago Fire Department]] firefighter can be seen wielding an axe amid the rooftop blaze]] [75] => Examples are: [76] => *'''Fire apparatus driver/operator -''' trained to drive fire apparatus to and from fires and other emergencies, operate fire-apparatus pumps and aerial devices, and maintain apparatus. [77] => *'''Hazardous materials technician -''' certified to mitigate [[Dangerous goods|hazardous materials]] emergencies. [78] => *'''Rescue technician -''' certified to perform complex technical rescues. [79] => *'''Airport firefighter -''' trained in [[Aircraft rescue and firefighting|ARFF]]. [80] => *'''Wildland firefighter -''' trained to extinguish fires in outdoor vegetation, including the [[Wildland–urban interface|wildland/urban interface]]. [81] => [82] => === Shift hours === [83] => Full-time career firefighters typically follow a 24-hour shift schedule, although some fire departments work 8- or 12-hour shifts.{{cite web| url=http://www.jobmonkey.com/firefighting/schedule.html| title=Firefighter Schedules and Work Life| author=Jobmonkey| publisher=jobmonkey.com| date=January 2014| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113200258/http://www.jobmonkey.com/firefighting/schedule.html| archive-date=2014-01-13}} Australian firefighters work a 10/14 shift, in which the day shift works ten hours and the night shift works 14 hours.{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/tp/files/10288/Fire%20and%20Rescue%20NSW%20Annual%20Report%202012-2013%20FINAL.PDF| title=Fire & Rescue NSW - Annual Report 2012/13 | publisher=Fire.nsw.gov.au }} Firefighting personnel are split up into alternating shifts. Usually, the 24-hour shifts are followed by two days off. The shift personnel arrive for roll call at a specified time, ready to complete a regular tour of duty. While on shift, the firefighter remains at the fire station unless relieved or assigned other duties. [84] => [85] => ==={{anchor|Fire warden}}Fire wardens=== [86] => [[File:PLOW AROUND TO PREVENT WOODS FIRES. SEE YOUR FIRE WARDEN BEFORE BURNING. - NARA - 515193.jpg|thumb|A fire warden poster, circa 1940s.]] [87] => In fire fighting, there are also people designated as fire wardens, also known as chief officers. Their duties vary, some may ensure evacuation of that part of the building for which they are responsible; others may be responsible for fire control in a particular area, direct a crew in the suppression of forest fires, or function as fire patrolmen in a logging area.{{cite web|url=http://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/7-key-duties-of-a-fire-warden/|title=7 key duties of a fire warden|work=healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au|access-date=21 February 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312125752/http://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/7-key-duties-of-a-fire-warden/|archive-date=12 March 2015}} [88] => [89] => The chief officer is in charge of their firefighters during fires or emergencies, and is expected to command and control the overall situation while effectively combating a fire or other emergency. Chief officers must be able to evaluate their firefighters, use sound judgement when deciding when it is time to withdraw firefighters from a fire, and react calmly in emergency situations. The chief officer must direct the activities of a fire department and supervise all firefighting activities, requiring extensive knowledge of city layouts, the location of streets, fire hydrants and fire alarm boxes, and the principal buildings. A chief officer must be familiar with sources of fires, including explosives, hazardous chemicals, and the combustion qualities of materials in buildings, homes, and [[industrial plant]]s. [90] => [91] => In certain jurisdictions, civilians can get certified to be a Fire Warden, and some cities require certain types of buildings, such as high rises, to have a certain number of Fire Wardens. For example, the city of [[Houston]] in the United States requires every tenant in a high-rise to have at least one Fire Warden for every 7500 sq. ft. occupied, and a minimum of two Fire Wardens per floor.Fire Warden Certification Classes - City of Houston - {{cite web |url=http://houstontx.gov/fire/HFMO/highrisecert.html |title=Houston Fire Department - Houston Fire Marshal Office - Fire Warden Certification Classes (High Rise) |access-date=2016-06-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618113749/http://houstontx.gov/fire/HFMO/highrisecert.html |archive-date=2016-06-18 }} In this example, their duties include investigating any fire alarms (see if there really is a fire and if so, its nature), ensuring the fire department is contacted, directing the evacuation of the facility, activating or delaying activation of fire suppression equipment such as halon and sprinklers (delayed in case of a false alarm), meeting the fire department and taking them to the location of the alarm or to the fire past any security or locked doors, and, if necessary, fighting the fire until the fire department arrives. [92] => [93] => === Firefighter safety zone guidelines === [94] => The U.S. Forest Service publishes guidelines for the minimum distance a firefighter should be from a flame.