Get an Idea on How One Should Dress for Wildland Firefighting

Wildland fire awareness is an integral part of Australian life. Unfortunately, this awareness comes from fires which have proven to be a substantial hazard  for Aussie people and property in the past. These hard-earned lessons have taught us to be wary about anything fire-related.

When it comes to wildland firefighting is crucial to have reliable and protective equipment that will keep you safe while facing these dangerous environments. So, if you are mulling over getting into professional firefighting or want to offer a helping hand during a disaster, it can be of great help to be aware of the essential pieces of firefighting clothes.

Firefighting Suit

It all starts with a pair of bushfire firefighting trousers and jacket. These are clothes that are manufactured in compliance with state and international standards and regulations. What are they made of? The typical firefighting gear is usually made of Proban treated cotton. It is a fabric that is absorbent and breathable at the same time while being flame-retardant.

Keep in mind that alternative fabrics are being tested and introduced as well, like environmentally-friendly fibres such as Karvin. This is a fabric that will not readily ignite close to great heat and fire. Even if it gets ignited, it will self-extinguish within acceptable safe limits. The key aspect of choosing good firefighting clothes here is to make sure they have been thoroughly tested by relevant authorities.

These firefighting clothes usually have a loose fit which enables easier movement as well contributing to enhanced cooling of the body. But these are more than clothes with a looser cut. The jackets also have underarm vents that reduce metabolic heat, and there is a highly visible yellow/silver FR reflective tape so others can be aware of your presence. A number of outside pockets are placed on both the trousers and the jacket to house important gear like radio.

firefighter-in-australia

Source: Bc.net.au

Helmet

Protecting the head is always a priority. And fires in forests present hazards from many directions. The head is something you need to protect, especially if there are trees that can fall on you. The choice of helmets is not great, but protection is within reasonable levels. Both emergency services and landowners use the same helmets.

When shopping for helmets there are a few things to look out for. It can not be overstated – first make sure the helmet is made according to Australian firefighting standards. This should also apply to all the other elements such as visor and fire retardant chin strap. You also want to keep an eye on compatibility with fire fighting googles. It is a real shame to have these two pieces and not to be able to use one of them.

Gloves

The fire protection pieces that are apart from the jacket and trousers are also important in a bushfire emergency situation. There are many fire fighting gloves for extinguishing fires out in the open during prolonged periods of time. Look for gloves that are made from cow grain leather, with wool knit cuff and kevlar stitching. If the wrist is elasticized it will restrict the entry of embers and foreign particles. They should be flame resistant, to restrict heat transfer and to comply with the standards.

Googles

This piece of gear depends on the other firefighting equipment that is available for you. For example, if your helmet already has a visor with great resistance to heat, you might not need additional googles. However, if that is no the case, make sure not to forget them in your bushfire containment gear. Aside from the obvious heat resistance, you should also look for single piece wide lens because it makes any evacuation or fire fighting duty way easier than having two separate lenses for each eye. It should have anti-fog properties and be splash-proof.

Vest

Every establishment should have their own fire plan. This applies to businesses, farms and industrial plants alike. If there are many people on the property, then it is essential to have an official, a fire warden, that will instruct the other on the next course of action during the emergency. Under regular circumstances, people can be patient and understanding. But when exposed to fire hazard, they would all look for guidance and they’ll need to get it fast.

To make this official visible to everyone involved you can use different types of vests. They are not much complicated. The vests should consist of silver reflective tape and to be suitable for both daily and night use. Usually, the colours are orange, yellow and pink. The main point here is to see others and to be seen. It is an issue that affects all other safety aspects.

These are more versatile as you can also use them during roadside repairs, or to warn others that a towing procedure takes place. It is a piece that you can use outside of the narrow firefighting application.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.