FREE ESSAY ON FIREFIGHTING

FIREFIGHTING

Firefighters put their life in danger every single day to help and save the public.
Firefighters must be prepared for the endangers they encounter and be able to respond
immediately to a fire or any other emergencies that arises. Because fighting fires is so
complex, it requires organization and teamwork. At every emergency scene, firefighters
perform specific duties assigned by a superior officer. At fires they connect hose lines
to hydrants, operate a pump to high pressure hoses, and position ladders to deliver water
to the fire. They also rescue victims and administer emergency medical aid as needed.
Firefighters duties may change several times while the company is in action. Sometimes
they remain at the site of a disaster for days at a time, rescuing trapped survivors and
assisting with medical treatment.
Firefighters have a very large range of responsibilities, including emergency medical
services. In fact, most calls to which firefighters respond involve medical emergencies,
and about half of all fire departments provide ambulance services for victims.
Firefighters receive training in the emergency medical procedures, and many fire
departments require them to certified as emergency medical technicians.
Firefighters work in a variety of settings, including urban and suburban areas, airports,
chemical plants, and other industrial sites. In addition, some firefighters work in
hazardous materials units that are trained for the control, prevention and clean up of
oil spills and other hazardous materials incidents. Workers in suburban areas, airports,
and industrial sites usually use conventional fire fighting equipment and tactics, while
forest fires and major spills call for different methods.
In national forests and parks, rangers spot fires from watchtowers and report their
findings to headquarters by telephone and radio. Forest rangers patrol to ensure
travelers and campers comply with fire regulations. When fires break out crews of
firefighters in to suppress the blaze using heavy equipment, hand tools, water hoses,
etc. One of the most effective means of battling the fire is by creating fire lines
through cutting down tress and digging out grass, creating bare land in the path of the
fire that takes away the fuel. The best firefighters, called smoke jumpers, parachute
from airplanes, to reach places that cannot be touched by foot and truck which is in the
very base of the fire. This can be extremely hazardous because the crews have no way to
escape if the wind shifts and causes fire to burn toward them.
Between alarms, firefighters clean and maintain equipment, conduct practice drills and
fire inspections, and participate in physical fitness activities. They also prepare
written reports on fire incidents and review fire science literature to keep aware of
technological developments and changing administrative practices and policies.
Firefighters have very hard working conditions. They spend much of their time at fire
stations, which usually have features common to a residential facility like a dorm. When
a alarm sounds, firefighters respond rapidly, regardless of the weather or hour. Fire
fighting involves risk walls, traffic accidents when responding to calls, and exposure to
flames and smoke. Firefighters may also come in contact with poisonous, flammable, or
explosive gases and chemicals, as well as radioactive or other hazardous materials that
may have immediate or long-term effects on their health. For these reasons, they must
wear protective gear that can be very heavy and hot.
Work hours for firefighters are longer and vary more widely than hours of most other
workers. Many work more than 50 hours a week, and sometimes they may work even longer. In
some work sites, they are on duty for 24 hours, then off for 48 hours, then receive and
extra day off for intervals. In others, they work a day shift of 10 hours for 3 to 4
days, a night shift of 14 hours for 3 to 4 nights, have 3 to 4 days off, and then repeat
the cycle. In addition, firefighters often work extra hours at fires and other
emergencies and are regularly assigned to work on holidays. Fire lieutenants and fire
captains often work the same hours as the fire fighters they supervise. Duty hours
include time when firefighters study, train, and perform fire prevention duties.
Volunteer firefighters are not paid, who perform the same duties and may comprise the
majority of firefighters in a residential area. Paid career firefighters held about
314,000 jobs in 1998. More than 9 of the everyday 10 worked in municipal or county fire
departments. Some large cities have thousands of career firefighters, while many small
towns just have a few. Most of the remainder worked in fire departments on Federal and
State installations, including airports. Private fire fighting companies employ a small
number of firefighters and usually operate on a subscription basis. 
Applicants for firefighting jobs generally must pass a written exam; tests of strength,
physical stamina, coordination, and agility; and a medical examination that includes drug
screening. Workers may be monitored on a random basis for drug use after accepting
employment. Examinations are generally to people who are at least 18 years of age and
have a high school education. 
As a rule, entry-level workers in large fire departments are trained for several weeks at
the departments training center or academy. Through classroom instruction and practical
training, the recruits study fire fighting techniques, fire prevention, hazardous
materials control, local building codes, and emergency medical procedures. They also
learn how to use axes, chainsaws, fire extinguishers, and other firefighting and rescue
equipment. After completing this training, they are assigned to a fire company, where
they undergo a period of probation.