{{Cite web |title=| US Forest Service | Efforts To Update Firefighter Safety Zone Guidelines |url=https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_other/rmrs_2009_butler_b001.pdf |access-date=10 January 2021}} As stated in the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's Incident Response Pocket Guide: "A safety zone is an area where a firefighter can survive without a [[fire shelter]]" and should be "...at least four times the maximum continuous flame height."{{Cite web |date=January 2022 |title=NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide |url=https://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pms461.pdf}} However this figure only takes into account the effects of radiant heat and does not consider topography nor wind. [95] => [96] => Safety Zones can be natural features such as rock screes, meadows, and river bars; or human-made features such a parking lots or areas that have been cleared of vegetation through mechanical means. [97] => [98] => ==Hazards caused by fires== [99] => [100] => === During a fire === [101] => [[File:Fire-Grand-Rapids-factory.jpg|thumb|right|Structure fire in Grand Rapids, Michigan, US]] [102] => One of the major hazards associated with firefighting operations is the toxic environment created by combusting materials. The four major hazards are:{{cite book |title=Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations 5th Edition |year=2008}} [103] => *Smoke, which is becoming increasingly dangerous due to the increased variety and amount of synthetic household materials [104] => *Oxygen deficient atmosphere (21% O2 is normal and 19.5% O2 is considered oxygen deficient) [105] => *Elevated temperatures [106] => *Toxic atmospheres [107] => [108] => To deal with such hazards, firefighters carry a [[self-contained breathing apparatus]] (SCBA; an open-circuit positive pressure system) to prevent smoke inhalation. These are not oxygen tanks (oxygen as a powerful fire [[accelerant]] would represent a grave risk when combined with virtually anything combustible in the presence of fire) but use compressed air in a similar manner to [[Scuba diving|SCUBA diving gear]]. A firefighter's SCBA usually hold 30 to 45 minutes of air, depending on the size of the tank and the rate of consumption during strenuous activities. While this gear helps to eliminate the risks, firefighters are still exposed to smoke, toxic dust, fumes and radiation that have contributed to firefighters being 14% more likely to develop cancer. [109] => [110] => Obvious risks associated with the immense heat generated by a fire, even without direct contact with the flames (direct flame impingement), such as [[Conduction (heat)|conductive heat]] and [[radiant heat]], can cause serious burns even from great distances. There are a number of comparably serious heat-related risks, such as [[burn]]s from hot gases (e.g., air), steam, and hot and/or toxic [[smoke]]. Prolonged, intense exertion in hot environments also increases firefighters' risk for health-related illnesses, such as [[rhabdomyolysis]].{{Cite web|date=2018-05-01|title=Rhabdomyolysis in structural fire fighters: a patient population at risk.|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2018-134/|language=en|doi=10.26616/nioshpub2018134|doi-access=free|journal=|access-date=2019-06-26|archive-date=2020-06-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617132829/https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2018-134/|url-status=live}} Accordingly, firefighters are equipped with [[personal protective equipment]] (PPE) that includes fire-resistant clothing such as [[Nomex]] or [[polybenzimidazole fiber]] (PBI) and helmets that limit the transmission of heat towards the body. No PPE, however, can completely protect the user from the effects of all possible fire conditions.{{Cite web|url=http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/fire-rehab/articles/1917068-3-heat-related-threats-to-firefighters-and-how-to-fix-them/|title=3 heat-related threats to firefighters and how to fix them|website=FireRescue1|access-date=2016-06-16|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512200028/http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/fire-rehab/articles/1917068-3-heat-related-threats-to-firefighters-and-how-to-fix-them/|archive-date=2016-05-12}} [111] => [112] => Heat can cause flammable liquid contained in tanks to [[explosion|explode]] violently, producing what is called a [[BLEVE]] (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion).Thomson Delmar Learning. The Firefighter's Handbook: Essentials of Fire Fighting and Emergency Response. Second Edition. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Publishers, 2004. Some chemical products such as [[ammonium nitrate]] [[fertilizer]]s can also explode, potentially causing [[physical trauma]] from [[Blast injury|blast]] or [[Shrapnel (fragment)|shrapnel]] injuries. Sufficient heat causes human flesh to burn as fuel, or the water within to boil, leading to potentially severe medical problems. [113] => [114] => Furthers risks include the occurrences of [[backdraft]]s. Backdrafts occur when there is a large amount of oxygen introduced to an oxygen-depleted fire.{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Coffee Break Bulletin|url=https://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/coffee_break/051920.html|access-date=2021-02-26|website=U.S. Fire Administration|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318003223/https://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/coffee_break/051920.html|url-status=live}} If a fire is compartmentalized and most or all of the oxygen has been burned up, there is a high risk of backdraft if something such as a window or door is opened. Introducing oxygen to a low burning fire can be devastating as it will ignite all of the oxygen along the way.