101 Fascinating Facts About Firefighters That Everyone Should Know

Srija Chanda
Aug 31, 2023 By Srija Chanda
Originally Published on Jan 14, 2022
Edited by Lara Simpson
Fact-checked by Vikhaash Sundararaj
A fire station is where firefighters are stationed and respond to disasters
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 6.7 Min

Fire marshals are among the most courageous and heroic individuals on the planet, choosing to work in a position that puts their life a risk over a regular, safe office job.

A fire station is where firefighters are stationed and respond to disasters (also known as a firehouse or fire hall). When a person calls in for assistance, they arrive at the scene, be that be burning buildings or anything, in a vehicle known as a fire engine or fire truck, which comes with fire safety.

These trucks are often outfitted to respond to various crises and can pump water and foam to put out flames. Fire engines also carry stairs, manufacturing equipment, and various search and rescue tools. Many people have first-aid supplies and fire safety with them to help others who are hurt or injured in their fire trucks.

A 'ladder truck,' a type of popular fire apparatus, is equipped with an adjustable and telescoping ladder and fire alarm assembly that may be ideally positioned to provide firefighters with more access to forest fires or fire stations. The firefighter's response will always be to fight fires, rescue people, and cause minimum medical emergencies.

If you want to read more such articles, check out Dryer fire facts and Amazon rainforest fire facts.

Facts About Firefighters

The costume of fire brigades comprises unique fabrics that can resist temperatures as high as 2200°F (1200°C) and prevent the wearer from the absorption of powerful chemicals and alkalis. At a very high enough temperature, most substances on Earth may be burned.

Each of the fire investigators wears an oxygen mask. According to safety guidelines, to ensure that the helmet fits snugly, there should be no growths, scars, or hair on the face. Around the beginning of the 19th century, Molly Williams became the first woman on this planet to extinguish flames on the same level as men.

Later, it emerged that distinct women's battalions had formed. The work of many firefighters is not confined to putting out flames. These warriors save everyone during floods, disasters, artificial calamities, and terrorist attacks.

They can also act as plumbers, conductors, mechanics, therapists, and even medical personnel when first aid is required long before the arrival of physicians. Fire vehicles are equipped with specialized technology and equipment for patient recovery in certain nations.

According to the rules, firefighters must dress in less than two minutes. Japanese firemen fought fires in a 'different' fashion from 1603 until 1867. They soaked themselves in water to make themselves less combustible before going into fires.

In the United States of America alone, there are approximately one million and one hundred thousand firemen. According to the Fire Protection Association, only seven percent of firefighters are female.

Most firefighters earned an average of $45,250 per year in 2010. Helmet colors are frequently used in the United States to indicate a firefighter's level or station. The average age of firefighters is 44.

There are different types of fire extinguishers, each created for a particular intent. According to the National Fire Protection Association, over 25 million demands for fire brigade services were made in 2008. Both tanker and dump truck trucks are around 30 ft (9.2 m) long.

History of Firefighters

The very first attempts at firefighting may be tracked back to the second century. Ctesibus, an Egyptian from Alexandria, constructed simple hand pumps that could spray a jet of water at the time. Still, the invention was forgotten until the fire pump was redesigned in AD 1500.

After already being nearly devastated by unmanageable firestorms, ancient Rome established a fire service comprised of around 7,000 professional firefighters working in the process. Such fire departments reacted to and fought fires, monitored the streets, and levied physical discipline on anybody who broke fire prevention rules.

For almost four hundred years, the United States has been afflicted by devastating wildfires. The rise of firefighter teams in the United States, particularly in the Northeast, has resulted in improvements in contemporary firefighting that have spread around the country.

In 1608 in the town of Jamestown, the very first recorded structural fire in the United States was reported. On January seven, a fire destroyed most of the delicate colony, which was only a year old.

