10 fascinating and little-known facts about firefighters

4/10/2018

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Society Story: 10 fascinating and little-known facts about firefighters

Firefighters are real heroes who risk their lives to save others every day. This heroic profession exists since the 17th century, but a lot of extraordinary facts about firefighters still remain unknown. Let's find out more about them!

#1

Society Story: A firefighter entry suit can withstand up to 2,000 °F (1,093 °C) heat — shutterstock

By the way, the melting point of gold is 1,948 °F (1,064°C)!

#2

Society Story: They can't have a facial piercing or a beard — shutterstock

During fires, firefighters usually wear a self-contained breathing apparatus. To prevent a seal leak, they are not allowed to have a piercing or a beard.

#3

Society Story: It's harder to fight a fire today than it was 50 years earlier — shutterstock

Open floor plans are getting more and more popular, and they are definitely very nice to live in. Anyway, the airflow in an open interior is much faster, and nothing prevents the spread of fire. Moreover, there are more synthetic materials in modern homes, and they really burn fast.

#4

Society Story: A lot of women fight fire alongside their male counterparts today — shutterstock

As early as in 1818, Molly Williams became the first known female firefighter in history.

#5

Society Story: Most fire brigade calls are not fire-related — shutterstock

When there are no fires in the city, firefighters still have a lot of job to do. They rescue people from car crashes, acts of terror, earthquakes, floods... Firefighters are always ready to help, sometimes even when someone is stuck in an elevator.

#6 They help animals in hopeless situations:

#7

Society Story: A backdraft is a firefighter's worst nightmare — shutterstock

When there is no oxygen left in the room, the fire stops. But sometimes a sudden introduction of air can restart the combustion, which often happens rapidly and sets off an explosion. The air can enter the room through an opened window or a door.

#8

Society Story: Firefighters can't see or hear anything inside a burning house — shutterstock

A real firefighter's job is nothing like the movies. Sometimes they have to move blindly.

#9

Society Story: Some fires can last for several days, and firefighters have to work without a break — shutterstock

Usually firefighters work in 24-hour shifts.

#10

Society Story: Up to 80% of fire department personnel are volunteers — shutterstock

A volunteer should be as prepared as a career firefighter. A lot of volunteers work in provinces, where official financing is not enough to pay wages.

Do you have any inspirational stories about firefighters to share with us? Have you ever heard about these facts before? What would you like to add?

Tell us in the comments below!

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

32 Comments

Chrissy Krainock Luders

Very proud of my firefighter son. It’s not an easy job psychologically besides being very physical. They deal with child drownings a lot in Arizona. Jaws of life at car accidents. He’d rather go into a burning building. It takes its toll on their families too. I just remember all the firefighters who went IN to the Twin Towers while everyone else was going out. All firefighters are heroes in my book.

Fiona McWilliam

New South Wales, Australia has the largest volunteer firefighting force in the world. Most of the year we don't need a lot of firefighters but in summer when there are really hot days and a strong wind coming from the inland, we need hundreds of people ready to fight fires. Our bush is naturally very combustible due to the eucalyptus oil that hangs over the bush. When a fire takes off it can be very quick to spread! So we have a large volunteer firefighting force ready to spring into action when needed. If the fires are bad in one state, volunteer squads from other states will travel to help them out. They know the favour will be paid back when their own state is suffering. Most farmers are also firefighters since they need to protect their farmland if a fire is ignited. A large farm will have a small truck or ute set up as a firefighting vehicle. I'm proud to say my dad was a volunteer firefighter in Victoria and then used his skills in the Hobart 1967 fires too.

Scott

I have great respect for all first responders!

Jim Mascair

My wife called the fire department to get the cat out of a tall tree because she disapproved of me using my 12 gauge.

Martha McDowell

Pamela E. Lee, this is what I experienced as well. The department I was in had paid and volunteer firefighters and first responders were both.

Martha McDowell

I was a firefighter for ten years. The city I lived in at the time had never had a woman in the department before me. The men on the department were fantastic. I am very thankful for all of them especially the chief and assistant chief.

Pamela E. Lee

Ilias Tsiabardas, Rural areas in Canada are MOSTLY VOLUNTEER firefighters. The small island where I live are both First Responders and Volunteer Firefighters. And this is in all provinces of Canada

Ilias Tsiabardas

Propably in Other countries are volunteers Not here in Canada ,are professional fire fighters !

Joy Holbrook

My husband is a retired Station Officer who worked for NSW Fire and Rescue for 31 years. He loved every minute of it, except when he and his crew were ‘chasing bush’. That’s firey speak for putting out bushfires.

Raymond Cardona

What would we do without these heroes and other first line responders??? Bonnie

Erica Laurie

We are thankful to have a Fire and Rescue Service

Laurie Lonnevik

Burning materials today are more toxic than in yesterday year. Plastics and other carcinogens that are inhaled can cause cancer. E.g. 9/11 survivors.

ninakamwene

Chrissy Krainock Luders, Thank you to your son and all the men and women who protect us from fires as they risk their own lives. To all who have perished in the line of duty, thank you and RIP. I myself could not do this. I am grateful.