{{Cite journal|last=Fleischmann|first=Charles|date=December 2013|title=Defining the Difference between Backdraft and Smoke Explosions|journal=Procedia Engineering|volume=62|pages=324–330|doi=10.1016/j.proeng.2013.08.071 |via=Elsevier Science Direct|doi-access=free}} It can also be heard from miles away as it has a concussive blast that adds to the effect. Firefighters need to have extreme communication at all times on the fire ground as one broken window at the wrong time could seriously harm anyone operating on the building. [115] => [116] => Depending on the heat of the fire, [[burn]]s can occur in a fraction of a second. [117] => [118] => Additional risks of fire are the obscuring of vision due to [119] => smoke, potentially causing a [[Falling (accident)|fall]] or [[disorientation]]; becoming trapped in a fire; and [[structural collapse]].{{Cite web|url=http://work.chron.com/risks-being-fireman-8600.html|title=The Risks of Being a Fireman|website=work.chron.com|access-date=2016-06-16|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810221848/http://work.chron.com/risks-being-fireman-8600.html|archive-date=2016-08-10}} [120] => [121] => "Three hours of fighting a fire stiffens arteries and impairs cardiac function in firefighters" according to a study by Bo Fernhall, a professor in the department of kinesiology and community health in the College of Applied Health Sciences, and Gavin Horn, director of research at the Illinois Fire Service Institute. The conditions (observed in healthy male firefighters) are "also apparent found in weightlifters and endurance athletes..."{{cite web|title=Firefighting stiffens arteries, impairs heart function - News Bureau - University of Illinois|url=http://news.illinois.edu/news/11/0803firefighting_GavinHorn_BoFernhall.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219045027/http://news.illinois.edu/news/11/0803firefighting_GavinHorn_BoFernhall.html|archive-date=19 February 2015|access-date=21 February 2015|work=illinois.edu}} [122] => [123] => === During debris cleanup === [124] => {{Main|Occupational hazards of fire debris cleanup}} [125] => [[File:Three New York City fire fighters in front of burning building following September 11th terrorist attack (29318406842).jpg|thumb|Firefighters at [[World Trade Center site|Ground Zero]] during the [[September 11 attacks]]]] [126] => Once extinguished, fire debris cleanup poses several safety and health risks for workers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2018-0094-3355.pdf|title=Evaluation of fire debris cleanup employees' exposure to silica, asbestos, metals, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons|last1=Beaucham|first1=Catherine|last2=Eisenberg|first2=Judith|date=August 2019|website=U.S. [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]]|access-date=2020-04-07|archive-date=2019-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208081826/https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2018-0094-3355.pdf|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/wildfire/worker-health-and-safety-during-fire-cleanup.html|title=Worker Safety and Health During Fire Cleanup|date=April 2019|website=[[California Division of Occupational Safety and Health]]|access-date=27 March 2020|archive-date=25 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325161641/https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/wildfire/worker-health-and-safety-during-fire-cleanup.html|url-status=live}} [127] => [128] => Many hazardous substances are commonly found in fire debris. [[Silicon dioxide|Silica]] can be found in concrete, roofing tiles, or it may be a naturally occurring element. Occupational exposures to silica dust can cause [[silicosis]], lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, airway diseases, and some additional non-respiratory diseases.{{Cite journal|date=2017-05-13|title=Health effects of occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica.|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2002-129/default.html|language=en-us|doi=10.26616/NIOSHPUB2002129|website=U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health|access-date=2020-04-07|archive-date=2020-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407010756/https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2002-129/default.html|url-status=live|doi-access=free}} Inhalation of [[asbestos]] can result in various diseases including [[asbestosis]], lung cancer, and [[mesothelioma]].{{CodeFedReg|29|1910|1001|}} Sources of metals exposure include burnt or melted electronics, cars, refrigerators, stoves, etc. Fire debris cleanup workers may be exposed to these metals or their combustion products in the air or on their skin. These metals may include [[beryllium]], [[cadmium]], [[chromium]], [[cobalt]], [[lead]], [[manganese]], [[nickel]], and many more. [[Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon|Polyaromatic hydrocarbons]] (PAHs), some of which are carcinogenic, come from the incomplete combustion of organic materials and are often found as a result of structural and wildland fires.IARC 2002 [129] => [130] => Safety hazards of fire cleanup include the risk of reignition of smoldering debris, [[electrocution]] from downed or exposed electrical lines or in instances where water has come into contact with electrical equipment. Structures that have been burned may be unstable and at risk of sudden collapse.