The names of the proprietors were painted on fire buckets in colonial towns. Residents were frequently legally obligated to acquire and maintain them. In the 1680s, the number of containers required for a residence or company in New York was decided by the fire hazards.

In the event of a fire, a baker would have to have three barrels, and a brewer should have six drums on standby. 'Bucket Brigades,' which were composed of two queues of people extending from the city well to the fire, were widely deployed.

They brought buckets of water to the flames and returned empty buckets to the well to be restocked.

Later, when the manual pumper was invented, bucket brigades were utilized to keep the pumper full of water. Hooks and chains have been used to create firebreaks by tearing down the walls of burning houses to block the fire from expanding.

Firefighters are permanently stationed at the fire station.

Training To Become A Firefighter

There are some steps to be followed to become firefighters.

Become A Trade Volunteer: Departments frequently provide positions for persons to contribute to various tasks, notably voluntary work. You might assist at the stations or a neighborhood fair by staffing a table.

A volunteer position would not only work with you to create important professional relationships in the sector, but it would also allow you to meet the regional fire fighting group.

Search For a CPR Course And Get In Shape: Look for a CPR lesson at a local training facility. If you can complete full EMT training while volunteering, your credentials will be much better when applying for firefighter certification.

It's a fantastic chance to catch up on any academic inadequacies that may be preventing you from enrolling in firefighter training or education.

Get A Degree In Fire Science: Become a firefighter by going to school. Each employing company may have its own set of training needs.

Volunteer or operational firefighting training is usually combined with post-secondary fire training for newly hired firefighters at a university or academy. Students can enroll in firefighting technology programs to train as emergencies firefighters, volunteer firefighters, fire investigators, and firefighters. Fire stations and fire departments will be your primary focus.

Take Exams And Seek Employment: A written test, an audio conversation, a background check, drug testing, and a physical aptitude/agility test will be part of your recruitment of employees. A detailed career history, academic qualifications, good credit, and a list of letters of recommendation will be required.

Advance In Your Career Path: Going to school for further certifications or college educations in fire science can help you rise in rank, make more money, and take on more obligations. From firefighter through to engineer, commander, major, battalion commander, deputy chairman, former deputy, and fire chief are all possibilities.

Importance Of Firefighters

Although firefighting is vital, firefighters respond to provide first aid throughout medical situations, far more often than wildfires. In reality, firefighters reacted to even more than 24 million medical emergency calls nationwide, compared to around one million and three hundred thousand fires. Their main work is, of course, to extinguish fires.

Firefighters also help to stabilize the situation. Some confrontations can grow if not dealt with swiftly. A few instances are wildfires, hazardous substance spills, forest fires, extinguished fires, floods, and terrorist strikes involving explosions.

Firefighters work effectively to ensure that their attempts do not cause undue harm to burned buildings. They also aim to recover as much estate as possible while combating blazes and executing other offensive or defensive actions to prevent fires that might break out additionally.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 101 fascinating facts about firefighters that everyone should know, then why not take a look at Areichstag fire facts or Peshtigo fire facts?

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Written by Srija Chanda

Master of Arts specializing in Mass Communication/Media Studies

Srija Chanda picture

Srija ChandaMaster of Arts specializing in Mass Communication/Media Studies

An aspiring media professional, Srija is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Mass Communication at St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, after completing her degree in journalism. With experience in PR and social media, she has also honed her leadership skills through her participation in a youth parliament. Srija's interests include devouring books, watching movies, and exploring new places through travel.

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Fact-checked by Vikhaash Sundararaj

Bachelor of Fine Arts specializing in International Business

Vikhaash Sundararaj picture

Vikhaash SundararajBachelor of Fine Arts specializing in International Business

With a background in International Business Management, having completed his degree at the University of Hull. Vikhaash has volunteered with 'Teach For India' to help students create a monthly newsletter. In his free time, he enjoys sports and was the assistant captain of his school's hockey team. He has also gained marketing experience through an internship at Decathlon Sports India.

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