NIOSH – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Conducts independent investigations of firefighter injuries and deaths
Specifies casualties by year, state, type of injury, age of victim, etc.
NIOSH Statistics of Firefighter Fatalities
NFPA – National Fire Prevention Association
Statistics on cause of fires, property type, damage incurred, and more
Additional information about current equipment, and estimates of fire causes
- In 2015, 1,345,500 fires reported in US, causing 3,280 civilian deaths and $14.3 billion in property damage
- In 2014, the top three causes of residential structure fires were:
- Cooking – 173,300 fires, 580 deaths
- Heating Equipment – 56,400 fires, 560 deaths
- Electrical Failures – 47,000 fires, 520 deaths
- Highest casualty rate caused by smoking materials (cigarettes, cigars, etc.) – 30%
PASS Device
The PASS device is a “personal safety device used primarily by firefighters entering a hazardous environment such as a burning building. The PASS device sounds a loud (95 decibel) audible alert to notify others in the area that the firefighter is in distress.”
“The PASS device is normally used in conjunction with breathing apparatus: it is a small, battery powered device attached to the self-contained breathing apparatus harness which enables the firefighter to summon help by activating a loud, piercing electronic bleeper”.
“Early models were only able to be activated manually; more recent PASS devices automatically activate if the device does not detect motion for 30 seconds.”
C-Thru Smoke Diving Helmet
A helmet is being developed and tested to help firefighters see through smoke. It uses a thermal-optic sensor to tell firefighters which areas are most dangerous, creates a wire-frame outline of features and objects in the building, records the events, and uses noise-cancelling features to help the firefighter focus on sounds that are critical (like collapsing doorways or noises from victims).
Smoke Diving Helmet Information
Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs)
Thermal imaging cameras can help firefighters see through smoke. They are available as both a handheld and hands-free, helmet-mounted unit. The hands-free unit makes it easy to use and hand off to other firefighters, but you lose a free hand in order to use it. The helmet-mounted unit frees up both hands, but is strapped to the firefighter and goes with them, even when they are replaced in the building. Thermal imaging goggles exist, but are not SCBA mask compatible and are not designed for firefighting environments.
TICs are especially useful for finding people in a fire or doing an initial analysis of the situation to assess how to fight the fire. Like all technology, they are getting smaller, lighter, and less expensive as time goes on.
Thermal Imaging Cameras Information
Halligan Bar
The Halligan Bar is used for forced entry. It has multiple tools built in, and can be used for prying, twisting, or striking. It has a pick, a pike, and a fork for multiple functions each. It is a utility tool in the truest sense of the definition. Usually, it is “married” to a flathead axe, as both are used so commonly in many situations. The combination of these two tools is called “The Irons”.
Vent Enter Search
This is a website that was made by firefighters in florida as a forum for fire fighters to post about everything fire. Often posted are products/tools that are improvised and privately made by fire fighters for their needs. There are also many posts about fire fighter tactics for different situations that they encounter.
Links to Fire Cam videos
Key points: This video demonstrates the PASS device and what happens when it malfunctions.
Key points: Firefighter enters low-visibility environment, trips down some stairs, and falls onto a couch.