{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/cleanupworkers.html|title=Worker Safety During Fire Cleanup|date=27 December 2012|website=U.S. [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]]|access-date=25 March 2020|archive-date=11 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411021734/https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/cleanupworkers.html|url-status=live}} [131] => [132] => Standard [[personal protective equipment]] for fire cleanup include [[hard hat]]s, [[goggles]] or safety glasses, heavy work gloves, [[earplug]]s or other [[Hearing protection device|hearing protection]], [[steel-toe boot]]s, and [[fall protection]] devices.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/wildfire/Protective-Equipment-During-Fire-Cleanup.html|title=Personal Protective Equipment During Fire Cleanup Operations|website=California Division of Occupational Safety and Health|access-date=2020-03-28|archive-date=2020-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325161705/https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/wildfire/Protective-Equipment-During-Fire-Cleanup.html|url-status=live}} Hazard controls for [[electrical injury]] include assuming all power lines are energized until confirmation they are de-energized, and grounding power lines to guard against electrical feedback, and using appropriate personal protective equipment. Proper respiratory protection can protect against hazardous substances. Proper ventilation of an area is an [[Engineering controls|engineering control]] that can be used to avoid or minimize exposure to hazardous substances. When ventilation is insufficient or dust cannot be avoided, personal protective equipment such as [[N95 respirator]]s can be used.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/fire_resp_protection.html|title=Respiratory Protection During Fire Cleanup|website=California Division of Occupational Safety and Health|access-date=2020-03-28|archive-date=2020-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325161649/https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/fire_resp_protection.html|url-status=live}} [133] => [134] => ==Reconnaissance and "reading" the fire== [135] => {{Unreferenced section|date=December 2023}} [136] => The first step in a firefighting operation is reconnaissance to search for the origin of the fire (which may not be obvious for an indoor fire, especially if there are no witnesses), to identify any specific risks, and to detect possible casualties. An outdoor fire may not require reconnaissance, but a fire in a cellar or an underground car park with only a few centimeters of visibility may require long reconnaissance to identify the source of the fire. [137] => [138] => The "reading" of a fire is the analysis by firefighters of indications of thermal events such as [[flashover]], [[backdraft]] or [[smoke explosion]]. It is performed during reconnaissance and fire suppression maneuvers. [139] => [140] => The main signs are: [141] => * Hot zones, which can be detected with a gloved hand, for example by touching a door before opening it; [142] => * Soot on windows, which usually means that combustion is incomplete, and thus, a lack of air in the room; [143] => * Smoke pulsing in and out around a door frame, as if the fire were breathing, which usually also means a lack of air to support combustion. [144] => [145] => Spraying water on the ceiling in short pulses of a diffused spray (e.g., a [[cone (geometry)|cone]] with an opening angle of 60°) can be undertaken to test the heat of smoke: If the temperature is moderate, the water falls down in drops with a sound like rain; if the temperature is high, the water [[Vaporization|vaporizes]] with a hiss—the sign of a potentially extremely dangerous impending flashover. [146] => [147] => Ideally, part of reconnaissance is consulting a plan for the building that provides information about structures, firefighter hazards, and in some cases the most appropriate strategies and tactics for fighting a fire in that context. [148] => {{Further|Firefighting threat assessment matrix}} [149] => [150] => == Science of extinguishment == [151] => {{see also|Fire#Chemistry|l1=Fire Chemistry|Wildfire#Physical properties|l2=Physical properties of wildfires}} [152] => [[Image:Helicopter fighting fire on Angel Island.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Helitack|fire helicopter]] is used to fight a [[wildfire]]]] [153] => [154] => There are four elementsHall, Richard. [[Essentials of Fire Fighting]]. Fourth Edition. Stillwater, OK: Fire Protection Publications, 1998: needed to start and sustain a fire and/or flame: temperature, a [[fuel]], an oxidizing agent (oxygen), and a chemical reaction. A fire can be extinguished by taking away any of the four components. [155] => [156] => The fuel is the substance being oxidized or burned in the combustion process. The most common fuels contain carbon along with combinations of hydrogen and oxygen. Heat is the energy component of a fire. When it comes into contact with a fuel, it provides the energy necessary for ignition, causes the continuous production and ignition of fuel vapors or gases so that the combustion reaction can continue, and causes the vaporization of solid and liquid fuels. The resulting self-sustained