10 Surprising Facts About Firefighting You'd Love To Know

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A hundred years ago, all kids wanted to become a firefighter when they grew older. Although the profession has dipped in popularity, it continues to serve countless communities, saving lives in case of a fire. Here are 10 things you never knew about firefighting and firefighters.

10. The Bucket Brigades

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Back in 1680, regulations had a different scope to fight fires. They did not require fire hydrants and signaling. They asked buildings to have buckets at hand in case of fire. Why? Well, in that time, there was a bucket brigade. There was no technology available for hoses as we know them today. Therefore, Firefighters used buckets and the bucket brigade. It was a chain of men who took the buckets available to transport water and fight the fire.

9. Some Numbers for Firefighters

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Training is not as extensive as you might think. An official firefighter goes under 100 hours of training before they can live real action. That is only two week’s full time. Part of the training includes how to get dressed fast. They must be ready in two minutes or less, with all the gear to get on the road. And finally, the most surprising number: around 100 firefighters are arrested every year because they started a fire! That is right. They start it and then fight it.

8. The tanks

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The tanks for firefighting are real. Trucks carry water on them, and it serves when there is no water source available in the nearby area. The portable tank firefighters carry on their back is neither an oxygen tank nor water. It is simply a tank with compressed room air. To bring an oxygen tank is dangerous since it is an oxidizer that would put the life of the firefighter in danger. In the case of a leak, it would explode.

7. Other Emergencies that keep Firefighters occupied

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A firefighter department is there to respond to any call for help. Fires are not the most frequent requests they receive. Other incidents include floods (ironically, excessive water), chemical spills, crashes, and terrorist incidents are the most common. Firefighters are trained to rescue people from practically any situation. They must know how to handle any emergency.

6. How New Building Techniques affect Firefighting

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When a new home is built, there are certain things that people do not consider. In the case of a fire, new homes are not as good as old homes. They are much riskier than homes were 50 years ago. New designs have open spaces that improve air ventilation which is the worst thing you can do when firefighting. They are also filled with flammable stuff. But it doesn’t stop there. Plastics generate harmful toxins. Beware of a fire in a new home, because it is the most dangerous.

5. The leading cause of death of Firefighters is Hearth Attack

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Ironically, firefighters who die as they perform their duty have heart failure. Fatal accidents and burns are not as frequent as heart attacks. It seems the emotions of firefighting are the most dangerous thing of the profession.

4. The Real Heroes

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75% of all firefighters are volunteers. They are there by choice. Running to save lives is a passion for them. However, the training is the same, and so are the risks they face. Volunteer firefighters have jobs and a life beyond fires. They have to make a living because volunteering means they don’t get paid for it.

3. Planning before Firefighting

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Planning before firefighting is important. Particularly for public places and certain installations like hospital and schools, firefighters make a plan in advance. They have floor plans and the location of hydrants. Knowing in advance where is everything, and which are the most dangerous parts of the building is precious. When a fire occurs for real, it is easier to make decisions, based on the plan they’ve made. That spares the lives of firefighters mostly.

2. Additional Risks

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An additional risk to fire for firefighters is that they are more prone to develop certain diseases, such as cancer. Firefighters are exposed to toxic gasses along the way. It is as if they were regular smokers. Therefore, cancer is one of the additional risks they face because they are exposed to toxins on a daily basis. Unfortunately, cancer is a silent murderer, and it is hard to know in advance when will it happen.

1. Women are Firefighters too

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Molly Williams was the first woman to become a firefighter. She was a slave, and her master enrolled her in New York 200 years ago (1815). The Oceanus Engine Company #11 embraced her, and ever since, other women have entered the profession. They are free women who chose to be there. However, only 4% firefighters are female.