chemical chain reaction is complex and requires fuel, an oxidizer, and heat energy to come together in a very specific way. An oxidizing agent is a material or substance that will release gases, including oxygen, when the proper conditions exist. It is crucial to the sustainment of a flame or fire. [157] => [158] => Using water is one common method to extinguish a fire. Water extinguishes a fire by cooling, which removes heat because of water’s [[Enthalpy of vaporization|ability]] to absorb massive amounts of heat as it converts to [[water vapor]]. Without heat, the fuel cannot keep the oxidizer from [[Redox|reducing]] the fuel in order to sustain the fire. Water also extinguishes a fire by [[smothering]] it. When water is heated to its boiling point, it converts to water vapor. When this conversion takes place, it dilutes the oxygen in the air above the fire, thus removing one of the elements that the fire requires to burn. This can also be done with foam. [159] => [160] => Another way to extinguish a fire is fuel removal. This can be accomplished by stopping the flow of liquid or gaseous fuel, by removing solid fuel in the path of a fire, or by allowing the fire to burn until all the fuel is consumed, at which point the fire will self-extinguish. [161] => [162] => One final extinguishing method is chemical flame inhibition. This can be accomplished by applying dry chemical or halogenated agents that interrupt the chemical chain reaction and stop flaming. This method is effective on gas and liquid fuel because they must have flame to burn. [163] => [164] => Sound waves have been successfully used in a device fabricated by two [[George Mason University]] senior engineering students, Viet Tran and Seth Robertson, but the procedure is still awaiting a patent (2015).{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/wonder/george-mason-university-students-use-sound-to-put-out-fire/vi-AAa6qWQ|title=George Mason University Students Use Sound to Put Out Fire|website=[[MSN]] |access-date=30 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625091303/http://www.msn.com/en-us/video/wonder/george-mason-university-students-use-sound-to-put-out-fire/vi-AAa6qWQ|archive-date=25 June 2017}} [165] => [166] => ==Use of water== [167] => [[File:Aircraft Rescue Firefighting training.jpg|thumb|[[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] firefighters neutralize a fire during a training exercise]] [168] => [[File:Mountain Fires in Cape Town of 2015.jpg|thumbnail|A firefighting aircraft dumping water on a forest fire in South Africa.]] [169] => [170] => One common way to extinguish a fire is to spray it with water. The water has two roles: It vaporizes when it comes in contact with fire, and this vapor displaces the oxygen (the volume of water vapor is 1,700 times greater than liquid water, at {{convert|1,000|°F|°C|abbr=on}} it expands over 4,000 times). This leaves the fire without enough of the combustive agent, and it dies out. The vaporization of water also absorbs heat; it thereby cools the smoke, air, walls, and objects that could act as further fuel, and thus prevents one of the means by which fires grow, which is by "jumping" to nearby heat/fuel sources to start new fires, which then combine. Water extinguishment is thus a combination of "asphyxia" (cutting off the oxygen supply) and cooling. The flame itself is suppressed by asphyxia, but the cooling is the most important element in mastering a fire in a closed area. [171] => [172] => Water may be accessed from a pressurized [[fire hydrant]], pumped from water sources such as lakes or rivers, delivered by [[Tank truck|tanker truck]], or dropped from [[water bombers]], which are aircraft adapted as tankers for fighting [[Wildfire|forest fires]]. An armored vehicle ([[firefighting tank]]) may be used where access to the area is difficult. [173] => [174] => === Open air fire === [175] => For outdoor fires, the seat of the fire is sprayed with a straight spray: the cooling effect immediately follows the "asphyxia" caused by vaporization and reduces the further amount of water required. This is because water droplets, upon forming in to water mist, increase their surface area by a large magnutude, greatly increasing the endothermic cooling effect and robbing the fire of oxygen.{{cite book |last1=Gann |first1=Richard |last2=Friedman |first2=Raymond |title=Principles of Fire Behavior and Combustion |date=3 December 2013 |publisher=Jones & Bartlett Publishers |isbn=978-1-284-05610-5 |page=228 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=waDfAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA228 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Huang |first1=Chuanchao |last2=Chan |first2=Yu-Wei |last3=Yen |first3=Neil |title=Data Processing Techniques and Applications for Cyber-Physical Systems (DPTA 2019) |date=3 February 2020 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-981-15-1468-5 |page=467 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=50fODwAAQBAJ&pg=PA467 |language=en}} A straight spray is used so the water arrives massively to the seat of the fire before it vaporizes. A strong spray may also have a mechanical effect; it can disperse the combustible product and thus prevent the fire from starting again. Spray is always aimed at a surface or an object. For this reason, the strategy is sometimes called a two-dimensional or 2D attack. [176] => [177] => An outdoor fire is always fed with air, and the risk to people is limited as they can move away from it, except in the case of [[wildfire]]s or bushfires where they risk being easily surrounded by the flames. It might, however, be necessary to protect specific objects like houses or gas tanks against infrared radiation, and thus to use a diffused spray between the fire and the object. Breathing apparatus is often required as there is still the risk of inhaling smoke or poisonous gases. [178] => [179] => === Closed volume fire === [180] => [[File:Extinguishing Bistoon Petrochemical Powerhouse.jpg|thumb|Iranian firefighters extinguish a fire at Bistoon Petrochemicals Powerhouse]] [181] => Until the 1970s, fires were usually attacked while they declined, using the same strategy as for open air fires. Now fires are attacked in their development phase because firefighters arrive sooner at the site of a fire and because of changes in building construction. The increasing use of [[thermal insulation]] confines the heat, and modern materials, especially [[polymer]]s, produce much more heat than do traditional materials like [[wood]], [[plaster]], [[Rock (geology)|stone]], and [[brick]]s. Under these conditions, there is a greater risk of [[backdraft]] and [[flashover]]. [182] => [183] => Directly spraying the seat of the fire in enclosed areas can have unfortunate consequences: the force of water pushes air in front of it, which supplies the fire with extra oxygen before the water. The most important issue is not combating the flames, but controlling the fire; for example, cooling the smoke so that it cannot spread and start fires further away, and endanger the lives of people, including the firefighters. [184] => [185] => When a fire spreads beyond the building of its origin and spreads throughout the neighborhood, it is called a “conflagration.” Today, a conflagration is a large fire that is beyond the capability of the fire service to contain.{{cite web|url=http://www.fireengineering.com/fire-prevention-protection.html|title=Fire Prevention/Protection|website=www.fireengineering.com|access-date=29 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427014753/http://www.fireengineering.com/fire-prevention-protection.html|archive-date=27 April 2018}} [186] => [187] => The volume of the fire must be cooled before its seat is attacked. This strategy, originally of Swedish origin (Mats Rosander & Krister Giselsson), was adapted by London Fire Officer Paul Grimwood following a decade of operational use in the busy [[West End of London]] between 1984 and 1994{{cite web | title=Firefighter Career Guide | website=FireTactics | url=http://www.firetactics.com/ | access-date=February 21, 2015 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217045813/http://www.firetactics.com/ | archive-date=February 17, 2015 }} and termed the three-dimensional or 3D attack. [188] => [189] => Use of a diffuse spray was first proposed by Chief Lloyd Layman of the [[Parkersburg, West Virginia|Parkersburg]] Fire Department, at the 1950 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) held in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]. Using Grimwood's modified 3D attack strategy, the ceiling is first sprayed with short pulses of a diffuse spray. This [190] => cools the smoke which is then less likely to start a fire when it moves away. As gas cools it becomes [[density|denser]] ([[Charles's law]]); thus, it also reduces the mobility of the smoke and avoids a "backfire" of water vapor. Also, the diffuse spray creates an inert "water vapor sky", which prevents "roll-over" (rolls of flames on the ceiling created by hot burning gases). [191] => [192] => Only short pulses of water need to be sprayed, otherwise the spraying modifies the equilibrium, and the gases mix instead of remaining stratified: the hot gases (initially at the ceiling) move around the room, and the temperature rises at the ground, which is dangerous for firefighters. [193] => [194] => An alternative is to cool all the atmosphere by spraying the whole atmosphere as if drawing letters in the air ("penciling"). [195] => [196] => Modern methods for extinguishing an urban fire dictate the use of a massive initial water flow, e.g. 500 [[litre|L]]/min for each [[fire hose]]. The aim is to absorb as much heat as possible at the beginning to stop the expansion of the fire and to reduce the smoke. If the flow is too low, the cooling is insufficient, and the steam that is produced can burn firefighters (the drop of pressure is too small and the vapor is pushed back in their direction). [197] => [198] => Although it may seem paradoxical, the use of a strong flow with an efficient fire hose and an efficient strategy (diffuse spray, small droplets) requires a smaller amount of water. This is because once the temperature is lowered, only a limited amount of water is necessary to suppress the fire seat with a straight spray. For a living room of {{convert|50|m2|yd2|abbr=on}}, the required amount of water is estimated as 60 L (15 gal). [199] => [200] => [[French firefighter]]s used an alternative method in the 1970s: spraying water on the hot walls to create a water vapor atmosphere and asphyxiate the fire. This method is no longer used because it turned out to be risky; the pressure created pushed the hot gases and vapor towards the firefighters, causing severe burns, and pushed the hot gases into other rooms where they could start other fires. [201] => [202] => ==Asphyxiating a fire== [203] => {{unreferenced section|date=August 2017}} [204] => In some cases, the use of water is undesirable. This is because some chemical products [[chemical reaction|react]] with water to produce poisonous gases,{{cite web |last1=Jacoby |first1=Mitch |title=Why Sodium And Potassium Really Explode In Water |url=https://cen.acs.org/articles/93/web/2015/01/Sodium-Potassium-Really-Explode-Water.html |website=Chemical & Engineering News |access-date=23 August 2021 |archive-date=23 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823134955/https://cen.acs.org/articles/93/web/2015/01/Sodium-Potassium-Really-Explode-Water.html |url-status=live }} or they may even burn when they come into contact with water (e.g., [[sodium]]), see [[water-reactive substances]]. Another problem is that some products float on water, such as [[hydrocarbons]] ([[gasoline]], [[Petroleum|oil]], and [[Ethanol|alcohol]], etc.); a burning layer can then be spread by the fire. If [205] => a pressurized fuel tank is endangered by fire it is necessary to avoid heat shocks that may damage the tank if it is sprayed with cooling water; the resulting decompression might produce a [[BLEVE]] (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion).{{cite web |last1=Watts |first1=Shelbie |title=What firefighters need to know about BLEVEs |url=https://www.firerescue1.com/firefighter-training/articles/what-firefighters-need-to-know-about-bleves-EwLDAJRkauiIfaDR/ |website=FireRescue1 |access-date=23 August 2021 |archive-date=16 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816083804/https://www.firerescue1.com/firefighter-training/articles/what-firefighters-need-to-know-about-bleves-EwLDAJRkauiIfaDR/ |url-status=live }} [206] => [207] => Electrical fires cannot be extinguished with water since the water could act as a conductor. [208] => [209] => In such cases, it is necessary to asphyxiate the fire. This can be done in a variety of ways. Chemical products which react with the fuel can be used to stop the combustion. A layer of water-based [[Fire fighting foam|fire retardant foam]] can be applied by the fire hose in order to separate the oxygen in the air from the fuel. [[Carbon dioxide#Fire extinguisher|carbon dioxide]], [[Halomethane#Fire extinguishing|halon]], or [[Baking soda#Miscellaneous|sodium bicarbonate]] can be used. In the case of very small fires and in the absence of other extinguishing agents, covering the flame with a [[fire blanket]] can eliminate oxygen flow to the fire. A simple and usually effective way to put out a fire in a stove-top pan is to put a lid on the pan and leave it there. [210] => [211] => ==Tactical ventilation or isolation of the fire== [212] => One of the main risks of a fire is the smoke; because, it carries heat and poisonous gases, and obscures vision. In the case of a fire in a closed location (building), the following two different strategies may be used: isolation of the fire or ventilation. [213] => [214] => Paul Grimwood introduced the concept of tactical ventilation in the 1980s to encourage a better thought-out approach to this aspect of firefighting. Following work with Warrington Fire Research Consultants (FRDG 6/94) his terminology and concepts were adopted officially by the [[Fire service in the United Kingdom|UK fire services]], and are now referred to throughout revised [[Home Office]] training manuals (1996–97). Grimwood's original definition of his 1991 unified strategy stated that, "''tactical ventilation'' is either the venting, or containment (isolation) actions by on-scene firefighters, used to take control from the outset of a fire's burning regime, in an effort to gain tactical advantage during interior structural firefighting operations." [215] => [216] => When properly used, [[Ventilation (firefighting)|ventilation]] improves life safety, fire extinguishment, and property conservation by 'pulling' fire away from trapped occupants and objects. [217] => [218] => In most cases of structural firefighting, a 4x4 foot opening is cut into the roof directly over the fire room. This allows hot smoke and gases to escape through the opening, returning the conditions inside the room to normal. It is important to coordinate the ventilation with an interior fire attack since the opening of a ventilation hole supplies more air, and thus oxygen, to the fire. Ventilation may also "limit fire spread by channeling fire toward nearby openings and allows fire fighters to safely attack the fire" as well as limit smoke, heat, and water damage.Bernard Klaene. Structural Firefighting: Strategies and Tactics. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2007. {{ISBN|0-7637-5168-5}}, {{ISBN|978-0-7637-5168-5}} [219] => [220] => [[Positive pressure ventilation]] (PPV) consists of using a [[fan (mechanical)|fan]] to create excess pressure in a part of the building. This pressure pushes the smoke and heat out of the building, and thus facilitates rescue and fire fighting operations. It is necessary to have an exit for the smoke, to know the building layout well to predict where the smoke will go, and to ensure that the doors ensuring the ventilation remain open by wedging or propping them. The main risk of this method is that it may accelerate the fire, or even create a flash-over; for example, if the smoke and the heat accumulate in a dead end. [221] => [222] => Hydraulic ventilation is the process of directing a stream of water from the inside of a structure out the window using a fog pattern. This will effectively pull smoke out of room. Smoke ejectors may also be used for this purpose. [223] => [224] => ==Categorizing fires== [225] => ===United States=== [226] => {{main|Multiple-alarm fire}} [227] => In the US, fires are sometimes categorized as "one alarm", "all hands", "two alarm", "three alarm" (or higher) fires. There is no standard definition for what this means quantifiably; though, it always refers to the level of response by the local authorities. In some cities, the numeric rating refers to the number of fire stations that have been summoned to the fire. In others, it reflects the number of "dispatches" requesting additional personnel and equipment.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc4.com/money/9208480/detail.html |title=Washington DC Business News - Business, Money, Financial & Corporate News |work=NBC4 Washington |access-date=21 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123185444/http://www.nbc4.com/money/9208480/detail.html |archive-date=23 November 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.thevillager.com/villager_39/fouralarmfire.html|title=Four-alarm fire on Avenue B|work=thevillager.com|access-date=21 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229154104/http://thevillager.com/villager_39/fouralarmfire.html|archive-date=29 December 2015}} [228] => [229] => Alarms levels are generally used to define the tiers of the response as to what resources are to be used. For example, a [[structure fire]] response draws the following equipment: four engine/pumper companies, one truck/ladder/aerial/quint company, and one [[battalion chief]] unit. This is referred to as an Initial Alarm or Box Alarm. A working fire request (for the same incident) would call for air/light units and [230] => chief officers/fireground commanders (if not provided in the original dispatch). This summarizes the response to a First Alarm fire. Second and subsequent alarms call for two engine companies and one truck company. [231] => [232] => The reason behind the "Alarm" designation is so the Incident Commander does not have to list each apparatus required. He can simply say, "Give me a second alarm here", instead of "Give me a truck company and two engine companies" along with requesting where they should come from. Categorization of fires varies among fire departments. A single alarm for one department may be a second alarm for another. Response always depends on the size of the fire and the department. [233] => [234] => ===United Kingdom=== [235] => In the [[fire services in the United Kingdom]], the scale of a fire is measured by the number of "pumps" (ordinary [[fire engine]]s) that were present. For example, a fire which was attended by 4 engines would be recorded as a "4-pump fire".[http://www.shropshirefire.gov.uk/Docs/BrigadeOrders/Operations/Operations%20No%203%20Part%202%20-%20Incident%20Command%20Radio%20Messages%20-%20Main%20Radio%20Scheme.pdf Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Operational Note 3 (in the public domain, accessed 22 May 2007)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630153210/http://www.shropshirefire.gov.uk/Docs/BrigadeOrders/Operations/Operations%20No%203%20Part%202%20-%20Incident%20Command%20Radio%20Messages%20-%20Main%20Radio%20Scheme.pdf |date=30 June 2007 }}Fireman! A Personal Account, by Neil Wallington, Pub David & Charles, 22 February 1979, {{ISBN|0-7153-7723-X}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/17/london-fire-brigade-dany-cotton-grenfell-tower|title=London fire brigade boss: 'It was a massive risk, but it's our job to go in'|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617204103/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/17/london-fire-brigade-dany-cotton-grenfell-tower|archive-date=17 June 2017}} [236] => [237] => == See also == [238] => [239] => * [[Glossary of firefighting]]—list of firefighting terms and acronyms, with descriptions [240] => ** [[Glossary of firefighting equipment]]—expansion of ''Glossary of firefighting'' [241] => ** [[Glossary of wildfire terms]]—expansion of ''Glossary of firefighting'' [242] => * [[Index of firefighting articles]]—alphabetical list of firefighting articles [243] => * [[List of fire departments]] [244] => * [[Outline of firefighting]]—structured list of firefighting topics, organized by subject area [245] => * {{annotated link|Occupational hazards of fire debris cleanup}} [246] => *[[United States Air Force Fire Protection]] - United States Air Force Firefighting [247] => *[[Wildfire]] [248] => [249] => ==References== [250] => {{reflist|30em}} [251] => [252] => == External links == [253] => {{Wiktionary|firefighting}} [254] => {{Commons|Firefighting}} [255] => * [https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/ CDC - NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program] [256] => [257] => {{Fire fighting}} [258] => {{Fire}} [259] => {{Natural disasters}} [260] => [261] => {{Authority control}} [262] => [263] => [[Category:Firefighting| ]] [264] => [[Category:Articles containing video clips]] [265] => [[Category:Fire]] [266] => [[Category:Emergency services]] [267] => [[Category:Occupational safety and health]] [] => )
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Firefighting

Firefighting is a profession aimed at controlling and extinguishing fire. A person who engages in firefighting is known as a firefighter or fireman.

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